What is Morocco like in December?

December splits neatly in two. For most of the month it's a quiet, cool, good-value time to travel — and then Christmas and New Year arrive and Marrakech in particular becomes one of the hottest winter-sun escapes in the world. Through the early and middle weeks, the imperial cities are crisp and calm: daytime temperatures around 17–19°C, bright and pleasant in the sun, but with genuinely cold nights that have you reaching for a coat and grateful for a riad with proper heating. The medinas are working markets again, atmospheric and largely free of crowds.

The High Atlas is deep in winter. The ski season at Oukaïmeden is running, the peaks are snow-clad, and the mountain villages around Imlil sit under a dusting of white below towering summits — beautiful, but with the caveat that a storm can briefly close a pass. The Sahara holds its dramatic winter pattern: warm, sunny, photogenic days where you can sit out comfortably, and bitterly cold nights that drop close to freezing. A December desert overnight is magical under exceptionally clear skies, but only with a well-heated camp and serious warm layers.

The coast is mild and often grey — Essaouira and the Atlantic strip are bracing and atmospheric, better for fresh seafood and ramparts walks than beach days. As ever, the deep southwest around Agadir delivers the most reliable winter sun, with warm enough afternoons to genuinely relax outdoors. Across the country there's a lovely seasonal energy: citrus and olives in the markets, and a festive buzz in the cities as the holidays approach.

On crowds and cost, December is a story of two halves. Early-to-mid December is one of the quietest, best-value windows of the year, much like January. The Christmas-to-New-Year period is the dramatic exception: Marrakech and the headline riads book out months ahead and prices spike hard as winter-sun seekers and New Year revellers descend, so if you're travelling then, reserve early and expect a premium. Either way, pack for cool days and cold nights, with proper warm layers for the desert and mountains, and you'll have a characterful, festive trip.