Africa’s icy city sees -11C cold and 5.7 inches of snowfall in winter
- UK Hidden Gems
- Jan 6
- 2 min read
Snow might not be the first thing you think of when you picture Morocco, but it really does fall there every year.
From October through to April, the town of Ifrane regularly sees snowfall.
Found in the Middle Atlas, this hidden gem is known as the coldest town in Africa, with frozen lakes, skiing and winter temperatures that can drop as low as -11C.
Locals even nickname it the Switzerland of Morocco thanks to its height of more than 5,413 feet and the Michlifen ski resort, where visitors can ski among cedar trees across five different slopes.
Ifrane also holds the record for the lowest temperature ever recorded anywhere in Africa.
In February 1935, the temperature fell to a freezing -23.9C. As well as being famous for its cold weather, the town is also known for being very clean.
In 2016, it was named the second cleanest city in the world because of its fresh air, nearby national park and natural spring water, according to a survey by MBC Times.
Data from Weather Spark shows that January is the coldest month in Ifrane. During this time, the town receives an average of 5.7 inches of snow.
Ifrane often sees extremely cold winters, with temperatures of -10C recorded in 2015, according to Medias24.
Even colder conditions were reported in 2011, when the temperature dropped to -11C, marking the coldest winter the town had seen in 30 years, as reported by Bladi.net.
It’s still mostly untouched by mass tourism, making it perfect for anyone wanting to enjoy the peaceful side of Greek island life.
A photo of Chora, the island’s main village, looks just like a postcard from Santorini—with whitewashed buildings, narrow cobbled lanes, and a stunning blue sea in the background.
A walk through Kastro, the 13th-century Venetian Castle, offers a glimpse into the island’s rich past, with colourful flowerbeds set against bright white homes—showing off everything that makes the Greek islands so special.
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