Is Essaouira worth visiting? The truth about this Moroccan coastal gem.

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Essaouira is a beautiful, atmospheric city on the Atlantic coast with a stunning beach, UNESCO-listed medina and bustling fishing port. Many visitors plan to spend a few days here but instead stay much longer, captivated by the history, food, culture and people that make Essaouira such a rewarding place to visit.

One of the most common questions for people planning a trip to Morocco is whether Essaouira is worth visiting. And we do understand the dilemma; Morocco is bursting with so many iconic destinations, it can be difficult to decide where to spend your time.

We’ve lived in Essaouira and have visited countless times over the years so we’re in a good position to help you make the decision, even if we might be slightly biased because, as you might expect, we love the place and the people who call it home.

Essaouira is building up a reputation as an idyllic and alternative place to visit and, for many people, it lives up to the hype and they have a magical time exploring the medina, fishing port and beaches. But for others, although the city ticks plenty of boxes, there might be something missing from their dream holiday destination.

To help you decide which camp you belong in, we’ve compiled a guide on whether Essaouira is worth visiting, with honest assessments along the way of both the good, and the not so good. And once we’ve perhaps persuaded you, make sure you check out our guide to how many days you should spend in Essaouira, then get planning!

1. Well connected and easy to get to

Essaouira is well connected from within Morocco and, increasingly, from mainland Europe. There are a number of regular direct flights from major European cities to Essaouira.

These include:

• Paris Orly to Essaouira (4 flights per week with Transavia France)
• London Stansted to Essaouira (2 flights per week with Ryanair)
• Brussels South Charleroi to Essaouira (2 flights per week with Ryanair)
• Marseille Provence to Essaouira (2 flights per week with Ryanair)

New flights are being added all the time.

Although do note that Essaouira is still only served by a relatively small number of flights, so you’ll have more options if you fly into Marrakech, Agadir or (particularly) Casablanca.

As Marrakech is only a simple three hour drive from Essaouira, many visitors choose to fly into Marrakech’s Menara airport and then travel to Essaouira from Marrakech. You can either book a private transfer (your accommodation host will be able to help you with this), Grand Taxi, or travel by bus from Marrakech to Essaouira (which is the cheapest option, especially for single or couple travellers).

If you are visiting Essaouira with kids, you will probably find that a private transfer is easier and more cost effective for a family.

USEFUL GUIDES:
Essaouira airport guide
How to get from Marrakech to Essaouira
Marrakech to Essaouira bus
Essaouira to Casablanca bus

2. Laid back vibes

Have you previously visited Marrakech and found it all a bit too much? Or perhaps you’ve heard stories of the mopeds whizzing at speed down the narrow medina alleyways, pushy sellers at the markets, or the sensory overload of all the goings-on at Jemaa el-Fnaa (the main square) with monkeys on chains, henna ladies calling out to you in a fake cockney accent, roving musicians, snake charmers, and let’s not forget the teeth sellers (yes, that’s a thing).

Marrakech is an incredible city to experience (check out our top things to do in Marrakech), but it can be utterly exhausting.

Essaouira is very, very different to Marrakech and laid back vibes radiate throughout the medina and along the beach. The shop sellers enjoy a relaxed conversation and are rarely pushy, no haggling is required with the petit taxis as it’s a flat fare of DH8, the medina is traffic-free, and the sandy beach provides a place of natural calm, even on a windy day.

Essaouira offers a much slower and easy-going pace, and can make for a relaxing destination. This is why I often recommend Essaouira when readers ask me if they should visit Essaouira or Marrakech, especially if it’s their first visit to Morocco.

Some people do find the laid-back vibes slightly too chilled-out though, especially those who are on the lookout for a livelier night-time scene. If you prefer late nights and busy cities, factor this into your decision-making process.

3. It’s a safe place to visit

READ OR GUIDE: Is Essaouira safe?

When you’re visiting somewhere for a holiday or relaxing break, you don’t need the extra stress of feeling unsafe or insecure. Some of the best cities in the world should also come with a health-warning, but Essaouira isn’t one of them.

Perhaps it’s the calm vibes drifting in on the seaside breeze or, more likely, it’s that Moroccans are almost unfailingly friendly, open and honest. Who knows? Either way, the end result is we’ve never had any problems walking around the medina either on our own (as a solo woman) or as a family with young kids.

It goes without saying, that some basic precautions are needed in any tourist town, so do be aware (but not paranoid) about pickpocketing (most likely to happen in crowded areas) but remember it would count as a huge (and unwelcome) surprise if you were the victim of crime.

