Visiting Morocco in December is a good time?

December is a good month for the imperial cities, Marrakech and the Atlantic coast, and a workable month for the Sahara if you pack for cold nights. Days are mild, the sun shows up most of the time and the heat that closes the south in summer is gone. The trade-offs are short days, rain in the north and snow in the mountains.

We have planned private trips across Morocco since 2011. This guide gives December temperatures for four places, then covers each region, Christmas and New Year, what to do, what to pack and how far ahead to book. For other months, see our best time to visit Morocco guide.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Morocco?

Why December works

• Daytime temperatures suit long walks in the medinas and sightseeing without the heat of summer.
• The desert is open to travelers who accept cold nights. Our summer ban on southern circuits does not apply.
• Snow on the Atlas peaks gives Marrakech a backdrop it does not have in other seasons.
• Early December is quieter than spring and autumn, then demand climbs toward the end-of-year holidays.

What to weigh before you book

• Daylight lasts about ten hours, so itineraries carry fewer stops per day.
• Fes and the Atlantic coast receive the most rain of the places in the table below.
• Desert and mountain nights are cold, and many riads and camps rely on blankets and small heaters.
• Swimming is a poor reason to choose December. Pools are cold and the sea is cooler than in summer.

Morocco Weather in December

The table shows average daily highs and lows in °C for November, December and January. The figures are 1991 to 2020 averages for each town, listed on Wikipedia. Errachidia is a desert-side reference town, not Merzouga itself.

December rainfall averages 24 mm in Marrakech, 62 mm in Fes and 56 mm in Essaouira. Fes receives about two and a half times as much rain as Marrakech this month, so a waterproof layer matters more in the north than in the south. Errachidia has recorded a January low of −8.1 °C, which shows how far desert nights can drop in midwinter.

Marrakech sits between 7 and 20 °C, which feels warm in the sun and cold in the shade. Mornings and evenings need a jacket. If your dates are flexible, early December is warmer than late December. For a month-by-month comparison across the year, use our Morocco month-by-month guide.

December by Region

Marrakech

Marrakech is the easiest December base. Highs of 20 °C suit the souks, the gardens and the Bahia and Saadian sites. Sunset comes before 6 pm, so we schedule the Jemaa el-Fna for late afternoon, when the square fills with food stalls. Read the full Marrakech travel guide for sights and neighborhoods.

Fes and the imperial cities

Fes is cooler, with a 17 °C average high and 5 °C nights, and it is the wettest of the three places with rainfall figures above. The medina is still a good winter visit, because the covered streets and the tanneries do not depend on blue skies. Bring shoes with grip, since wet stone is slippery. Our Fes travel guide covers the main sights.

The Sahara and the south

Winter days in the desert are mild, around 17 °C at Errachidia. After sunset the temperature falls quickly, and the January average low there is 2 °C. Camps provide blankets, and we advise guests to bring thermal layers, a hat and gloves for the evening. Dunes are clear for sunrise walks and camel rides, and stars are sharp in the dry air. Our Merzouga travel guide describes the Erg Chebbi area, and the guide to what to wear in the Moroccan desert lists what to bring.

The Atlas Mountains

From December the high Atlas can hold snow, and routes above the snow line need winter equipment and a guide who knows the conditions. Villages at lower altitude stay walkable on clear days, but paths can be wet or icy. In December the mountains suit a scenic drive or a day trip better than an ambitious hike. Tell us your fitness level and we will propose routes that match the snow of that week.

Essaouira and the Atlantic coast

Essaouira is mild, with an average high of 19 °C and a low of 13 °C, the smallest day-to-night gap of the four places in the table. Wind and showers come in from the Atlantic, so pack a windproof jacket. The ramparts, the fishing port and the galleries are good winter stops. See our Essaouira travel guide.

