The Ultimate Travel Guide to Essaouira
- Malika
- 24 يناير 2024
- 9 دقائق قراءة
تاريخ التحديث: 29 مايو
Positioned on Morocco's windswept Atlantic coast, the laidback town of Essaouira feels a world away from the chaotic energy of nearby Marrakech and is one of my favourite places to visit in the country. Within the whitewashed walls of this former Portuguese trading hub, there are great cafes, incredible street art and all the energy you'd expect of a Moroccan medina.
Whether you want to test your skills windsurfing, get lost in the labyrinthine lanes or simply sip mint tea while soaking up the chilled-out vibe, Essaouira is the place to be. With its artistic community, lively fishing port and invigoratingly windy beaches, this coastal town offers an enchanting escape from the frenzy of Marrakech.
In this Ultimate Travel Guide to Essaouira, discover everything you need to know to experience this coastal destination to the fullest, from the best things to do and incredible riad stays to my top Essaouira tour recommendations.
If you're travelling independently, this Two Week Itinerary From Essaouira takes in many of Morocco's highlights, including the Atlas Mountains, the kasbahs of Ouarzazate and the Sahara Desert.
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BEST TOURS IN ESSAOUIRA
Don't have time to read the whole article? These are my top Essaouira tour recommendations:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best things to do in Essaouira
Get lost in the medina
Setting out on foot to explore the winding lanes of Essaouira’s UNESCO-listed medina is the best way to get your bearings...and perhaps get lost along the way. I can spend hours wandering the whitewashed streets, admiring the street art and beautiful doorways, as well as the stalls piled hire with traditional handicrafts.
On Avenue de l'Istiqlal (the medina's main thoroughfare), you’ll find everything from colourful spices to terracotta tajines and the freshest seasonal fruits - last time I was there the strawberries were sublime! This is also where one of my favourite Essaouira cafes, Mandala Society, is located. I'd recommend popping in here if you're craving western cafe fare or are looking for vegan-friendly food.
Dotted through the medina are countless art galleries where you can browse the work of local creatives, from surrealist and naive paintings to gorgeous calligraphy. You can also find hole-in-the-wall galleries run by independent artists, some of whom use the space as a studio so you can watch them at work.
Art lovers should check out this list featuring 10 of the Best Art Galleries in Essaouira.
Things to do in Essaouira
Feast on fish at the port
The port is the heart of Essaouira's fishing industry and an essential stop while exploring the medina. It's located just beyond beautiful Bab El Marsa - walk through Place Moulay Hassan and follow your nose! Rows of brilliant blue fishing boats bob gently in their moorings while fishermen tend to their nets nearby.
If you visit in the morning, the docks are bustling with activity as fishermen unload the day's catch, ready to be sold at the adjacent fish market. Here you'll find everything from octopus and calamari to eels and the freshest sardines you've ever seen!
On the edge of Essaouira’s fish market are several barbecues set up where you can take your seafood and have it cooked just the way you like it. There are tables and chairs set up and the small cooking fee usually includes freshly baked bread and Moroccan salad to complete the meal. What more do you want?
Essaouira travel guide
Venture beyond Bab Doukkala
Marking the northeastern entrance to the medina, Bab Doukkala is an impressive gate that's worth photographing for its three arched entrances and crenellated top. Passing under its shadow, you can reach a peaceful Christian cemetery with colonial-era tombstones watched over by swaying palms. Farther on, the Jewish cemetery's orderly lanes contain thousands of weathered headstones memorialising a once-thriving community.
If you head left after passing through Bab Doukkala, you can venture down onto the sand of Akskis Beach and view the medina's walls from below. Last time I was there, the Atlantic Ocean was really wild and I discovered a new appreciation for just how impressive these walls were to have lasted so many centuries.
