Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakech after dark: lit market stalls and crowds, with the Koutoubia minaret on the skyline

When to go: winter and the holidays

Morocco in December 2026

Cool, bright days in Marrakech, warm sun in Agadir, snow on the Atlas and cold Sahara nights, with Christmas dinners in the riads and New Year's Eve on Jemaa el-Fnaa.

Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakech, after dark. Photograph: Grand Parc - Bordeaux, France, CC BY 2.0

Marrakech by day
15-18 °C
Sahara nights
5-8 °C, near freezing at dawn
Winter sun
Agadir, 17-22 °C
December 25
A normal working day

December: snow, sun and the holidays

December is winter in Morocco, but the country holds several climates at once. Snow settles on the Atlas while Agadir has 17-22 °C. Marrakech days are cool and bright, and Sahara dunes are near freezing at dawn. December 25 is a normal working day in the souks, yet riads put on candlelit Christmas dinners for their guests.

For Christmas and New Year, expect a riad courtyard rather than a Christmas market: spiced lamb, Moroccan pastries, candles on the zellige. On New Year's Eve, Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakech is busy and free to join, and hotels and desert camps hold gala dinners.

December also opens the Atlas ski season, snow permitting: you can ski at Oukaimeden in the morning and drink tea in Marrakech in the afternoon. In the Sahara, the cold, dry air gives clear night skies. Book the Christmas and New Year week early; the first three weeks of the month are quieter and cheaper.

December weather by region

December is real winter in Morocco, from snow in the Atlas to beach weather in Agadir.

December weather by region
RegionTemperatureRainOur verdictWhat to expect
Atlantic CoastEssaouira, Agadir, Rabat, Casablanca15-19 °CModerate to high (5-8 rainy days)Good; Agadir excellentAgadir, at 17-22 °C with little rain, is the usual choice for winter sun. Essaouira is windy and cool. Casablanca and Rabat are mild but rainy. Big Atlantic swells make it surf season.
Mediterranean CoastTangier, Tetouan, Al Hoceima12-16 °CHigh (7-10 rainy days)FairThe wettest, coolest region in December. Expect rain in Tangier. Not a first choice for this month unless you like grey winter seas. The higher Rif can see snow.
Interior CitiesMarrakech, Fes, Meknes12-17 °CModerate (4-6 rainy days)Very good for winter travelMarrakech averages 15-18 °C by day, comfortable with a jacket, and 5-8 °C at night. Fes and Meknes are colder: 12-15 °C by day, 3-6 °C at night. Sunny spells between showers are common, and on clear days you can see the snow on the Atlas from Marrakech.
Sahara DesertMerzouga, Zagora, Draa Valley5-20 °CAlmost noneGood, with warm clothesSunny days at 15-20 °C, comfortable for camel treks and dune walks, but cold nights at 5-8 °C, near freezing before dawn. Camps provide heavy blankets, and some heat their tents. Dry winter air gives very clear night skies.
Atlas MountainsOukaimeden, Imlil, Ifrane-5 to 5 °CSnow at altitudeGood for skiing and snowSki season opens at Oukaimeden and at Michlifen near Ifrane when the snow allows; heavy snow falls above 2,500 m. Lower valleys such as Imlil (1,800 m) are cold (0-8 °C) but reachable. Ifrane sees snow and freezing nights. High-altitude trekking needs winter mountaineering skills.

Temperatures are approximate ranges; nights can be much colder than days. The verdict is our own editorial judgement for travel that month.

December events and celebrations

Christmas in the riads, New Year in Marrakech and the start of the ski season.

Jebel Toubkal and neighbouring High Atlas peaks with snow on their upper slopes, hikers in the foreground
Jebel Toubkal, High Atlas, with snow on the upper slopes. Photograph: Kurinurm, CC BY-SA 4.0

  1. Christmas in hotels and riads

    December 25 is a normal working day in Morocco, a Muslim-majority country, but hotels and riads that host foreign guests mark Christmas. Many serve a Christmas Eve dinner with Moroccan touches: spiced roast lamb instead of turkey, pastilla to start, Moroccan pastries beside the pudding. Courtyards are decorated with lanterns and candles.

    When
    December 24-25
    Where
    Marrakech, Essaouira, Fes, Agadir (tourist hotels and riads)
    Cost
    Christmas Eve dinner 500-1,500 MAD per person; room rates at peak

  2. New Year's Eve

    Marrakech is the centre of New Year's Eve in Morocco. Jemaa el-Fnaa is busy with musicians, performers, food stalls, locals and visitors, and it costs nothing to join. Hotels and riads hold gala dinners with live music and Moroccan-French menus, and clubs and rooftop bars run ticketed parties. In the Sahara, camps put on New Year dinners around the fire, and Essaouira has live music.

