Djerba weather in December is easy to sum up: days around 18–20 °C, a sea too cool for most swimmers, and beaches you will have almost to yourself. It is weather for walking, sightseeing and living outdoors; for a tan, you will have to wait until spring.
Djerba weather in December: what to expect
December sits in the heart of the low season. Winter here is nothing like a European winter: no frost, few grey days, and plenty of days when lunch outdoors is an easy decision. The figures below are climate averages for the last twelve Decembers (ERA5 reanalysis, 2014–2025 data for the island of Djerba). From one year to the next, a given week can be cooler or windier.
Air temperatures
- By day: 18–20 °C on average, sometimes warmer on calm, sunny days.
- At night: 10–13 °C. An evening on the terrace calls for a jumper or a light jacket, rarely a coat.
- Through the month: early December still carries a touch of autumn, with afternoons around 19 °C. The last ten days of the year are usually the coolest of the month, around 17 °C.
Sea temperature
The Mediterranean around Djerba sits at 17–18 °C in December, slightly warmer early in the month and slightly cooler at the end. It is the time for long walks on the sand, with a paddle for the brave, but it is no longer swimming weather. The beaches are almost empty, and the low late-afternoon light suits them beautifully.
Sunshine, rain and wind
- Sunshine: 6 to 8 hours a day depending on the year. The days are short, but clear.
- Rain: a few spells over the month, roughly 4 days of proper rain and around 20 mm in total. Showers tend to be short and quickly followed by sunshine.
- Wind: it blows mostly from the west and north-west, and hard on one or two days a month. More than the temperature, it is the wind that makes the seafront feel cool.
When packing, think in layers: T-shirts and light shirts for the day, a jumper and a windproof jacket for the evenings and the seafront, and good walking shoes, because in December the island is best explored on foot. A swimsuit is still worth bringing if you are staying in a villa with a heated pool (more on that below).
If you are comparing months before you decide, our guide to the best time to visit Djerba covers the averages for the whole year, and our article on winter in Djerba looks at December, January and February in detail.
What to do in Djerba in December
Without the summer heat, you can explore the island on foot, by bike or by car at any time of day. Tourists are few, and you get to see Djerba living at its own pace.
- The olive harvest: it runs from November to January and peaks in December. You can taste the new season’s oil at the island’s producers.
- The markets: Houmt Souk on Mondays and Thursdays, Midoun on Fridays. Fresh produce, spices, crafts, and a good chance to eat local.
- Heritage: the island’s old mosques and traditional houses, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023, the pottery workshops of Guellala and the street murals of Erriadh.
- Flamingos: they spend the winter on the island’s wetlands, and the Ras Rmel peninsula is one of their stopovers. Your chances of spotting them are good in winter, ideally at low tide, early in the morning or late in the day.
- The desert: winter is the best season for a trip to southern Tunisia. Like all our activities, it is reserved for our guests and run by a trusted partner (at extra cost).
- The beach, differently: Sidi Yati beach is 9 min from the residence by car. In December, people come here to walk and breathe the sea air, not to sunbathe.
End-of-year school holidays: the family window
For many families in Europe, December comes down to one window: the two weeks of end-of-year school holidays. Below are the 2026–2027 dates as published by education ministries and cantons. Regional calendars can differ, so check them with your school, local authority, canton or Land before booking flights.
- France (all zones): from Saturday 19 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027, according to the official school calendar (in French).
- Belgium: from Monday 21 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, in both the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and the Flemish Community.
- Luxembourg: from Saturday 19 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027.
- Switzerland: set by each canton; in Geneva from Thursday 24 December 2026 to Friday 8 January 2027, in the canton of Vaud from 24 December 2026 to 10 January 2027.
- Germany: set by each Land; the holidays start between 21 and 24 December 2026 and end between 31 December 2026 and 12 January 2027, depending on the Land (Kultusministerkonferenz calendar).
- Netherlands: from Saturday 19 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, in all three regions.
- Portugal: from 16 to 31 December 2026 for state schools on the mainland; schools that run on semesters may use other dates.
These two weeks account for most of the month’s demand. If your dates are tied to the school calendar, booking early gives you more choice, for flights and villas alike. If you are free to choose, the first half of December is quieter. Couples considering our winter offer for couples should know that it does not apply to arrivals from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
As for getting here, Djerba–Zarzis airport is 39 min from the residence. For the flight, I fly Nouvelair myself and recommend it; I strongly advise against Tunisair. European nationals do not need a visa for a tourist stay of under 90 days, but your passport must remain valid for at least three months after your planned return date.
December in a private villa with a pool that is not overlooked
In winter, having a villa to yourselves matters even more than in summer: your own living room and garden for windy days, a kitchen, and children who can play without disturbing anyone. The days are short and the house follows the daylight: you come back for the sunset prayer, have dinner together and turn in early. It is a kind of rest that summer does not give you. Ethic Village Djerba is a private family residence of 4 single-storey villas in Tezdaine, a sought-after part of Midoun whose name means “the palm trees” in Berber. Each villa has its own pool, not overlooked, screened by walls and privacy panels.
Villa Diamant, the only heated pool
With the sea around 17–18 °C, it is a heated pool or no swim at all. Only Villa Diamant can heat its pool, using a heat pump, for an extra €20 a day. Diamant is also the largest of our villas; the pools at Villas Saphir, Opale and Jade are not heated.
What the residence offers in December
- Included: standard breakfast, the welcome meal, cleaning on arrival and departure, and Wi-Fi.
- Optional: half board or full board, cooked by our cook in the residence kitchen and handed over through the serving hatch, so no one ever enters your villa; airport transfer (provided by our partner Abou Mazen – Rent a car); heating for the Villa Diamant pool.
- The setting: a strictly alcohol-free residence, written into the house rules, with no exceptions. Every villa has prayer mats, and the Qibla direction is marked in every room. Troujette mosque is a few minutes’ walk away, and the Khalid Ibn Al Walid mosque a little further, also within walking distance. In December the sun sets early, and you walk there in the cool of the evening, before dinner.
In the low season, Villas Jade and Opale start at €110 a night and €110 a night, and Villa Diamant at €130 a night, breakfast included, for the whole villa. To compare layouts by family size, every Ethic Village Djerba villa is presented below. We welcome families and married couples; unmarried couples and mixed groups are not accepted.
Djerba weather in December: frequently asked questions
Is it warm in Djerba in December?
Mild rather than warm: 18–20 °C during the day and 10–13 °C at night on average. You spend the day outdoors and add a jumper in the evening.
Can you swim in Djerba in December?
In the sea, rarely: the water is around 17–18 °C. Swimming means a heated pool, such as the one at Villa Diamant (at extra cost).
Does it rain a lot in Djerba in December?
No. Expect about 4 rainy days in the month, usually short showers between sunny days. The umbrella comes along mostly just in case.
Is December a good time to visit Djerba with the family?
Yes, if you are coming for the mild weather, walks and sightseeing rather than the sea. The end-of-year school holidays concentrate demand; the first half of the month is quieter.
If a calm island, soft light and unhurried days appeal to you, we would be delighted to welcome you to Ethic Village Djerba. Insha’Allah, see you soon.
Cover photo: a beach in Djerba, by Henning Leweke (CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons).
