What to Wear in Morocco: A Complete Morocco Packing List for Women

When I was planning my first trip to Morocco, I spent time reading through tons of blog posts and packing lists about the country.

While this wasn't going to be my first time in North Africa or in a conservative country (I'd been to Egypt previously), I had to reconcile the packing list I had in my head with all the photos I was seeing online of female travelers in Morocco – you know, the dreamy Instagram kind where they're all barefoot in dresses.

Yes, I wanted to get my own cute photos in Morocco. But I also wanted to be practical about my packing when I knew I'd be riding camels, climbing to the top of ancient sandy kasbahs, and spending a night in the desert. And, you know, I wanted to make sure I was dressing respectfully, too.

So what the heck DO you wear in Morocco as a woman?

Luckily for you, I kept track of everything I packed for not one, but TWO trips to Morocco and took copious notes on what I wore the most, what I didn't really need, and what I wish I would have packed instead with the express purpose of writing this Morocco packing list for you!

What to wear in Morocco: My top tips

First, some observations on how women dress in Morocco, and what you should and shouldn't pack.

1. Yes, you should dress conservatively

Morocco is a Muslim-majority country, and you'll find most women there dressed pretty modestly, usually wearing a hijab or other kind of headscarf.

Female tourists to Morocco are NOT required to cover their heads, though, and I didn't feel uncomfortable with my hair out. (Even when visiting the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, female tourists were not required to cover their hair.)

You also don't have to be covered head to toe as a visitor to Morocco. The basic “rules” are to cover your shoulders, knees, and chest. Most days I had my elbows covered, too, and made sure that my tops were long enough to cover my bum.

In bigger cities (and especially in Marrakech, which is often filled with European tourists), you'll definitely see women walking around in shorts and strappy tops or dresses – but these are also the women that experience the most verbal harassment.

I'm not saying you have to hide your femininity in Morocco (or saying that sexual harassment is ever “deserved” based on what a woman is wearing – it's not). But I do recommend respecting that this is a conservative culture and dressing appropriately.

2. But keep comfort (and the temperature) in mind

It can get HOT in Morocco, especially if you're visiting in any month that isn't between November and March. For this reason, you'll want to stick to lighter layering fabrics and flowy dresses/pants when possible.

Both of my trips to Morocco were in early spring, when it was still cool enough to need a jacket most evenings. I had no problem wearing more than one layer, or throwing on a scarf to cover my neck or to just add some color to an outfit.

Definitely check the weather forecast as you're packing to make sure you know what temperatures to expect – in the winter, it might actually get colder than you expect, especially if you'll be visiting cities in the north or up in the mountains (like Chefchaouen, for example).

Most days in Morocco, I wore a dress with a long-sleeved layering top or jacket, pants with a t-shirt, or full-length leggings under a long tunic top. I was very comfortable most of the time!

(On my second trip, I was actually cold the first half of the trip and kept adding on layers. My merino wool tops from Unbound Merino came in very handy! They are breathable and odor-repellant, and perfect for an extra layer.)

3. Yes, you can pack a swimsuit

If you're staying in a riad in Marrakech (or anywhere else that will have a pool), or visiting a coastal city with beaches, it's fine to pack a swim suit – or even a bikini. Just don't go walking around in it in public.

Complete Morocco packing list for women

Note: This packing list is based on what I packed and used during two separate trips to Morocco, which each lasted for 2 weeks. I did do laundry at least once on each trip.

My bag(s) for Morocco

My bag for this trip was my trusty Osprey bag. I like Osprey's wheeled duffel bags, which are soft-sided yet made to last (I've had my Osprey bag for almost a decade!). This 65-liter bag and this 80-liter bag are both good options for checked luggage.

If you're looking for a carry-on-friendly bag, I like my carry-on size spinner from Delsey, or the Osprey Fairview, which is a carry-on-friendly backpack with laptop sleeve designed for women.

