What to Do in Marrakech in December: Weather, Christmas, New Year and Snow

December weather: sunny by day, cold at night

Sources: NOAA normals for the Marrakech-Menara station for temperatures and rain; sunshine from the weather-and-climate.com averages. Most days are dry and bright, but clear nights can approach 0°C. Riads, built for summer around an open patio, are often chilly: before booking, ask whether each room is heated. Our guide Christmas and New Year in Marrakech covers this in detail.

Crowds and prices in December

The first half of the month, outside the holidays, is among the most affordable periods of the winter, especially after the film festival in late November. The 2026-2027 Christmas school holidays run from 19 December to 4 January in France, and from 21 December to 3 January in Spain: between those dates, and especially around 31 December, riads and hotels charge their highest rates of the winter and the best-known sites, such as the Majorelle Garden, are packed. Book accommodation, flights and the 31 December dinner as early as the autumn. Our guide to where to stay in Marrakech compares the neighborhoods.

Christmas and New Year's Eve in Marrakech

25 December is not a public holiday in Morocco: shops, souks and monuments operate normally. The Christmas atmosphere is found mostly in the large hotels. For Mass, the Church of the Holy Martyrs in Guéliz announces the times of the 24 December vigil and the 25 December Mass in December.

La Mamounia publishes a festive program: in 2025-2026, a Christmas menu at 2,800 MAD per person on 24 and 25 December and 31 December dinners from 4,200 to 8,000 MAD depending on the restaurant. The 2026-2027 program had not yet been published on 1 October 2026: these prices give an order of magnitude. For 31 December, several camps in the Agafay desert also host an evening, and Jemaa el-Fna comes alive as every evening. The details of New Year's Eve, with alcohol and the January holidays, are in our guide Christmas and New Year in Marrakech.

What to wear in December

• Layers: a light sweater for the day, a real warm jacket, a scarf and a hat for evenings, Agafay and Oukaïmeden.
• Warm pajamas and thick socks for the riad.
• Sunglasses and sunscreen: the winter sun is bright.
• Closed shoes, waterproof for the mountains.
• A dressy outfit for New Year's Eve. See what to wear in Marrakech.

The best things to do in December

• Walk the medina in the mild afternoons: the souks, the Bahia Palace and the Majorelle Garden, open from 8 am.
• Museums and the hammam for cool evenings and rainy days; see the museums of Marrakech and what to do when it rains.
• Dinner on a terrace: bring a sweater, as evenings are cool.

Day trips: snow, desert and the Atlas

• Oukaïmeden: about 80 km away, the highest ski resort in Africa. The season runs in principle from December to March, but snow cover is irregular and the lifts run at reduced capacity: check the day before. Sledding and walks remain possible without a lift.
• The Agafay desert: sunset and a night in a camp, with winter clothing.
• The Ourika Valley: waterfalls and riverside restaurants, about 60 km away.
• Essaouira: about 190 km and 3 hours by bus.

To compare the outings, see day trips from Marrakech.

December 2026 in Marrakech at a glance

Going further

December follows what to do in Marrakech in November and comes before what to do in Marrakech in January. To compare all the seasons, read our guide to the best time to visit Marrakech.