Your guide to summer in Morocco
Step into Moroccan summer
Make every moment count in Morocco with a seasonal selection of the best places to visit and events to attend this summer.
Experience the season
From bustling medina cafés and cool courtyard brunches to music festivals, cultural celebrations and coastal thrills, summer is a season of non-stop activity in Morocco. As days grow longer and livelier, the Kingdom comes alive from countryside to coast, drawing visitors to its beautiful beaches, stunning mountains and vibrant city attractions. Whether you’re chasing sunsets over the desert or savouring fresh-caught seafood by the Atlantic, here are some seasonal must-dos for your summer trip to Morocco.
From mountains to medinas
With pleasant temperatures throughout August, Tangier is a northern coastal gem famous for its whitewashed hillside medina and breezy café culture. A great place to ease into your summer adventure, spend some time in the old city before venturing off-grid to the striking blue houses of nearby Chefchaouen, located in the foothills of the Rif Mountains. From here, stay inland and venture south to Fes. Pause to explore the cultural capital’s labyrinthine El Bali medina, before reconnecting with nature in scenic Ifrane – a cooler Alpine city affectionately known as ‘Little Switzerland’.
If you’d rather keep it coastal, catch the Atlantic sea breeze in capital city Rabat. With a deep-rooted history dating back to the 12th century, it’s worth taking a couple of days to explore iconic sites like Chellah, Hassan Tower and Kasbah des Oudayas, then make your way to cosmopolitan Casablanca. Enjoy the best of the big city’s vibrant summer nightlife and popular corniche, before continuing on to magical Marrakech. Sun-drenched days mean fewer crowds at the famous souks and sites, plus the city is a perfect launch point for the much milder Atlas Mountains. For outdoor enthusiasts, summer is the easiest time of year to summit Mount Toubkal, while enjoying a spot of remote camping amid fragrant, blossoming wildflowers.
Festivals and celebrations across the Kingdom
Beyond beautiful weather and endless activities, summer is also the season for some of Morocco’s most significant cultural celebrations and festivals. Annual events like the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music in June, Essaouira’s Gnaoua Festival and Timitar Festival in Agadir in July all celebrate indigenous culture through authentic music, traditional art and expressive performance. Another July highlight is the Marrakech Popular Arts Festival, a citywide UNESCO-protected event dedicated to preserving the oral traditions and heritage of Morocco.
In summer, Morocco comes alive from countryside to coast.
More of a modern music lover? Try MOGA Festival in Essaouira or Mawazine in Rabat – a nine-day music festival held every summer, counting global superstars Rihanna, Shakira and Stevie Wonder among its esteemed former performers. For jazz aficionados, don’t miss the international jazz festival, Tanjazz, celebrating its 25th anniversary in Tangier this year.
Morocco, kingdom of light
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