Culture & etiquetteBy Clever Tourists · Published · Last updated
Morocco works differently from most of the Muslim world on this: non-Muslims are barred from the interior of the vast majority of mosques, full stop, not just discouraged. There are two real exceptions where a non-Muslim can actually go inside, and Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the one nearly every visitor means when they ask about this. Here's the real dress code, plus what happens if you show up in shorts.
Most Moroccan mosques do not admit non-Muslims at all — that is the thing to know before planning around one.
Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the main exception, and entry requires a paid guided tour rather than independent visiting.
Dress code there: shoulders, torso and knees covered for both men and women. Shorts and sleeveless tops are turned away.
Bring a light layer even in summer, because the covered requirement is not relaxed for heat.
Beyond mosques: for what to wear in Morocco day to day, including what to wear as a woman and for cold desert nights, see What to Wear in Morocco.
Unlike Turkey, Egypt, or much of the Gulf, most functioning mosques in Morocco simply don't admit non-Muslims to the prayer hall or interior — this is a firm, longstanding rule, not a case-by-case judgment call from one caretaker. At a mosque like the Koutoubia in Marrakech, tourists can view the exterior and courtyard but not go inside.
Two real exceptions exist. Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the famous one, open to non-Muslims via a paid guided tour. Tinmel Mosque, a non-functioning 12th-century mosque in the High Atlas about 100km from Marrakech, is also open to everyone except during Friday prayers — much less visited, but a real option if you're already heading toward the mountains.
Both men and women need shoulders, torso, and knees covered — shorts and sleeveless tops are explicitly turned away. A headscarf isn't strictly required for women (it's welcomed, not enforced), but bring one anyway in case that changes or you'd simply rather have it.
Shoes come off at the entrance; you carry them yourself in a bag provided at the door. Bring socks — the marble floors get genuinely cold, especially outside of summer. Video cameras and audio recording devices are officially prohibited, though still photography appears to be fine.
Visiting requires a paid guided tour, roughly 45 minutes to an hour, offered in multiple languages including English. As of writing, adult foreign admission runs about 140 MAD (~$14), with reduced rates for students and children under 6 free — buy tickets same-day at the on-site museum office and arrive 30–45 minutes early, since tours run on a set schedule (typically several times a day, fewer on Fridays and during Ramadan).
If you show up in shorts or a sleeveless top, expect to be turned away from the tour rather than let in with a warning — bring a cover-up rather than assuming one will be available to borrow, since that isn't confirmed as a reliable option here the way it is at some Southeast Asian temples.
Hassan II in Casablanca is the mosque most visitors can enter, but most trips are built around Marrakech. See how many days in Marrakech, the best day trips from Marrakech, and a 7-day Morocco itinerary that links Marrakech, the desert and Fes.
Almost none — most mosques are closed to non-Muslims entirely. Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the well-known exception, open via paid guided tour, and Tinmel Mosque in the High Atlas is a lesser-known second exception.
Not strictly — a headscarf is welcomed but not enforced. It's worth bringing one anyway, both as a respectful default and in case that changes.
As of writing, around 140 MAD (roughly $14) for a foreign adult on the standard guided tour, with reduced rates for students and free entry for children under 6. Confirm current pricing before you go, since museum/attraction fees change.
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