Marrakech Weather & Best Time to Visit
Marrakech has a desert-edge climate: hot, dry summers and mild, occasionally chilly winters. The month you pick matters more here than in most destinations — here's what to expect.
Marrakech weather by month
These are typical average ranges — Marrakech can run a few degrees either side of these in any given year, and desert climates swing more between day and night than coastal ones.
| Month | Avg. high | Avg. low | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18°C | 6°C | Mild days, cold nights. Riads can feel chilly indoors. |
| February | 20°C | 7°C | Similar to January, slightly warmer. |
| March | 23°C | 10°C | Comfortable and increasingly popular. |
| April | 26°C | 12°C | One of the best all-round months. |
| May | 30°C | 15°C | Warm, still very pleasant. |
| June | 34°C | 18°C | Hot; mornings still comfortable for sightseeing. |
| July | 38°C | 21°C | Very hot. Plan around the midday heat. |
| August | 38°C | 21°C | The hottest month alongside July. |
| September | 34°C | 18°C | Cooling down; still warm. |
| October | 29°C | 15°C | A favourite month — warm, not scorching. |
| November | 22°C | 10°C | Mild, some rain possible. |
| December | 18°C | 7°C | Similar to January; pack layers for evenings. |
So, when's the best time to visit?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the best balance of comfortable temperatures and manageable crowds, with April and October the standout months for most visitors.
Summer (June–August) is genuinely hot — often above 38°C in the afternoon — which makes midday sightseeing in the Medina uncomfortable. It's not a reason to avoid Marrakech entirely (mornings and evenings are fine, riad pools help, and hotel prices tend to drop), but plan your day around the heat: sights before 11am, rest in the afternoon, souks and rooftops in the evening.
Winter (December–February) is mild by day and can be genuinely cold at night, especially indoors — riads are built for hot weather, with tiled floors and limited heating, so pack warmer layers than "Africa" might suggest, particularly if you're also planning an Atlas Mountains day trip, where snow is common in winter.
Ramadan note: dates shift each year on the Islamic calendar. Many restaurants operate on reduced hours during daylight, though the city is very much open for tourism — just worth knowing before you plan meals.