    When
    December 31
    Where
    Marrakech above all, plus Essaouira, Agadir and the Sahara camps
    Cost
    Riad gala dinner 800-2,500 MAD per person; club events 500-1,500 MAD; Sahara New Year camp from 3,000 MAD per person

  3. Ski season opens in the Atlas

    The season opens once snow builds above 2,500 m. Oukaimeden, about 75 km from Marrakech at 2,600 m, is the main resort, with several lifts, a ski school and equipment rental, and runs up to 3,200 m. Michlifen, near Ifrane in the Middle Atlas, is smaller. The skiing is modest by Alpine standards.

    When
    December, snow permitting
    Where
    Oukaimeden; Michlifen (Ifrane)

Book Christmas and New Year events well ahead; popular venues sell out weeks early.

Christmas and New Year planning guide

From riad dinners to a New Year in the dunes, and when to book each.

  1. Christmas Eve dinner in a riad

    Expect a candlelit courtyard and several courses: Moroccan lamb or pastilla, then festive desserts. Some riads add live Gnawa or Andalusian music. Prices run 500-1,500 MAD per person depending on the property.

  2. New Year's Eve in Marrakech

    Three ways to spend it: the free crowd on Jemaa el-Fnaa; a riad or hotel gala dinner with live entertainment (800-2,500 MAD); or a club or rooftop party with a DJ (500-1,500 MAD). Many visitors eat at their riad and walk to the square for midnight.

  3. New Year's Eve in the Sahara

    Camps near Merzouga and Zagora sell New Year packages: a camel ride to camp, dinner under the stars, Berber music and drumming, a bonfire and midnight in the dunes.

  4. Christmas Day

    Because December 25 is a working day, sights, souks and transport all run as usual. Spend it in the Marrakech medina, at the Bahia Palace or in the souks, or take a day trip to the Atlas or Essaouira. Some riads serve a Christmas lunch for guests.

Best destinations in December

Marrakech for the holidays, Agadir for sun, the Atlas for snow and the Sahara for stars.

Marrakech

The most popular base in December. Days of 15-18 °C suit the medina with a light jacket. Riads light fires in their salons, rooftop terraces look out to the snow on the Atlas, and the tourist quarter celebrates Christmas and New Year. Winter light is low and warm on the pink walls.

Highlights
Festive riad dinners, New Year on Jemaa el-Fnaa, a day trip to ski at Oukaimeden, Atlas views, the hammam, winter souks
Budget
Riads 500-800 MAD a night in early December, 1,000-2,000 MAD over Christmas and New Year; meals from 40 MAD

Sahara Desert (Merzouga & Zagora)

Days of 15-20 °C are comfortable; nights fall to 5-8 °C and near freezing before dawn. The dry air makes for clear stargazing. Luxury camps have heated tents and heavy blankets.

Highlights
Stargazing, quiet dunes, New Year desert camps, clear winter light, sunrise over cold dunes
Budget
Desert tour from 1,200 MAD (2 days); winter camp from 2,500 MAD a night; New Year camp from 3,000 MAD per person

Agadir

The winter-sun choice, at 17-22 °C with little rain. It has a wide beach, resort hotels and the surf town of Taghazout up the coast. Souss-Massa National Park and Paradise Valley make good day trips.

Highlights
Winter beach days, surfing at Taghazout, flamingos in Souss-Massa, Paradise Valley, sunset from the Agadir kasbah
Budget
Hotels from 400 MAD a night; meals from 40 MAD; surf lesson from 350 MAD; Paradise Valley trip from 200 MAD

Fes

Cool days (12-15 °C) and cold nights (3-6 °C) keep visitor numbers low, so the medina, the Qarawiyyin and the Merenid Tombs are quiet. Riad fireplaces and bowls of harira help. Early December keeps low-season prices before the Christmas rise.

Highlights
A quiet medina, fireside riad evenings, harira, the Merenid Tombs, winter light in the lanes, a Volubilis day trip
Budget
Riads from 350 MAD a night in early December; meals from 35 MAD; guided tour from 300 MAD

Oukaimeden & Atlas Mountains

Ski or snowshoe at Oukaimeden, between 2,600 m and 3,200 m and about 75 km from Marrakech, and be back in the city by afternoon. Ifrane, called the Switzerland of Morocco, sits under snow among cedar forests.

