Morocco is a Muslim country, and while it is used to tourism, it is still culturally conservative in the way local women dress; therefore women visiting should be considerate of the local culture. That said, you don’t necessarily have to dress like a local. I’m not muslim, and I certainly didn’t wear an abaya or hijab, but I did choose clothes that fully covered everything except my face and ankles.

Dressing modestly is a matter of acknowledging culture but it’s also a matter of comfort. As a solo female traveler, especially, you’ll want to attract as little attention as possible. In general, that means covering your shoulders, chest, and legs, and avoiding tight or really short clothing.

There are also practical reasons to dress a certain way in Morocco. The medina streets can be dusty, muddy, and uneven, especially around the markets, so closed-toe shoes are a good idea. The streets are busy and crowded, and you’ll definitely be walking a lot, so comfortable shoes are important. I believe in comfort + style. It doesn’t have to be either or, so I chose to pack only two pairs of shoes: a pair of New Balances and a pair of huaraches. I also took my cardigan with me everywhere I went even if I didn’t put it on and I wore or carried a pashmina everyday. I used both for covering my shoulders and staying warm, especially at night. The weather change when the sun goes down felt sudden and stark every single day.

Weather is another important factor when choosing your outfits. I visited in March, and the mornings and nights were cool enough that I needed a light jacket or cardigan every day. In the afternoons, it warmed up, but I was still most comfortable in long sleeves and lighter fabrics. If you plan to visit places like Essaouira or the Atlas Mountains, it will be cooler and windier than Marrakech, so you’ll want to be able to layer.

Outfit Ideas

Below are a few outfits I wore while traveling in Morocco. These outfits worked well for walking in the medina, going to restaurants, taking day trips, and exploring different parts of the country.

Outside in Marrakech

I originally purchased this lightweight, printed dress from Banana Republic for my trip to Kenya in November 2025, but I ended up not having the opportunity to wear it. It turns out it was better suited for Morocco, and I got so many compliments on it. It’s breathable so I was cool during the day when the sun was out, and I layered leggings underneath so that I was warm when the sun set. As for shoes, I went with a pair of Free People huaraches that are comfortable closed toe, slip on style shoes.

Essaouira

It’s a bit cooler by the water in Essaouira, so I chose an Andrea Iyamah dress made of heavier fabric, the same huaraches I wore more of the trip, and this beautiful pashmina I purchased in Kenya that coincidentally perfectly matched the dress.

*Andrea Iyamah Meta Maxi Dress, a Kenyan Pashmina and Free People Huaraches*

Atlas Mountains

For my trip to the mountains, I wanted to do a bit more layering so that I could put more on or take pieces off depending on the temperature. It turned out to be a beautiful day and even a bit hot once we began the hike to the Imlil waterfalls. I chose this beautiful knit cardigan, checked blue vest, and skirt pants all from Free People. Since I expected it to be cooler, I packed this unique Born to Roam Russian Pillbox hat and added a stunning blue pashmina that I actually purchased from the souks my first day in Morocco. Finally, my sneakers are New Balance 480s, a brand of shoe that goes with me on nearly every trip.

Inside in Marrakech

On at least a couple days, I had activities planned inside my riad or very close by. I recycled these gorgeous skirt pants throughout the trip, only changing my top. In this case, I chose a cropped, embellished top I purchased from Zara years ago. As for shoes, I went with the huaraches when heading out and the slippers you see below while inside, noting that these are Berber slippers I also purchased in the souks.

*Zara Embellished Top and Free People Skirt Pants*

Transferring between riads and spending time on the grounds of my second riad, I wanted to be comfortable but still stylish. Since I was not out and about, I felt comfortable wearing my shoulders out with a bit of a lower neckline. This dress is from Farm Rio, which I paired with the Russian Pillbox hat again and a different pair of shoes from the souks, this time Arabic style.