The vast, vast majority of travellers to Essaouira experience no problems with crime or violence at all, either as a witness or a victim. And if you’re visiting Essaouira with kids, Essaouira’s medina feels much safer than Marrakech’s as it’s closed to vehicles, so there are (almost) zero mopeds whizzing by.

4. It’s hard to get lost in the medina

Because the medina in Essaouira is traffic-free, it makes for significantly calmer walks along the backstreets and alleyways compared to most other Moroccan medinas. Although do be aware that the occasional moped breaks the no-traffic rule and weaves its way through the narrow streets. It’s very rare but you’ll usually hear them first, accompanied with a wave of their hand in apology as they cruise past.

For some people, one of the hidden delights of visiting a Moroccan medina is getting slightly lost, safe in the knowledge there’s always someone to point you towards the closest bab. For better or worse, you’ll have no such problem in Essaouira because the medina (unlike say Marrakech or Fes) is very easy to navigate as it follows a rough grid pattern.

There are two main streets that run northeast to southwest: Av. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah and Av. de l’Istiqla, which runs into Av. Mohamed Zerktouni towards Bab Doukalla. The former is the main street of tourist shops, whereas the latter offers local markets for purchasing fruit, meat, fish, and local produce. These are intersected with little alleyways leading towards the city walls, as well as the larger Rue Mohamed El Qorry, which leads out to Bab Marrakech. If you ever feel like you’re lost, find your way back to one of these main medina arteries.

Essaouira walking tour

Essaouira is a relatively compact town and both the traffic-free medina and long stretch of promenade that hugs the sandy beach beckon for a morning or afternoon stroll. Here we have put together a lovely self-guided walking tour for you to follow at your own pace. We take you to the main sites, but also off the beaten track along quieter alleyways.

READ MORE

5. A good range of restaurants

READ OUR GUIDE: Best restaurants in Essaouira

Being a fishing port, it will come as no surprise that Essaouira is haven for seafood lovers. You can even buy food directly from the fishmongers at the port and take it to a local restaurant for them to cook for you.

But the French history of the town also means that there are also some fantastic patisseries and creperies dotted around the medina. Around Moulay Hassan Square, there’s a distinct European vibe with restaurants spilling out onto the pavement and street musicians entertaining passers-by.

You will find the standard tagine, couscous, brochette, and Western standards at most of the restaurants. However, there are also Asian and Italian restaurants, as well as specific vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Essaouira. Some of the restaurants also serve alcohol and there is an emerging bar scene in Essaouira.

In fact there are so many restaurants and eateries in Essaouira that if you ate in a different restaurant or café each day, you would need to stay much longer than a month. So we recommend you check out our list of top restaurants in Essaouira.

So while Essaouira might not have quite the number and diversity of restaurants you’d find in Marrakech, it still packs a pretty decent punch for a city this size.

6. Beach fun in the heart of the city

READ OUR GUIDE: Beaches in Essaouira

The windswept beaches to the north and south of Essaouira offer an interesting dimension to the city. There aren’t many places that can boast a beautiful stretch of beach right next to an ancient medina and bustling fishing port.

Although the prevailing winds off the Atlantic aren’t ideal for sunbathers, the two kilometre stretch of promenade along the main beach in Essaouira makes for a lovely stroll, and there are surf schools for those who want to get active on the waves.

Those visiting Essaouira with kids will appreciate the generally clean and sandy beach to play on, and the shallow waters for little legs to splash around. There’s even a beach playground for little ones to go wild in (10DH per child, only open weekends and holidays).

To the north of Essaouira, Assafi Beach, is another long stretch of beach. This beach sees only a fraction of the visitors to the main beach, and is the place to come to escape the high season crowds in July and August. There are no facilities here though, so bring everything you need and leave no trace.

We love the beach and have spent countless hours here over the years but do factor in the wind and cool temperature of the sea. Particularly during the summer months, the wind can be exceptionally strong and you might need to cover your head while you sunbathe. The sea temperature is just warm enough for a refreshing dip, but it’s not necessarily the place you’d want to spend hours, unless it’s a particularly warm day. If it’s a traditional beach holiday you’re looking for, there might be better options than Essaouira.

7. Compared to Europe and Marrakech, it’s very affordable

Many of the people visiting Essaouira are from Europe or the US, and if that’s you, you’re sure to find Essaouira very affordable. Meals in local restaurants are inexpensive and even a fancy meal in a European-style restaurant is affordable, especially if you skip the alcohol.

Accommodation prices are much less than in Europe and you’ll notice the quality is significantly higher. It’s often the case you’ll pay the same for a three-bedroom riad as you would a cramped twin-room in the UK. If you’re arriving from Marrakech, as soon as you step off the bus you’ll discover everything from taxis, dorm beds and souvenir shopping are much lower.