Best things to do in Essaouira
Check out the exhibitions in the Tower of Bab Marrakech
The rounded tower of Bab Marrakech is hard to miss, located on the eastern edge of the medina. It has served multiple functions over the centuries - as a powder magazine and a munitions warehouse, as well as a stable for horses during the French colonial period.
Today, this UNESCO-listed building has been transformed into an art gallery, with changing exhibitions taking place throughout the year. Last time I visited, they were in the process of installing a new exhibition, so there was nothing to view, but the building is worth a wander in itself. Head to the rooftop for wonderful views across the medina and walls - there's also an open-air stage here where concerts are occasionally held.
For more cultural inspiration, check out this list of the Best Museums in Essaouira.
Things to do in Essaouira
Watch the sunset from the ramparts of Skala de la Kasbah
Perched on a rocky outcrop north of the port, the honey-hued walls and towers of the Skala de la Kasbah rise majestically above the Atlantic Ocean below. It once protected the city from invasion and more recently played the role of the city of “Astapor” in “Game of Thrones”. Aside from being an essential stop for fans of the series, its ramparts are now the place to watch the sunset in Essaouira.
As the sun slowly sinks towards the horizon, both locals and tourists gather here to stroll and perch between the 18th-century Portuguese canons that dominate the walls. It's a great place for people watching while reminiscing on a memorable day spent exploring Essaouira.
Visit an argan oil cooperative
If you’re interested in seeing how Moroccan argan oil is produced, don’t miss the opportunity to visit a traditional cooperative while in Essaouira. While many medina stalls have oil presses out the front that are sometimes in operation, there's nothing quite like experiencing it surrounded by argan trees.
Not only can you watch the women cracking open the nuts and manually grinding the kernels but also pressing the oil by hand. This process unfolds in open-air workshops and provide an authentic glimpse into Morocco's long-established argan oil traditions.
At the end, you can sample the finished product or purchase oil to take home with you. Though the cooperatives' products sometimes come at a premium, witnessing the craft firsthand in one of these living museums offers invaluable insight into the labour behind argan’s "liquid gold.”
Essaouira travel guide
Attend the Gnaoua World Music Festival
Every June, Essaouira ignites with the sounds of the Gnaoua World Music Festival, a four-day extravaganza that draws over half a million music lovers. It's an incredible opportunity to experience the hypnotic melodies and rhythms of the Gnawa people (originally brought to Morocco as slaves from the Sahel). We were lucky enough to go one year and it was incredible!
During the festival, jazz, pop and rock artists from around the globe also perform, blending modern genres with the traditional music of the Gnawa. Many shows are free and held on open-air stages, drawing huge crowds, while others are ticketed and more intimate affairs.
If you're visiting Essaouira during the Gnaoua World Music Festival, be sure to book your accommodation well in advance. In 2025, it will be held from 19 to 21 June and you can find more info here.
Music lovers should check out my article detailing 11 of the Best Music Festivals in Morocco.
Learn to kite surf
Essaouira is a windsurfer's paradise. This Moroccan beach town sees constant northwesterly winds all year round, making it a prime spot for kite- and windsurfing enthusiasts. Winter brings big swells and is best for experienced surfers only!
In the summertime, Essaouira’s curved bay shelters novices from the full wind force, while the sandy shallows create a safe space to learn. Even when water temperatures hit 20°C at the height of summer, wetsuits are a must as you need to factor in the wind chill.
There are plenty of surf shops and schools in Essaouira, offering lessons and everything you need to get out on the water. Venture south to Sidi Kaouiki or Imsouane for more options, with the latter particularly popular with longboarders due to its (seemingly) never-ending wave.
Top tours in Essaouira
Essaouira travel guide
How to get to Essaouira
Fly to Essaouira Airport
Mogador Airport is the laid-back gateway to Essaouira and is located just 15 kilometres from the medina. Compared to the big aviation hubs of Marrakech and Casablanca, it's a breeze to fly in and out of.
