In a nutshell
- Essaouira is a true highlight in Morocco for us — you get the perfect mix of culture and beach. Really cool: the fortress served as a filming location for Game of Thrones.
- Our top 7 things to do in Essaouira give you a great insight into Moroccan life and are all walkable from the Medina.
- You can explore Essaouira at a relaxed pace in two days. We recommend a guided sightseeing tour if you want real local tips.
- Your best bet for a place to stay is a beautiful riad in Essaouira. Our top pick is Dar El Paco — that’s where we stayed.
- Got more time? We’ll also show you some great Essaouira activities and day trips to make the most of your visit.
Our Top 7 Sights in Essaouira on a Map
So you can get a really great overview of where our top 7 sights in Essaouira are located, we’ve marked them all on a map.
You can also see clearly that you can explore all the highlights completely at your own pace on foot — pretty cool!
Medina - The Old Town in Essaouira
What you need to know: The old towns in Morocco are called Medinas and are the beating heart of every Moroccan city. The Medina in Essaouira is car-free and one of the few fully preserved Medinas still in existence — it’s been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. It’s also known as the “white city” because all the buildings are white.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! The Medina is really beautiful and for us one of the absolute highlights of things to do in Essaouira. It’s much more relaxed here than in the Medinas in Marrakech or Fès. Your best bet is to stroll leisurely through the alleyways and stop at one of the cafés along the way to soak it all in.
Our restaurant tip: Right in the old quarter of Essaouira is Restaurant Adwak (open in Google Maps). The atmosphere is super cozy and the fish is incredibly good. Highly recommended!
Souks in Essaouira
What you need to know: In the northwest of the Medina, just behind the city gate Bab Doukkala, you’ll find cool markets — the so-called Moroccan souks. Here you can find everything your shopping heart desires: stalls with fresh fruits and vegetables, the classic spice pyramids, everyday items, and beautiful souvenirs like bags and rugs.
Is it worth it? When you’re wandering through the Medina, you’ll end up in the souks at some point anyway, since there’s no clear boundary between the two. You’ll probably notice that more people are milling around here. We love watching all the colorful hustle and bustle.
Our tip: Not just in the souks, but throughout the entire Medina, you’ll find small shops with great souvenirs. If you don’t feel like haggling with vendors in the hectic streets of Marrakech, this is the place to shop. The vendors are less pushy and you’ll find the best prices in Morocco here. Essaouira is known for its intricate wood inlay work and argan oil.
Our restaurant tip: When you need a break, head to Chez Ahmed. The restaurant is set in a beautiful courtyard right next to the souks. We had the best coffee of our entire Morocco road trip here. The fish plate was also really delicious.
Galerie la Kasbah
What you need to know: As you stroll through the Medina, you’ll notice that Essaouira has an incredible number of galleries. Our favorite is Galerie la Kasbah. Housed in an 18th-century riad, it showcases artwork by around 100 national and international artists.
Is it worth it? If you’re into art, or simply enjoy looking at beautiful paintings and the like, a visit is absolutely worthwhile. Each room displays artwork from a different artistic era: from Realism to Surrealism, through Calligraphy and Abstraction. For us, it’s a truly wonderful spot in Essaouira.
Our tip: The gallery is spread across four floors. Make sure to go all the way up to the rooftop terrace — from there you have a fantastic panorama over Essaouira. By the way, most of the artwork on display is also available for purchase. Just ask someone on-site if you’re interested.
Fortress and City Walls
What you need to know: The fortress complex Sqala de la Kasbah dates back to the 18th century. Today you can still visit part of the beautiful fortress and walk along the city walls overlooking the Atlantic. Although a lot has happened here, there’s one reason in particular that draws many visitors: the fortress served as a filming location for the popular series Game of Thrones.
Is it worth it? A walk along the city walls and to the fortress is always worth your time. You get an incredibly beautiful view of the sea. If you’re in Essaouira and a Game of Thrones fan, it’s an absolute must. The fortress also reminds us a little of the Kasbah of the Udayas, one of the highlights in Rabat.
Essaouira Harbor
What you need to know: The harbor in Essaouira was once the most important port in all of Morocco. While it may have lost some of its broader significance over the years, it remains an important trading hub for the people of Essaouira — and especially for its fishermen.
Is it worth it? Our standout favorite and one of the most photogenic spots in Essaouira is the charming blue fishing boats bobbing back and forth in the harbor basin — really cool! You can also watch the everyday life of Moroccan fishermen up close: mending nets, baiting lines, the whole thing.
Our tip: Make sure to come in the morning, because that’s when the fish market is in full swing. The fishermen sell their freshly caught fish from small stalls, people haggle loudly over prices, and white seagulls try to snatch up scraps. It’s quite a spectacle and an absolute must-see in Essaouira.
