Best Time to Visit Marrakech
When is the ideal time to visit Marrakech?
The best time to visit Marrakech is spring, from March to May, and autumn, from late September to November. Days are warm and sunny, around 23 to 29°C, the souks, derbs and fondouks of the Medina are comfortable all day, and the light glows on the red pisé walls and the Koutoubia minaret. Winter, from December to February, is mild and sunny by day but cold at night. Summer, from June to August, is very hot, often above 37°C, so you walk the Medina at 9 am and come back for the evening on Jemaa el-Fna.
• Private tour for 1 to 2 people, 900 MAD
• Private tour for 3 to 4 people, 1,200 MAD
• Private tour for 5 to 6 people, 1,500 MAD
• Group walk, no shopping, 300 MAD per person
• Group tour with shopping, 250 MAD per person
Send Us Your Dates On WhatsApp or use our Booking Form.
Every Marrakech season comes with a warning. In July, a friend says the Medina is an oven. In January, someone packs only T-shirts and spends the evening on a riad terrace in three blankets. In Ramadan, people worry the souks are closed. In truth, Marrakech is good almost all year, if you know what each month brings to Jemaa el-Fna, the souks and the derbs.
Visit Marrakech Medina, The Best Shopping and Walking Tour Company in Marrakech, has guided travelers through the Medina in every season since 2004. Our Medina walking tour is featured by Daniel Jacobs in The Rough Guide To Morocco, which says our guide “guarantees (unlike most guides) not to stop at any shops”. Our guiding is also Recommended By Rick Steves.
Choose your tour
• Is A Shopping Tour In Marrakech Worth It? Our top rated Marrakech souks shopping tour, lanterns, babouches, leather and spices.
• Are Moroccan Rugs Cheaper In Marrakech? Our best Marrakech carpets and rug shopping tour, Souk des Tapis and weaving cooperatives.
• Is A Guided Walking Tour In Marrakech Worth It? Our best Marrakesh walking tour, the Koutoubia, the Mellah and the real souks.
• Looking For A Premium Private Experience? Our private luxury shopping tour, master artisans and design boutiques.
• What Is Worth Seeing In Marrakech? Majorelle Garden, Bahia Palace, hammams and rooftop cafés.
Quick facts
• Best months March, April, May, October and November for the souks, the Mellah and the Kasbah
• Hottest months July and August, often 37 to 40°C, cooler at 9 am and on Jemaa el-Fna at night
• Coolest months December and January, about 18 to 19°C by day, 6 to 7°C at night, snow on the High Atlas
• Rain light showers in winter, the souks and derbs dry fast
• Busiest weeks Christmas and New Year, Easter, spring school holidays and August
• Best tour time 9 am in summer, 9 am or 2 pm the rest of the year
What are the seasons like in Marrakech?
Spring, March to May, the best season
Warm days of 23 to 29°C, cool evenings, orange blossom in the riad courtyards and the Koutoubia gardens, and snow on the High Atlas. Souk Semmarine and Mouassine are lively, rooftop cafés glow at sunset, and it's the best weather for the Mellah, El Badi and the Kasbah. Easter week is busy, so book riads early.
Summer, June to August, hot but calm
Afternoons reach 33 to 40°C. Marrakchis shop early, nap after lunch, and come back to Jemaa el-Fna after dark, when the food stalls, Gnawa musicians, henna artists and halqa storytellers fill the square. The covered souks and narrow derbs keep some shade, riad pools help, and riad prices are lower. It's the season for a 9 am Medina walk, a hammam and harira at midnight.
Autumn, September to November, the second best season
The heat breaks in late September, October brings 28°C days, and November is about 23°C, ideal for walking from Bab Doukkala to Ben Youssef, the dyers of Souk Sebbaghine and the tanneries. The Marrakech International Film Festival comes in late November, and the light over the red pisé walls is golden.
Winter, December to February, sunny days and cold nights
Clear blue skies, about 18 to 20°C at noon, 6 to 8°C at night, and snow on the High Atlas seen from the rooftops. Riads are cold inside, so ask for heating, then warm up with harira, a hammam and a tanjia. Christmas and New Year are the busiest weeks. January and February are calm, with fewer crowds in the souks and Souk des Tapis.
What is Marrakech like month by month?
