January in one line: Winter sun that actually works: 21°C afternoons, about 7.5 hours of sunshine a day and a 17°C sea. Great for sightseeing and surfing, bracing for swimming.
Weather and sea in January
Afternoons reach about 21°C and feel warm in the sun; nights drop to around 8°C, so evenings need a proper layer. Expect roughly 3 rainy days in the month. The sea is 17°C: a quick dip for the brave, a 3/2 mm wetsuit for surfing. This is the heart of the big-swell season on the Taghazout point breaks.
| Afternoon high | Night low | Sea | Sunshine | Rainy days | Crowds | Surf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21.2°C | 8.4°C | 17.2°C | ~7.6 h/day | ~2.8 | Medium | Big (experienced) |
Averages: air from NOAA 1991–2020 normals (Agadir-Inezgane), sea from a 10-year average. Real days vary; check today's weather and sea temperature before you go.
Swimming: the sea is 17.2°C, cold for most swimmers: short dips only, and a wetsuit for surfing. Outside the summer season there are few or no lifeguards. Rip currents and holes form after winter storms; stay in your depth near other people, and never swim at night. Read the Agadir beaches guide before your first swim.
Surf: Big NW swells: point breaks for experienced surfers. See Taghazout surf lessons for schools, spots and prices.
Events and holidays
Three public holidays: New Year’s Day (1 January), Independence Manifesto Day (11 January) and the Amazigh New Year, Yennayer (14 January). Yennayer celebrations in the Souss usually run around 11–15 January.
What to do in January
- Cable car and Agadir Oufella kasbah between 10:00 and 11:30, when the air is clearest
- Watch experienced surfers at Anchor Point and Killer Point; beginners belong on Banana Point or Crocro beach
- Flamingos in the Oued Souss and Oued Massa estuaries (October–March season, never guaranteed)
- Day trips to Taroudant or Souss-Massa in comfortable temperatures
Ideas for the days themselves: things to do in Agadir, the 3-day itinerary and, with children, Agadir with kids.
What to avoid
- Planning on daily swims: 17°C water and few or no lifeguards outside summer
- Paradise Valley straight after heavy rain: flash-flood risk, never enter brown or rising water
- Evenings on the promenade without a warm layer
Booking and packing
Book: Surf camps and lesson weeks fill early in winter: book a few weeks ahead. Cable car, kasbah, Crocoparc and the Medina Polizzi: pay at the gate on the day.
Pack: A fleece or light jacket for evenings, sunglasses and sunscreen for the day, a 3/2 mm wetsuit if you surf (schools include one).
Arriving by plane? Our airport to the city guide has the taxi fares and the 50 MAD Aerobus. Check what things should cost on the fair prices page.
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Agadir in January: frequently asked questions
Is January a good time to visit Agadir?
Winter sun that actually works: 21°C afternoons, about 7.5 hours of sunshine a day and a 17°C sea. Great for sightseeing and surfing, bracing for swimming. Compare all twelve months on our best time to visit Agadir page.
How warm is Agadir in January?
Average afternoon highs are around 21°C and night lows around 8°C, with about 3 rainy days and about 7.6 hours of sunshine a day (235 hours over the month). Afternoons reach about 21°C and feel warm in the sun; nights drop to around 8°C, so evenings need a proper layer. Expect roughly 3 rainy days in the month. The sea is 17°C: a quick dip for the brave, a 3/2 mm wetsuit for surfing. This is the heart of the big-swell season on the Taghazout point breaks.
Can you swim in the sea in Agadir in January?
The sea averages 17.2°C in January, which is cold for most swimmers: short dips only, and a wetsuit for surfing. There are few or no lifeguards outside the summer season (about mid-June to mid-September), so stay in your depth on busy stretches and never swim at night. A black flag means swimming is prohibited. Today’s sea conditions are on our Agadir weather today page.
Is January good for surfing in Taghazout?
Big NW swells: point breaks for experienced surfers. Beginners do best from April to October, when waves are smaller; the big northwest swells run from October/November to March. A 2–2.5 h group lesson with board and wetsuit costs 250–450 MAD. More on our Taghazout surf lessons guide.
What should I pack for Agadir in January?
A fleece or light jacket for evenings, sunglasses and sunscreen for the day, a 3/2 mm wetsuit if you surf (schools include one).
More Agadir guides
Camel rides
Hammam & spa
Boat trips
Souss-Massa park
Also useful: Cruise port day · Souk El Had · Camel rides · Souss-Massa park · Essaouira day trip · Agadir beaches