Escape the European Winter: Warm Places to Visit in Morocco

Let’s be honest, winter in Europe can be brutal. Cold mornings, dark evenings, and that moment when your coffee gets cold before you even sit down. Now imagine this instead: sunshine, beach walks, fresh fish, and maybe a camel or two. Welcome to Morocco, my friend, where we wear sunglasses in January.

I’m Oualid Taklite, a local from Morocco and the person behind GoingMorocco.com, a travel website where I share real tips, local stories, and honest advice about visiting Morocco. In this post, think of me as your friendly guide. I’ll take you on a short journey through the warm coastal towns of Agadir and the magic of the Sahara, showing you where to go when the rest of Europe is shivering.

Before we start, I would love to thank Aiden for having me here on his blog. I've been following Passport 2 the World for a while now, and it's finally an honor for me to share my own travel insights with his readers.

Alright, let's get to it.

Agadir

Where Winter Goes on Vacation

Agadir is like a chill guy who’s always in a good mood. Even in December, the sun shines like it has forgotten what ‘winter’ means. Temperatures often hover around 22°C (72°F), and some days feel even warmer.

Here, life is easy. You can walk on the beach promenade, watch surfers, or eat grilled fish while pretending you’re a movie star. Locals are friendly, and if someone says “Welcome, my friend!” they really mean it (we say it a lot), but! They may also be trying to sell you something. Just smile and say thank you.

If you get bored, which you won’t, visit Souk El Had market. You’ll probably leave with spices you don’t know how to use and a bottle of argan oil “for your hair and your belly,” as sellers like to say.

Taghazout

Surf, Smoothies, and Zero Stress

About 20 minutes north of Agadir, Taghazout is what happens when a fishing village becomes best friends with surfers. It’s small, sunny, and full of barefoot travelers chasing waves, smoothies, and fried sardines.

Winter is actually surf season here, which means more wetsuits than winter coats. But don’t worry, even if you don’t surf, you can still look cool holding a surfboard for a photo.

Days in Taghazout are for beaches, yoga, and good food. Nights are for tea, music, and friendly conversations with strangers who might end up teaching you how to say “no worries” in five languages.

Tamraght

The Chill Neighbour of Taghazout

Tamraght is Taghazout’s quieter neighbour, kind of like that cousin who stays home to read while everyone else goes out. It’s peaceful, friendly, and full of cozy rooftops where you can watch the ocean and think about absolutely nothing.

The weather is the same as in Agadir, warm and sunny. You can take surf lessons, join a yoga class, or just drink mint tea until your soul reaches full relaxation mode.

At night, the town becomes super calm. You’ll hear the ocean, maybe a rooster, and that’s it. It’s the perfect place if you want to recharge and forget about your heating bill back home. Also, if you’re interested in learning how to surf, this town has the best surf camps and surf instructors to help you.

Imsouane

The Endless Wave

Now we go a bit farther north to Imsouane, a quiet fishing town famous for having one of the longest surf waves in Africa. Seriously, surfers ride it for so long they could probably call their moms mid-wave.

The road to Imsouane gives you postcard views of cliffs and ocean. When you arrive, you’ll find peaceful beaches, smiling locals, and small restaurants serving the freshest fish you’ll ever eat. Fish here come directly from fishing boats in the village.

It’s also a great place to do nothing, and I mean nothing. Just sit by the beach, breathe, and realise that “doing nothing” is sometimes the best plan ever.

The Sahara

Warm Days, Cool Nights, and Infinite Stars

Now let’s leave the coast and go south to the Sahara Desert, the land of golden dunes, camel rides, and the kind of silence that makes your phone feel useless.

Winter here is pure magic. During the day, it’s warm, around 25°C (77°F). At night, you’ll need a jacket, but you’ll forget about that once you see the stars. They look close enough to touch.

You can stay in a desert camp, listen to Berber drums, and watch the sunrise over the dunes. People say it’s unforgettable, but honestly, even the camels look like they’re enjoying life down here. I would personally recommend visiting Erg Chebbi; an area with huge dunes and clear skies.

Before You Go!...

If you’re sitting in Europe right now, wearing three sweaters and arguing with your heating system, just remember that somewhere in Morocco, someone is eating fish by the beach in a T-shirt and sunglasses.

Most Moroccan regions stay warm in winter, except for the north. Agadir’s coast and the Sahara are where the real magic happens. Sunshine, friendly people, and no snow shovels, just how winter should be if you ask me.

Pack your sunglasses, leave your scarf, and come see it for yourself. Morocco will keep you warm, inside and out.