Highlights
Skiing at Oukaimeden, snow on the peaks, the Ifrane cedar forests, Berber villages, mint tea by the fire
Budget
Oukaimeden day trip from 400 MAD; Ifrane hotel from 500 MAD

Essaouira

Windswept and cool (14-18 °C), with empty beaches and a medina of blue shutters, galleries and Gnawa music. Winter swell brings good surf, and several riads hold Christmas and New Year dinners.

Highlights
Winter seas, a quiet medina, peak surf season, Gnawa music, galleries, festive riad dinners
Budget
Riads from 350 MAD a night; seafood lunch from 50 MAD; surf lesson from 350 MAD

What to pack for December

Cold nights, changeable days and some rain, plus one outfit for a festive dinner.

  1. A warm winter jacket

    A light layer is not enough. Evenings in most regions drop to 3-10 °C, and the Atlas and the Sahara reach freezing at night. A packable down jacket works well.

  2. Thermal layers for the desert and mountains

    The Atlas regularly reaches -5 °C. Pack thermal underwear, a fleece mid-layer and warm socks; a sunrise camel ride at 5-6 °C needs all of them.

  3. Rain jacket and umbrella

    December brings real rain to the north and showers elsewhere. Waterproof shoes with good grip handle wet medina paving.

  4. One smart outfit

    For Christmas Eve dinner or a New Year gala. Smart-casual is the norm: a collared shirt, trousers and a jacket for men; a dress or smart separates for women.

  5. Sun protection

    The winter sun is still strong in the Sahara, at altitude and in Agadir. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.

  6. Hat, gloves and scarf

    Needed for skiing at Oukaimeden, desert nights before dawn and cold city evenings. A large scarf also covers your head or shoulders where that is expected.

Budget tips for December

Prices peak around Christmas and New Year.

  1. Travel in early December

    From December 1 to 20, riad prices sit only slightly above November low-season rates. From December 21, prices rise sharply for Christmas and New Year.

  2. Avoid compulsory New Year dinners

    Many upscale riads and hotels require guests to buy the New Year gala dinner (800-2,500 MAD per person). To avoid it, stay at a smaller riad or guesthouse that does not, and see the year in on Jemaa el-Fnaa for free.

  3. Eat winter street food

    Harira, the lentil soup, costs 10-20 MAD. Roast chestnuts from street sellers start at 10 MAD, msemen with honey at 5 MAD and mint tea at 5 MAD.

  4. Ski on weekdays

    Families from Marrakech fill Oukaimeden at weekends. On weekdays the lift queues are shorter.

  5. Book Christmas flights early

    Fares from Europe climb over the Christmas period. Book at least six to eight weeks ahead, and compare flights into Agadir, Fes or Ouarzazate as well as Marrakech.

  6. Keep one base

    Rather than paying peak rates in several cities, stay in one, ideally Marrakech, and take day trips: Oukaimeden, Essaouira, the Atlas valleys and the Ourika waterfalls are all within reach.

Tips for December

  1. Watch the low sun in the Sahara

    Winter sun comes in low, with warm light and long shadows on the dunes. Sunset and sunrise over Erg Chebbi are the times to be out, and the cold, dry air removes the summer haze.

  2. Ask for a riad with a fireplace

    The better December riads have a working fire in the shared salon. Ask when you book: after a cold day in the medina, it makes the evening.

  3. Dress in layers

    One December day can run from near freezing at dawn to 18 °C at midday and back to 5 °C by evening, and the swing is wider in the Sahara. Add and remove layers through the day.

Sample 9-day December itinerary (Christmas & NYE)

Marrakech, the Sahara, then Fes or the coast, and back to Marrakech for New Year's Eve.

  1. Days 1-3

    Marrakech: the medina in winter

    Morning
    Day 1: Arrive in Marrakech and check into your riad, ideally one with a fireplace. Walk to Jemaa el-Fnaa, where steam rises from the food stalls and the Atlas snow shows above the rooftops. Visit the Bahia Palace.
    Afternoon
    Days 2-3: The Majorelle Garden, the souks in cool weather, and a hammam (from 100 MAD). Take a day trip to Oukaimeden to ski or see the snow (from 400 MAD with transport) and be back in Marrakech by late afternoon.
    Evening
    Dinner by the fire in your riad or on a rooftop facing the Atlas (from 150 MAD). If you are there on Christmas Eve, book the riad dinner.

