Last updated: June 2026
December is a genuinely good month for Morocco - but only if you go in with accurate expectations. The country splits into completely different climates depending on where you are, prices double in the final fortnight of the month, and cold desert nights catch people off guard every single year. Here’s what it actually looks like.
I’ve been to Morocco six times since 2017, including two December trips. One was early December, low-key, largely empty medinas, clear desert skies. The other was the week before Christmas. Different country. Both were excellent, for very different reasons.
The Big December Split: Before and After 20 December
This is the single most important thing to understand about December in Morocco.
Before 20 December, you are largely in the off-season. Accommodation is cheaper - often half the price of late December rates. Popular sights in Marrakech are manageable. Desert camps have space. This is a genuinely rewarding time to visit.
From roughly 20 December through to 3 January, European visitors arrive in large numbers for their holiday break. Accommodation prices at riads and hotels jump 30-50%, with some premium properties doubling their rates. A standard dinner on New Year’s Eve in Marrakech - no alcohol - can run to around 300 euros per person at nicer restaurants. Popular medina sites see 15-30 minute queues. Desert tours book out weeks in advance.
Neither period is bad. But they are not the same trip. Decide which one you’re booking before you start looking at prices.
For more on timing across the whole year, read our guide to the best time to visit Morocco.
December Weather by Region
Morocco is not one climate. The weather gap between Marrakech and Chefchaouen in December is bigger than the gap between London and Rome in July.
Marrakech is the classic December destination for good reason. Average highs sit around 18-19°C with roughly 7 hours of sunshine daily. Nights drop to 7-8°C - cold by most people’s standards, but manageable with layers. Rainfall is minimal: around 20mm spread over just a few days in the month. The city is bright and dry almost every day. Mornings and evenings, you will need a coat.
The Sahara (Merzouga/Zagora) offers brilliant clear skies in December, which makes for extraordinary stargazing. Daytime temperatures are pleasant at 18-22°C. Then the sun sets and it becomes genuinely cold: nights can drop to 3-5°C, with some nights pushing below freezing in mid-winter. This catches people badly. If you’re camping in the dunes, you need real warm layers - down jacket, thermal base layers, woolly hat. The camps provide blankets but rarely enough for someone used to a warm climate. More on the desert at our Sahara desert tours guide.
The Atlas Mountains are a different category entirely. Oukaimeden, North Africa’s highest ski resort at 2,600m and just 75km from Marrakech, typically opens its ski season in December. Snow is not guaranteed early in the month - some years it arrives late - but December 2025 saw up to 128cm recorded on some Atlas peaks. The infrastructure is modest compared to European resorts and there is no snowmaking, so conditions depend entirely on natural snowfall. What you get instead is something quite unique: skiing above the Sahara, with views from snow peaks to desert plains.
The Atlantic coast (Essaouira, Agadir) stays mild and windy. Agadir in particular - further south - averages highs of around 22°C in December and is genuinely warm. Essaouira is cooler and reliably blustery, which is part of its character.
The north - Fes, Chefchaouen, Tangier - is properly cold and wet. Fes averages highs of around 16°C with lows of 6°C and can see 6-9 rainy days in December, sometimes more. Chefchaouen, in the Rif Mountains, sees daytime highs of 12-15°C and nights around 5°C. The blue city is beautiful with mist and winter light, but pack for rain - a waterproof jacket is not optional up there.
What December Gets Right
It’s a genuine winter-sun destination. Marrakech in December has more sunshine hours than virtually anywhere in Europe. If you’re coming from Ireland, the UK, or northern Europe in the depths of winter, stepping off a plane into 18°C sunshine and a dry medina genuinely feels like a release.
The desert nights are spectacular. Cold, yes - but the air is completely dry, there is virtually no light pollution at the camps, and the Milky Way is visible with the naked eye. I have not seen stars like that anywhere else. This alone is worth planning a December Sahara night around. Browse our desert tours to see what’s available.
Low-ish crowds in early December. Before the Christmas rush, the Marrakech medina is navigable. Jemaa el-Fna square is animated without being overwhelming. You can actually stop in front of a stall without a crowd forming behind you.
Atlas snow and skiing is a niche but real draw. Morocco does not feature on most people’s skiing radar, which means it is uncrowded and inexpensive compared to European resorts. Managing expectations is important - this is not Verbier - but the experience is distinctive.
Festive atmosphere in Marrakech. The city leans into the Christmas and New Year period with rooftop parties, special menus, and riad events. Jemaa el-Fna fills with revellers on New Year’s Eve. If you’re after something different for the holidays rather than the standard Christmas routine, it works well.
