What is the weather in Morocco in December?
The weather in Morocco in December is mild and mostly sunny by day, with highs of around 16-19°C in Marrakech, Fes, Casablanca and Tangier, and cold nights that drop to 3-9°C depending on the city. The High Atlas gets real snow, the Sahara around Merzouga can fall below freezing after dark, and the north sees its wettest weeks of the year. It is a good month for the cities and the desert, as long as you pack for two seasons in one day.
We run tours every week of December, and the most common surprise for our guests is not the cold. It is the swing between a warm lunch on a sunny terrace and a jacket-and-hat evening a few hours later.
December temperatures by city
These are long-term average highs and lows, rounded. A given week can run a few degrees either way.
| City | Average high | Average low | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | 18-19°C | 6°C | Sunny afternoons, cold evenings |
| Fes | 16°C | 4°C | Cool and damp, some rainy days |
| Casablanca | 18°C | 9°C | Mild, breezy, showers off the Atlantic |
| Tangier | 16°C | 9°C | The wettest and windiest of the group |
| Merzouga (Sahara) | 17°C | 3°C | Warm sun, nights that can go below 0°C |
| Ifrane (Middle Atlas) | 8-10°C | 0°C or below | Snow is normal |
The numbers tell most of the story: the afternoons are pleasant almost everywhere, and the nights are where December bites.
Marrakech weather in December
Marrakech is the easiest city to enjoy in December. Expect around 18°C in the afternoon under a sky that is clear more often than not. The city sits at about 450 m, so once the sun goes down the temperature falls fast, and by 8 pm it can be 8°C or lower on Jemaa el-Fna.
Rain is possible but not frequent: roughly 25-35 mm over the whole month, usually in a couple of short systems. Riads are built to stay cool in summer, which means they can feel chilly in winter; look for one with heating in the rooms. The snow line on the High Atlas is usually visible from the rooftops by mid-December, which makes a day trip from Marrakech into the mountains one of the best things you can do this month.
Fes, Casablanca and Tangier
Fes is noticeably cooler and wetter than Marrakech. Highs of about 16°C, lows near 4°C, and perhaps 60-80 mm of rain across the month. The medina’s narrow lanes stay shaded and cold, so a proper jacket matters here more than anywhere else in the imperial cities.
Casablanca and the Atlantic coast are mild. Highs around 18°C, lows around 9°C, with the ocean keeping the extremes in check. Rain arrives in short, often heavy bursts between sunny spells. The sea is about 17-18°C, fine for a walk on the Corniche, not for swimming.
Tangier is the wettest major city in December, often above 100 mm, and the wind off the Strait can make 16°C feel colder. Between the fronts, though, you get bright, clear days with views across to Spain.
The Sahara desert in December
A December desert trip is one of our favourites, and the one we most often have to explain. The days are warm, with highs around 17°C and strong sun that feels hotter on the dunes. The nights are the coldest you will meet on a Morocco trip: 3°C on average at Merzouga, and dips below 0°C are normal on clear nights.
What that means in practice:
- A camel ride to camp at sunset is in a T-shirt and fleece; by dinner you want a down jacket, hat and gloves.
- Good camps provide thick blankets and often hot-water bottles. Ask before you book.
- The air is dry and the skies are exceptionally clear, which makes December one of the best months for stars.
- Sunrise on the summit of Erg Chebbi is cold. Bring the layers up with you.
Our 4-day Marrakech to Merzouga tour crosses the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 m, which can see snow in December. Our driver-guides check conditions each morning, but build a little slack into your plan if a storm is forecast.
Snow in the Atlas Mountains
December is when the mountains turn white. Ifrane, at about 1,650 m in the Middle Atlas, usually has snow on the ground for stretches of the month, and the cedar forests around it look nothing like the Morocco people expect. In the High Atlas, Oukaimeden above Marrakech typically opens for skiing from late December or January when the snowfall allows, and the Imlil valley below Toubkal (4,167 m) is a good place for a cold, clear walk with a local guide. If you drive between Fes and the desert, the route through Ifrane and Midelt is at altitude for several hours; keep a warm layer within reach.