Moulay Hassan Square
What you need to know: Moulay Hassan Square connects the Medina, the fishing harbor, and the fortress complex. Here you’ll mainly find cute little cafés and street vendors selling paintings, souvenirs, and fresh fruit juices.
Is it worth it? On your way from the Medina to the fishing harbor, you’ll pass through Moulay Hassan Square anyway. During the day, though, it’s not very busy — it’s usually just too hot out in the open square. From here, you also get the best view of the fortress city built into the cliffs, which is one of the most popular photo spots in Essaouira.
Our tip: Make sure to come just before sunset. On the city wall next to Moulay Hassan Square, you’ll get an incredibly beautiful view of the sunset. You can also head down to the water and walk along the base of the city wall.
Essaouira Beach
What you need to know: The beach is of course one of the most popular Essaouira attractions. There’s truly something for everyone here — the beach is super long, wide, and has fine sand. It draws sunbathers, swimmers, and plenty of kiters and windsurfers, since the wind here is consistently strong.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! During our walk along the beach in Essaouira, we spotted tons of camels just standing around in the sand. It’s an unusual but fascinating sight you won’t see every day. Just keep in mind that it is an urban beach. For kiters and windsurfers in particular, though, it ranks among the best beaches in Morocco.
Our tip: All along the beach you’ll find cute little cafés where you can really unwind and enjoy a great view of the ocean. Beach vibes included.
Note: Don’t bring too many valuables to the beach if you want to go swimming. Morocco is considered a safe country, but petty theft does happen from time to time.
4 Cool Activities in Essaouira
If you’re on foot, you’ll admittedly get through the sights in Essaouira fairly quickly. Still, it’s well worth staying longer in this beautiful city.
Because beyond the top attractions, there are also really cool things to do in Essaouira. Here are four great options.
Guided City Tour of Essaouira
Sightseeing is one of the best activities in Morocco. But if you don’t just want to see the points of interest in Essaouira and would also like more information about the fortress, the harbor, and more, you should definitely take a guided city tour of Essaouira.
On the tour, you’ll walk to the harbor, the fortress, and through the Medina, among other stops. Your guide will also show you other noteworthy spots and share fascinating stories about everything. Of course, you’re welcome to ask questions too.
And you’ll find that what to do in Essaouira is much more relaxed than sightseeing in Marrakech or taking in the sights in Fès.
2.5-hour private sightseeing tour of Essaouira
Cooking Class
One of the absolute highlights of our Morocco vacation was taking a cooking class. We did ours in Marrakech, but there are options in Essaouira as well.
In the cooking class, you’ll cook a 3-course meal and learn how to prepare classic Moroccan dishes like tagine, couscous, or eggplant salad. Incredibly delicious! Beforehand, you’ll head to the market to buy all the fresh ingredients.
We had so much fun in the cooking class and it’s truly worth it. You’ll also get all the recipes to take home so you can recreate the dishes. A really cool activity in Essaouira and a top recommendation!
4-hour Moroccan family cooking class
ATV Tour
Looking for an activity with plenty of action in Essaouira? Then you absolutely have to do an ATV tour. It’s incredibly fun to cruise over the dunes on ATVs and feel the wind in your face.
We did our ATV tour during our desert tour in the Erg Chebbi desert. But if you’re not doing a desert tour in Morocco, you should definitely consider doing one in Essaouira. The sand dunes here are just as cool.
Surf Lesson
Admittedly, it’s usually windy in Essaouira — a dream for kiters and windsurfers. And perfect for you if you’ve always wanted to try kitesurfing or windsurfing.
Right on the beach in Essaouira, you can easily sign up for a beginner’s lesson. We tried kitesurfing in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and it’s really cool!
But don’t expect too much — most lessons last about two hours, and during that time you’ll mainly be learning how to control the kite in kitesurfing and the sail in windsurfing. You won’t be standing on the board after just two hours.
If you want a quicker sense of achievement, we recommend a classic surf lesson. The best time to visit Morocco for surfing is from November to early May. That’s when the waves are really good and surfing is incredibly fun.
Two Great Day Trips from Essaouira
If you have more time in Essaouira and would like to explore other places and beaches, you can also do some great day trips from Essaouira. Here are two really beautiful beaches for your Essaouira excursion.
Day Trip to Diabat
The coast of Diabat is the perfect destination for a lovely day trip on foot from Essaouira. Just keep walking south along the city beach.
After a short while, you’ll pass some cool dunes and then cross a small pedestrian bridge over the river mouth. If you walk at a leisurely pace, it takes about an hour.
A great sight in Diabat is the ruins of the sultan’s palace of Muhammad Ben Abdallah. Today the palace is almost completely buried under sand, which looks pretty cool.
Diabat became well known in the 1970s, though, mainly as a popular hangout for dropouts and hippies. Even Jimi Hendrix is said to have lived here. Apparently, the sand-covered palace inspired his song “Castles Made of Sand.”
