Christmas 2026 in Morocco: where to go, what weather to expect, and how to travel light by train

Two weeks off at the end of December, a ticket to Morocco, and the same question every year: where do you go for sunshine, atmosphere and not too much rain? Morocco is a big country, and December looks very different in Tangier, Fez or Marrakech. Here is the real weather city by city, what to book early in peak season, a 6-day train itinerary, and how to avoid dragging your suitcase around between check-out and departure.

The dates that matter

In France, the 2026 Christmas school holidays start on Saturday 19 December 2026 and end on Monday 4 January 2027, for every zone; many other European countries break around the same time. Christmas Day falls on a Friday, 31 December on a Thursday and 1 January 2027 on a Friday. In Morocco, 1 January is a public holiday, and some shops and services keep shorter hours that day. If you stay longer, two more public holidays follow: Monday 11 January (Independence Manifesto Day) and Thursday 14 January (Amazigh New Year).

No time change to worry about: since 20 September 2026, Morocco stays on GMT all year. In winter that is the same time as London and one hour behind Paris.

What is the weather like in December? City by city

The figures below are December climate normals from airport weather stations (1991-2020, 1961-1990 for Tangier), as compiled on Wikipedia. They are averages: any given week can be warmer, colder or wetter.

In practice: pleasant days almost everywhere, but cool evenings and nights, especially in Fez and Marrakech. Many riads are old houses built around a courtyard and are not always well heated: pack a warm jumper and ask in advance whether your room has heating. In Tangier, bring a rain jacket.

Which city for which kind of trip?

• Marrakech: the driest and sunniest of the big cities in December, and the most popular for the holidays. Plenty of atmosphere, but full guesthouses and higher prices around 31 December.
• Tangier: mild, but the wettest city on this list. Ideal if you arrive from Spain by ferry or want to continue on the Al Boraq.
• Rabat: a calm capital, an easy medina, the Kasbah of the Udayas and the Hassan Tower. A good stop for a day or two.
• Fez: a vast medina listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, beautiful in winter, but with the coldest nights (about 5 °C on average).
• Casablanca: the rail and air hub. The Hassan II Mosque is worth half a day between two trains.
• The coast: Agadir has the mildest temperatures. BoxSpot does not have an operational point there yet, nor in Essaouira, so sort out your luggage with your accommodation.

Peak season: what to book early

• Trains: tickets are sold on oncf-voyages.ma and in the ONCF Voyages app, up to 3 months before departure. Over the holidays, book as soon as your dates are set to get the departure time you want, especially for Al Boraq at weekends.
• Flights: several new routes to Morocco open this winter, often twice a week. We listed them in our article on the new winter 2026 flights. With two flights a week, the flight sets your dates, not the other way round.
• Riads: rooms are often ready around 2 or 3pm and must be vacated around noon. Check the exact times with your host, and ask whether someone can guide you through the medina when you arrive.
• New Year's Eve dinner: restaurants and parties in Marrakech sell out early. Book before you leave.

A 6-day train itinerary, from Tangier to Marrakech

The ONCF network links all four cities without a car. The Al Boraq high-speed train runs from Tangier to Rabat-Agdal in about 1h20 and to Casa-Voyageurs in about 2h10; a regular Al Atlas train then takes about 2h40 from Casablanca to Marrakech. Al Boraq does not reach Marrakech yet: the Kenitra-Marrakech line is under construction, with opening announced for September 2029.

High-speed rail works around Casablanca are also changing some regular train times. Check your train on the ONCF website or app a few days ahead, then again on the day.

1. Day 1, Tangier: arrival, medina, Kasbah, Grand Socco.
2. Day 2, Tangier then Al Boraq: morning check-out, one last walk, afternoon train to Rabat-Agdal. The point near the Gran Teatro Cervantes opens at 11am, 3 minutes' walk from the Grand Socco.
3. Day 3, Rabat: medina, Kasbah of the Udayas, Hassan Tower.
4. Day 4, Rabat then Casablanca: check out, leave the suitcase near Place de Russie, a free morning, then the Al Boraq from Rabat-Agdal to Casa-Voyageurs (under an hour). Evening in Casablanca.
5. Day 5, Casablanca then Marrakech: the Hassan II Mosque in the morning, bags at the café about 17 minutes' walk from Casa-Voyageurs, afternoon train to Marrakech.
6. Day 6, Marrakech: the medina, the souks, Jemaa el-Fna in the evening. On departure day, your bags wait in the medina while you squeeze in a last visit. If that day is a Sunday, the point near the Medersa Ben Youssef is closed: the one at Bab Aghmat opens every day from 9am to 5pm.

The Fez variant

Fez is reachable by regular train from Rabat or Casablanca (a little over 3 hours from Casablanca). Swap day 4 for two days in Fez, then head to Marrakech: the Fez-Marrakech journey takes about 6h30, so plan a travel day and check timetables before booking. Note that the BoxSpot point in Fez only opens at noon.

Where to leave your bags, city by city

In every city on the itinerary, a partner business looks after your bags. You book online, the partner scans your QR code and photographs your bags with the drop-off time; they are only handed back against that same QR code.

• Tangier: RS Valises, near the Gran Teatro Cervantes, every day from 11am to 11pm, 3 minutes' walk from the Grand Socco and under 10 minutes from Tanger Ville port. Two more points in town on the Tangier page, including one about 1 km from Tanger-Ville station (3pm to 10pm).
• Rabat: Saberbest, Place de Russie, every day from 9am to 10pm (the booking page has the reference hours), about 1.3 km from Rabat-Ville and 8 to 10 minutes by petit taxi from Rabat-Agdal.
• Casablanca: Troplo Coffee Casa Voyageurs, about 17 minutes' walk from the station, weekdays 7am to 10pm, Saturday 7am to 7pm, Sunday 10am to 6pm.
• Marrakech: two points, Bazar Posterre, near the Medersa Ben Youssef in the northern medina (11am to 11pm, 10pm on Fridays, closed on Sundays), and a hair salon at Bab Aghmat (9am to 5pm every day). See the Marrakech page.
• Fez: Barber Shop Alami, in the new town, every day from noon to 10pm. Take a petit taxi and follow the directions in your booking.

On public holidays such as 1 January, a partner's hours may change: check the booking page before you set off.

Three situations, three prices

Check-out in Tangier, Al Boraq at 5pm

You drop your suitcase at 11am near the Grand Socco and pick it up around 4pm to head to the station: 5 hours, so 45 MAD for one bag.

A day in Casablanca before the Marrakech train

Drop-off at 9am near Casa-Voyageurs, pick-up at 5pm: 8 hours. From 7 hours, the hourly total (63 MAD) goes over the cap, so you pay the day rate: 59 MAD for one bag. Two people with two suitcases: 59 + 49 = 108 MAD.

A big suitcase left for two days

You spend a night in the Atlas with a small bag and leave the big suitcase in Marrakech: 59 + 39 = 98 MAD for two days.

The rate is the same at every point: 9 MAD per hour per bag, 4-hour minimum (36 MAD), never more than 59 MAD for the first bag for the day, then 39 MAD for each following day. Online card payment in dirhams. For more ideas on stops, read our guide to travelling light on the Al Boraq.