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The essentials in three lines

  • From December to February, the afternoons are much the same: an average of 21 to 22 °C in Agadir, 21 to 24 °C at Gran Canaria and Tenerife South airports, and around 7 hours of sunshine a day in both places.
  • The Canaries do better at night and in the water: 15 to 17 °C in the early morning against 8 to 10 °C in Agadir, and a sea that is around 3 degrees warmer.
  • Agadir wins on the journey: 40 to 55 minutes less in the air from Paris, Brussels or Geneva, and the same time as the Canaries in winter. And it offers a real change of country, with tarmac mountain roads.

If you are looking for sunshine in December, January or February, two names keep coming up: Agadir and the Canary Islands. We are a car hire agency in Agadir, so not entirely neutral. That is why we used the same sources for both destinations, and we also tell you where the Canaries do better.

Temperatures and sunshine: similar days, different nights

We compared the 1991-2020 climate normals published by the World Meteorological Organization and NOAA: the Agadir-Inezgane station on one side, Tenerife South and Gran Canaria airports on the other. In the afternoon, the gap is small: an average of 21 to 22 °C in Agadir from December to February, the same in Gran Canaria, and 23 to 24 °C at Tenerife South. Over the winter as a whole, Agadir even has more days at 25 °C or above: four to six a month, against three to six at Tenerife South and fewer than two in Gran Canaria.

The difference comes at night. The average minimum drops to 8 to 10 °C in Agadir, against 15 to 17 °C in the Canaries. You set off in the morning in a jumper and end the afternoon in short sleeves.

As for sunshine, the gap is slim: about 7½ hours a day in Agadir in winter according to the Meteostat normals (1981-2010 series), about 7 hours at Tenerife South and 6 to 7 hours in Gran Canaria according to the WMO. Rain remains rare: about three days a month in Agadir and Gran Canaria, two at Tenerife South. In Agadir, the sun sets between 17:35 and 17:50 in December, and at around 18:25 in mid-February, local time.

The sea: advantage to the Canaries

If you want to swim every day, let's be frank: the Canaries are better placed. According to Open-Meteo marine data for the winters from 2022-2023 to 2025-2026, the water hovers around 20 to 22 °C off the south of Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Off Agadir, it stays at around 17 to 18 °C on average, between 16 and 19 °C depending on the month. So a swim in January takes a little courage.

Flight, passport and time: what changes in practice

According to the direct flight times checked in October 2026, Agadir is about 3 hours 30 minutes' flying time from Paris, 3 hours 50 from Brussels and 3 hours 25 from Geneva, against 4 hours 15 to 4 hours 30 for Tenerife or Gran Canaria. The days and frequency of direct flights vary with the season, especially from Geneva: check them when you book.

Since 20 September 2026, Morocco has been back on GMT (decree no. 2.26.530). The Canary Islands are one hour behind mainland Spain, so they are on GMT in winter. From late October to late March, Agadir and the Canaries are on the same time, one hour behind Paris, Brussels and Geneva.

One formality differs: for French travellers, Morocco requires a passport valid for the entire stay, as an identity card alone is no longer accepted (France Diplomatie). Belgian and Swiss travellers: check with your own authorities. We also ask for a copy of this passport and of both sides of your driving licence to prepare the rental.

December to February Agadir Tenerife South Gran Canaria
Afternoon (average high) 21 à 22 °C 23 à 24 °C 21 à 22 °C
Night (average low) 8 à 10 °C 15 à 17 °C 16 à 17 °C
Sunshine per day about 7½ hours about 7 hours 6 à 7 h
Rainy days per month about 3 about 2 about 3
Sea (average) 17 à 18 °C 20 à 22 °C 20 à 22 °C
Direct flight from Paris 3 h 30 4 h 20 4 h 15
From Brussels 3 h 50 4 h 30 4 h 30
From Geneva 3 h 25 4 h 20 4 h 20
Time in winter GMT GMT GMT

A change of scene: Morocco 3½ hours from Paris

The Canaries have their strengths, starting with their mild nights. Agadir offers something else: Morocco and the Amazigh culture of the Souss. In town, the regional tourism promotion website presents the souk El Had as one of the largest retail markets in Morocco. On the hill overlooking the port, the kasbah of Agadir Oufella, built in 1540 under the Saadian dynasty and destroyed by the 1960 earthquake, has had its ramparts restored and offers a view over the whole bay.

Around the town, argan trees are everywhere: UNESCO designated the Arganeraie a biosphere reserve in 1998. About 80 km away, or 1¼ to 1½ hours by road, Taroudant is surrounded by 7 km of ramparts pierced by 9 gates: see Agadir – Taroudant by car.

Mountain roads, always on tarmac

In a single morning, you go from the beach to the mountains. Distances and non-stop driving times calculated with OSRM, using OpenStreetMap data, in October 2026.

Imouzzer des Ida Outanane : about 60 km north of Agadir on the RP1001 tarmac road, allow 1¼ to 1½ hours. The village is perched more than 1,100 m above sea level, with a souk on Thursdays. Paradise Valley fits into the same outing: see Agadir – Paradise Valley by car.

Tafraoute, in the Anti-Atlas: about 165 km via Aït Baha, allow 3 hours. Stay on the RR105 and then the RR104 regional tarmac roads, even if your GPS suggests a shortcut. The small town, at about 1,000 m above sea level, is surrounded by pink granite mountains, in the Ameln valley. Plan to spend a night there: see Agadir – Tafraoute by car.

In the mountains, winter is cooler: around 16 to 18 °C in the afternoon and 5 to 8 °C at night, according to Open-Meteo historical data, as a rough guide. Head back before dark and, after heavy rain, check the state of the roads before setting off. Our rental conditions prohibit unpaved tracks, except for vehicles expressly suited to them: if a site ends in a dirt track, stop where the tarmac ends.

Hiring a car in Agadir for the winter

At Carsalis, delivery is free at the airport, at your hotel or in Agadir city centre, and no deposit is required : see our article on car hire without a deposit in Agadir. Mileage is unlimited and assistance is available 24/7.

The main driver must be at least 21 and have held a licence for 2 years. Hire is counted in 24-hour blocks, and we advise returning the car 2 hours before your flight: it is all in our rental conditions. No online payment: send your booking request with your dates, your flight number and your exact arrival time, and we confirm availability, usually within a minute.

Frequently asked questions

Is it warmer in Agadir or the Canary Islands in winter?

In the afternoon, it is very close: 21 to 22 °C in Agadir, 21 to 24 °C in the Canaries. At night, the Canaries are 5 to 7 degrees milder.

Can you swim in Agadir in January?

Yes, but the water is cool: around 17 to 18 °C in January, against 20 to 21 °C off the south of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

Is there a time difference between Agadir and the Canary Islands in winter?

No. From late October to late March, both are on GMT, one hour behind Paris, Brussels and Geneva.

Sources

Written by the Carsalis team, in Agadir. We have been hiring out cars from our office at 4 Bis rue Moulay Driss since 2008. What you are reading here comes from our own rental conditions and from what our customers ask us every week on WhatsApp.

A question about your rental in Agadir? Write to us on WhatsApp at +212 648 291 116, or use our booking request. We usually reply within the minute, and we tell you straight whether the car is free or not.

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