Tunisia in December: Why Winter Is the Best Time to Visit the Sahara
Mehdi Belkadi
Licensed Tunisian Tour Guide · 9 years experience
Last reviewed 3/28/2026
Published on March 28, 2026
Skip the summer crowds and discover why December is secretly the best month to visit Tunisia — from comfortable desert temperatures to empty ruins and festive markets.
Most tourists visit Tunisia in summer, but December is when the country truly shines for those who want more than a beach holiday. Winter transforms Tunisia into a completely different destination.
The Sahara Desert is at its best in December. Daytime temperatures hover around 18-22°C — warm enough for comfortable camel treks but cool enough to explore without the punishing summer heat. Nights are cold (5-8°C), making the experience of sleeping under the stars in a desert camp magical rather than sweaty. The Douz Sahara Festival in late December is the highlight, with camel racing, Bedouin music, and traditional games.
Historical sites like El Djem, Carthage, Dougga, and Kairouan are virtually empty. In summer, tour buses create long queues at the amphitheater entrance. In December, you can wander the underground tunnels of El Djem with perhaps three other visitors in the entire complex. The light is softer and more photogenic too.
Coastal cities like Tunis, Sidi Bou Said, and Sousse have mild weather (12-18°C) with occasional rain. The medinas are less crowded, shopkeepers are more relaxed, and you can haggle without competing with cruise ship passengers. This is when Tunisians themselves shop in the souks.
Prices drop significantly. Hotels that charge 200-350 TND per night in July offer the same rooms for 80-150 TND in December. Flights from Europe are cheaper. The only exception is the week between Christmas and New Year, when some resort hotels raise prices for European holiday travelers.
What to pack: layers are essential. Mornings and evenings are cool (8-12°C), afternoons are pleasant (15-20°C). Bring a warm jacket for desert nights, a rain jacket for the coast, and comfortable walking shoes. Sunscreen is still needed — the winter sun is deceptive.
The main downside: some beach resort hotels close for winter (especially in Hammamet and Djerba). Swimming is possible but cold (15-17°C water). If you want beach time, Djerba stays warmest. But if your goal is culture, history, and desert, December is unbeatable.