Traditional moroccan djellabas displayed at a market stall.
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Visiting Chefchaouen in December

BySunMed Guide

Visiting Chefchaouen in December

# Chefchaouen in December

So you’re thinking about the Blue City in December. Honest answer? It’s a genuinely solid time to go, with some real caveats worth knowing before you book.

The weather is the first thing people ask about, and it’s legitimately unpredictable. Chefchaouen sits in the Rif Mountains at around 600 metres elevation, which means December can be crisp and clear and absolutely stunning, or it can be cold, grey and dripping wet for days at a stretch. Average temperatures hover around 8-14°C, but mountain rain doesn’t follow averages. Some people arrive to golden winter light bouncing off blue walls. Others spend three days in a damp medina watching puddles form. You genuinely cannot know in advance, so pack layers and waterproofing and make peace with that uncertainty before you go.

What you will find, regardless of weather, is a dramatically quieter town. The summer Instagram crowds are completely gone. The medina’s narrow staircase alleys – the ones that are basically impassable in July – are actually walkable. Shopkeepers are relaxed, unhurried, sometimes almost grateful for the company. You can photograph the famous blue streets without spending an hour waiting for gaps between selfie sticks. That alone is worth something significant.

Most things are open. Restaurants, guesthouses, the hammams (especially welcome when it’s cold), the tanneries, the kasbah museum. Some tourist-facing shops keep shorter hours or close on quiet weekdays, but the town doesn’t shut down the way coastal resorts do.

Is it worth it? For photographers, slow travellers, and anyone who finds crowds genuinely exhausting, December is arguably the best month. For people who need guaranteed sunshine and warmth to enjoy themselves, it’s a gamble that might not pay off.

**Practical tip:** Book accommodation with a fireplace or good heating and confirm it actually works before you arrive. Cold nights in an unheated riad sound romantic until about 2am. A warm room to return to transforms a rainy December day from miserable into cosy. That distinction matters more here than almost anywhere else.

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