What to wear in Morocco (& 5 clothing items to absolutely avoid) in 2023

As somebody who lives here in Morocco and talks to a lot of people who plan to visit, I often get questions about what to wear in Morocco. It’s an interesting and tricky place because while it is still a Muslim country, it’s definitely a lot more progressive than other Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia or Iran. But it can still be difficult to pack for.

Do you err to the conservative side or dress for the hot weather? Let’s discuss what to wear in Morocco (and what to definitely NOT wear in Morocco) for both men and women.

A preface about what to wear in Morocco, especially for women

Frankly, you can wear whatever you want. You will not get arrested. However, the question isn’t necessarily what can you wear but what should you wear. Morocco is a Muslim country. Many people will feel offended by provocative clothing.

But beyond that, the amount of (unwanted) attention you will get will be high for showing a lot of skin. This will not be a deterrent for many, but it is just a fair warning that people don’t “mind their business” as much in Morocco as they do in other places. Just in 2021, a woman was sexually assaulted on camera in Tangier for wearing shorts. The social media discourse was upsetting, with many laughing at the victim and defending the assaulters because “she was asking for it“.

This is not how it should be, but it is the reality for many women living and traveling here. And you can absolutely wear whatever you want, but disregarding the culture and religion will make you feel uncomfortable at best and may open you up to the vulnerability of being harassed or worse.

I typically tend to dress more conservatively in countries where that is the norm, like Dubai and Morocco. For me, respecting the local culture is more important than making a statement or wearing whenever I feel most comfortable in. If I wanted to be comfortable, I can stay in my home country. I want to experience other cultures, and part of experiencing other cultures is being respectful of them and their religion and the things that they value.

What to wear in Morocco

Like many things, what to wear in Morocco will depend largely on where you are in the country. Bigger cities like Casablanca, Tangier, and Rabat or more touristy places like Marrakech and Ifrane have a more laidback, liberal fashion style. You can walk around and see girls wearing crop tops, jeans, shorts, and pretty much anything you would see in other, more liberal places in the world.

However, if you leave the big cities and go into the smaller towns and villages, this is going to become much less common and will attract much more attention. I remember once being in the Marrakesh medina and I saw these two European women wearing very revealing clothing, and it was incredibly uncomfortable with how much people are staring. I felt awkward for them.

I would definitely say err to the more conservative side no matter where you go throughout Morocco because at the end of the day it is a Muslim country and it’s always good to respect local religion and tradition. Even in the bigger cities, showing a lot of skin will stand out and make you probably feel very watched (because it’s unusual).

What to wear in Morocco as a woman

My wardrobe has definitely changed since I moved here to morocco. In the States, I used to wear a lot of leggings and shirts but I’ve definitely grown accustomed to wearing a lot more loose, oversize clothing. While Morocco isn’t as conservative as some Islamic countries, it is still fairly conservative. Unless you’re wanting to attract attention, dressing conservatively is your best bet, particularly if you’re traveling alone as a woman. I still wear a lot of leggings, but I usually wear an oversized shirt or dress that covers everything (and by everything I mean your butt).

Djellabas (pronounced like ja-leb-ba) are very popular for both men and women in morocco. They’re sold everywhere, cheap, and very comfortable. They even have ones for summer and for winter, with a difference in the material making it better for colder or warmer seasons. I own quite a few of them, but I typically don’t wear them outside of the house because I don’t find them to be super flattering for me, but I do see them worn quite a lot.

Generally speaking, people in Morocco tend to wear the same clothing you would see anywhere else: lots of long shirts, jeans, leggings, sweatshirts, and dresses. During formal occasions, you’ll see a lot of beautiful kaftans and elegant long dresses.

The style of dress generally tends to be pretty casual, but put together. I’m consistently impressed with how fashionable, stylish, and well dress Moroccan women are.

What to wear in Morocco for men

What is acceptable for men to wear in Morocco is generally, unfortunately, “pretty much anything”. Many men wear djellabas, but typically most men wear jeans, basketball shorts, track pants, T-shirts, sweaters, pretty much anything you would see outside of morocco. There are far fewer restrictions about what men wear compared to the expectations for women’s clothing. That’s just life, even if it’s not particularly fair.

Moroccan men more than in other places are very fashion-forward as well. They frequently get their haircut, they dress in the latest trends and otherwise tend to always look a lot more fashionable than even in the United States. It’s not unusual for a Moroccan man to get his haircut once a week or at least 2-3 times a month.

What should you not wear in Morocco?

As I’ve mentioned, wearing something revealing will be very awkward in morocco. Over 99% of the Moroccan population is Muslim, and walking around in clothing that disregards religious customs is just bad etiquette. While many Moroccans are fashion-forward and dress nicely, the reality about what not to wear in Morocco pretty much relates back to respect for the religion and conservative culture.

Clothing items to avoid include:

1. Any shirt that is super low cut or shows a lot of cleavage.
2. Shorts or skirts that are too high (think over the knee as a general rule of thumb, though I rarely ever see shorts as it is).
3. Anything too tight or formfitting (because of the unwanted attention and because it’s a hot place).
4. Clothing with vulgar images, glorifying drugs/alcohol, or anything otherwise offensive to Islam or Muslims.
5. Sheer or provocative clothing.

Frequently Asked Questions about what to wear in Morocco

Do you have to wear a hijab?

The short answer: no! Especially in the bigger cities, I would say the majority of women aren’t actually wearing hijab, which surprised me a little bit. It’s a majority Muslim country, but many women, particularly younger or unmarried women, do not wear hijab at all. It is required in mosques, but that’s the only place it is mandatory.

That being said, if you plan to spend much time in smaller cities, you will see more people wearing hijab. You won’t necessarily feel uncomfortable not wearing it, but you will more than likely stand out because it is the norm.

Can females wear shorts in Morocco?

Sure, but it’s not terribly common. I would personally not wear something shorter than capris or maybe above the knee.

Can you wear a bikini in Morocco?

I’ve seen women wear bikinis or two-pieces at the beach, and it draws a lot of attention. You can, but you’ll probably get stared at.

What should female tourists wear in Marrakech?

The bigger, more tourist-centric cities like Marrakesh, Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier will be the most liberal and open-minded cities, where you can get away with wearing less conservative clothing. I’ve seen many Moroccan women wear crop tops and shorts in the bigger cities. This is not the case however in smaller cities, where it would be very out of place and weird.

How do you deal with the heat in Moroccan summer if you’re fully covered?

I often wonder about this because it does get blisteringly hot in the summer in Morocco. In fact, I would almost encourage people to not visit during the peak summer months, because it’s just ridiculously hot. Surprisingly, morocco is fairly temperate for the majority of the year. In fact, I spend a lot of the winter feeling very cold because most buildings lack much insulation, so I run a personal heater through most of the winter.

But as far as how to deal with the hot summer heat, most people just deal with it. Yes, you’re wearing a lot of clothing, but many Moroccan women opt for flowing, light layers as opposed to tight, restrictive fabrics. But also, you just don’t see people out and about a lot during the day when the sun is at its hottest. Many women opt to spend their time indoors, myself included.

What are your thoughts about what to wear in Morocco? 👇