• January about 19°C by day, 6°C at night, calm souks, the Marrakech Marathon, snow on the High Atlas, good for walking and fewer crowds
• February about 20°C, almond trees in bloom in the Ourika valley, quiet derbs in the Mellah and the Kasbah, good value riads
• March about 23°C, orange blossom in the Koutoubia gardens, one of the best months for the Medina and the souks
• April about 25°C, perfect weather for Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs, Easter crowds, book riads early
• May about 29°C, warm and sunny, rooftop cafés over Jemaa el-Fna, evening walks in Mouassine
• June about 33°C, 9 am tours, quieter souks, riad pools in the afternoon
• July about 37°C, the hottest month, 9 am walks, Gnawa music and food stalls on Jemaa el-Fna at night, lower prices
• August about 37°C, Moroccan families on holiday, busy evenings on the square, hammams and mint tea
• September about 33°C, the heat eases at the end of the month, calm souks and derbs
• October about 28°C, golden light on the red pisé walls, one of the best months for shopping in Souk Semmarine
• November about 23°C, mild and sunny, the Film Festival, excellent for the souks, rugs and leather
• December about 19°C, sunny days, cold nights in the riads, festive and busy at Christmas and New Year
Planning a weekend in the Medina? See What's On In Marrakech This Weekend?
When should you visit Marrakech for the souks, rugs or a family trip?
• Walking the Medina March to May and October to November, for the derbs of Mouassine, Kennaria, Ben Youssef and the Mellah
• Shopping in the souks any month, mornings in summer. Souk Semmarine, Souk Cherratine, Souk Haddadine and Rahba Kedima are calmest before 11 am
• Buying a rug low season, when Souk des Tapis and the Criée Berbère are quieter, to compare Beni Ourain, Azilal, Boucherouite and kilims over mint tea
• Families with children spring and autumn, or summer with a riad pool, orange juice on Jemaa el-Fna and the blacksmiths of Souk Haddadine in the morning
• Honeymoons and couples April, May, October, rooftop dinners over the Koutoubia, hammams and luxury riads in Mouassine and the Kasbah
• Fewer crowds and lower prices January, February, June and September, in riads, souks and at Bahia Palace
• Atlas and desert trips spring and autumn for Ourika, Imlil and the Agafay desert, snow on Toubkal in winter
When is the worst time to visit Marrakech?
Every month works in the Medina and the souks, some need a plan.
• July and August afternoons 37 to 40°C, so walk the souks at 9 am, rest by the riad pool, and come back to Jemaa el-Fna at sunset
• Christmas and New Year the busiest weeks in the riads, souks and on Jemaa el-Fna, so book early
• Rainy winter days rare, but the cobbled derbs and zellige get slippery, so wear closed shoes
• Friday around midday many souk shops close for Friday prayer. See Do The Souks Close For Lunch?
What should you pack for each season in Marrakech?
• Spring and autumn light layers, closed shoes for the cobbled derbs, a scarf for the Koutoubia gardens and the Mellah, a sweater for rooftop cafés at sunset
• Summer a hat, sunscreen, a water bottle, light cotton or linen that covers shoulders and knees in the souks and the Mellah
• Winter a warm jacket for riad terraces at night, socks for zellige floors, a djellaba from the souks like the Marrakchis
• All year small dirham notes for orange juice on Jemaa el-Fna, mint tea, msemen, babouches and the hammam
Is Ramadan a good time to visit Marrakech?
Yes. Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year, and it's a beautiful time to see the Medina, the souks and Jemaa el-Fna.
• By day the souks open later, around 10 or 11 am, the derbs are calmer, and riads and tourist restaurants stay open
• At sunset the call to prayer from the Koutoubia, then iftar with harira, dates and chebakia, and the Medina goes quiet
• At night Jemaa el-Fna, Souk Semmarine and Rahba Kedima come alive until late
• Be respectful avoid eating, drinking and smoking in the derbs and souks during the day
What can you do in the Medina in every season?
• Walk the souks and derbs Souk Semmarine, Rahba Kedima, the dyers of Souk Sebbaghine, the blacksmiths of Souk Haddadine, the leatherworkers of Souk Cherratine
• Visit the Saadian and Alaouite palaces Bahia Palace, El Badi, the Saadian Tombs, Dar El Bacha and the Ben Youssef Madrasa, at 9 am in summer
• Meet the artisans Berber weavers at their looms, coppersmiths, babouche makers and woodcarvers in old fondouks near Ben Youssef
• Try a hammam black soap, ghassoul, argan oil and the kessa glove, warm in winter, refreshing in summer
• Watch sunset on Jemaa el-Fna from a rooftop café, with mint tea and the call to prayer from the Koutoubia minaret
See the neighborhoods to explore in Which Marrakech Neighborhood Is Best For You?
