What's the weather like in Marrakech year-round?

Marrakech sits just below the Atlas Mountains on a dry inland plain, and that geography defines its weather: blazing summers, mild winters, almost no humidity, and a lot of sunshine. Across the whole year you'll get clear skies far more often than not.

Summer is intense. June, July and August routinely reach 38°C and frequently push past 40°C, with a few days every year topping 45°C during a heatwave. It's dry heat, so it's more bearable than a humid 40°C, but the midday medina is brutal — this is when locals disappear indoors and life moves to early morning and after sunset. If you visit in summer, do your sightseeing before 11am, retreat to a riad plunge pool or air-conditioning in the afternoon, and come back out when the souks cool down.

Winter is the side of Marrakech people don't expect. Days from December to February are genuinely pleasant — 18–20°C and sunny, perfect for wandering the gardens and rooftops in a light jacket. But the nights get properly cold: 6–10°C is normal and it can dip to 4°C. Riads are built of stone to stay cool in summer, which means they're chilly at night in winter, so look for one with heating or a fireplace, and pack a warm layer for evenings on the terrace.

Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are my favourite windows — 25–30°C days, comfortable evenings, gardens in bloom in spring. Rain is rare year-round; Marrakech gets only a handful of wet days, almost all between November and March, usually short showers rather than washouts. Pack for sun whenever you come, add warm layers for winter nights, and you'll be set.