When to go · MA
When to visit Fez
April through December is the sweet spot for Fez. Days run 7-23°C with under 59mm of rain across the window, before the peak-season surge.
The year at a glance
- Excellent
- Good
- OK
- Avoid
How we score weather
How we score months: each starts at 50 and earns or loses points across three signals. Temperature in the 18 to 26°C comfortable band adds 30; 14 to 17°C adds 15; warm 27 to 30°C adds 10. Past 30°C or below 14°C the page starts taking points back, with a 30-point hit at the extremes (below 5°C or above 33°C). Rainfall under 60mm adds 15, 200mm costs 25, over 300mm costs 40. Sunshine over 240 hours adds 10; under 80 hours costs 20. The result lands in one of four bands: Excellent (80+), Good (60-79), OK (40-59), Avoid (under 40). Crowds and prices come from the events calendar, separately, so weather and busyness stay readable as two different signals.
Jan
16°
53mm
Feb
18°
46mm
Mar
20°
73mm
Apr
23°
57mm
May
28°
40mm
Jun
32°
11mm
Jul
37°
1mm
Aug
37°
5mm
Sep
32°
15mm
Oct
28°
43mm
Nov
21°
59mm
Dec
18°
47mm
Best to worst, by weather.
- Excellent
- January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December
- Good
- June, September
- OK
- July, August
- Busy
- June
- Quiet
- March, April, May
Peak demand in Fez starts in January. Lock flights and the room you actually want by September, or you'll pay for what's left.
What's worth timing
Shoulder · Mar-May
Spring shoulder
April is the sweet spot for the High Atlas: snowmelt waterfalls, twenty-degree days, riads not yet at summer rates.
Festival · Jun
Gnaoua festival
Essaouira fills for four days in late June. Book the medina riads two months out or stay in Marrakesh and bus over.
Closure · Jul-Aug
Sahara heat
Merzouga touches 45C in July. Camel camps stay open but most travellers wisely move to the coast.
Natural event · Nov-Feb
Atlas snow
Toubkal needs crampons December to February. The Tichka pass closes for hours after heavy snow; build a buffer day.
Month by month
January
16°C days, 53mm rain. The window.
February
18°C days, 46mm rain. The window.
March
20°C and 73mm rain. April is the sweet spot for the High Atlas: snowmelt waterfalls, twenty-degree days, riads not yet at summer rates.
April
23°C and 57mm rain. April is the sweet spot for the High Atlas: snowmelt waterfalls, twenty-degree days, riads not yet at summer rates.
May
28°C and 40mm rain. April is the sweet spot for the High Atlas: snowmelt waterfalls, twenty-degree days, riads not yet at summer rates.
June
32°C, 11mm rain. Warm but workable. Essaouira fills for four days in late June. Book the medina riads two months out or stay in Marrakesh and bus over.
July
37°C, 1mm rain. Shoulder. Cheaper, fewer crowds. Merzouga touches 45C in July. Camel camps stay open but most travellers wisely move to the coast.
August
37°C, 5mm rain. Shoulder. Cheaper, fewer crowds. Merzouga touches 45C in July. Camel camps stay open but most travellers wisely move to the coast.
September
32°C, 15mm rain. Warm but workable.
October
28°C days, 43mm rain. The window.
November
21°C days, 59mm rain. The window.
December
18°C days, 47mm rain. The window.
Pack for the window
Light layers, with one warm piece for evenings. High-SPF, even when it's cool.
Ready to put it on the calendar?