The short answer
Morocco is Muslim-majority but tourist-friendly. Covering shoulders and knees keeps you comfortable almost anywhere. You don’t need to dress “like a local” — you need to not dress like you’re at a beach club.
For women
- Shoulders and knees covered in the medina. Light linen trousers and a t-shirt works; sundresses below the knee work.
- A scarf in your bag is gold — instant extra coverage for mosques, unexpected chilly evenings, or conservative rural areas.
- Head covering is NOT required outside of mosques.
- Shorts are increasingly ok in big cities (Marrakech, Casablanca) but expect looks in Fes or rural areas.
- At the beach: one-piece swimsuits draw zero attention; bikinis are fine at surf beaches, private pools and resort beaches, less fine at public urban beaches.
For men
- Long or ¾ shorts and t-shirts are fine everywhere except mosques.
- Tank tops / singlets attract a bit of judgment in Fes medina but not in Marrakech.
- Swim trunks at beaches and pools; change out before walking back through town.
Mosques & religious sites
Most mosques are closed to non-Muslims. The few open ones (Hassan II in Casablanca, for instance) require: long sleeves, long trousers/skirt, shoes off, women cover hair with a scarf.
The desert
Layers. Days are hot (+35°C), nights are genuinely cold (5–10°C in winter). Bring a fleece, a scarf (for sandstorms and sun), and closed shoes for camel rides.
Hiking (Atlas)
Proper walking shoes, layers, sun hat. Altitude makes it cooler than you expect; temperatures drop fast after sunset.
What NOT to wear
- Very short shorts, crop tops, bikini tops in the medina — it invites hassle.
- Anything see-through without a layer.
- Flip-flops in big medinas — the ground is uneven and sometimes wet.