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Figuring out what to wear in Morocco was something I stressed out about a lot before I left. I scoured Instagram for inspiration but found everything from outfits with full sleeves and long pant legs to shorts and tank tops and instagram-worthy dresses. Obviously, that didn’t help much.
Thankfully, I’d already been to Egypt and Jordan, which are also Muslim countries, and was comfortable with my clothing choices there so I used that experience to pull together a wardrobe to last me through my two and a half weeks in Morocco.
I definitely erred on the conservative side, for which I was grateful; even when the temperatures soared up to 47 degrees Celsius. Now, to be completely honest, my more conservative wardrobe did not prevent me from being harassed; I was still white, curvy, and had light hair and blue eyes. My looser, covered up clothes didn’t do much to hide that. However, as a visitor, the more conservative outfits did make me feel more respectful of the culture.
So, for any women who are struggling with what to pack for Morocco, here are my recommendations based on my own experience.
PS: If you are a woman thinking of travelling to Morocco I HIGHLY recommend you read about my personal experience here.
Morocco Packing List for Women
What to Pack for Morocco: Shirts and Tops
When it comes to tops to pack you need to consider a few different things; the weather and temperature, what you plan on doing in Morocco, and, perhaps most importantly, how revealing it is.
Morocco can get quite cool at certain times of the year. Especially in the desert and mountains. If you plan on spending a lot of time in these places or hiking, then you will want long sleeves and layers to stay warm. Alternatively, Morocco can be stiflingly hot which means that you’ll want lightweight, looser pieces.
The real key, no matter the temperature, is not to be revealing. This means no showing your chest/cleavage, no stomachs, and minimal shoulders. In fairness, I did wear a sleeveless maxi dress a couple of times but, if I’m being completely honest, I’m not too sure how I felt about it. I think it’s ok for somewhere like Marrakech or Essouaria, but in more traditional cities like Fez, I think you are best to stick to t-shirt styles and keep your shoulders covered.
Additionally, if you plan on wearing tighter pants like leggings or skinny jeans, choose tops that are longer in length and cover your bum.
I also recommend bringing some lightweight sweaters or a jean jacket because it can get cooler in the evening, especially if you do a Sahara Desert experience.
With that in mind, here are a couple of tops I recommend:
- The evolve top by encircled
- kimono-style tops are perfect for layering over tank tops to help keep cool on hot days while still being respectful to the culture. You can find some options similar to what I wore here.
- Longer, oversized t-shirts that are loose and cover your bum are also great. I have a couple these t-shirts that I use for Middle East Travel and they are super soft and wash/wear very well.
Please avoid crop tops, tops with plunging necklines or open backs, or strapless tops.
What to Wear in Morocco: Bottoms
Again, the types of pants you choose will depend on what you are doing during your trip (hiking, city exploring etc.) and the weather. However, a good rule of thumb is to keep, at least, down to your knees covered. Although long pants that cover your entire leg might be more comfortable.
You can wear leggings or tighter pants, but I would then pair them with a longer, looser top that covers you bum. I brought black leggings as well as my dressy sweatpants from encircled. I did bring jeans as well, but it was way too hot when I visited in May to wear them.
If you plan on being active, I suggest lululemon leggings. My absolute favourite leggings are the Wunder Train style which don’t slide down and they aren’t see through. Again, since this is Morocco, wear a longer shirt so that covers your bum. But these are my go-to travel leggings and I recommend them to everyone.
I also brought a couple of pairs of wide leg pants which I loved. Not only were they more modest, but they also kept me cooler in the heat.
What to Wear in Morocco: Dresses and Skirts
Dresses and skirts are often easy packs for women, especially for the younger women who are keen on getting the cute Instagram shots. Both can be ideal for Morocco, as long as they remain appropriate. Again, avoid anything too tight, short, or revealing.
Maxi dresses and maxi skirts are a great option, though you may want to aim for something that hits around your ankles rather than the ground or it will get very dirty very fast.
As mentioned, I brought a sleeveless dress and was very on the fence about it. Based on my experience, if I were to go again I would choose something that covered my shoulders. If you need some ideas look at maxi dresses similar to this or skirts like this.
Note: A lot of vendors sell traditional Moroccan dresses/robes in bright, fun colours. I saw a number of women buy them for photos and wear them but many of them were VERY see-through when the light shone through. So, if you do buy one, take that into consideration!
What to Were in Morocco: Footwear
I brought a pair of flip flops, cute sandals, and casual sneakers for this trip, but to be honest I rarely wore my flip flops or sandals. The reason being that there is a lot of walking involve and they were more comfortable, plus, the streets of Morocco are not always the cleanest. The Medina’s of Fez and Marrakech both have livestock (mainly donkeys) passing by which of course tend to leave messes behind them. As with every other major city, there were also plenty of mystery puddles. I just preferred protecting my feet by keeping them fully covered and would recommend you do the same. PS; If you are looking for an awesome pair of travel running shoes, try Vessi.They are comfortable, light weight, supportive, and waterproof!