Short days and what they mean for your itinerary
Morocco stays on UTC+1 through the winter, so December gives you around 10 hours of daylight: sunrise is a little after 8 am and sunset around 6:30 pm in Marrakech. That shapes a trip more than the temperature does.
- Long driving days, such as Fes to Merzouga, start before dawn and arrive at dusk. We shorten stages or add an overnight where it helps.
- Sunset at Ait Ben Haddou or on the dunes comes early; plan to be in place by 5:30 pm.
- Medinas are at their best from mid-morning to late afternoon, which fits a relaxed pace well.
Christmas and New Year in Morocco
Christmas is not a public holiday in Morocco, so shops, souks and restaurants are open as usual on 25 December. Hotels and riads that cater to international guests often put on a festive dinner, and some add a small supplement for it.
New Year is a different matter. Desert camps around Merzouga, riads in Marrakech and the better hotels in Fes fill up early for 31 December, and private driver-guides are booked out well ahead. If you want a dune camp for New Year’s Eve, we suggest reserving by October. Prices across the country rise for the week between Christmas and New Year, then drop again in the second week of January.
The first three weeks of December, by contrast, are among the calmest and best-value weeks of the year.
Is December a good time to visit Morocco?
Yes, for most trips. The cities are comfortable to walk, the desert is at its clearest, the mountains have snow, and outside the festive week the country is quiet. The trade-offs are the short days, the cold nights and the chance of rain in the north. December is a poor choice only if you want a beach holiday. If you are flexible on dates, our best time to visit Morocco page compares December with the spring and autumn shoulder seasons.
What to pack
Think in layers. A typical December day for one of our guests starts at 5°C and peaks at 18°C.
- A warm jacket for evenings, the desert and the mountains
- Fleece or wool mid-layer
- Long trousers; shorts will feel out of place and cold
- Comfortable closed shoes that cope with wet cobbles
- Hat and gloves if you are sleeping in the desert
- A compact rain layer for the coast and Fes
- Sunscreen and sunglasses; the sun is low but strong
We go into more detail in what to wear in Morocco in December.
Frequently asked questions
Does it rain a lot in Morocco in December?
It depends on where you are. Tangier, the Rif and the Atlantic coast around Rabat and Casablanca have their rainiest weeks of the year, though rain usually comes in bursts between sunny days. Marrakech averages only a few wet days, and the Sahara around Merzouga is almost always dry.
How cold does the Sahara get at night in December?
The average low at Merzouga is about 3°C, and clear nights can drop below freezing. Camps supply heavy blankets and, often, hot-water bottles, but you should still bring a warm jacket, hat and gloves. Daytime is warm, with highs near 17°C and strong sun.
Can you see snow in Morocco in December?
Yes. The High Atlas peaks above Marrakech are usually white by mid-month, Ifrane in the Middle Atlas often has snow on the ground, and the Tizi n’Tichka pass can see snowfall. A guided day trip to the Imlil valley or Ourika is the simplest way to reach it from Marrakech.
Is Marrakech warm in December?
In the afternoon, yes: around 18°C and usually sunny, which is pleasant for walking the medina and gardens. Mornings and evenings are cold, often 6-8°C, so you will want a jacket from sunset onward.
Is New Year busy in Morocco?
Very. The week from Christmas to New Year is one of the busiest of the year in Marrakech, Fes and the Merzouga desert camps, and the best places sell out months ahead. The rest of December is quiet and good value.
Are tours and attractions open over Christmas?
Yes. Christmas is not a Moroccan holiday, so souks, museums, restaurants and tours run normally. Only New Year’s Day sees some businesses closed or on reduced hours.
Our private December tours from Marrakech, Fes and Casablanca are built around the short days and the cold nights: heated rooms, well-equipped desert camps and a driver-guide who knows where the sun is at 4 pm. See our Morocco desert tours and Morocco private tours, or contact us with your dates.
