The monumental Bab Mansour gate in Meknes, Morocco, its tilework and arches glowing in warm light
Seasonal Guide · Meknes

Meknes in January

Meknes in January: cold, quiet imperial city, lowest prices

  • A good month to visit
  • Higharound 16°C
  • Lowaround 5°C
January in MeknesView Meknes Tours

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Meknes, month by month
Meknes in January at a Glance
Key weather and planning facts for Meknes in January
VerdictGood
Daytime higharound 16°C
Night-time lowaround 5°C
RainfallAround 8–9 rainy days — one of the wettest months, cold and grey at times.
Good forLowest prices of the year · Crowd-free imperial monuments · Sheltered souks & mausoleums · A calm Fes-and-Meknes circuit

What Meknes is like in January

January is cold and damp in Meknes, the quietest, cheapest month in this inland imperial city. Daytime highs of around 16°C suit walking the medina, the monumental Bab Mansour gate and the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum between showers, but evenings turn genuinely cold and a warm layer is essential. As Morocco's most overlooked imperial city even in high season, Meknes in January is deeply calm — you can take in the grandest gate in the country without a crowd in sight.

It is a month for the sheltered and the unhurried. The vast Heri es-Souani granaries, the mausoleum interiors and the medina's covered souks reward a slow visit, and a wet morning here often clears to a bright, cold afternoon. Rain is frequent — this is among the wettest months — so plan flexibly and keep a waterproof handy, but the city stays dry often enough to take in its imperial monuments at a relaxed winter pace.

January suits travellers who prize calm and value over warmth. Meknes pairs naturally with the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the hilltop holy town of Moulay Idriss nearby, though Volubilis is exposed and best saved for a drier, brighter day. Fes is a short hop away for a two-city imperial circuit. For an authentic, crowd-free imperial city at the lowest prices of the year, January rewards those who pack for the cold.

Around this month

Events & seasons in January

  • Ramadan may fall partly in January in some years — its dates shift ~11 days earlier annually, so confirm for your travel year

Festival and religious dates shift year to year — please confirm the exact dates for your travel year.

Best for

Who January suits

  • Lowest prices of the year
  • Crowd-free imperial monuments
  • Sheltered souks & mausoleums
  • A calm Fes-and-Meknes circuit
Come prepared

What to pack for Meknes in January

  • Warm jacket for cold evenings
  • Layers for cool days, cold nights
  • Waterproof jacket & a compact umbrella
  • Comfortable waterproof walking shoes
  • A scarf for grey, blustery days
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January elsewhere in Morocco

Comparing January across Morocco

Good to know

Meknes in January: your questions

Is January a good time to visit Meknes?
Yes, if you value calm and low prices over warmth. January is the quietest, cheapest month in Meknes, with cool days around 16°C and crowd-free imperial monuments. It is ideal for unhurried sightseeing of the Bab Mansour gate, the mausoleum and the granaries, with indoor options for the wettest days.
How hot is Meknes in January?
Meknes in January has daytime highs of around 16°C and night-time lows near 5°C. The inland, continental climate means cool days suited to walking in a jacket and genuinely cold evenings. It is colder than coastal Morocco and similar to neighbouring Fes.
Is it rainy in Meknes in January?
January is one of Meknes's wettest months, with around 8–9 rainy days and cold, grey spells. Showers can be frequent, so plan indoor options for wet mornings, which often clear to bright, cold afternoons. Save exposed Volubilis for a drier day, and carry a waterproof jacket.
What should I pack for Meknes in January?
Pack a warm jacket for cold evenings, layers for cool days and cold nights, a waterproof jacket and a compact umbrella, comfortable waterproof walking shoes and a scarf for grey, blustery days. The continental winter is genuinely cold, so warmth matters.