General & Geography
Short for RAK by abbreviationfinder, Marrakech is an important city in the African state of Morocco. It is the fourth largest city in the country.
Marrakech is the capital of the Tensift-El Haouz economic region and the most important of all former imperial cities. Berbers lived in this city in the Neolithic Age. Abu Bakr ibn Umar, the chief and cousin of the Almoravid king Yusuf ibn Tashfin, founded Marrakech in 1062.
The Almoravids built many schools and mosques in the city. Marrakech is called the “Red City” because much of it is made of red sandstone. The metropolis grew very quickly and became a cultural, religious and commercial center for sub-Saharan Africa. One of the parts of the city, Jemaa el-Fna, is the busiest part of Africa. The Mayoress of Marrakech, Fatima Zahra Mansouri, is the second mayor in Morocco.
The Moroccan currency is the dirham. The Moroccan dirham is a restricted currency, which means that it cannot be taken out of the country and is also not available abroad (with a few exceptions). However, the Moroccan currency is fairly stable and unaffected by large exchange rate fluctuations.
Marrakech has an international airport that is served by numerous cities in Europe.
Climate in Marrakech
In the southern interior of the lowland, the Moroccan metropolis has an average winter temperature of 18 degrees and a summer temperature of 37 degrees. The hottest months of the year are July, August and September. Since the air in the region is very dry, the temperatures are usually felt to be bearable.
However, Marrakech and the lowlands of Morocco can get stiflingly hot in summer, often over 38 degrees in the midday sun when the desert winds blow from the Sahara (known as the sirocco or chergui). It is sunny most of the year. Winters are mild, but with some wetter rainy days.
Spring brings a breath of fresh air to the Red City. The surrounding valleys show a multitude of bright flowers. There is sunshine and the average daily highs are between 23 and 27 degrees. Rain showers can be a factor in April and May, so pack an umbrella just to be on the safe side.
In summer you should make sure you have enough breaks in the shade and a good water supply. Despite the high temperatures, summer is considered the main season in Marrakech. In October it slowly cools down, with the daily values still well above the 25 degree mark.
When is the best time to visit Marrakech?
The best time to travel to Marrakech is from March to May and between September and November. These months are known for friendly, summery weather without extreme heat and are popular for the affordable hotel rates. Avoid visiting in brutally hot midsummer when temperatures regularly exceed 38 degrees.
Winter in Marrakech is still a good time to travel despite occasional rainfalls and lower temperatures. Even in the coolest month of January, daytime temperatures still reach a pleasant 18 ° C. This is not the weather for relaxing days at the hotel pool, but it is very suitable for exploring the highlights of the city.
Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daytime temperature | 18 ° C | 20 ° C | 22 ° C | 24 ° C | 28 ° C | 31 ° C | 37 ° C | 37 ° C | 33 ° C | 28 ° C | 22 ° C | 19 ° C |
| Night temperature | 6 ° C | 8 ° C | 9 ° C | 11 ° C | 14 ° C | 16 ° C | 20 ° C | 20 ° C | 18 ° C | 15 ° C | 10 ° C | 7 ° C |
| Precipitation in mm | 32 | 38 | 38 | 39 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 41 | 31 |
| Rainy days | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Hours of sunshine | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Sunrise | 7:30 | 7:15 | 6:45 | 7:05 | 5:35 | 6:25 | 6:35 | 6:55 | 7:15 | 7:35 | 7:00 | 7:25 |
| Sunset | 17:50 | 18:20 | 18:40 | 20:00 | 19:20 | 20:40 | 20:40 | 20:15 | 19:40 | 19:00 | 17:35 | 17:30 |
Temperatures
The annual average temperature is 19.7 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is July (28.5 ° C), coldest month of January with mean values of 12 ° C.
Precipitation
The annual precipitation is 282 mm on 32 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. Snowfall is generally not expected in any month.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, June is the sunniest month with an average of 11 hours of sunshine per day. The average annual sunshine is 8.6 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.
Cities nearby
The following larger towns are nearby and have a similar climate: El Kelaa des Sraghna and Ben Guerir.
Sights & attractions
Marrakech is famous for its parks, especially the Menara olive grove and the 405 hectare Agdal Gardens. An irrigation system built under the Almoravids is still used to irrigate the city’s green spaces. The city is a trading center for the High Atlas and Sahara trade. It is connected by rail and the road to Safi and Casablanca.
A visit to a hammam (local bathhouse) should not be missed on a vacation in the Moroccan city. There are a number of bathhouses in Marrakech and a typical price for tourists is between 50 and 100 dirhams. The most famous sights in Marrakech are of course the souks, i.e. the markets with fabrics, spices, souvenirs and handicrafts.
On the world-famous market square of Marrakech, the Jemaa al Fna, the craziest spectacle in Africa takes place every day. Here you will meet jugglers, snake charmers, magicians, solo entertainers and artists. In the evening there are also barbecue stalls and lots of entertainment. UNESCO honored these peculiarities with an entry as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.
Marrakech weather in March, April and May
Average daily temperatures between 22 ° C and 28 ° C can be expected over the next three months. In Marrakech it gets warmest in May, but March is noticeably cooler.
In March, at about days 4 to be expected precipitation in April at about 4 days in May at about 2 days.
In the period from March to May, the sun shines on average between 8 and 9 hours a day. The sunniest weather is in April in Marrakech, with a little less sun you will have to get by in March.
