Things to Do in Tangier in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
December Weather in Tangier
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
62°F (17°C)
High Temp
49°F (9°C)
Low Temp
5.1 inches (130 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Sudden Atlantic storms can cancel ferry services to Spain with little warning
⚠ Mountain roads to Chefchaouen may close due to snow after mid-December
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December brings Tangier's most comfortable walking weather - cool enough to explore the medina's steep lanes without the summer sweat that soaks through shirts by 10am
- + Hotel rates drop 30-40% from peak season - riads in the kasbah that require two-month advance bookings in August suddenly have same-week availability
- + Local life returns to the cafes - you'll share tables with Tangier residents rather than tour groups, around Petit Socco where writers still gather at Cafe Central
- + The Atlantic coast beaches empty out - you can walk the entire 8 km (5 mile) stretch to Achakar village without dodging selfie sticks or beach vendors
Considerations
- − Rain arrives in concentrated bursts - afternoon storms can dump 25 mm (1 inch) in 30 minutes, turning medina lanes into slippery streams that soak shoes through
- − Beach restaurants close early - many seaside chiringuitos that serve grilled sardines until sunset in summer shut by 5pm, limiting your coastal dining options
- − Mountain day trips get unpredictable - the Rif peaks behind Tangier collect snow by mid-December, making Chefchaouen's winding roads occasionally impassable
Year-Round Climate
How December compares to the rest of the year
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16°C | 8°C | 4.1 inches (104 mm) |
| Feb | 16°C | 9°C | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Mar | 17°C | 10°C | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Apr | 19°C | 11°C | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| May | 21°C | 13°C | 1.5 inches (38 mm) |
| Jun | 24°C | 16°C | 0.5 inches (13 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C | 18°C | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C | 19°C | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C | 18°C | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
| Oct | 23°C | 15°C | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
| Nov | 19°C | 12°C | 5.3 inches (135 mm) |
| Dec | 17°C | 9°C | 5.1 inches (130 mm) |
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December in Tangier feels quiet and thoughtful. Temperatures sit around 17 degrees Celsius. The air is crisp. After one of the month's occasional rains, you can smell the damp earth. This is when the city's literary heart beats loudest. The Tangier International Book Fair fills the old Cinema Rif with the scent of aged paper and conversations in Arabic, French, and Spanish. Locals wear woolen djellabas for evening walks on the corniche. The Atlantic wind there carries a salty chill. The pace is slower than summer. In the medina's labyrinthine alleys, you hear the sizzle of street food grills and the call to prayer more clearly. The Green March Anniversary is on the sixth. It is a day of local pride. Drumbeats from parades on Boulevard Mohammed VI echo down to the usually windswept Plage Municipale.
Bestseller TANGIER PRIVATE TOUR: Highlights and Old Town
private_tourThis private tour cuts straight through Tangier's layers. It moves from the sweeping coastal views at the Kasbah to the shadowed, tiled corridors of the old city. Your guide will decode the medina's maze. They will point out the faded blue door of a former diplomat's home. They will show you the specific stall where mint tea is blended with verbena.
It gives you a curated, efficient look at Tangier's complex history and geography. You will not have to navigate alone.
Insider tip: Ask for a 10:30am start. The morning crowds will have gone. You can have key sites like the Kasbah museum to yourself.
Walking Tangier Tour from ancient Kasba to Bustling Souks
culturalThis walking journey starts at the ancient Kasbah. You will feel the cool, thick stone of the fortress walls. It descends into the sensory whirl of the souks. You will hear the rhythmic clang of copperworkers. You will smell the tang of curing leather and piles of cumin. Then you emerge into the Grand Socco's open square.
It links the monumental history of Tangier's citadel directly to the living commerce of its market streets.
Insider tip: Wear shoes with grip. The medina's cobblestones are often slick and sloping, after a December rain.
