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For a relatively small patch of land on the Atlantic coast, Essaouira is surprisingly full of things to do and places to see. And the good news is that many of these highlights are actually completely free, ideal if you’re aiming for a five-star trip on a one-star budget. As you might imagine, most of these activities involve a fair amount of walking; this is the best way to explore any city on the cheap, especially one like Essaouira which is so compact and easy to navigate on foot.
Rest assured that we’ve tried and tested these free Essaouira things to do during our time living here (and on our numerous visits), so we’ve done the groundwork for you. Living here as a family, we always needed to keep some free activities in reserve, and Essaouira constantly offered us something new and interesting to experience for zero dirhams. Keep reading to discover your own favourite free Essaouira activity.
1. Follow the free Essaouira walking tour
READ: self-guided Essaouira walking tour
Essaouira’s medina, formerly known as Mogador, is a UNESCO World Heritage site built in the late 18th-century. Cars and mopeds are not permitted to enter the medina (although you will spot the odd moped chugging through), so it’s a lovely place to wander and get lost. Though don’t worry about getting too lost though as it’s not massive and is laid out in a grid pattern; you will always be able to find your way out again and locals are always happy to provide directions.
Spend your time in the medina browsing and shopping in the souks, stopping at cafes for a mint tea, and noticing all the beautiful doorways.
Follow our Essaouira walking tour to ensure you visit all the best bits in the medina and beyond. If you want a pdf version, you can download it for a small fee.
2. Watch the sunset from the ramparts
open 9am to just after sunset every day, free entry
Walking along Essaouira’s ramparts enables you to gain a fresh perspective on the city. These fortified walls were constructed around the medina in the 18th century to protect the port from attack and are remarkably well preserved. Take in the windswept views of the Atlantic Coast, with the wooden fishing boats, rocky outcrop, and an offshore bird sanctuary.
The entrance to Essaouira’s ramparts can be tricky to find and not where you expect them to be. Head to the top of Rue Skala (which is lined with artisan shops) and through a stone arch. Click here for the Google Map point. From here, walk up the slope to the top of the ramparts. At the top of the slope take a right first to check out the views to the north, before heading along the line of canon.
You can climb up on top of the canon and onto the wall. It’s a lovely place to sit looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean, watching the world go by, especially at sunset. Guards will whistle everyone off the ramparts as soon as the sun dips below the horizon.
These ramparts are an ‘Essaouira must see’, and feature heavily in HBO’s hit TV show, Game of Thrones as the set of Astapor. Firstly when Daenerys Targaryen arrives to Astapor, and then again as ‘The Walk of Punishment’ two episodes later. Read our guide to Game of Thrones in Essaouira.
3. Visit a synagogue and cemetery in the Jewish Quarter
The Jewish corner of Essaouira’s medina shows how the Muslim and Jewish religions worked in harmony. This is also included in our Essaouira walking tour.
This area of the medina is not as well maintained as the rest of the medina; buildings are crumbling away and the streets aren’t very clean. There are also a few shacks as temporary homes. However, there are signs of restoration projects and it’s fascinating to see a very different and raw side to Essaouira medina. You certainly feel like you’ve stepped away from the main tourist drag.
There are a number of synagogues to visit (tourists are allowed inside Haim Pinto Synagogue), as well as the Jewish cemetery past Bab Doukkala, which also has a Christian cemetery adjacent.
To get to the cemetery, walk out of the medina through Bab Doukkala. Just next to the Petits Taxis sign on the left is a wooden door. This is often closed in the evenings and on Sundays. A man will be sitting outside if it is open. There is no entry fee.
4. Blow off the cobwebs on the beach
READ: Essaouira Beach: everything you need to know
There are beaches to the north and south of Essaouira. The beach to the south is the main tourist beach, and the beach to the far northern edge of town is know by the locals as Assafi Beach. There is also beach between the ramparts and Assafi Beach, but can be tricky to access.
To the south of Essaouira’s medina is a two kilometre arc of sandy beach with a wide paved promenade along the entire stretch. The waters here are very shallow, but the strong Atlantic wind brings waves that are great for surfing and kitesurfing.
It’s a stunning place to watch an Essaouira sunset, and this is where locals come to play football. It’s also a refreshing place to breathe in the fresh air after the confines of the medina or the bustle of the port, and best of all, its a free thing to do in Essaouira!
The beach is generally clean, although you will unfortunately find a fair bit of litter close to the promenade and along the shoreline. On sunny, hot weekends when there is no wind, the beach can get very busy. August is when the beach is busiest as not only is it the European and Moroccan school holidays, Essaouira is one of the coolest places in Morocco at this time where elsewhere temperatures are soaring to the unbearable mid-40s.