  2. Days 4-5

    Sahara: cold nights, clear skies

    Morning
    Day 4: Cross the High Atlas, with snow on the peaks, to Aït Benhaddou and lunch in Ouarzazate (from 50 MAD). Continue to Merzouga or Zagora.
    Afternoon
    Camel trek into the dunes for sunset, included in most tours. Afternoons of 15-18 °C are comfortable in the sun. Berber music and dinner at camp. Few other visitors come in winter.
    Evening
    Night in a desert camp (from 1,000 MAD in December). Wrap up: it falls to 5-8 °C overnight. The skies are very clear for stars. Get up for sunrise over the cold dunes.

  3. Days 6-7

    Fes or Essaouira: culture or coast

    Morning
    Option A: Fes, via the Ziz Valley. The medina is almost empty of visitors; a guided tour (from 300 MAD) covers the Qarawiyyin, the Chouara tanneries and craft workshops. Option B: Essaouira for the winter coast and the surf.
    Afternoon
    Fes: a ceramics workshop (from 200 MAD), the Merenid Tombs for the view, harira at a local cafe (from 15 MAD). Essaouira: a beach walk in the wind, seafood at the port (from 50 MAD), the medina galleries, a surf session (from 350 MAD).
    Evening
    Fes: a Fassi dinner by the fire in your riad (from 200 MAD). Essaouira: Gnawa music in the medina and a seafood dinner (from 80 MAD).

  4. Days 8-9

    Back to Marrakech for New Year's Eve

    Morning
    Day 8: Return to Marrakech for the sights you missed, last souk shopping or a spa (from 300 MAD). Day 9, New Year’s Eve: a slow morning at the riad and lunch in the medina (from 50 MAD).
    Afternoon
    Walk the Koutoubia gardens for the Atlas in winter light, then a hammam (from 150 MAD) and a rest before the evening.
    Evening
    Choose one: a riad gala dinner (from 800 MAD) and a midnight walk to Jemaa el-Fnaa; street food on the square (from 30 MAD) and the countdown there; or a club or rooftop party (from 500 MAD).

9-day budget summary (per person, Christmas and New Year)

Budget
8,000-12,000 MADBudget riads, street food, buses, a shared desert tour, New Year's Eve on the square
Mid-range
18,000-28,000 MADGood riads, restaurants, a private desert camp, a New Year dinner
Luxury
35,000-60,000 MADBoutique hotels, private tours, a New Year gala, fine dining

Frequently asked questions

Is December a good time to visit Morocco?

Yes, if you pack for cold evenings. Marrakech has winter days of 15-18 °C, riad Christmas dinners and New Year events. The Sahara has clear night skies but cold nights. Agadir stays warm at 17-22 °C, and the Atlas ski season opens when snow allows. The downsides are cooler weather, some rain and peak prices around Christmas and New Year. Early December gives the best value.

Does Morocco celebrate Christmas and New Year?

Morocco is a Muslim-majority country, and December 25 is a normal working day with no public Christmas celebrations. Hotels, riads and restaurants that serve foreign guests do mark Christmas with special dinners, decorations and festive menus. New Year's Eve is more widely celebrated: Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakech is busy and free, and hotels, clubs and desert camps hold gala events.

How cold does Morocco get in December?

It depends on the region and the hour. Marrakech: 15-18 °C by day, comfortable with a jacket, and 5-8 °C at night. Sahara: 15-20 °C by day, 5-8 °C at night and near freezing at dawn. Atlas Mountains: -5 to 5 °C, with snow. Agadir: 17-22 °C. Northern coast: 12-16 °C with rain. Pack for real cold, especially in the evenings.

How much does a December trip to Morocco cost?

Early December (1st-20th): from 600-1,000 MAD a day on a budget (hostel, street food, buses) to 2,500-4,000 MAD a day for a boutique riad, restaurants and guided tours. From December 21 to January 2, prices rise sharply: riads from 1,000-2,000 MAD a night, New Year dinners from 800-2,500 MAD per person, and flights at their highest. A 9-day trip runs from about 8,000 MAD on a budget in early December to 50,000 MAD or more for a luxury Christmas and New Year package.

What is the best December destination in Morocco?

Marrakech, for the weather, the festive atmosphere, skiing within a day trip and New Year on Jemaa el-Fnaa. For winter sun, Agadir at 17-22 °C. For the desert, the Sahara, with clear skies and cold nights. For a quiet medina, Fes. For surf, Taghazout and Essaouira.

Should I book in advance for December?

For early December (1st-20th), two to three weeks ahead is enough for most rooms. For December 21 to January 2, book popular riads, gala dinners, New Year desert camps and flights at least six to eight weeks ahead. Book flights as early as you can: December fares from Europe rise fast.

Continue planning your trip