What December Gets Wrong
Desert nights will make you miserable if you’re underprepared. This is not a slight warning - it’s real. 3°C in a tent is 3°C, and the temperature drop from 20°C at sunset to that by midnight is dramatic. Every year, people turn up to Sahara camps in thin hoodies and have a rough night. Pack a down jacket and thermals.
Short days. Sunset comes around 5:30pm in December. If you’re in the desert, this means less time on the dunes and more time in the cold. Plan your camel rides for late afternoon golden hour rather than early morning if you want the best of it.
The Christmas/New Year price spike is steep. A riad that costs €80/night in early December might be €160-200 on 26 December. This is not negotiable - demand is real. If you’re flying in for the festive period, book everything (flights, accommodation, Sahara tours, guided experiences) at least 2-3 months ahead. Things sell out.
The north can be relentlessly grey. If your itinerary includes Chefchaouen or Fes in December, factor in the possibility of several wet days. It’s fine with the right kit. It’s miserable if you’re in trainers and a light jacket.
It’s not Morocco in bloom. Spring is when the country looks its best - roses in the Dades Valley, wildflowers in the Atlas foothills. December is brown and bare in many areas. The light is beautiful and clear, but it’s winter scenery, not the lush version.
What to Pack for Morocco in December
The range between day and night temperatures is the challenge. You need layers that work in 19°C Marrakech sunshine and 4°C desert nights.
- Lightweight down jacket or a warm mid-layer - essential for desert and mountains
- Thermal base layers if you’re doing a Sahara overnight
- Warm hat and gloves for the desert at night and Atlas day trips
- Waterproof jacket if you’re going north
- Comfortable walking shoes - medina cobbles are hard on trainers
- Light scarves work as sun coverage during the day and warmth in the evenings
- Don’t bother with a heavy winter coat - it’ll be too warm during the day in Marrakech
Dress modestly in medinas and souks. This is year-round advice, but worth repeating.
Festive and New Year’s Eve in Marrakech
Morocco is a Muslim-majority country, so Christmas is not a public holiday and you won’t find the decorations or traditions you’d expect at home. Restaurants and shops stay open. The medina operates normally on Christmas Day.
What Marrakech does offer for New Year’s Eve is a lively, international-feeling night. Jemaa el-Fna fills with tourists and locals, there are fireworks, rooftop bars fill up, and the city has real energy. It’s less about Moroccan tradition and more about the European expat and tourist crowd bringing their New Year’s spirit with them - which is fine if that’s what you’re after.
Riad and hotel NYE events tend to sell out weeks in advance. If you want a specific experience - a rooftop dinner, a hammam package, a private chef night - book it at the same time as your accommodation.
For comparison with the quieter shoulder season just before, see our November guide. If you’re flexible on dates, January can be a brilliant alternative - see Morocco in January for how the month compares.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Morocco warm in December?
Marrakech and the south are warm enough for comfortable daytime sightseeing - expect 18-19°C highs with good sunshine. Evenings are cold, typically 7-8°C, so you’ll need layers after dark. Agadir on the Atlantic coast is warmer still, reaching around 22°C. The north (Fes, Chefchaouen) is genuinely cold and wet, and the Sahara drops to near freezing at night despite pleasant days.
Is December a good time to visit Morocco?
Early December (before the 20th) is genuinely good: lower prices, manageable crowds, clear skies. The Christmas-New Year window is more expensive and noticeably busier, but has a festive energy that some people enjoy. Either way, you get better weather than most of Europe in winter.
How cold does the Sahara get at night in December?
Cold. Temperatures in Merzouga drop to 3-5°C on a typical December night, and some nights can push below zero. If you’re doing a desert overnight, bring a proper down jacket, thermals, and a warm hat. Do not rely on the camp to provide enough warmth on its own.
Should I book in advance for Christmas and New Year in Morocco?
Yes, 2-3 months in advance for the 20 December to 3 January period. Popular riads in Marrakech and desert camps sell out, NYE events at restaurants and rooftop bars fill up quickly, and flight prices climb steeply. Early December requires much less forward planning.
Can you ski in Morocco in December?
Sometimes. Oukaimeden, the main ski resort 75km from Marrakech, typically opens in December, but reliable snow is not guaranteed until January or February. Some December seasons see excellent early snowfall - December 2025 saw up to 128cm on some Atlas peaks - others see very little before the new year. If skiing is the main goal, January or February is a safer bet.
Is Morocco safe to visit in December?
Morocco is generally safe for tourists year-round, including December. The usual practical advice applies: watch your bags in the medina, use licensed guides if you want one, be aware of commission-based shop hustles in the souks. The holiday crowds in late December bring extra foot traffic to Marrakech’s main squares, so keep an eye on your belongings. Our Marrakech travel guide has more practical safety and logistics detail.
