Morocco in December: where to go for sunshine, region by region

Rather than copying approximate averages, we calculated the values for eleven Moroccan cities and locations over the last eleven months of December, from 2015 to 2025, based on ERA5 reanalysis data.

To go further, here are the extremes actually measured during these eleven months of December, as well as the probability of rain on any given day of the month.

Quick read: on any given day in the month of December, you have a one in three chance of seeing rain in Tangier, one in six in Marrakech, and practically none in Dakhla. And the minimum record of -13.0 °C recorded in Oukaïmeden serves as a reminder that the Moroccan mountains are a true winter mountain range.

Three lessons that this table highlights, and that most articles do not mention.

The north is the wettest area of the country.

It is the most common misconception. Many imagine Morocco to be uniformly dry and sunny. In December, Tangier sees 10 days of rain and Chefchaouen receives 143 millimeters, which is three times more than Marrakech and twenty-eight times more than Dakhla. The blue city remains magnificent in the rain, but its steep alleys become slippery and hikes in the Rif are compromised. If your stay is short and you want guaranteed sunshine, northern Morocco is not the right plan for December.

The further south you go, the drier and hotter it gets

The logic is mechanical: Casablanca 47 mm, Essaouira 35 mm, Agadir 27 mm, Ouarzazate 7 mm, Dakhla 5 mm. Dakhla, located far south on the Atlantic coast, is the only Moroccan city to exceed an average daytime temperature of 24 °C in December, with almost no rain and nearly ten hours of daily sunshine.

Nights are cold everywhere, even in the desert

This is the real trap of the month. The gap between the afternoon peak and the early morning reaches 13.7 °C in Marrakech, 13.7 °C in Ouarzazate, and 13.1 °C in Merzouga. The thermometer has already dropped to -2.7 °C in Merzouga and -2.6 °C in Ouarzazate during the period studied. A bivouac in the dunes without a proper sleeping bag means a guaranteed sleepless night.

Marrakech and the imperial cities

Marrakech, Fes, and Meknes are much better visited in December than in the height of summer. With temperatures at 20.7 °C in the afternoon for Marrakech and 18.1 °C for Fes, the medinas, souks, and palaces can be explored on foot without struggle, whereas the month of July makes every movement painful. Evenings are cool, averaging 7 °C in both cities, so plan to bring a real jacket.

The Atlantic coast: Essaouira, Agadir and Dakhla

It is the safest choice of the month, and our advice aligns with this. Agadir shows 21.7 °C and only 2.4 days of rain, with long beaches and a city entirely focused on seaside tourism. Essaouira is more authentic, and windier too, which is exactly what makes it a renowned kitesurfing and windsurfing spot all year round.

Dakhla, finally, is the hottest destination in the country in December, at 24.8 °C. It is far away, requiring a domestic flight, but it is the only place in Morocco where December still feels like a mild summer month. Swimming remains cool: the Atlantic does not exceed 18 to 19 °C.

The Sahara: Merzouga, Zagora and the Draa Valley

December is one of the ideal periods for the Sahara, provided you can handle the wide temperature swings. In Merzouga, temperatures reach 18.3 °C during the day and 5.2 °C at night, with a record low of -2.7 °C, less than one day of rain for the entire month, and 9.4 hours of daily sunshine. In other words: walking in the dunes or riding a camel is much more pleasant than in July, when the thermometer exceeds 45 °C.

For a bivouac, check that the camp provides thick blankets and heating under the tent, and bring a beanie. Sahara nights in winter are harsh, and it is a classic surprise for travelers.

The Atlas Mountains

At 2,600 meters, the Oukaïmeden station shows 5.3 °C during the day and -3.0 °C at night, with an average of 20.3 centimeters of cumulative snow over nearly six days of snowfall. The High Atlas in December is true winter mountain scenery, just a two-hour drive from Marrakech. Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa at 4,167 meters, can still be climbed during this period but becomes a winter mountaineering objective, requiring crampons and a high-mountain guide. The Middle Atlas, around Ifrane and Azrou, also receives snow and is perfect for strolls through cedar forests.

Yes, if you are coming to visit, walk, and discover. No, if you are coming to swim.

What you gain in December: much more comfortable visiting conditions than in summer, low crowds outside of the end-of-year holidays, gentler accommodation prices, superb winter light for photography, and access to the southern and desert regions that become unbearable between June and September.

What you lose: swimming in the sea, unless you have a wetsuit. Short days, with the sunset around 5:30 PM. And a degree of weather risk in the north.

Compared to neighboring months, December falls between November, which is milder and slightly drier, and January, which is slightly cooler. Spring, around the month of April, and autumn, around October, remain the ideal periods across the entire country. But if your vacation falls in December, Morocco is one of the best sunny destinations accessible from France and Europe in a three-hour flight. We compare all seasons, region by region, in our article when to go to Morocco.

Morocco is a Muslim country: December 25th is not a public holiday and life continues as normal. This does not prevent hotels, riads, and restaurants in major tourist cities from offering festive menus and special evenings for a largely European clientele. The celebration remains Western and commercial: it is not a Moroccan tradition, but it is well-organized in tourist areas.

January 1st is a public holiday in Morocco, as is January 11th, the Day of the Independence Manifesto. Expect some administrative offices and small businesses to be closed on those days.

December is a quiet month in terms of the cultural calendar, and it is better to know this before scheduling a trip around an event.

The most famous gathering in the country, the Marrakech International Film Festival, takes place in late November. In 2025, it ran from November 28 to December 6, but the official regulations for the 2026 edition announce the dates from November 20 to 28, 2026. If you leave in December 2026, it will already be over. Besides, major Moroccan cultural events are mostly scheduled in spring and summer: the Marathon des Sables in April, the Gnaoua music festival in Essaouira in June, and the sacred music of Fès in the spring.

What remains in December: New Year's Eve celebrations in the major cities, local traditions visible year-round in the souks and village moussems, and the Marrakech International Marathon, which is run in January and not in December. Always check the dates on official websites before booking.

Aside from the holidays, December is one of the cheapest months of the year for Morocco, as it falls during the low tourist season. Three benchmarks to help you build your budget.

• The date makes all the difference. A trip from December 5th to 12th and the same trip from December 26th to January 2nd are worlds apart in terms of price, both for flights and overnight stays. The difference lies in the last two weeks of the month.
• On-site, life remains inexpensive compared to Europe: a double room in a riad, a meal, a taxi, or an entrance fee cost a fraction of French prices, and traveler reviews confirm this season after season. Plan to bring cash, as many small businesses and taxis do not accept cards, and since the dirham cannot be exported, currency exchange is done on-site.
• The surprising part is the phone. Morocco is outside the Europe zone, roaming on your French plan is not included, and out-of-bundle data can reach $13.31 per megabyte with Orange. Over a week, that quickly exceeds the price of the flight. A travel eSIM solves the issue for just a few euros; we'll get back to that below.

The rule: layers, plus a real sweater. You dress for two different climates in the same day.

• Light clothing for the afternoon, a warm jacket and a sweater for the evening and early morning.
• An impermeable jacket if you go to the north, where rain is frequent.
• Closed and comfortable shoes for the medinas, where the ground is uneven.
• A beanie, gloves, and a puffer jacket if your itinerary takes you through the desert or the Atlas.
• Something to cover shoulders and knees for visits to religious sites.
• Sunscreen: nine hours of sun per day, you can still get burned even at 20 °C.
• A Type C or E plug, the same as in France, and a power bank for excursion days.