Tangier Private Full Day Tour Including Ferry Ticket & Camel Ride
day_tripThis is a complete day. It starts with the ferry crossing. You will taste the salty spray and watch the Gibraltar cliffs recede. It ends with a brief camel ride on the vast, windswept sands near Tangier. The plan weaves through the city's highlights. Lunch includes the smoky, charred flavor of grilled sardines.
It bundles the essential arrival, city touring, and a classic Moroccan photo opportunity into one easy, private package.
Insider tip: The camel ride is brief. Have your camera ready immediately. The animals are positioned for the classic view towards the Atlantic.
Tangier Walking Tour & Moroccan Family Cooking Class
foodThis experience grounds you in Tangier's domestic life. You will move from the market's clamor, where you select lemons and feel ripe tomatoes, to the warm, spice-scented kitchen of a local family. You will learn to balance sweet and savory in a tagine. You will taste the slow-cooked result with your hands, using bread to scoop up tender meat.
It changes observation into participation. It teaches the recipes and rhythms of a Tangier home kitchen.
Insider tip: The cooking class is the main event. Do not rush the market part. Your host's bargaining demos are an invaluable lesson.
Airport Transfer to Tanger City
transportThis transfer gives you a swift, stress-free arrival. It trades the airport's sterile halls for the immediate sensory input of Tangier. Your driver navigates the palm-lined boulevards towards the city. You will see the urban landscape shift from modern apartments to the whitewashed hillside clusters of the old quarters.
It guarantees a smooth, direct introduction to the city. This is good after a long journey or if you arrive after dark in December.
Insider tip: Confirm your driver will meet you inside the arrivals hall with a sign. This avoids the crowded taxi queue outside.
Tangier Package: Quad Bike, Cap Spartel, Hercules caves & Dining
adventureThis package delivers contrast. It moves from the roaring engine and sprayed sand of a quad bike ride through coastal forests to the silent, damp grandeur of the Hercules Caves. There you will hear the Atlantic crash against the rock. It ends with a meal, likely featuring the deep, fermented taste of preserved lemons in a chicken dish.
It mixes adrenalized adventure with natural history and local cuisine in one action-oriented day.
Insider tip: The quad biking route can be muddy in December. Secure any loose belongings in the provided storage. Expect a splatter.
Where to Stay in Tangier in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early December
Tangier International Book Fair
This three-day December event transforms the old Cinema Rif into a literary marketplace where Arabic, French, and Spanish titles compete for space. Local publishers discount rare editions of Tangier's Beat Generation works - you'll find first-edition Paul Bowles paperbacks that bookstore owners have been saving for this event. The fair spills into nearby cafes where impromptu readings happen at 4pm when winter light fades.
December 6th
Green March Anniversary Celebrations
December 6th brings patriotic parades down Boulevard Mohammed VI, with schoolchildren waving flags and military bands marching to drums that echo off the Atlantic waterfront. The celebrations are local - not staged for tourists - and end with families picnicking on the normally windy Plage Municipale when afternoon weather cooperates.
Packing Checklist
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View Tangier Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The Cafe Hafa terraces stay open year-round but December is when locals claim the prime cliff-edge seats - arrive before 4pm for sunset views over the strait
Thursday is hammam day in the medina - the public bath off Rue de la Liberté fills with pre-Friday-prayer crowds creating the most real feel
December's Atlantic swells mean the ferry to Tarifa sometimes cancels - book flexible tickets and don't plan same-day connections to Madrid
The American Legation museum offers free entry on rainy days when they get less than 20 visitors - staff will give impromptu tours of the Paul Bowles archive
Fish market prices drop after 3pm when vendors need to sell the morning catch - this is when locals shop, not the 7am tourist photo sessions
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming December means beach weather - locals wear jackets and boots, not swimsuits, though sunny midday can feel warm
Booking Chefchaouen as a day trip without checking mountain weather - the 120 km (75 mile) route closes during snow, stranding travelers overnight
Wearing summer sandals in the medina - December rain turns ancient drainage systems into ankle-deep streams
Expecting restaurant heating - most riad dining rooms stay unheated, so that romantic courtyard dinner gets cold after 8pm
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