Marrakesh in summer: how to deal with the heat

Marrakesh is hot in summer. Count on 38 to 45 degrees Celsius (100 to 113 Fahrenheit) in the shade, for days on end. Still, plenty of European travelers go in July and August, because that is when the school holidays fall. That can work well, as long as you use the city differently than you would in spring.

What makes the heat in Marrakesh different

The air is dry, so 40 degrees feels different than it does in Southeast Asia. You feel less sticky, but you also don't notice how much fluid you are losing. The medina holds on to the warmth: in the evening the mud-brick walls give off the heat of the day. At night it cools down to about 25 degrees, which is pleasant on a roof terrace.

The sun is fierce and high in the sky. Between twelve and five you don't want to be on the street. Moroccans aren't either. The souks are quiet around midday and come back to life toward evening.

Split your day into three parts

From 7 to 11 in the morning is the time for sights: the Bahia Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Jardin Majorelle at opening time. It is quiet then and the temperature is still bearable.

From noon to 5 you are back in your riad. You swim, take a siesta or read a book on a shady terrace. A hammam is also an option, because after the scrub it actually feels pleasantly cool inside.

From 6 in the evening you go back out for the souks, Jemaa el-Fna square and dinner on a roof terrace. In summer the city is at its best in the evening.

Don't plan more than one major sight per morning. You won't last longer than that in this heat.

Choose where you stay for coolness

In summer you really need a riad with a courtyard and a pool. When you book, look for a pool or at least a plunge pool, for air conditioning in the room that actually works (read the reviews) and for a roof terrace with shade. Riads with a garden or lots of plants in the courtyard are noticeably cooler than riads with only tiles.

Hotels in Gueliz or in the Palmeraie often have bigger pools. You will need a taxi every time you go to the medina. On the other hand, you really get to rest in the afternoon.

What to wear at 40 degrees

Loose and long is cooler than short and tight. Wide linen pants and a loose long-sleeved blouse protect you from the sun and are respectful at the same time. Choose light colors and natural fabrics such as linen, thin cotton or viscose. A hat or a scarf around your head is for protection. Sandals are fine, but the tiles on the square get hot, and in the souks closed, breathable shoes are more practical. There is more in our guide on what to wear in Morocco.

Drinking, eating and salt

Drink more than you think you need, even when you are not thirsty. Buy large bottles of water in the small shops and not on the square, so you pay the normal price. Fresh orange juice from the square is good against the heat. Pick a stall with lots of customers. Mint tea at 40 degrees sounds strange, but that is exactly when Moroccans drink it. Hot drinks make you sweat, and sweating cools you down.

Eat light at midday and have a hot meal in the evening. A little extra salt, from olives or salted nuts for example, helps against headaches caused by fluid loss. Be careful with raw salads and ice cream of unknown origin. Food spoils faster in the heat, so choose stalls and restaurants that are busy and where the food is prepared fresh.

Get out of the city

Don't stay in Marrakesh every day in summer. That is the best advice we have.

• Essaouira on the coast is about 2.5 to 3 hours away by car, and the constant sea wind often makes it ten to fifteen degrees cooler. A day or two by the sea halfway through your trip makes a big difference.
• The Ourika valley is an hour's drive away. There is a river, there are waterfalls, and you sit on terraces with your feet in the water.
• Imlil, about an hour and a half away, sits at 1700 meters in the Atlas Mountains. A night there is a relief in summer.
• The Agafay desert is only doable in the evening in summer. You watch the sunset, have dinner and look at the stars, and you are back around midnight.

Soukayna drives you there in an air-conditioned car, and that alone is a reason not to do those days by bus. Look at our Essaouira day trip or the trip to the Atlas Mountains and the Berber villages.

What you gain in summer

Summer has advantages too. Riads and hotels are cheaper than in spring and the sights are quieter. The square, on the other hand, is livelier in the evening, because Moroccans also only come outside after sunset. Travelers in April don't get evenings like that.

Who is better off not going in summer

If you are pregnant, traveling with small children or elderly parents, or you know that you don't handle heat well, we advise against summer. Choose March to May or October to November. The month-by-month overview is under the best time to visit.