Marrakech in winter is a different kind of city. The Red City loses some of its summer hustle and bustle, giving way to a more relaxed atmosphere, without losing any of its vitality. Mild temperatures allow you to explore the Medina, souks and palaces without the heat of the summer months. We loved this winter version of Marrakech, quieter and just as rich.
Here are our tips for visiting Marrakech in winter: activities, weather, temperatures… Plus, information on how to spend the festive season in this city full of surprises.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Visiting Marrakech in winter: is it worth it?
Our review
Yes, visiting Marrakech in winter is well worth the trip. The city remains lively all year round, and the winter months offer pleasant conditions in which to explore it. We enjoyed wandering the narrow streets of the Medina and the alleys of the souks without the pressure of the high season. Major sites such as the Jardin Majorelle, the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs are much more accessible. Mild temperatures during the day allow you to take long walks outdoors, while cooler evenings invite you to relax in a café or over a meal.
We still recommend that you bring warm clothing for the evenings and for any excursions into the Atlas Mountains, whose peaks are covered in snow in winter.
Benefits
- Mild daytime temperatures (up to 20°C, sometimes 25) make for very pleasant visits.
- There are fewer tourists visiting the sites and souks outside the festive season.
- Accommodation is less expensive outside the holiday season.
- The Medina, museums and palaces can be visited in better conditions.
- Excursions to the Atlas mountains offer breathtaking snow-covered landscapes.
Disadvantages
- Evenings and nights are very cool, sometimes close to 6°C.
- Shorter days mean less time for outdoor exploration.
- An occasional risk of rain is expected.
- Some gardens are less flowery than in spring.
- Some attractions may have reduced opening hours.
WHERE TO STAY IN Marrakech
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
In the Medina
Riad Kbour & Chou – See prices, photos and availability
In the Kasbah, an ancient fortified quarter
Riad Jonan & Spa – See prices, photos and availability
Luxury Hotel
Royal Mansour Hotel – See prices, photos and availability
Weather, temperatures and conditions
In winter, Marrakech enjoys a mild, sunny climate. Temperatures oscillate between 7°C at night and 20°C during the day, with periods of full sunshine making outdoor walks comfortable. Rainfall remains moderate, concentrated on just a few days a month. Winds can freshen in the evening, so we recommend you bring a warm coat. In fine weather, the view of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains from Marrakech is particularly beautiful in winter.
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN Maroc
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Adapt your choice of vehicle to your itinerary!
- For more choice, book early.
Read our tips (coming soon)
What to do in Marrakech in winter?
Marrakech offers a multitude of activities in all seasons. In winter, the city is ideal for exploring: here are our suggestions for making the most of your stay.
The Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is ideal for exploring on foot. Its narrow streets, carved cedar doors and sculpted fountains reveal remarkable Arabo-Andalusian architecture. In winter, the absence of summer crowds means you can stroll more freely. We recommend that you lose yourself in the souks by guild: the dyer’s souk, the babouche souk or the spice souk, with its scents of saffron and ras el-hanout. To make sure you don’t get lost, book your guided tour of the colorful souks now!
Place Jemaa El-Fna remains the beating heart of Marrakech whatever the season. In the morning, orange juice vendors and snake tamers set up shop. In the evening, the square is transformed into a vast open-air dining area. Traditional storytellers perpetuate the art of the halqa, while Gnaoua musicians play their instruments. The Musée du Patrimoine Immatériel Jemaa El Fna (Jemaa El Fna Intangible Heritage Museum) is one of our favorite addresses on the square: it reveals all the secrets of the square and offers a digital games room on the exhibition for children. Book your guided gastronomic tour of Jemaa El Fna Square!
Marrakech’s palaces and monuments are best visited in winter. The Palais de la Bahia, built in the late 19th century for the Grand Vizier Ba Ahmed, features courtyards paved with Carrara marble, painted cedar ceilings and colorful zelliges. The Palais El Badi, nicknamed “l’Incomparable” in the 16th century, impresses with its size and monumental basins: its underground passages house the Koutoubia minbar, a 12th-century masterpiece of cabinet-making. The Saadian Tombs are one of the jewels of Moroccan funerary architecture. The Hall of the Twelve Columns, with its carved cedar dome supported by white marble columns, is well worth a visit. Book your guided tour now!
A LITTLE MORE PATIENCE
All the photos, maps, information and addresses you need to make your stay at Maroc a success will soon be available in a single ebook!
