Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima is the northernmost region of Morocco, where the country meets the Strait of Gibraltar, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. It combines the port city of Tangier and its Cap Spartel headland, the white-walled UNESCO medina of Tetouan, the blue-washed mountain town of Chefchaouen, the mural-covered Atlantic town of Asilah, the Mediterranean beaches of M'diq, Martil and Al Hoceima, and the wooded Rif mountains of Talassemtane National Park.
Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima has a Mediterranean climate with Atlantic influence on the western coast and a wetter, cooler mountain climate in the Rif. Summers are warm to hot and almost rainless, with highs of 28-30C in Tangier and Asilah and 32-35C inland at Tetouan and Ouazzane; winters are mild, wet and windy, with lows of 8-9C on the coast and snow possible on the Rif peaks around Talassemtane. Tangier receives about 700-800 mm of rain a year and Chefchaouen and Tetouan more, mostly between October and April. Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable seasons for sightseeing and hiking, while July and August are the busiest beach months. Temperatures below are for Tangier; Chefchaouen is typically 2-4C cooler at night in winter and warmer by day in summer, and Al Hoceima is drier and warmer.
Best time to visit
Best: April–June and September–October
Peak Season: July–August for beaches, plus Easter and Christmas–New Year
Avoid: November–February for heavy rain and wind, and mid-August for beach-town crowds
Notes: Spring has warm days, green mountains and wildflowers around Chefchaouen and Akchour, while September and October still have warm seas and fewer crowds. Winters are rainy and cold at night in the Rif, and Talassemtane trails can be muddy or closed after storms. In summer, the coast catches cooling Atlantic breezes in Tangier and Asilah, while Mediterranean beaches such as M'diq, Martil and Al Hoceima are warm and crowded.
Items:
- Month
- January
- Temp high
- 16
- Temp low
- 8
- Rainfall mm
- 110
- Humidity
- High
- Notes
- Cool, wet and windy. Pack a rain jacket; Rif peaks may have snow and ferry crossings to Spain can be delayed by wind.
- Crowd level
- Low
- Month
- February
- Temp high
- 17
- Temp low
- 8
- Rainfall mm
- 100
- Humidity
- High
- Notes
- Cool with frequent showers. Almond blossom starts in the hills; hiking trails are muddy.
- Crowd level
- Low
- Month
- March
- Temp high
- 18
- Temp low
- 10
- Rainfall mm
- 90
- Humidity
- Moderate–High
- Notes
- Fresh and changeable, with the countryside turning green. Good for city sightseeing between showers.
- Crowd level
- Low–Moderate
- Month
- April
- Temp high
- 20
- Temp low
- 11
- Rainfall mm
- 65
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Notes
- Pleasant sightseeing weather with occasional showers; Easter week is busy in Chefchaouen and Tangier.
- Crowd level
- Moderate–High
- Month
- May
- Temp high
- 23
- Temp low
- 13
- Rainfall mm
- 40
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Notes
- Warm and mostly dry; the best month for Akchour and Talassemtane hiking. The sea is still cool for swimming.
- Crowd level
- Moderate–High
- Month
- June
- Temp high
- 26
- Temp low
- 16
- Rainfall mm
- 15
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Notes
- Warm, sunny days and the start of beach season. Sea about 18-19C at Tangier and 20-21C at M'diq.
- Crowd level
- Moderate
- Month
- July
- Temp high
- 29
- Temp low
- 18
- Rainfall mm
- 2
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Notes
- Hot inland (Tetouan above 33C) and breezy on the Atlantic coast. Moroccan and European holidaymakers fill the beaches.
- Crowd level
- High
- Month
- August
- Temp high
- 29
- Temp low
- 19
- Rainfall mm
- 3
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Notes
- Peak beach month with crowded promenades in M'diq, Martil and Fnideq. Book accommodation weeks ahead.
- Crowd level
- Very High
- Month
- September
- Temp high
- 27
- Temp low
- 18
- Rainfall mm
- 25
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Notes
- Warm sea, thinner crowds and good light. One of the best months for the whole region.
- Crowd level
- Moderate
- Month
- October
- Temp high
- 24
- Temp low
- 15
- Rainfall mm
- 85
- Humidity
- Moderate–High
- Notes
- Warm days with the first autumn rains. Chefchaouen and Asilah are quieter and prices fall.
- Crowd level
- Moderate
- Month
- November
- Temp high
- 20
- Temp low
- 12
- Rainfall mm
- 130
- Humidity
- High
- Notes
- Wet and getting colder, with the heaviest rains on the Rif. Some hiking trails become slippery.
- Crowd level
- Low
- Month
- December
- Temp high
- 17
- Temp low
- 9
- Rainfall mm
- 125
- Humidity
- High
- Notes
- Cool and rainy. Busy over the Christmas and New Year weeks in Tangier and Chefchaouen.
- Crowd level
- Moderate
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
Items
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Items
Spring (Spring is the best season for sightseeing and hiking. Temperatures rise from 18C in March to 23C in May, the Rif is green and wildflowers bloom around Chefchaouen and Akchour. Rain is frequent in March and light by May.), Summer (Summer is warm and dry. Tangier and Asilah stay around 28-29C thanks to Atlantic breezes, while Tetouan, Ouazzane and Ksar el-Kebir can exceed 35C. Mediterranean beaches at M'diq, Martil, Fnideq and Al Hoceima are busiest in July and August.), Autumn (Autumn brings falling temperatures from 27C in September to 20C in November, with the first heavy rains in October and November. September and early October still have warm seas and fewer visitors.), Winter (Winter is mild but wet: Tangier has highs of 16-17C and lows of 8C, and the Rif can be cold and snowy at altitude. Chefchaouen lanes are quiet and atmospheric in mist, but streets are slippery and some trails close.)
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- Items
- Period
- July–August
- Level
- Very High
- Notes
- Peak beach season. Mediterranean resorts (M'diq, Martil, Fnideq, Al Hoceima) are packed with Moroccan families and returning residents from Europe; ferries from Spain run at full capacity.
- Period
- April–May
- Level
- Moderate–High
- Notes
- Ideal weather draws European visitors to Chefchaouen and Tangier; book guesthouses ahead, especially at Easter.
- Period
- December–January
- Level
- Moderate
- Notes
- Christmas and New Year weeks are busy in Tangier and Chefchaouen, while the rest of winter is quiet.
- Period
- June and September
- Level
- Moderate
- Notes
- Warm, sunny months with manageable crowds and lower prices than August.
- Period
- October
- Level
- Moderate
- Notes
- Good weather and thinner crowds; the first rains arrive late in the month.
- Period
- November–March
- Level
- Low
- Notes
- Cooler, wetter months with quiet lanes, empty beaches and the lowest accommodation prices.
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Asilah Cultural Moussem (Asilah Arts Festival)
A long-running cultural festival in Asilah with murals painted on the medina walls, concerts and exhibitions; dates change each year, so check the festival's official announcements before booking.
Tetouan Mediterranean Film Festival
An annual film festival in Tetouan showing films from Mediterranean countries; dates change, so confirm before planning a visit.
Eid al-Adha
The Festival of Sacrifice; the medinas fall quiet and many shops close for a few days, while transport between towns is crowded. Dates shift earlier by about eleven days each year.
Ramadan
The month of fasting changes the daily rhythm; many restaurants close by day and evenings after iftar are lively. Dates shift earlier by about eleven days each year.
Summer Marhaba and returning-resident season
Moroccans living abroad return through Tangier Med and Tangier port in large numbers, causing heavy port traffic, full ferries and higher prices in coastal towns.