August is the second of Marrakech’s two extreme months – about 37°C by day and 22°C at night, effectively rainless – and the one where the city fills with Moroccan and European visitors anyway. Prices stay near the annual floor in the medina while the coast is at capacity, and the same rule applies as in July: build the trip around the riad, the early morning and Essaouira.
Marrakech in August, honestly
The heat is marginally below July but the difference is academic; both are months where the middle of the day is unusable outdoors. What changes in August is who else is here:
- Moroccan families travel in August, and much of the country heads to the Atlantic coast. Essaouira, Agadir and the beach towns are at their busiest and most expensive of the year.
- European summer visitors arrive in Marrakech itself, so the medina is livelier in the cool hours than it is in July.
- The city rates stay low regardless – Marrakech in summer is a buyer’s market even when the coast is not.
The practical consequence: if you want the coast in August, book it far ahead. If you are staying in Marrakech, you will not need to.
Weather
August averages about 37°C by day and 22°C at night, with almost no rain and very low humidity. The chergui can lift it past 45°C for stretches. Nights are warm but not oppressive, which is why the city lives outdoors after sunset.
The same heat rules apply as July: out before 09:00 and after 18:00, cover up rather than strip off, drink continuously and replace salt, and treat heat exhaustion as a genuine risk rather than a theoretical one.
The two national holidays
- Friday 20 August – Revolution of the King and the People, a national public holiday.
- Saturday 21 August – Youth Day, marking the king’s birthday, also a public holiday.
Together they create a long weekend and heavy domestic travel towards the coast. Banks and government offices close; the medina and tourist sites run normally.
Where to be
- The High Atlas – the best answer. Imlil, Setti Fatma, Oukaïmeden and the Toubkal valleys are all substantially cooler, and August is peak trekking season.
- Essaouira, ten degrees cooler and windy – but full and expensive in August, so book ahead.
- The riad, for the middle of every day.
- The gardens and the museums in the late afternoon – the Jardin Majorelle, the Yves Saint Laurent museum, the Bahia Palace.
The desert remains off the table until October.
Prices and crowds
Marrakech itself is near its annual floor and represents excellent value for the standard of riad available. The Atlantic coast is the opposite – at its annual peak with Moroccan domestic demand. It is the single biggest price split of the Moroccan year.
See the Marrakech travel budget.
What to pack
Loose, light, fully covering cotton or linen, a wide hat, strong sunglasses, very high factor sunscreen, electrolytes and a large refillable bottle. A light layer for the Atlas and for Essaouira, which is genuinely cool and windy. See the Morocco packing list.
The August 2027 calendar
- Through August – about 37°C; the chergui can push past 45°C.
- Through August – Moroccan families on the coast; Essaouira and Agadir at their peak.
- Friday 20 August – Revolution of the King and the People, a public holiday.
- Saturday 21 August – Youth Day, a public holiday; a long weekend and heavy domestic travel.
- Through August – Marrakech rates near the annual floor despite the visitors.
- Through August – peak Atlas trekking season.
- Through August – the desert remains out of season until October.
Read alongside
- Marrakech in July – the hottest month and the cheapest.
- Marrakech in September – the heat starting to break.
- Best time to visit Marrakech – all twelve months compared.
- Day trips from Marrakech – the Atlas, which August needs.
- Marrakech travel budget – and the city-versus-coast split.
- Where to stay in Marrakech – pool and air conditioning essential.
- Is Morocco safe for travel – including heat.
Frequently asked
How hot is Marrakech in August?
About 37°C by day and 22°C at night with almost no rain, and the chergui can lift it past 45°C for stretches. Marginally below July, but the difference is academic.
Is August a bad time to visit Marrakech?
It is one of the two hardest months, but the city is at its annual price floor and the evenings are genuinely good. Build the trip around the riad, the early morning and a few days in the Atlas or on the coast.
Why is the coast expensive in August?
Because Moroccan families travel then. Essaouira, Agadir and the Atlantic beach towns are at their busiest and dearest of the year, which is the opposite of Marrakech itself.
Where is coolest near Marrakech?
The High Atlas – Imlil, Setti Fatma, Oukaïmeden and the Toubkal valleys – where altitude does the work and August is peak trekking season. Essaouira is about ten degrees cooler but crowded.
What are the August public holidays?
20 August, the Revolution of the King and the People, and 21 August, Youth Day, marking the king’s birthday. Together they make a long weekend with heavy domestic travel to the coast.
Can you go to the desert in August?
No. Agafay and Merzouga are October-to-April destinations; in August the Sahara is dangerous heat rather than uncomfortable heat.
Is Marrakech cheap in August?
Near its annual floor, and one of the best months for the standard of riad your budget reaches – even though the coast at the same time is at its most expensive.
Are the souks open in August?
Yes, and they are shaded and several degrees cooler than the open squares. The practical limit is the walk between places rather than the souks themselves.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
