Planning Christmas in Morocco? It is a lovely idea: sunny winter days, mint tea instead of mulled wine, and the chance to wake up on Christmas morning in the Sahara. Morocco is a Muslim country, so 25 December is a normal working day. Below, our local team explains what you will find, where to spend the holidays and how to plan around the busiest week of the year.
Short answer
Christmas is not a public holiday in Morocco: souks, sites and tours run as usual on 24, 25 and 26 December. Some hotels and riads prepare a festive dinner, and churches in Marrakech, Rabat and Casablanca hold services. Days are mild and sunny, but nights are cold, close to freezing in the desert. The week from Christmas to New Year is one of the busiest of the year, so book early.
Is Christmas celebrated in Morocco?
Not as a national holiday. Around 25 December, banks, shops, palaces and museums keep their normal hours, and your driver and guide work as usual. New Year is different: 1 January is a public holiday, and so are 11 January and the Amazigh New Year on 14 January.
There are small Christian communities and a few churches in the big cities, such as the Church of the Holy Martyrs in Gueliz, Marrakech, St Peter’s Cathedral in Rabat and Notre-Dame de Lourdes in Casablanca. Visitors are welcome at Christmas services; check the times locally, as they are not always published early.
Christmas in Morocco: what you will and will not find
| Thing | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Christmas dinner | Some hotels and riads offer a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinner, often at extra cost. Ask when you book. |
| Decorations | A tree or lights in some hotel lobbies. Streets and souks are not decorated. |
| Christmas markets | No European-style Christmas market. The souks and the food stalls of Jemaa el-Fna are the market. |
| Shops and sites | Open as normal on 24, 25 and 26 December. |
| Church services | In Marrakech, Rabat and Casablanca. Check times locally. |
| Alcohol | Only in licensed hotels, restaurants and bars. Many riads and desert camps do not serve it. |
Why spend Christmas in Morocco
The main reason is winter sun. While much of Europe is dark by mid-afternoon, Marrakech has sunny days of around 18–20°C, and the desert is comfortable for walking and camel rides. In addition, school holidays make it one of the few times families can travel together. Finally, it is a short flight from Spain, the UK and most of Europe.
What to be ready for:
- Peak season: riads, desert camps and flights fill early and cost more.
- Cold nights: around 5°C in Marrakech and close to 0°C in the Sahara.
- Short days: the sun sets around 5.30 pm, so long drives start early.
- Snow on the Atlas can close the Tizi n’Tichka pass for a few hours.
For the whole season, read our guide to Morocco in winter.
Where to spend Christmas in Morocco
| Place | Christmas week | Best for | Honest drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | Sunny days, cool nights | First visits, couples, a riad or hotel Christmas dinner | The busiest city that week |
| Sahara (Merzouga) | Mild days, very cold nights | A Christmas night under the stars | At least a day of driving each way |
| Essaouira | Mild, often windy | A slower Christmas by the ocean | Too cool for swimming |
| Fes | Cooler, sometimes rainy | History, crafts and the old medina | Quieter evenings |
Christmas in Marrakech works well as a base: spend Christmas Eve in the medina and on Jemaa el-Fna, then add a day trip to the Ourika Valley or Essaouira. See ideas in Marrakech in 3 days.
Can you spend Christmas night in the Sahara?
Yes. Because our trips are private, we plan the route backwards from the night you want in the dunes. You ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset, have dinner at the camp and wake up for sunrise on Christmas morning.
Camps do not all run a special Christmas programme, so ask before you book:
- Is the tent heated? Standard tents use heavy blankets; a luxury desert camp in Merzouga is warmer and has a private bathroom.
- Hot water? It matters a lot at 6 am in late December.
- 4×4 instead of camel? Possible for children or older travellers.
Tours that work over Christmas
3 Days Marrakech to Merzouga Desert TourView itinerary →
4 Days Marrakech to Merzouga Desert TourView itinerary →
6 Days Desert Tour from MarrakechView itinerary →See all our Morocco desert tours.
A sample Christmas week in Morocco
This example puts you in the desert on Christmas night and back in Marrakech before the New Year rush. It follows our 4 days Marrakech to Merzouga tour.
| Date | Plan | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec | Arrive in Marrakech, evening on Jemaa el-Fna | Riad in Marrakech |
| 23 Dec | Guided visit of the medina and palaces | Riad in Marrakech |
| 24 Dec | Tizi n’Tichka, Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley | Hotel in the Dades Valley |
| 25 Dec | Todra Gorge, then a sunset camel ride in Merzouga | Desert camp – Christmas night |
| 26 Dec | Sunrise on the dunes, then west through the south | Hotel on the way |
| 27 Dec | Back over the Atlas to Marrakech | Riad in Marrakech |
| 28 Dec | Day trip to Essaouira or departure | – |
Prefer New Year in the dunes? Read New Year in the Sahara desert.
When to book Christmas in Morocco
| What | When | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | As soon as your dates are fixed | Holiday fares rise quickly |
| Riads in Marrakech | By early autumn | The best rooms, especially heated ones, go first |
| Desert camps | By early autumn | Good camps and luxury tents fill up |
| Private tour | With your flights | We reserve hotels and camps once you agree the route |
Late booking is still possible, especially for Christmas itself rather than New Year, but with less choice.
What to pack for Christmas in Morocco
Pack for summer at noon and winter at night: a warm jacket, thermal layers for the camp, a hat, gloves and a scarf, plus sunglasses and sunscreen. In the cities, cover shoulders and knees. Our list of what to pack for the Sahara desert has everything.
Christmas in Morocco: questions people ask
Is Christmas a holiday in Morocco?
No. 25 December is a normal day, so shops, souks and sites are open. 1 January is a public holiday.
Is Marrakech good at Christmas?
Yes, for sunny sightseeing and a relaxed break. Evenings are cold, and the city is busy, so book your riad early.
Are there Christmas markets in Marrakech?
Not in the European sense. The souks and the evening food stalls of Jemaa el-Fna run as usual.
Is Morocco warm at Christmas?
By day, mostly yes, around 18–20°C in Marrakech. Nights are cold, close to freezing in the Sahara.
Can we go to church?
Yes. Catholic churches in Marrakech, Rabat and Casablanca hold services; check times locally.
Is Morocco safe at Christmas?
Yes, for most visitors. Read is Morocco safe for tourists.
Plan your Christmas in Morocco
Tell us your dates, where you land and how many you are. We reply with a private route that puts you in the dunes on the night you choose, and the price. You can also message us on WhatsApp.
Sources: Public holidays in Morocco · UK travel advice for Morocco · Visit Morocco: Marrakech
Ready to plan your Morocco trip?
Tell us your dates and group size. We will send you a private route with your own driver, hand-picked riads and the price.
- Send us your dates and group size.
- We reply with a private day-by-day route and the price.
- You change anything you like; nothing is paid until you agree the plan.
★★★★★ 5.0 from 522 reviews on Tripadvisor
Main photo: Durziil89, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.