Culture & Tradition
What to Wear in Morocco: A Dress Code Guide
Morocco is Muslim but not strict. We tell you exactly what to wear and where, to travel with peace of mind.
## The golden rule
Morocco is a Muslim and conservative country, but open and tolerant. The golden rule: cover shoulders and knees in public places, particularly in medinas, mosques, and rural villages. For the rest, it's all about common sense.
## In the city
Women:
- Pants, long skirts, dresses below the knee
- T-shirts with short or 3/4 sleeves (avoid tank tops)
- Light scarf to cover shoulders when needed (very practical, especially for mosques)
- No cleavage, no bare back
- Sandals or sneakers, doesn't matter
Men:
- Shorts acceptable in summer (but not too short, no bermuda above the knee)
- T-shirts, short-sleeve shirts
- No shirtless in the city
- No shorts in rural villages
## At the beach and pool
- One-piece swimsuit or tankini for women (no bikini in public beaches, where local families go)
- Swim shorts for men (no Speedo in town)
- On some private beaches (in Taghazout for example), bikini is tolerated
## At the mosque
- Everything covered: arms, legs, hair (for women), shoulders
- Mosques are closed to non-Muslims, except the large historic mosques (Hassan II in Casablanca, Tin Mal, etc.)
- Shoes removed before entering
## On excursion in the Atlas and the desert
- More casual than in the city
- Practical trek clothing (pants leg, technical top)
- Warm jacket for the evening in the desert
- No suggestive outfit at the camp (Berbers are Muslim, especially in rural areas)
## Buying Moroccan clothes
Djellabas (long hooded robes, for men and women) and kaftans (embroidered dresses, especially for women) are a must-buy in Morocco — elegant, comfortable, and 100% adapted to the climate. You can find them for 100-500 MAD in the medinas, and 1,000-3,000 MAD for high-end versions. Babouches (leather slippers) are also a must.
## Mistakes to avoid
- Sleeveless tank top in the medina: provokes insistent looks (women)
- Ultra-short shorts: seen as disrespectful
- Mini skirt: absolutely to avoid (even in summer)
- Military clothing: strictly forbidden (it's the law)
- T-shirt with religious imagery (Jesus, Buddha, etc.): badly seen
## Special cases
Pregnant women: no problem, you'll be considered with kindness.
Trans people: stay in binary norms for safety (society is very traditional).
Visible tattoos: generally well accepted among young people, hide them in rural villages.
## Our advice
No stress: we're not in Saudi Arabia. Moroccans see millions of tourists each year, and most are much more tolerant than you'd think. Just be respectful (covered shoulders, no beach outfit in town), and everything will go well. The most common compliment you'll hear: "you're pretty, but cover up a little anyway".
Morocco is a Muslim and conservative country, but open and tolerant. The golden rule: cover shoulders and knees in public places, particularly in medinas, mosques, and rural villages. For the rest, it's all about common sense.
## In the city
Women:
- Pants, long skirts, dresses below the knee
- T-shirts with short or 3/4 sleeves (avoid tank tops)
- Light scarf to cover shoulders when needed (very practical, especially for mosques)
- No cleavage, no bare back
- Sandals or sneakers, doesn't matter
Men:
- Shorts acceptable in summer (but not too short, no bermuda above the knee)
- T-shirts, short-sleeve shirts
- No shirtless in the city
- No shorts in rural villages
## At the beach and pool
- One-piece swimsuit or tankini for women (no bikini in public beaches, where local families go)
- Swim shorts for men (no Speedo in town)
- On some private beaches (in Taghazout for example), bikini is tolerated
## At the mosque
- Everything covered: arms, legs, hair (for women), shoulders
- Mosques are closed to non-Muslims, except the large historic mosques (Hassan II in Casablanca, Tin Mal, etc.)
- Shoes removed before entering
## On excursion in the Atlas and the desert
- More casual than in the city
- Practical trek clothing (pants leg, technical top)
- Warm jacket for the evening in the desert
- No suggestive outfit at the camp (Berbers are Muslim, especially in rural areas)
## Buying Moroccan clothes
Djellabas (long hooded robes, for men and women) and kaftans (embroidered dresses, especially for women) are a must-buy in Morocco — elegant, comfortable, and 100% adapted to the climate. You can find them for 100-500 MAD in the medinas, and 1,000-3,000 MAD for high-end versions. Babouches (leather slippers) are also a must.
## Mistakes to avoid
- Sleeveless tank top in the medina: provokes insistent looks (women)
- Ultra-short shorts: seen as disrespectful
- Mini skirt: absolutely to avoid (even in summer)
- Military clothing: strictly forbidden (it's the law)
- T-shirt with religious imagery (Jesus, Buddha, etc.): badly seen
## Special cases
Pregnant women: no problem, you'll be considered with kindness.
Trans people: stay in binary norms for safety (society is very traditional).
Visible tattoos: generally well accepted among young people, hide them in rural villages.
## Our advice
No stress: we're not in Saudi Arabia. Moroccans see millions of tourists each year, and most are much more tolerant than you'd think. Just be respectful (covered shoulders, no beach outfit in town), and everything will go well. The most common compliment you'll hear: "you're pretty, but cover up a little anyway".