How much is a Medina tour in each season?
Our prices in MAD are the same in high season and low season.
Private tour, every day at 9 am or 2 pm, about 3 hours
• 1 to 2 people, 900 MAD
• 3 to 4 people, 1,200 MAD
• 5 to 6 people, 1,500 MAD
• 7 or more, on request
• Monuments, 300 MAD more and about 1 extra hour
Group tours from the Café de France on Jemaa el-Fna
• Group walk without shopping, 300 MAD per person, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 10 am
• Group tour with shopping, 250 MAD per person, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10 am. See How Do Group Tours Work In Marrakech?
• Summer tip choose the 9 am start from June to September, before the heat reaches the souks
• Payment nothing upfront, you pay in dirhams at the end, at your riad or on Jemaa el-Fna
• Cancellation free up to 24 hours before
Already in Marrakech? See Which Tours Are Available In Marrakech Today?
What Happens On A Real Tour With Us?
Emily, United Kingdom
"We came to Marrakech in November and joining this walking tour was one of the best things we did. The Medina is full of little streets and hidden corners that we would never have found on our own. Our guide made everything interesting and we really enjoyed the experience."
Thomas and Anna, Germany
"Marrakech in December was a lovely surprise. The weather was perfect for walking around, and this tour gave us a much better understanding of everyday life in the Medina. We visited traditional workshops, saw local artisans at work and enjoyed the atmosphere away from the busiest streets."
What Do Our Guests Usually Ask On The Tour?
Sophie, France
"A wonderful way to spend an afternoon in Marrakech! We visited in November and wanted to see more than the usual tourist places. Our guide showed us beautiful little streets, local shops and places we would have easily missed. Friendly, relaxed and very interesting."
James, Australia
"We booked this tour during our December stay in Marrakech. It was a great introduction to the city, especially the souks and the traditional crafts. We appreciated having someone local explain the history and daily life instead of simply walking around without knowing what we were looking at."
What Surprises Travelers Most On Our Walks?
Laura and Michael, Canada
"Marrakech was one of the highlights of our November holiday. We really enjoyed exploring the Medina on foot, meeting local artisans and discovering some quieter places behind the main souks. The pace was comfortable, the explanations were excellent, and we left with a much better feeling for the city."
Our walks through the souks, derbs and fondouks are rated 5 stars on Google. Read Our Google Reviews
What do travelers ask about the best time to visit Marrakech?
What is the best month to visit Marrakech?
April and October, warm and sunny for the souks, the Mellah, the Kasbah, Bahia Palace and rooftop cafés. March, May and November come close behind.
Is Marrakech too hot in summer?
Afternoons in July and August reach 37 to 40°C. Mornings and evenings are pleasant, so plan a 9 am walk through the souks and derbs, a riad pool after lunch and evenings on Jemaa el-Fna.
Is Marrakech cold in winter?
Days are sunny, about 18 to 20°C, but nights drop to 6 or 7°C and riads can be cold. Bring a sweater, enjoy a hammam, harira and mint tea by the fire.
When are the souks least crowded?
Weekday mornings before 11 am in Souk Semmarine, Rahba Kedima and Souk des Tapis, especially in low season.
Does it rain in Marrakech?
Little. A few winter showers wet the cobbled derbs and zellige, then the Medina, souks and riad terraces dry fast.
Is it a good idea to visit during Ramadan?
Yes. The souks open later, evenings on Jemaa el-Fna are festive with harira and chebakia, and riads and tourist restaurants stay open.
How many days do I need in Marrakech?
Three days, one for the Medina, the souks and the Mellah, one for Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and Majorelle Garden, one for a hammam, the rug souk or a day trip to the High Atlas.
Not sure which month suits your Medina trip? Send Us Your Dates On WhatsApp and a local guide will tell you what to expect, or use our Booking Form.
Who Wrote This Guide?
This guide was written by the Local Team of Visit Marrakech Medina, Marrakchis who were born and raised in the Medina and have guided travelers through every season since 2004. Our Medina walk is featured in The Rough Guide to Morocco, and our guiding is recommended by Rick Steves. Everything here comes from what we see and hear on our tours every day.
More from our local guides
• 10 Hidden Gems In The Marrakech Medina
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