For bags to use on the ground, I'm all about form AND function, and Pacsafe's anti-theft bags with lockable zippers and slash-proof straps have become my go-to. I usually travel with a laptop and camera, meaning I need a sturdy backpack I can rely on, as well as a smaller shoulder bag.

In Morocco, I had my Pacsafe backpack and my small convertible cross-body bag. For those who don't need to tote around a laptop and camera gear, I'd still recommend a small Pacsafe backpack (like this one or this one), since the theft-proof features will give you some added peace of mind. I also like this hip pack and this smaller cross-body purse if you want something even smaller.

RELATED: How to Keep Your Money and Valuables Safe on Your Travels

Clothing for Morocco

On top

• 1-2 long tunic tops
• 1 top with 3/4-length sleeves
• 3-4 t-shirts (including at least one merino t-shirt, which you barely need to wash)
• 2 tank tops for layering
• 1 flowy short-sleeved top for layering (I've been using this one from Amazon)
• 1 long-sleeved jersey wrap top (or a cardigan, depending on season)
• 1 long-sleeved merino top (used this for hikes, and on chilly days)
• 2-3 dresses (midi/maxi – I LOVE this maxi dress with pockets, and this one which is very light)

On the bottom

• 1 pair of thin flowy pants (the mauve-colored ones you see in my photos are these ones, which I own in two colors; I also tried these heavier, dressier-looking ones on my second trip and also really like them, though they did need hemming since I'm only 5'4″)
• 1 pair of linen pants (I have some from Old Navy I really like)
• 1 pair of capris (like these or these)
• 1-2 pairs of leggings (I love Old Navy's PowerSoft leggings for hiking)
• OPTIONAL: 1 pair of jeans for evenings (especially in winter)
• OPTIONAL: 1 maxi skirt (if you like the flowy type of skirt, this one is an affordable option, though is very full; this one is shorter but will still cover your knees)
• OPTIONAL: 1 flowy jumpsuit (I bought this soft jumpsuit for my second Morocco trip, and I'm now obsessed with it. You do need to wear a t-shirt under it, but it's so comfy.)

Under things

• 2 regular bras
• 1 comfy sports bra
• Breathable underwear (these ExOfficio ones are my favorite)
• 1-2 pairs of Jockey Skimmies for wearing under dresses (my fellow curvy ladies will understand the need for these in warm weather!)

Outerwear

• 1 light jacket (I did leather on my first trip, and denim on my second)
• 2-3 scarves (one a hidden pocket travel scarf)
• 1 packable sun hat (I like this one and this one – the second one is the one I'm wearing in some of my photos)
• OPTIONAL: Packable down jacket, recommended if you're staying overnight in the desert in winter; I like this one (the orange one in some of these photos)

Shoes

• 1 pair of sneakers (I love my SUAVS, which are lightweight, breathable, AND washable; save 15% using the code DB15)
• 1 pair of walking sandals or hiking sandals
• 1 pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots (my itineraries included some easy hikes; I may not have packed them if I hadn't been traveling in winter)

I also highly recommend packing a pair of light slippers for Morocco. Many hotel/riad rooms have tile or stone floors, which can be really cold on bare or socked feet! Something like these will do the trick.

Everything else

Toiletries

This travel toiletry bag is currently my pick for what to use to pack this all!

• Toiletries like sunscreen, contact solution, toothpaste, and moisturizer (OMG bring a good moisturizer or lotion – it is SO DRY in southern Morocco!)
• Solid shampoo/conditioner – I like the solid bars by Ethique; they're eco-friendly, you don't have to worry about liquid rules, AND they won't explode in your suitcase (and I'm in love with these tiny waterproof soap bags)
• Hand sanitizer
• Any skin care products you usually travel with
• First aid kit with Band-Aids, motion sickness pills, pain killers, Imodium, and rehydration salts in case you need them
• Travel toilet paper rolls (they take up even less room than tissues, and are handy in Morocco since not all restrooms have paper)

Tech

Need a good tech bag to help you organize all your cords, charger blocks, and adapters? I like this one!