From Jimi Hendrix’s time in Diabat, only a café remains — and even that was simply named after him, with pictures of the rock star hanging on its walls.
Today, Diabat is more of a destination for the rich and famous. There are plenty of luxury hotels, villas, golf courses, and wellness retreats. A day trip from Essaouira is definitely worthwhile, though.
Day Trip to Sidi Kaouki
The beach in the small village of Sidi Kaouki is the best-known surf spot near Essaouira and is even considered one of the most popular and best places for kitesurfing and windsurfing in all of Morocco.
So if you’re in the mood for surfing, you absolutely should take a day trip from Essaouira to Sidi Kaouki. But the long and truly beautiful sandy beach is worth a visit on its own as well.
You can simply rent a lounger and a beach umbrella, watch the surfers, and relax. Along the beach you’ll find a small selection of cute cafés and restaurants.
Sidi Kaouki is about 25 kilometers south of Essaouira. The easiest way to get there is by taxi, which you can easily find outside the Medina.
Alternatively, regional bus No. 2 from Essaouira also goes to Sidi Kaouki. Buses depart from the city gate Bab Doukkala roughly every hour and a half during the day. The ride takes about 30 minutes.
Where to Stay in Essaouira?
We strongly recommend staying in the Medina, the historic center of Essaouira. You’ll be right in the heart of the action and can reach all the Essaouira attractions easily on foot.
In the old town, you won’t be staying in typical hotels, but rather in so-called riads. These are traditional Moroccan townhouses with beautiful interior courtyards.
You can think of riads as something like boutique hotels. They usually have a really beautiful and individual design, they’re very small, typically have only a few rooms, and are therefore very intimate — we love them!
Our absolute personal favorite and a really affordable riad in Essaouira is Dar El Paco. That’s where we stayed.
We’ve already rounded up the 9 most beautiful riads in Essaouira and share them in a dedicated article.
Good to know: Accommodation in Essaouira is usually a bit more affordable than accommodation in Marrakech and accommodation in Fès.
General Tips and Frequently Asked Questions
Is Essaouira worth visiting?
Absolutely! Essaouira is one of the most beautiful destinations in Morocco for us. We love the stunning white houses in the Medina and the long, wide sandy beach.
Compared to Marrakech and Fes, the city is also much more relaxed and not nearly as hectic. Perfect for unwinding.
What's the best way to get to Essaouira?
The most convenient option is to fly to Marrakech first (180 kilometers away) or Agadir (170 kilometers away). Both cities have direct flights from many European airports.
From either city, you can then take a bus to Essaouira. Morocco’s bus system is really good and the rides are usually relaxed.
We love booking our buses through the Bookaway website. You should book at least one, preferably two days in advance online.
From Marrakech to Essaouira, the bus takes about three hours, with prices starting at around 9 euros per trip.
From Agadir to Essaouira, the bus ride takes about three to four hours. Tickets start at 8 euros per trip.
We’ve had really great experiences with the buses from CTM and Supratours.
How many days do you need in Essaouira?
For our top 7 Essaouira attractions, two full days are enough. By then, you’ll have truly seen the most important highlights.
If you feel like relaxing a bit more on the beach and doing a cool activity or one of the day trips from Essaouira, you should definitely stay longer.
If you have enough time, we recommend about four days.
Where are the best places to shop in Essaouira?
Definitely in the souks. They are a true highlight in Essaouira. Here you can really find everything you want: delicious fruits, genuine leather bags, and great souvenirs.
Where can you eat best in Essaouira?
Our favorite restaurant in Essaouira is Restaurant Adwak. We especially loved the cozy atmosphere here. We highly recommend the fish!
For lunch, we enjoyed going to Chez Ahmed. The prices are right, and our absolute highlight is the delicious coffee.
In addition to the souks in the northern part of the Medina, you’ll also find the official fish market in Essaouira’s old town. Here you can buy a fresh fish and have it prepared and served right on the spot. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to do it since we discovered the market too late — but we’ll definitely give it a try next time.
Annual Essaouira Highlight: Gnaoua Music Festival
Every year in June, the Gnaoua Music Festival takes place in Essaouira. For four days, national and international artists from the jazz, reggae, trance, blues, and Gnaoua scenes take the stage.
Gnaoua is the music of the formerly enslaved Black people of Morocco. Their music is expressive and rhythm-driven. According to belief, the music can even heal illnesses and summon spirits.
Since its founding in 1998, the festival has been an absolute highlight in Essaouira. The whole city fills up during this time. Musicians play on the beach, on Place Moulay Hassan, and in the alleyways of the Medina. Really cool!
And the best part: the Gnaoua Music Festival is mostly free. Tickets are available for the front rows in front of the stages or for certain smaller concerts. You can find all the info about the next event on the Gnaoua Music Festival website.