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Marrakech is home to a wealth of museums, particularly suited to winter days. The Jardin Majorelle, created in the 1920s by painter Jacques Majorelle, is an oasis where the cobalt-blue of the buildings contrasts with the vegetation. It houses the Musée des Arts Berbères Pierre Bergé, with its remarkable collection of chased silver jewelry, hand-woven carpets and embroidered garments. We really recommend this museum for understanding Amazigh culture. A stone’s throw away, the Musée Yves Saint Laurent, in a contemporary building with facades inspired by Moroccan embroidery, displays haute couture dresses, original sketches and the couturier’s archives. Please note: online reservations are required for all three sites, and tickets cannot be purchased on site! Book your combined ticket now: Jardin Majorelle + Musée Yves Saint Laurent + Musée des Arts Berbères!
Other museums are well worth a visit. The Musée des Confluences Dar El Bacha is one of our favorites: housed in a former palace dating back to the early 20th century, it displays collections of ancient and contemporary art around a vast columned patio in a meticulously designed architectural setting. Café Dar El Bacha, accessible from the museum, is a pleasant place to stop for a mint tea after your visit. The Maison de la Photographie, housed in a riad in the Medina, presents old photographs of Morocco from the 19th to the mid-20th century: Berber portraits, views of the Atlas mountains and scenes of life in the medinas. The Musée de la Musique documents Moroccan musical traditions, from Gnaoua to Andalucia, and organizes concerts twice a week in a nearby riad.
See our complete selection of the best museums in Marrakech.
Hammams and spas are particularly welcome addresses in winter for warming up and relaxing after a day’s sightseeing. Traditional establishments offer black soap scrubs, argan oil massages and progressive heat rooms. Reserve your moment of relaxation in one of the best hammams in Marrakech!
Visit excursions around Marrakech are also worth doing in winter. The Atlas Mountains, with their snow-capped peaks between December and February, offer breathtaking scenery just an hour’s drive away. The Ourika Valley remains accessible and verdant even in winter. The Agafay Desert, 30km away, offers a desert experience with its arid hills and panoramic views of the Atlas Mountains. Essaouira, 2h30 away on the Atlantic coast, is also a great escape for a day.
>> Book your excursion to the Ourika Valley and the Atlas Mountains!
>> Book your excursion to Essaouira
To find out more, read our article on what to do in Marrakech!
DISCOVER Marrakech
- Attractions in Marrakech
- Best hotels in Marrakech
- Luxury hotels
- Best riads
- Best restaurants (coming soon)
- Itineraries: 2 days – 3 days – 1 week
- Majorelle Garden
- How to get there
How do I get to Marrakech?
Marrakech-Ménara airport is served by numerous airlines from major European cities, including Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Brussels and Geneva. Low-cost airlines offer attractive fares all year round. From the airport, shuttles, cabs and private transfers take you to the city center in around 15 minutes. If you are arriving from Casablanca, the train links the two cities in 3 hours. CTM and Supratours buses also serve all major Moroccan cities from the Marrakech bus station. By car from Casablanca, allow around 3 hours’ drive.
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Christmas in Marrakech
Spending Christmas in Marrakech is an original experience that blends local traditions with the festive atmosphere of the end of the year. The city doesn’t light up in the same way as a European capital, but riads and hotels offer warm decorations and festive dinners. It’s also the ideal time to enjoy the sites in the best possible conditions: few tourists, pleasant winter light, quieter atmosphere in the souks. We recommend that you take advantage of this time to visit must-see monuments such as the Bahia Palace or the Saadian Tombs on a guided tour, or stroll through the souks to find handcrafted gifts.
New Year in Marrakech
New Year’s Eve in Marrakech attracts many travelers looking for a party with a difference. Restaurants and riads offer special menus for the occasion, often accompanied by live music. We advise you to book your table in advance, as the best addresses sell out very early on. Our suggestions include Restaurant Tanjia for its dance performances or Restaurant Farmers for its bistronomic cuisine. Luxury hotels also offer high-quality evening events. The following day, an excursion to the Atlas Mountains is the ideal way to start the New Year in a stunning natural setting. Why not start the year in a hot-air balloon at sunrise?
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Morocco
- Best of
The most beautiful landscapes in Morocco
What to do in Morocco (coming soon)
The most beautiful riads
The most beautiful cities
The most beautiful medinas
The most beautiful gardens (coming soon)
The best museums (coming soon)
The most beautiful beaches in Morocco (coming soon)
- Practical advice
When to go? (coming soon)
How to rent a car in Morocco (coming soon)
Driving tips (coming soon)
Itineraries (coming soon)
Where to stay in Morocco (coming soon)
- The must-dos
Marrakech
Casablanca
Fès
Meknès
Chefchaouen
Sahara Desert (coming soon)
