Month guide · Marrakech · Morocco
Marrakech in December
What December is really like in Marrakech: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: C messier, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 19°C (66°F), lows of 7°C (45°F), about 4 rainy days and roughly 10.1 hours of daylight. Sunny days and cold nights; Christmas and New Year are among the busiest and most expensive times to stay.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 19°C (66°F) / 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days
- About 4
- Daylight
- About 10.1 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Marrakech: days average 19°C (66°F) against a yearly average high of 27°C (81°F), and nights fall to about 7°C (45°F). Rain falls on roughly 4 of its 31 days. Compared with November (22°C (72°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 19°C (66°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:24
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:30
- Daylight
- About 10.1 hours
Winter (December–February). Mild, sunny days around 19°C, cold nights and snow on the High Atlas; busy over Christmas and New Year.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 4 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in April). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Marrakech International Film Festival (usually early December)
- New Year's Eve celebrations at hotels and riads (31 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Garden · Mouassine
Le Jardin Secret
Behind a doorway on Rue Mouassine, this restored 19th-century palace has two gardens — an Islamic garden laid out in four quarters around a fountain and an exotic garden of plants from around the world — watered by a restored traditional channel system.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Nature
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Garden · Hivernage
Menara Gardens
Come in the late afternoon in winter or spring for the classic photo of the pavilion against the mountains.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
- Kids
Gallery · Medina
Maison de la Photographie
In a restored house near the Ben Youssef Madrasa, this gallery shows photographs of Moroccan life from the 1870s to the 1950s, including early images of the Atlas and the south, and has a rooftop café looking over the medina.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Garden · Avenue Mohammed V
Cyber Park
Use it as a shady rest stop on the walk between the Koutoubia and Gueliz.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 19°C, lows near 7°C and 4 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Marrakech?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, March–May and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Marrakech in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Marrakech?
It is a shoulder-season month. Sunny days and cold nights; Christmas and New Year are among the busiest and most expensive times to stay.
+How warm is Marrakech in December?
Average highs are around 19°C (66°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Marrakech in December?
Expect rain on about 4 days of the month, so it is usually dry.