Christmas in Marrakech: Everything You Need to Know

If you want to spend Christmas in Marrakech you’re in for a real treat.

Not only is the weather warm, to the point that you can wear a T-shirt in the afternoon, but you can walk around the city without getting bombarded by Christmas music and over-the-top Christmas decor.

So, if you want to forget Christmas exists then you can do that here since Marrakech sits inside a Muslim-majority country where most people don’t celebrate Christmas and don’t really know when it is.

However, if you are a lover of all things Christmas then Marrakech is still the place you you.

Believe it or not, you can still find small Christmas markets, Christmas displays, and Christmas lunches/dinners scattered throughout the city.

Generally, you just have to go to Western hotels (think Mamounia Hotel) and malls in more modern parts of the city (think Menara Mall)

Just remember that visiting Marrakech at Christmas means you’ll be in the city during peak travel season. So, expect to pay top dollar, expect large crowds, and book all of your hotels, tours, and riads well in advance to avoid disappointment.

But, if you can handle doing that then you’ll love celebrating Christmas in Marrakech. I have done it many times since I live in Morocco and sometimes can’t afford to go home for the holiday.

Now, let’s dive into this local’s comprehensive guide and tell you everything you need to know about enjoying this holiday in Marrakech.

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Is Marrakech Good at Christmas?

Christmas is a great time to visit Marrakech since the weather is warm and you can walk around in a T-shirt in the afternoon.

Just be aware that it is probably a bit too cold to go swimming which is why I tend to do coworking in Marrakech instead.

It’s also nice because depending on your personal preferences, you can engage in some Christmas festivities or just avoid the holiday altogether. The same goes for any place you visit in Morocco during Christmas.

So, stay in the Medina to forget about Christmas, or head to Gueliz to enjoy a bit of holiday cheer. After all, local malls and Western-style hotels will be filled with Christmas decor that caters to Westerners who are visiting the city.

The one downside to visiting at this time of the month is that unlike the rest of December in Marrakech or January in Marrakech, this is peak travel season. Therefore, expect large crowds and high prices when it comes to hotels, tours, and flights.

I would also book tours, flights, and rooms at some of the most affordable riads in Marrakech well in advance. This is a popular time to visit the city and everything fills up FAST, especially riads since they usually only have ten rooms MAX.

Weather in Marrakech at Christmas

Overall, the weather is really nice during Christmas. Generally, daily highs are around 20°C (68°F), daily lows are around 7°C (45°F), and there is a small chance of rain (there are an average of three days of rain in December).

So, you can absolutely walk around in a T-shirt and jeans during the day and feel totally comfortable.

That being said, it is a bit too cold for swimming and the city does get cold in the evening, especially if your hotel/riad does not have heat.

As a result, I would still pack plenty of warm clothes for cold nights in Marrakech. Think sweaters, a fleece, and a warm winter jacket since mornings can be pretty cold too.

Yeah, the first time I spent winter in Marrakech I didn’t bring nearly enough warm clothes, and don’t want you to make the same mistake.

Overall, it’s a great time to visit the city since temperatures are comfortable and not insanely cold or hot.

You’ll also love that the days are fairly long since the sun tends to rise at 8:22 am and set at 6:30 pm, which means you’ll get to enjoy about 10 hours of daylight.

Things to Know About Christmas in Marrakech

Because Morocco is a Muslim country, Christmas “celebrations” are a bit different in Marrakech.

After all, most locals do not celebrate the holiday. Therefore, any Christmas festivities are a bit more subdued then what you are used to.

So, here is what you need to know before visiting Marrakech at Christmas. This way you know what to expect and can plan accordingly.

• No Big Christmas Markets in Marrakech – You won’t find any giant Christmas markets in Marrakech. Yes, the souks of Marrakech will be a buzz with activity, but no one in the Medina will be selling anything Christmas-related. You can sometimes find small holiday markets at local Catholic and Protect churches in Gueliz.

• Go Christmas Shopping at the La Mamounia Christmas Market – La Mamounia has a Christmas market that is held from December 10th through December 23rd. They sell Christmas ornaments and other amazing Christmas decor that you can take home with you.

• Head to Gueliz to See Christmas Lights – Gueliz is the more modern part of the city where you’ll find a lot of expats who celebrate Christmas. Therefore, you can find an array of churches, westernized malls, and Western-style hotels that will be well-decorated for the holidays. Some of my fave places to see Christmas lights are La Mamounia, the Royal Mansour, and malls like Manara Mall.

• Head to Western-style Hotels for Christmas Lunch or Dinner – To enjoy a traditional Christmas lunch or dinner, make a reservation, dress up, and head to one of the Western hotels in the city. Many big, high-end Western resorts (not riads) have restaurants on-site that create a special holiday menu that caters to foreigners traveling to the city.

• Attend Christmas Mass at a Protestant or Catholic Church – Because Morocco was a French colony, many newer parts of the city are home to churches with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. If you would like to attend a service visit Chiesa Madre dei Santi Martiri (Catholic), the Evangelical Church in Morocco, and the Marrakech International Protestant Church in Marrakech. You can use this site to find a list of churches, services, and times.

• Christmas Decorations will Have a European Flair – Due to Morocco’s location near Europe, many expats and digital nomads in Morocco are European. So, any decor that you see will have a very European feel to it.

• You Can Find Christmas Treats in Local Bakeries – If you head to local bakeries in Marrakech you should be able to find Christmas treats like buche de Nôel. This traditional French Christmas cake also might be served to you in fun, Christmas wrapping paper.

Local Tip: Double check to make sure your hotel or riad has heat in their rooms before booking. I haven’t run into this problem much in Marrakech but I do know heat is sometimes not available in riads.

How Is Christmas Celebrated in Marrakech?

Technically, Christmas isn’t celebrated in Marrakech since Morocco is a Muslim country and most of the people in the city only celebrate Muslim holidays.

So, if you spend Christmas in Marrakech then December 25th will be a regular day in the city. That’s good though since all of the top landmarks in Marrakech will be open.

Therefore, you shouldn’t have any problem completing your two day in Marrakech itinerary since you won’t have to make any special accomodations for Christmas-related closures in Marrakech.

As a result, you can visit some of the best hammams in Marrakech or some of the best rooftop restaurants in Marrakech without any problem since everything will be open and it will be business as usual.

In fact, most people in the city don’t even know it’s Christmas and you’ll really only find Christmas decor in newer parts of the city that are heavily frequented by tourists and lived in by expats.

If foreigners do celebrate the holiday, it’s usually with a holiday dinner in their home on Christmas Eve (December 24th).

Local Tip: If you want to embrace the holiday and get into the spirit of the season then head to Rabat. Rabat is the capital, is home to lots of foreigners, and has a ton of foreign embassies.

So, this is probably the best place to celebrate Christmas in Morocco.

Conclusion

Overall, Christmas is a great time to visit Marrakech. It would probably be my favorite time to visit the city if it weren’t for the high prices and the large crowds.

However, if you can handle both of those things (and plan your trip months in advance) then you’ll be able to spend an amazing four days in Marrakech – or more if you want.

I also love that you can walk around in jeans, a t-shirt, and sandals during the day and feel totally comfortable. Just be sure to pack plenty of warm clothes too since nights and mornings can get quite cold.

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