• Belkin surge protector/power strip (or this Anker one is also awesome, and perfect for hotel rooms with outlets hidden behind beds or tables)
• Skross travel adapter (Morocco uses the same wall plugs as Europe)
• Camera, batteries, and extra memory cards
• Power bank for extra juice for your phone (or this power bank can plug right into your USB-C phone)
• Headphones (I like these tiny earbuds)
• All the various charger cords that you'll need (or a portable charging dock like this one might work for you)

Misc.

• Small convertible cross-body bag
• Lifestraw water bottle (which makes most tap water safe to drink)
• Quick-dry travel towel (because hotel towels in Morocco can leave a lot to be desired)
• Buff for the desert
• Dual-voltage hair dryer (I like traveling with my own!)
• Sunglasses
• RFID pouch for passport and credit cards
• Phone lanyard (this one works with almost any phone case, and is a great way to make sure you don't drop/lose your phone – like when you're riding a camel!)

Insurance

I also highly recommend purchasing travel insurance for the entirety of your trip in Morocco. Travel insurance usually covers things like medical emergencies, but can also compensate you for things like travel delays and lost luggage. (And if you're going on a tour, most tour companies will require that you have travel insurance.)

Portable wifi or eSIM

If you don't want to rely on patchy hotel wifi, you might want to look into traveling with a portable wifi hotspot like a Solis. Solis works by connecting you to a local mobile network – but no SIM cards are required. You can connect up to 5 devices to a Solis, which is perfect if you're traveling as a couple or a family. Learn more about Solis here.

The other option is to get an eSIM for your phone so you can easily use it abroad. (This is a better option if you're not traveling with any other devices besides your phone.) Basically you purchase an eSIM before your trip with a certain amount of data allotted, and then you simply switch over to it when you arrive in Egypt. My go-to for eSIMs is Airalo, and they do offer options in Morocco!

My top 6 must-haves for Morocco

1. Flowy pants – The flowy palazzo pants I packed were perfect for Morocco in warmer temperatures. They were light and airy, but still provided all the coverage I needed. People were constantly asking about these in photos, too. (The same with the jumpsuit I packed for my second trip.)
2. Fun dresses – Morocco is such an Instagrammable place, and thankfully most of it is also suited to wearing dresses. You can't go wrong with maxi dresses with pockets, especially if they have fun patterns. I also like this lighter dress I brought on my second trip (though it lacks pockets).
3. Comfy shoes – You'll probably walk quite a bit in Morocco, so having shoes you're comfortable in is important. Bonus if they're also cute like the SUAVS Zilker knit shoes I now take with me everywhere (seriously, I have these in 4 colors!). You can save 15% off a pair by using the code DB15.
4. Multiple scarves – You can totally change the tone of any outfit by simply adding a colorful scarf! I took 3 with me to Morocco; 2 that were light and colorful, and one a hidden pocket travel scarf.
5. Travel towel – You may not technically NEED a quick-dry towel in Morocco, since every hotel and riad will provide you with one. But many Morocco hotel towels you'll meet will be thin, scratchy, and possibly not even big enough to cover all of you. I recommend bringing your own if you're there for more than a few days!
6. Slippers – I'm actually adding this after my second trip to Morocco, because I started traveling with slippers recently and it truly is a game-changer! Especially in Morocco where tile and stone floors can be so cold, you won't regret packing a pair of light slippers.

Happy packing for your Morocco trip!

Want more Morocco?

Want to read more about traveling in Morocco? Check out some of my top blog posts about traveling there:

• 8 Things That Surprised Me About Traveling in Morocco
• 3 Days in Marrakech: The Perfect Itinerary for Your First Visit
• Escaping to the Moroccan Coast: A Day Trip to Essaouira
• 10 Things to Know Before Visiting Chefchaouen, Morocco
• Morocco Uncovered: The Best Morocco Tour with Intrepid Travel

What other questions do you have about what to wear in Morocco?

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Amanda Williams

Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!

www.dangerous-business.com