Month guide · Marrakech · Morocco
Marrakech in January
What January 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
January is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 19°C (66°F), lows of 6°C (43°F), about 4 rainy days and roughly 10.3 hours of daylight. Sunny, mild days and cold nights; riads can be chilly, so check for heating, and expect snow on the Atlas.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 19°C (66°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 4
- Daylight
- About 10.3 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Marrakech: days average 19°C (66°F) against a yearly average high of 27°C (81°F), and nights fall to about 6°C (43°F). Rain falls on roughly 4 of its 31 days. Compared with December (19°C (66°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:32
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 18:50
- Daylight
- About 10.3 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, January rates 3 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in April). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in January
- Marrakech Marathon (usually late January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Palace · Kasbah
El Badi Palace
Climb to the corner terraces for views over the medina and, on clear winter days, the snowy Atlas.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
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
What to pack
For highs near 19°C, lows near 6°C and 4 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Marrakech?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event 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 January a good time to visit Marrakech?
It is a shoulder-season month. Sunny, mild days and cold nights; riads can be chilly, so check for heating, and expect snow on the Atlas.
+How warm is Marrakech in January?
Average highs are around 19°C (66°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Marrakech in January?
Expect rain on about 4 days of the month, so it is usually dry.