Of course, compared to some ‘proper’ budget destinations such as Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, Essaouira is relatively expensive, and you won’t be able to stick to the ultra-low budgets you can in those places.

8. Variety of things to do

While it’s a relaxed and laid-back Moroccan town, there are also a huge number of activities in Essaouira to balance your chilled vibe with an adrenaline hit. Head to Essaouira beach for surfing (including kite-surfing and wind surfing), plus there is also quad biking, horse riding and camel riding!

However, if you’re after a more sedate activity, maybe try a traditional Moroccan hammam in Essaouira. Although be warned, all inhibitions need to go out the window!

Top 29 things to do in Essaouira

Wondering what to do in Essaouira? Whether you’re seeking adventure, or need to relax and unwind, here we provide a detailed guide to all the things to do in Essaouira, so that you can get the most out of your visit. From surfing to sandboarding to souks, we’ve got you covered.

READ MORE

There are also some great day trips from Essaouira, including visiting the local markets of Had Draa or Ida Ougourd, wine tasting at Val d’Argan, visiting the ‘Castle in the Sand’ in Diabat, or checking out the pottery workshops and historical medina of Safi further up the coast.

Day trips from Essaouira

Essaouira can be a lovely base for Moroccan adventures further afield. From a 10min to 3hr drive, here we share the best day trips from Essaouira, including Safi, Sidi Kaouki, Taghazout, and even Marrakech.

READ MORE

9. Great accommodation options to choose from

Whether you’re looking for a camping spot, a characterful Airbnb in the heart of the medina, a high-end hotel, or a beach resort with swimming pool, there will be something in Essaouira to suit your budget and needs. The range of accommodation for such a small town is really quite impressive, although it perhaps lacks a large selection of all-inclusive hotels that some people are looking for.

USEFUL GUIDES:
Essaouira campsites
Best hotels in Essaouira

10. Epic ocean sunsets

As it’s perched on Morocco’s western coast, Essaouira offers epic ocean sunsets. Indeed, for any visit to Essaouira, we urge you to make time to watch the sun sink into the Atlantic Ocean; with the sky ablaze with orange hues, soaring seagulls casting silhouettes, and the call to prayer drifting over the rooftops, it really is a magical experience. Get your camera ready!

Just make sure you check out the Essaouira sunset time and best viewpoints in advance.

11. Popup events and cool festivals

Essaouira is host to several cool festivals and smaller events, the most famous of which is probably the Gnaoua World Music Festival. 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.

At other times of the year, there are impromptu events or exhibitions happening all the time, check with your accommodation for up-to-date information. If all else fails, head to Place Moulay Hassan where you’ll inevitably find a street busker or local music group performing.

12. Great weather and year round sunshine

Being on the Atlantic coast, Essaouira doesn’t experience the extreme temperatures of other Moroccan tourist destinations, and with an average of 300 days of sunshine, it’s generally a great year-round destination.

In the winter months, daytime temperatures hover around 19°C, whereas in the summer months, daytime temperatures sit just below 30°C. However, there are always days cooler and hotter than this and the wind can make all the difference to how warm (or cold) it feels, especially on the exposed beach. Essaouira has been coined the ‘Windy City of Africa‘ for a reason.

Essaouira does experience some cloudy and drizzly days. Indeed it even rains sometimes in Essaouira, although heavy rain is very rare. Drizzly days are more commonly between December and February, but even still, only a couple of rainy days per month are expected. Generally you can expect the sun to be shining for your visit to Essaouira, even if you’re just visiting Essaouira for a day or two.

USEFUL GUIDE:
Best time to visit Essaouira

Final thoughts on whether Essaouira is worth visiting

For a relatively small city, Essaouira certainly makes the most of its patch of land on the Atlantic coast. With the beach, medina, ramparts, restaurants, fishing port, surfing and relaxed pace of life, for many people it all adds up to the ideal destination.

That’s not to say Essaouira ticks every box on the page. The city’s small footprint could make you feel like you’ve seen everything in a few days, and the night-time scene is perhaps best described as limited, especially if your idea of a good night is a late night. And while the beach is beautiful, the cool waters and strong wind continue to divide opinion, so if you’re planning on several hours a day sunbathing and swimming in Essaouira, you might need to recalibrate your expectations.

Which brings us back to the original question: is Essaouira worth visiting? Well, we might be slightly biased as we run a blog all about Essaouira, but we always completely recommend the city to everyone we meet. For us, the calm nature of the city is a blessing and the wind only adds to the charm of the coastline, often providing a cooling effect in the afternoon sun.

With the sun slowly setting over the Atlantic and the call to prayer drifting across the ancient medina, Essaouira is a special place to be, and definitely worth visiting.

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