January in Marrakech averages highs of 20 °C (67 °F) and lows of 5 °C (41 °F), with about 3 rainy days and 10 h 18 min of daylight.
January weather in Marrakech at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is January a good time to visit Marrakech?
Great time to go: comfortably warm and fairly dry. January is usually shoulder season in Marrakech: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in January 2026
- Thu 1 Jan: New Year's Day (Ras l' âm) public holiday
- Sun 11 Jan: Proclamation of Independence (Takdim watikat al-istiqlal) public holiday
- Wed 14 Jan: Amazigh New Year (Id Yennayer) public holiday
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in Marrakech in January
January's weather suits a mix of outdoor sights and museums, so the open-air ones come first.
- Jemaa el-Fnaa — best at dusk outdoors
- Majorelle Garden and YSL Museum — book a slot outdoors
- Atlas Mountains day trip — Imlil or Ourika valley outdoors
- Bahia Palace — carved cedar and zellige indoors
- Ben Youssef Madrasa — the city's most beautiful courtyard indoors
- The souks — shaded alleys, haggle politely indoors
Where to stay: A riad inside the medina for atmosphere; Gueliz or Hivernage for modern hotels.
What to pack for Marrakech in January
- Light layers for the day and a jumper for evenings, which cool to 5 °C (41 °F).
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for mosques and temples.
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Marrakech costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €35–80 | €100–220 |
Excluding flights. January is usually shoulder season in Marrakech: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
January in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seville | 16° / 6° | 4 | Good time to go |
| Lisbon | 15° / 9° | 6 | Mixed weather |
| Madrid | 10° / 1° | 4 | Mixed weather |
Plan your Marrakech trip
- Best Time to Visit Morocco: Month-by-Month Guide 2026
- 3 Days in Marrakech — A First-Timer's Itinerary (With Real Costs)
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is January a good time to visit Marrakech?
By the numbers, January is a great time to go: comfortably warm and fairly dry, with average highs of 20 °C (67 °F) and about 3 rainy days. January is usually shoulder season in Marrakech: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower. The best months for weather are January, February, April, November, December.
How warm is Marrakech in January?
Average highs are 20 °C (67 °F) and lows 5 °C (41 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in Marrakech in January?
Very little: about 3 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 28 mm in total.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.