A handful of European cities offer direct flights to Essaouira. Four times a week, Transavia France jets in from Paris Orly while Londoners can catch one of Ryanair's two weekly Stansted-Essaouira flights. And from Brussels South Charleroi and Marseille Provence, Ryanair operates two nonstop services apiece.
Fly to Marrakech Airport
Flights to Essaouira are limited, so it might be more feasible to fly to Marrakech Airport. As a major aviation hub, flights to Marrakech abound from cities across Europe and beyond. Once you arrive, Essaouira is a scenic 2.5 to 3-hour drive westward toward the coast.
For more info about visiting Marrakech, check out my Ultimate Travel Guide to Marrakech.
How to travel from Marrakech to Essaouira
Getting to Essaouira from Marrakech is simple – you just need to choose between bus, taxi or private transfer. Unfortunately, there's no train line connecting the two cities, not at this stage anyway.
Private transfer
The most comfortable and convenient option is booking a private transfer, especially if you're travelling in a group. You'll get door-to-door service directly to your hotel or riad, avoiding the hassle of lugging bags to a bus station or negotiating fares with taxi drivers.
Grand taxis
If you want to save some dirhams, grand taxis run between Marrakech and Essaouira for a fixed rate. Head to the taxi rank at Marrakech Train Station to catch one.
Bus
For maximum savings, board one of the buses that run multiple times a day between Marrakech and Essaouira. The three-hour journey includes a 20-minute break halfway.
How to travel from Agadir to Essaouira
If you’re coming from Agadir, it’s a picturesque, three-hour journey along the coast to Essaouira. For surf lovers, be sure to stop at Taghazout and/or Imsouane to experience the world-class waves en route.
While a private transfer from Agadir to Essaouira is the most convenient option, public transit is the most affordable. Daily buses from Supratours and CTM connect Agadir to Essaouira in around 3.5 hours. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride along what is a gorgeous stretch of the Moroccan coastline.
Essaouira travel guide
Best places to stay in Essaouira
From charming riads tucked away in the old medina to high-end, contemporary hotels, Essaouira has accommodation options to satisfy every taste and budget. With so many choices crammed into this compact seaside town, deciding where to lay your head can be a challenge. To help you out, I've put together a list of my favourite stays.
For more detail, check out my article featuring the Best Riads and Hotels in Essaouira (for every budget)
Luxury places to stay in Essaouira
Mid-range places to stay in Essaouira
Affordable places to stay in Essaouira
Essaouira travel guide
Best time to visit Essaouira
With an average of 300 sunny days per year and mild temperatures year-round, Essaouira is a great destination no matter when you visit. While it does get the occasional rainy or drizzly day, especially from December through February, heavy rainfall is rare.
The coolest months are January and February, with average highs around 18°C - perfect for a rejuvenating dose of winter sun! Summer sees highs around 25°C in July and August, though the sea breezes keep things feeling comfortable. Inside the medina, temperatures are warmer, while the beach is cooler....and windier.
Speaking of wind, Essaouira earned its nickname "Windy City of Africa" for good reason. Last time I visited, it was incredibly windy and breakfast on the rooftop of my riad was a challenge! Once you're down in the protected medina, the wind is less troublesome and it does create ideal wind and kitesurfing conditions. The least windiest months tend to be September and October, although there are no guarantees.
The best times to visit Essaouira to avoid crowds are outside of the peak tourist months, which are June, July and August. Keep in mind that Ramadan 2026 falls from around 17 February to 19 March.
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About the author
I'm Malika, a global traveller who first visited Morocco in 2014 before marrying a local and settling down in a little village on the Atlantic coast. Over the years, I've developed an intense love for Morocco, its majestic landscapes, storied cities and the incredibly warm hospitality of its people. As the owner and content creator of Malika in Morocco, I share my years of experience exploring the country, from north to south and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Sahara Desert. I am passionate about helping others plan their Moroccan travel adventures to ensure they get the most out of their North African experience.