5. Watch the sunrise
Sunset often steals the show in Essaouira, but actually I’d argue that sunrise is even more special. I love setting the alarm early and heading up to the rooftop for sunrise with just the seagulls for company, although often the call to prayer wakes me up before my alarm.
The medina is so still and quiet at that time of day and the rays cast from the east over the rooftops creates such a beautiful light. It’s the perfect way to start the day with a sense of renewal and accomplishment.
The best sunrise spot in Essaouira is from a rooftop. However, at this time of day, none of the rooftop restaurants or cafes will be open. So make sure your Essaouira accommodation has access to a rooftop.
6. La Cite Heureuse
Located in a restored 19th century building overlooking Place Moulay Hassan, La Cite Heureuse is a small museum dedicated to the region’s cultural and historical heritage. It’s free to enter.
The building itself is beautiful and the mosaic work along the wall at the entrance is impressive. However, the contents is rather sparse with just a handful of photographs and models. Plus, descriptions are only in Arabic and French (have Google Lens handy for translation if needed).
It’s a museum that probably only warrants five minutes of your time. Although we still reckon it’s worthwhile popping in as the black and white photographs are interesting and entry is free.
7. Dar Souiri Cultural Center
Established in a historic building close to Bab Sbaa, Dar Souiri is a cultural space in the medina that serves as a hub for artistic and community activities. It hosts a variety of events, including art exhibitions, music performances, and workshops throughout the year.
The space aims to promote local artists and engage the community through cultural initiatives and is generally free to enter. So if you find yourself strolling by, pop in for a look around, if only to admire the beautiful architecture.
8. Attend the Gnaoua and World Music Festival
Essaouira is host to several cool festivals and smaller events, the most famous of which is probably the Gnaoua World Music Festival, which is mostly free to attend. First appearing on the calendar in 1998, the festival is now an integral part of the city’s fabric. With a focus predominately on Gnawa musicians, it’s an incredibly popular festival that regularly attracts half a million visitors each year.
It’s held at the end of June, the next edition in 2025 is from the 26th to 28th of June. Make sure you book your accommodation as early as possible, the Essaouira hotels fill up quickly and the whole city is in festival mode (it gets very busy). Even though some of the events have an entrance fee, there are plenty of free events and shows popping up around town and on the beach.
9. Go rockpooling
One of the best free activities to do in Essaouira with kids (adults are also welcome) is to go rockpooling. At low tide, pools form around the rocks on the beach, revealing sea creatures such as crabs, small fish, and even octopus.
The best places to do this are:
- in front of the sea wall at Place Moulay Hassan (there’s a small opening to the beach next to La Cité Heureuse Essaouira)
- Assafi Beach north of the medina
- In front of Sidi Kaouki’s shrine at Sidi Kaouki
Take a bucket and net with you to help with your explorations (these can be picked up from shops along Av. de l’Istiqlal; the main avenue running through the medina). Please remember to carefully return all creatures back to the sea.
10. Explore Dar Sultan Palace in Diabat’s sand dunes
READ OUR GUIDE: Diabat, Morocco: Jimi Hendrix and sand castles
Four kilometres south of Essaouira’s medina is the dusty, sleepy village of Diabat, which enjoys the similar maritime climate of its big brother despite rolling sand dunes creating a barrier between the village and Atlantic. Back in the early 1970s, Diabat (and Essaouira) was firmly on the hippie trail, solidified by a visit from the legendary musician, Jimi Hendrix, in 1969. He may have only visited for a couple of days (in fact, apparently he wanted to buy Diabat), but this was a good enough reason to open a Jimi Hendrix café and hotel in the village, which are still operating today.
Diabat sees only a small fraction of the tourists compared to Essaouira, and the hippie communes are long gone. But if you are visiting Essaouira during the high season months of July and August and want to escape the crowds, Diabat is the place to come and is one of the easiest day trips from Essaouira. Visitors only tend to come here for a quad biking or horse riding tour, or they may be staying at the Sofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf & Spa (which is actually in Diabat rather than Essaouira) and tend to stick to the confines of luxury.
However, it’s worth the visit over to Diabat to explore Dar Sultan Palace, a once-grand palace that has been left to the elements, and is now nestled amongst the sand dunes between Diabat village and the beach. It’s a fascinating place to explore and open to all to wander around (there’s no fee or gated entrance). The stone arches and even the mosaic tiles are still clearly on display.
