Overview
Ouarzazate is a town in Morocco.
About 78,000 people live here.
It lies in the northern hemisphere, in Africa.
The nearest airport is Ouarzazate International Airport (OZZ), about 3 km away.
Key facts
| Country | Morocco |
|---|---|
| Population | 77,603 |
| Timezone | Africa/Casablanca |
| Nearest airport | Ouarzazate International Airport (OZZ), 3 km |
| Currency | MAD |
Where Ouarzazate is
Ouarzazate sits in Morocco, in the northern part of Africa.
Tabount lies about 3 km to the south-west, Azilal lies about 120 km to the north and Demnate lies about 91 km to the north.
Getting there
Most visitors arrive by air. Ouarzazate International Airport (OZZ) is the closest airport, about 3 km from Ouarzazate.
Alternative gateways include Zagora Airport (OZG, 123 km); Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK, 133 km).
Use the Find flights link to search live fares for your dates.
Find flights to Ouarzazate →arrives OZZ (2.7 km away)
Getting around
The town is easy to cover on foot, with taxis handy for longer hops or reaching nearby spots.
Best time to visit
The climate here is broadly subtropical (northern hemisphere): mild winters and hot summers.
For most visitors the shoulder seasons — roughly April to June and September to October — offer warm-enough weather without the peak-summer crowds, while high summer (June to August) is busiest.
Reasons to visit
A few reasons Ouarzazate is worth your time: a handy base for the surrounding area, with several places within day-trip reach; straightforward access by air through OZZ.
Day trips & nearby
Ouarzazate works well as a base. Within about 119 km you can reach Tabount (3 km to the south-west); Azilal (120 km to the north); Demnate (91 km to the north); Laâttaouia (110 km to the north); Tamallalt (116 km to the north-west).
Good to know
The currency is the MAD (Dirham).
The main language spoken is Arabic.
Clocks run on Africa/Casablanca time.
Traffic drives on the right.
How long to stay
Plan on 3–5 days here; that suits most visitors on a first trip.
Where to stay in Ouarzazate
Hotels are booked on Booking.com (a third party, off this page). You book and pay them directly — Head Your Way is not the seller.
Getting around Ouarzazate
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Common questions
- What is the nearest airport to Ouarzazate?
- Ouarzazate International Airport (OZZ) is the closest airport, about 3 km away.
- When is the best time to visit Ouarzazate?
- Late spring and early autumn tend to be the most pleasant.
- What is near Ouarzazate?
- Tabount is one of the closest places, about 3 km away, with others within day-trip range.
- Which country is Ouarzazate in?
- Ouarzazate is in Morocco.
On the map
Keep exploring
More places in Morocco
Similar destinations
Plan the wider trip
Sources & method
- GeoNames — population · retrieved 2026-09-18
- OurAirports (derived) — nearestAirports · retrieved 2026-09-18
- Imagery — Wikimedia Commons
Data compiled 2026-09-18 · editorial checks: passed. See our methodology for how Head Your Way sources and reviews travel data.