Do You Need to Cover Your Hair in Morocco?
This is a question that frequently gets asked when visiting any Muslim country. The local women do cover their hair (often in very stylish ways with beautiful headscarves) but, as a visitor to Morocco, you don’t have to cover your hair while out in public. If you choose to visit some more religious or conservative places, you may be asked to.
If you do choose to cover your hair please make sure you do it in a respectful way, not just to be cute and fashionable which can end up being perceived as offensive. If you are unsure, ask a local Moroccan woman or leave your hair as is.
Tip: Those with fairer hair seem to get more attention than women with darker hair. My hair is lighter, and I found myself wearing it in a ponytail or braid more often than down because it did get me some unwanted attention.
What to Pack for Morocco: Accessories and Helpful Items
As always, there are a few accessories that might come in handy when creating your Morocco packing list.
A scarf: is definitely something you will want to bring. You can use it around your neck or shoulders if you have a piece of clothing that you are a little worried might be too revealing. Or, just to have to keep you warm. Plus, if you go to the Sahara, it’s helpful to have a scarf for the Bedouins to tie around your head in the traditional manor to protect you from the sun and sand. If you don’t already have one, take a look at these cute lightweight ones here.
Body Glide: For women who experience the dreaded chub rub. It’s actually a life saver and perfect for preventing chafing when wearing skirts or dresses (you can use it on your heels too for blisters). Get body glide here.
Ear plugs: I found Morocco to be very loud at night. The walls are quite thin and there was a lot of street noise so ear plugs are definitely a good bet.
Sunglasses: Not just to protect eyes from sun (and sand in the desert) but because, as a woman especially, they can be really helpful in avoiding unwanted male attention.
Towel: If you are spending time at the beach then bringing your own quick-dry towel is highly recommended!
On top of these things you’ll want the essentials; sunscreen, mini first aid kit (stomach issues are common in Morocco so bring Imodium or something similar in case). I also recommend having some tissues or toilet paper tucked in your purse or backpack since some of the toilets in public places are lacking in this area.
Finally, if you are travelling with multiple electronics that you need to charge, consider bringing a travel power bar. The outlets in the places I stayed were very scarce which made charging camera + phone + computer very annoying. You can find a lightweight travel one here. Along the same line, I’d recommend bringing a power bank to bring with you while you are out exploring, especially if you take a lot of photos with your phone.
Final Tips for What to Wear in Morocco
At the end of the day there is no official Morocco dress code. There are many female tourists who ignore the suggestion to cover up and bare quite a bit of skin in the streets. From what I saw, this just gets them more unwanted attention (and their photo taken by local men). It’s a personal choice that, at the end of the day, is up to you.
I don’t believe that women should be told what they can or can’t wear, but at the end of the day I think respect has a huge part to play. After all, we are visitors to this new country which has customs and traditions that are very different than our own. Customs that we want to explore and experience for ourselves. With that in mind, I think it’s important to respect their way of life and take cues from the local outfits which are more conservative. Not only will it make you feel more comfortable, but it will probably make you feel better as a traveller as well.
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Don’t forget travel insurance!
Please do not travel without travel insurance! I’ve had to use it multiple times throughout my travels and it has saved me thousands of dollars. You can learn more about travel insurance here. If you are looking for a provider I love and recommend SafetyWing. For Canadian readers, take a look at SoNomad.
Book your accommodation
I love and recommend booking.com for accommodation. They have a range of hostels, guesthouses, hotels, and resorts. Plus, the platform has a great loyalty program that means the more you book, the more you can save.
Book your tours
My go-to tour provider that I love to recommend is GetYourGuide. They have options all over the world and partner with local companies for everything from day trips to food experiences and even airport transfers.
Get connected
If you want to have data while travelling for online maps or any other needs, an esim is one of the easiest solutions. I have used esims around the world from Brazil to Uzbekistan, Greece to the USA- they are super easy and you don’t risk losing your home sim! There are two brands I have used and recommend so I suggest comparing both.
Airalo: download the app, pick what country you want an esim for, and after you purchase it follow the installation instructions. You can use promo code HANNAH3326 to save $3USD on your next esim purchase.
Truely: This one is easier in that it’s a one-time download instead of downloading an esim for each country. It also allows you to hotspot and tether- which not all esims do. Check out options here.
Not sure what to pack?
I have destination-specific guides for some countries but you can also check my travel essentials and camera gear if you are looking for some ideas.
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