Christmas and New Year in Morocco

Christmas Day is not a public holiday in Morocco, and shops, souks and transport run as normal. Many hotels and riads in Marrakech and the coast hold special dinners on 24 and 25 December, and some serve a festive menu. New Year's Day, 1 January, is a public holiday, so banks and government offices close while tourist sites stay open.

Travelers who want something different choose New Year's Eve in a desert camp, with a fire, music and a clear sky. Tell us if you want this and we will check availability, since camps fill early in the last week of December. The same applies to riads in Marrakech. The best rooms go first, so read the booking notes below.

Things to Do in December

• Walk the medinas. Marrakech and Fes are comfortable on foot at 17 to 20 °C.
• Spend a night in the desert. Sunrise on the dunes is the main reason to go south in winter.
• See snow on the Atlas. Drive toward the mountains on a clear morning for the view.
• Eat in the souks. Hot harira soup, tagine and mint tea suit cool evenings.
• Visit Essaouira. Quiet streets, fresh fish and no summer crowds.
• Try a hammam. A traditional bath is a warm break on a cold day.

For ideas on where to go beyond the cities, see our guide to the best places in southern Morocco.

Crowds, Prices and Booking

Early and mid December is calm, with space in the sights and more choice of rooms. Demand climbs from about 20 December through the first days of January, when families and holiday travelers fill riads, hotels and desert camps. Rates in those weeks are higher than in early December.

We recommend booking two to three months ahead for travel between Christmas and New Year, and sooner for a desert camp on 31 December. A tailor-made private trip lets you choose the route, the pace and the dates, and we adjust it to the weather forecast and the cold nights.

What to Pack for December

• Layers: t-shirts and long sleeves for the day, a fleece or sweater for the evening.
• A warm jacket for desert and mountain nights.
• A waterproof or windproof layer, especially for Fes and the coast.
• Walking shoes with grip for wet medina stone.
• Hat, gloves and thermal underlayers for the desert.
• Sun protection. December sun is strong at midday, especially in the south.

Our Morocco packing list has the full checklist, and the notes on what to do before travelling to Morocco cover documents and money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is December a good time to visit Morocco?
Yes, for cities, culture and the coast. Days are mild, with highs of 17 to 20 °C in Marrakech, Fes and the desert. Nights are cold in the desert and the mountains, and Fes and the Atlantic coast see the most rain. Pack layers.

How cold is Morocco in December?
Marrakech averages 20 °C by day and 7 °C at night. Fes averages 17 °C and 5 °C. At Errachidia, our desert reference town, the average is 17 °C by day and about 4 °C at night, and the January low on record is −8.1 °C.

Does it snow in Morocco in December?
Snow can fall on the high Atlas in December, depending on the year. Marrakech, Fes and the coast do not normally see it. Routes above the snow line need winter equipment and a guide.

Can you visit the Sahara in December?
Yes. Days are mild and the dunes are clear, but nights are cold. Bring thermal layers, a hat and gloves. Our summer restriction on desert circuits does not apply in December.

Is Christmas celebrated in Morocco?
Christmas Day is not a public holiday, and daily life continues as normal. Some hotels and riads hold festive dinners. New Year's Day, 1 January, is a public holiday.

Is Morocco busy in December?
Early and mid December is quiet. Demand rises from about 20 December through early January, so book two to three months ahead for that period.

Further Reading

• Climate of Morocco - climate zones and Atlas winter conditions
• Marrakesh - 1991 to 2020 climate table
• Fez - 1991 to 2020 climate table
• Errachidia - 1991 to 2020 climate table for the desert-side reference town
• Essaouira - 1991 to 2020 climate table
• Public holidays in Morocco - fixed and Islamic holiday dates

Tell us when you can travel, who is coming and how many days you have. We will suggest the route, the regions and the pace that fit December, and tell you if a region does not suit the season.

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You may also like: Best Time to Visit Morocco · Morocco Summer Travel Guide · Morocco Packing List · Marrakech Travel Guide