Is Djerba worth visiting in winter? Yes: from November to March, afternoons sit around 17 to 23 °C, it rains about four days a month and the island goes back to its own pace. It is the right season for walking the souks, seeing Djerbahood, meeting the potters of Guellala and heading into the desert; swimming is mostly a November affair.
Weather figures: 1991-2020 climate normals from Climats et Voyages.
What is the weather like in Djerba from November to March?
Mild days, cool evenings and little rain. Here are the monthly averages:
| Month | Afternoon | Night | Sea | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 23 °C | 15 °C | 22.5 °C | 4 |
| December | 18 °C | 11 °C | 19 °C | 4 |
| January | 17 °C | 9 °C | 16 °C | 4 |
| February | 18 °C | 10 °C | 15 °C | 4 |
| March | 21 °C | 12 °C | 15.5 °C | 3 |
The sun stays out for 6.5 to 8 hours a day, depending on the month. Pack layers: a T-shirt in the afternoon, a sweater and a jacket from sunset.
Can you swim in Djerba in winter?
In November, yes: the sea is still around 22 °C on average. From December to March the water drops to between 15 and 19 °C, and most visitors swap swimming for walking. The beaches of Sidi Mahrez, la Seguia and Sidi Jmour are still lovely for a stroll, with a superb sunset at Sidi Jmour, on the west coast.
For summer and its beaches, see Djerba in summer.
What to do in Djerba in winter?
Everything that is tiring in the August heat becomes pleasant:
- Houmt Souk on foot: covered souks, fondouks turned into galleries and the Borj El Kebir, the fort overlooking the harbour. Market days are Monday and Thursday.
- Djerbahood, in Erriadh: more than 150 artists have painted the village walls. An open-air museum you explore on foot.
- Guellala: the potters' village, in the south of the island. The workshops still work the clay, and the museum tells the story of traditional life.
- The Lalla Hadria Museum: inside the Djerba Explore park, more than a thousand pieces of Islamic art across 15 rooms. The ideal visit on a rainy day.
- Midoun: the old town, the old olive oil mill and the Friday morning market.
- Cycling: the island is flat, and the routes cross olive groves and white villages. In most regions of Tunisia, the olive harvest starts in late November.
All the island's visits, beaches and evenings included, are in our guide Things to Do in Djerba.
Why go to the desert in winter?
Because the summer heat makes these days exhausting, while in winter you can walk the sand in comfort. From Djerba, each trip takes a day or more:
- Ksar Ghilane: 4x4, dunes, dromedaries and a hot spring in the middle of the sand. A night in a camp is possible: desert nights are cold in winter, so bring warm layers.
- Matmata: troglodyte houses, known for the filming of Star Wars.
- Tataouine and the ksour: fortified Berber granaries, including the Ksar Ouled Soltane.
- Chott el Jerid: the largest salt lake in the Sahara.
What stays open in Djerba in the off-season?
The towns live all year; it is the coast's nightlife that slows down.
- Midoun: shops open all year and cafés full of locals. It is the liveliest town in the off-season.
- Markets: Houmt Souk on Monday and Thursday, Midoun on Friday morning.
- Bars and nightlife: many close or cut their hours. Call before crossing the island, and see our guide to bars in Djerba.
- Tazzert restaurant: at Jardins de Toumana, it serves Mediterranean and Djerbian cuisine all year round, open to outside guests. See the restaurant.
Ramadan 2027 is expected to start around 8 February according to astronomical calculations; the official date is announced by the Mufti of the Republic. Some cafés and restaurants then change their hours, and the evening meal opens with dates and a brik.
Where to stay in Djerba in winter?
In a town that lives all year, and in a residence open all year with a restaurant, where many beach resorts slow down. Midoun ticks both boxes: the east coast beaches are minutes away, Djerbahood and Houmt Souk are each a quarter of an hour by road, and Djerba-Zarzis airport is about twenty minutes away.
Jardins de Toumana is a residence of 43 suites in Midoun. The suites, from 65 to 85 m², sleep 4 to 6 people, with a kitchenette and a real living room: beyond a week, that is what makes a winter stay comfortable. Details on our aparthotel in Djerba page, and the neighbourhood comparison in where to stay in Djerba.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cold in Djerba in winter?
No. Afternoons sit around 17 to 18 °C in January and February, but nights drop to 9 to 10 °C: bring a sweater for the evening.
Can you swim in Djerba in November?
Yes, the sea is still around 22 °C on average in November. From December to March it drops to between 15 and 19 °C.
What to do in Djerba when it rains?
The Lalla Hadria Museum, the covered souks and fondouks of Houmt Souk, and the Guellala museum. It rains about four days a month in winter.
Is Djerba closed in winter?
No. Houmt Souk and Midoun live all year and the markets run every week; it is mostly the coast's bars and nightlife that close or cut their hours.
What is the best off-season month for Djerba?
November and March: 21 to 23 °C in the afternoon, and in November a sea still warm enough to swim.
