Search hotels in Tunisia on Booking.com
Quick answer: Tunisia delivers real winter sun only in November, when Djerba reaches about 23°C and the sea is about 22°C. From December to February the south stays mild (Djerba 17-19°C, Tozeur and Douz 17-22°C by day) but the sea falls to 15-18°C. We would choose Djerba as the base in all four months and add a Sahara trip for the dry weather.
This guide is the month-by-month planner. For the broader picture, see our Tunisia in winter overview, and for the single-month detail use the November, December, January and February guides.
January 2027 update: the IATA winter schedule began on 25 October 2026 and the main European carriers keep Tunis connections through January (winter flights). Ramadan 2027 is expected to start around 8 February, so January is the last full month before it. Jet2’s Tunisia flights start in May 2027, not in winter.
Month by Month: November to February
All figures are typical averages from our monthly guides and are approximate, as of 2026. Individual days vary.
| Month | Tunis day / sea | Hammamet-Sousse day / sea | Djerba day / sea | Tozeur-Douz day / night | Best base |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 20°C / 21°C | 21°C / 21-22°C | 23°C / 22°C | 22-23°C / 8-9°C | Djerba or Hammamet |
| December | 15°C / 17°C | 16°C / 17°C | 18°C / 18°C | 16-17°C / 4-5°C | Djerba |
| January | 14°C / about 15°C | 15°C / about 15°C | 17-19°C / about 16°C | 17-22°C / 3-6°C | Djerba or Tozeur |
| February | 15°C / about 15°C | 16°C / about 15°C | 17-20°C / about 16°C | 18-22°C / 5-8°C | Djerba or Sousse spa |
January and February sea figures are rounded estimates. Check a live sea-temperature source close to your dates.
November: The Only Real Beach Month
November is a shoulder month with a summer afterglow. Djerba reaches about 23°C, Hammamet 21°C and the sea is still 21-22°C, which is warm enough for a short swim. Rain falls on 4-9 days depending on the region. Hotels are not yet at their winter lows, and some seasonal beach bars close, so read the opening dates before you book.
Best base: Hammamet or Djerba. Djerba has the longer beach season and fewer wet days, while Hammamet has easier access from Tunis for a mix of beach and city. For a hotel shortlist see where to stay in Hammamet and where to stay in Djerba.
December: Cheap Rooms and Desert Weather
December is wetter in the north (9-11 rain days in Tunis) and the sea falls to about 17-18°C. Djerba is the sunniest coast at about 18°C with 5-6 rain days. This is the month for spa packages, as thalassotherapy centres discount heavily outside the Christmas to New Year week. The Douz Sahara Festival is reported for 19 to 22 December 2026, so confirm dates if you want to see it. Our Christmas in Tunisia and New Year’s Eve in Tunisia guides cover the festive week.
Best base: Djerba for warmth, plus a Sahara tour when you want clear skies. See also warmest place in Tunisia in December.
January: The Coldest Month on the Coast
January is the coldest month in the north, with Tunis around 14°C and the most rain. The Sahara is the exception, with 17-22°C by day and almost no rain, which makes it the best month of the year for desert trips. Djerba stays at about 17-19°C. The sea is about 15-16°C, so we would book a hotel with a heated indoor pool.
Best base: Tozeur or Douz for desert days and a few nights on the Djerba coast to finish. A hire car makes the southern circuit easy: compare car hire.
February: Spring Starts in the South
February begins to feel less wintery in the south, with Tozeur and Douz at 18-22°C and Djerba reaching 20°C on good days. Almond blossom starts around Cap Bon and the interior late in the month, and the north has fewer rainy days than in January. The sea is still about 15-16°C.
Best base: Djerba for a relaxed stay, or a Sousse spa hotel such as the Mövenpick Resort & Marine Spa, in the range of roughly 160-290 EUR per night in ordinary rates as of 2026. See best hotels in Sousse.
Choosing a Resort Base
| Base | Winter strengths | Winter weaknesses | Hotel to start with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Djerba | Warmest coast, fewest rain days, long beaches, thalassotherapy | Sea cold from December, resorts spread out | Radisson Blu Palace Resort & Thalasso |
| Hammamet | Easy access, spa hotels, medina and restaurants | Cooler and wetter than Djerba | Steigenberger Marhaba Thalasso, about 350-550 TND per night as of 2026 |
| Sousse and Port El Kantaoui | Golf, a lived-in medina, ribat | Cooler in January and February | Mövenpick Resort & Marine Spa |
| Tozeur and Douz | Warm dry days, best desert conditions | Cold nights, no swimming | Dar Hi or Hotel Ksar Rouge in Tozeur |
| Tunis and Gammarth | City culture, restaurants, museums | Wettest and coolest | Dar El Jeld Hotel and Spa |
We have not verified festive-week pricing, so treat the figures as ordinary-season guidance and compare live rates: Djerba, Hammamet, Sousse and Tozeur.
What Winter Sun Looks Like in Practice
A typical winter day in Djerba starts at about 9-10°C, reaches 17-19°C by early afternoon and drops quickly after sunset. Sitting outside in sun with a light jacket is comfortable. Swimming outdoors is not, once you are past November. People who do best here plan their days around walking, cycling, spas, golf, markets, food and half-day trips, with the pool or the beach as a bonus.
Good winter activities include:
- Thalassotherapy. Multi-day spa packages in Hammamet, Sousse and Djerba are cheaper in winter. See our hammam guide.
- Desert nights. January and February are the best months for Sahara camps.
- Roman ruins. Carthage, Dougga and El Jem are quiet, and rain-free days in winter make them comfortable. See Carthage and El Jem.
- Djerba villages. Houmt Souk, Guellala and Erriadh are all pleasant on a 18°C day.
- Food. Winter is the season for hot brik, lamb couscous and oranges from Cap Bon. Read the Tunisian food guide.
What to Pack
- Layers: T-shirts, a sweater and a light waterproof jacket.
- A fleece or down jacket for desert nights (3-6°C in December and January).
- Closed shoes for ruins, plus sandals for hotel days.
- Swimwear for heated pools and spa circuits.
- Sun cream and sunglasses, as the winter sun is strong in the south.
- A scarf for wind and sand, and modest clothing for medinas and mosques.
- A European adapter: see power outlets and adapters.
Costs and Booking
Winter is the cheapest season, with 3-star hotels in the beach resorts often around 30-50 EUR a night in low season according to a 2026 La Presse report, and four- and five-star hotels more. Christmas to New Year is the expensive exception. Book flights early because winter schedules are thinner, as in our winter flights 2026-27 news piece. Use flights to Tunisia to compare dates, add travel insurance and an eSIM, and see our budget guide for daily costs.
Is Tunisia the Right Winter Sun Choice?
It is the right choice if you want mild weather, culture, spas, desert scenery and low prices on a short flight from Europe. If hot beach days matter most, the Canary Islands are warmer and the sea is milder. We compare them in detail in Tunisia vs the Canary Islands for winter sun. Read the best time to visit Tunisia if you are choosing between seasons, and check Tunisia’s tourism office for current events.