What's it like to spend a winter in Morocco?

Wintering in Morocco is one of the great open secrets, and it's exactly why so many Europeans flock here from November to March. By day, in Marrakech, Agadir and the south, you get crisp blue skies and temperatures often warm enough for a long lunch on a sunny terrace in shirtsleeves while everyone back home is in scarves. For sun-starved northern Europeans, that midday warmth in January feels almost medicinal.

But here's the truth nobody mentions in the brochures: the evenings get genuinely cold, and Moroccan buildings are built to keep heat out, not in. Thick walls and tiled floors that are blissful in summer turn into cold sinks in winter, and many homes and budget riads have little or no central heating. The day can be 20°C and the night 6°C, and indoors can feel colder than outdoors. I tell every winter client the same thing: book a place with proper heating, and pack warm layers, not just resort wear.

Geography matters enormously. The Atlantic coast — Essaouira, Agadir, Taghazout — stays mild but can be windy and damp. The far south and the desert are gorgeous and sunny by day but can drop near or below freezing at night under those clear skies, so a Sahara camp in winter means serious blankets. The High Atlas genuinely has snow — Oukaïmeden is a ski resort. And the north, including Tangier and Chefchaouen, gets real rain and grey spells.

My honest verdict: a Moroccan winter is wonderful if you arrive prepared and pick your spot. For reliable warmth and sun, base yourself in Marrakech or on the southern coast, get heated accommodation, and treat the cold nights as the price of those glorious days. Come expecting an endless summer and you'll be disappointed; come with a good jumper and realistic expectations and you'll understand exactly why the snowbirds keep returning.