The short answer
Light trousers or chinos and a plain T-shirt or shirt work everywhere in Marrakech. Shorts are common around Jemaa el-Fnaa but look out of place in quieter medina quarters, villages and near religious sites. A sleeveless vest stands out more than an ordinary T-shirt. For desert and mountain trips, loose long trousers beat shorts.
In more detail
Men get an easier time of it than women, but the same norm applies: shoulders and knees covered in the medina is what locals expect of everyone. It reads as respect and it costs you nothing in comfort if the fabric is light.
Out of the city, practicality takes over. Sand, sun and a camel saddle all favour long trousers in Agafay or the Sahara, and on a walk above Imlil hiking trousers are the sensible choice whatever the forecast says.
For dinner on a medina rooftop or in Gueliz, smart casual is plenty. Nobody dresses up much, but a collared shirt suits the better restaurants.
Good to know
- Comfortable closed shoes for the cobbles and the scooters.
- A warm layer from December to February: nights are cold.
- Swim shorts are for the pool, not the street.
- A hat and sunscreen in summer: the medina lanes trap the heat.