SOURCE: LONELY PLANET

A gateway to Africa, Morocco is a country of dazzling diversity. You’ll find rugged mountain ranges, rolling deserts, ancient cities, deserted beaches and warm hospitality. With such varied geography, it’s best to time your visit to Morocco based on where you’re traveling within the country.

Here’s a month-by-month guide for the best time to visit Morocco.

Best time for balmy temperatures

Spring and fall are the most popular times to visit Morocco because of the pleasant temperatures in many parts of the country. However, there can be spring sandstorms in the Sahara and persistent rain in the north. Demand and prices for accommodations jump around Easter when European families head to Morocco to warm up over the long weekend.

Best time for quieter explorations

The cooler winter months are a great time to head into the Sahara Desert. Marrakesh and the south are popular at Christmas and New Year, but the northern part of the country can be chilly and wet. Snows can render mountain roads impassable.

Best time for heading to the coast

Accommodations are discounted in the summer as inland cities sizzle, but domestic tourism means peak prices in July and August on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts.

Here’s a monthly guide to what you can expect through the year in Morocco. All events are subject to change.

January is the depths of Moroccan winter. The north is wet, and snow makes many mountains impassable for hikers and even drivers. Marrakesh and the south receive the most tourists, especially around the New Year.
Key events: Marrakesh Marathon, Yennayer (Amazigh New Year)

Winter continues in Morocco. The weather is generally poor, although drier, balmier spots, such as Marrakesh and Agadir, are bearable. Apart from overlanders and city-breakers, few visitors are spotted.
Key event: 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair

Morocco wakes up with the beginning of spring when the mountains thaw and wildflowers and almond and cherry trees blossom. Winds begin to disturb the desert and Souss Valley, continuing through April.
Key events: Almond Blossom Festival, Marathon des Sables, TEDx Marrakesh, Beat Hotel

Spring continues: the country is lush and green, and temperatures are now reliably warm nationwide. Tourist numbers are high, particularly around Easter, when prices jump.
Key events: Printemps Musical des Alizés, Jidar Street Art Festival, Casamémoire Heritage Days, start of Ramadan in 2022

Prices drop in hotels and markets as the tourist season starts to quiet down, although the heaviest summer heat is yet to come. The average daily temperature in Marrakesh is about 82°F (28°C). May is a great month for trekking in the Moroccan mountains.
Key event: Festival of the Roses

Summer is heating up quickly, although the peaks of the High Atlas Mountains are still snowy. Northern Morocco and the coast are good places to be, and music festivals abound.
Key events: Cherry Festival, Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, Festival Mawazine, Gnaoua World Music Festival

Snow melts from the mountains, and temperatures in the High Atlas hover around 86°F (30°C). The beaches are breezy but busy with both domestic and European tourists in the north.
Key events: Asilah Festival, Jazzablanca, National Festival of Popular Arts, Feast of the Throne, Eid Al Adha in 2021 and 2022

August is a scorcher of a month, with an average of 104°F (40°C) in Marrakesh, and it can easily exceed that in the interior. Head to southern Atlantic beaches to beat the heat and avoid the crowds.
Key events: Moulay Idriss Moussem, Atlas Electronic

Morocco’s 10 best beaches

With the start of fall, Morocco is once again prime territory for foreign travelers. Beaches empty of local holidaymakers and even the desert is pleasant with the scent of dates and gentle breezes.
Key events: Marriage Moussem, Hamdouchi Moussem​​​​​​, Moussem of Moulay Idriss II, Sidi Yahia Moussem, TANJAzz, Oasis Festival, L’Boulevard Festival of Casablanca, Jazz au Chellah, Oasis Festival, Driftaway Music Festival, Origins Festival

October is a popular month to visit Morocco, although rain is beginning to set in north of the Middle Atlas mountain range.
Key events: Festival of Sufi Culture, Rallye Toulouse Saint-Louis, Toubkal Marathon

November is a busy time in Marrakesh and further south, with more people heading to the desert or hiking nearby. Birdwatchers stake out wetlands.
Key events: Festival du Safran, Visa for Music, Moroccan Independence Day

The country is busy at the end of the month with Christmas holidaymakers from Europe. Snow closes High Atlas mountain passes, but the white blanket is good news for skiers.
Key events: Marrakesh International Film Festival