It has been rumoured that Dar Sultan Palace inspired Jimmie Hendrix to write Castles Made of Sand. This is a great story, except the song was released two years before his visit to Morocco.
It’s a very pleasant 5km walk from Diabat back to Essaouira’s medina via Dar Sultan Palace and along the beach, stopping en route for a sunset drink at Beach and Friends. Check out our guide to walking from Diabat to Essaouira.
Escape the hustle and bustle of Essaouira’s medina with this 5km walk from Diabat to Essaouira medina via Dar Sultan Palace, the beach, and a sundowner and one of Essaouira’s beach bars.
11. Visit the beach at Sidi Kaouki
READ OUR GUIDE: Sidi Kaouki
Sidi Kaouki is surfing beach, 30 minutes drive south of Essaouira and makes for a lovely day trip from Essaouira. It’s a beautiful spot, but the secret is out on this sandy stretch, so don’t expect to have it to yourselves at weekends. Here you will will find a handful of restaurants, and locals offering camel and horse rides along the beach.
The surf here is stronger than Essaouira beach and popular with surfers. There’s a surf shop next to the restaurants if you want to hire a surfboard or boogie board, or perhaps have lessons.
Hire sun loungers and a parasol on the beach, 50DH for a pair. Although laying your towel out is free.
On the opposite site to the white building are rockpools to explore.
To get to Sidi Kaouki, take a Grand Taxi from Essaouira. You will need to get to the Grand Taxi station, which is next to the main bus station in Essaouira. Click here for the Google Map point. There is a flat fee of 15DH per person, or 90DH for the whole taxi (i.e. 6 people), to Sidi Kaouki. They may try and charge you more. Ask to see the official tariff if they do. To get back to Sidi Kaouki, arrange a collection time with your driver.
It is also possible to get the local bus over to Sidi Kaouki. Bus number 2 runs from Bab Doukkala to Sidi Kaouki every 2 hours and tickets cost 7DH per person (purchase tickets on the bus). The bus will take longer to get to Sidi Kaouki than a taxi (approximately 1 hour) and it sometimes stops at Essaouira Airport enroute. Click here for the bus timetable.
12. Visit a rural market
READ OUR GUIDE: Had Draa market (Sundays)
READ OUR GUIDE: Ida Ougourd market (Wenesdays)
A visit to a rural market is a fantastic way to gain insight into authentic Moroccan life and one of my personal favourite things to do in Essaouira that’s free.
Local traders descend on an otherwise sleepy, dusty village with their piles of fruit and veg, woven baskets, cattle, spices, kitchen wares and much much more to create a bustling epicentre of community. This is where locals (generally men) not only visit for their weekly shop, but to socialise and do business over a mint tea and a BBQ.
The largest in the region is Had Draa Souk, which is held every Sunday. Animals and produce have been traded for centuries here, and it’s the place to come if you need to pick up a camel, goat, or donkey (do check your Ryanair baggage allowance though). There’s also an on-site halal abattoir and stalls selling grilled-meat kebabs.
If your visit to Essaouira does not coincide with the Sunday market at Had Draa, the next best option in the region is Ida Ougourd, held every Wednesday. Set on a hillside, the market is separated into distinct areas: a large open fruit and veg market spills out in front of the mosque, a Halal abattoir will be found down a little alleyway, and animals are traded in a walled square. There’s even a donkey park (as opposed to a car park).
Local buses leave from outside Bab Doukkala to Had Draa (Sunday, 10DH per peson) and Ida Ougourd (Wednesday, 7DH per person). Alternatively, take a Grand Taxi (same price as the bus) or arrange a private car through your accommodation. Entrance to the markets is free.
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Explore Essaouira ebook£16.95
Explore Essaouira ebook
Updated for 2025, the Explore Essaouira ebook is the only travel guide you need for exploring Essaouira. It is jam-packed with inspiration on what to do, where to eat, where to stay, and also includes the step-by-step self-guided walking tour (with photos).
This is a PDF download for use offline and on the go (and ad-free!). Save it to read on the plane to Morocco, download to your phone to follow the self-guided walking tour around the medina, or print it off at home before you leave on your adventures and highlight all the bits you want to remember for your visit.
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Before your go, check out these useful reads for your visit:
The best things to do in Essaouira
Essaouira walking tour (self-guided)
Day trips from Essaouira
How to get around Essaouira
The best restaurants in Essaouira
The best hotels in Essaouira
Essaouira travel FAQs: everything you need to know before your visit
A brief history of Essaouira