What can I wear in Morocco?

[surlycurly]

Hi all, I'm going to Marrakesh for 10 days in July. I was to dress appropriately, and for the heat. Any ideas for modest, stylish outfits and that won't roast me alive, or cost a fortune? TIA

Spent

Strappy! Not scrappy 😂

I was there in October. Lots of tourists wearing usual strappy tops and shorts. I wore culottes that covered my knees and short sleeved t shirts so shoulders were covered. It was fine.

For places to visit Jemaa el fnaa is the main square, it’s better to visit at night as it comes alive then. Try not to make eye contact with any of the street performers though as they’ll ask for money and although the government are trying to crack down on the use of animals you might still see the odd monkey or snake charmer.

Non Muslims aren’t allowed inside the mosques but Koutoubia is still worth a visit even if you only see if from the outside

Have a wander through the souks but go with it in mind that you might end up lost for hours! There are some lovely cafes you could stumble across. Some with roof top terraces

Marrakesh is FULL of tourists!
OP, avoid long pants / dresses as in floor length. It’s very dusty so they’ll get filthy!
Also, book a hamman before you go - somewhere nice. It’s fab!

Visit the Jardin Majorelle gardens.
book a cooking class - we did one with a women’s refuge.
Hamman

We were in Marrakesh at Easter, I had wondered if my teen daughter would be hassled but it was very relaxed, no issues. We did get her to wear T-shirts & knee length skirts but saw lots of other teens in skimpier clothing.

I'll have my red head, six foot son with me so I'm hoping to get no hassle. Although I may consider trading him for a monkey.

Also don't wear anything that gives the traders a clue where you are from, like football jerseys. It gives them a way in and sometimes hard to remove yourself. A beautiful country, go with a relaxed attitude but have your wits about you. It's a balance between being suspicious of friendliness and enjoying the culture. Enjoy!

One practical thing- do we need to have our passports on us all the time? Or am I best leaving them in the safe?

Visit Kafta Queen when you get there. Enjoy

We felt quite uncomfortable there perhaps as two young women travelling alone, plus my friend interpreted the ‘covered up’ rule as wearing leggings and tight tops, sometimes with scooped backs etc. also saw other women being stared at. Then we started wearing looser clothing eg a skirt with leggings underneath and a scarf around neck area in case tops had lower backs. That was better. If it will be hot you will be best in looser linen type things.

Enjoy your trip - Marrakech is an incredible city. Nothing to add to the clothing advice. Visit the Jewish quarter, which was fascinating and the photography museum. Have lunch at the Jardins Majorelles - the cafe there is wonderful. If you are adventurous, you could travel with the locals in a minivan to the Atlas region for a day trip. Seek out the little cafes where locals eat - had some of the best and cheap meals there.

In Marrakesh you will see Moroccan women wearing everything from tradional to western clothing, just not super skimpy. And you can't visit any Mosques as non-Muslim anyway, there is one in Casablanca you can but I think that's it. Also you won't get hassled by any men if you are with a man.

Whatever you wear you will look like a tourist and get shaken down and hassled as one so just wear what you will make you feel comfortable. As others have said loose long skirts or trousers and tops in natural fibres are best.

If you can also please visit outside of Marrakesh not to derail but it's the worst part of a very wonderful and beautiful country

"ll have my red head, six foot son with me so I'm hoping to get no hassle. Although I may consider trading him for a monkey."

what?

Wear what you would wear in Istanbul. It’s very similar, in terms of what is acceptable.

@CoronationKicking the performing ones in the main square that I keep reading about. My son is 16 and surly- the monkeys might be better company!

On a serious note, I know your are joking, but please stay away from people who want to show you wild animals like primates. Show your displeasure openly and refuse to have anything to do with them. Otherwise you are continuing to underpin a horribly cruel trade perpetuated by tourist money. Just yesterday I saw someone trying to "sell" us taking photos with a live desert fox, which we very clearly signaled our disgust at him. When he realised that we wouldn't give him money he literally threw it in a sack! This is an appalling trade in wild animals.

@Quveas you make a very good point- I was obviously making a joke about my torn face teen, but I have an absolute loathing of animal cruelty. I wouldn't have thought to be openly disdainful though- that's good advice. I probably would have been polite and shuffled off!

Very good point re animal cruelty. They don’t take well to criticism of it - my young son was screamed at for crying at them to stop treating the animals like that.

Another tip - avoid at all costs being persuaded by locals to show you the way to a place. They will walk you for miles to their mate’s shop. We did have some fun on one of these, until we realized what was going on. Plenty of kids in on it.

I give off a very 'I'm not interested' vibe. It's come in very handy before. I suspect I'll have to bring it out again. I have no plans to bring anything back- I just want to observe how live plays out there (and eat some good food!). Hopefully it won't be too unpleasant!

Where is "hear"? That is not my experience of Saudi at all - lived there for years.

Presumably it was supposed to say head not hear

Oh i thought poster was living in a specific country. Yes that makes sense. Again not true of Saudi - in the supermarket no but if in certain sectors then yes and you can be ordered to by muttawa.