INCREDIBLE things to do in Essaouira: your 2026 guide

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Discover the best things to do in Essaouira, from a vibrant medina and stunning beaches to delicious seafood and historic forts. Whether you seek adventure or relaxation, our guide has you covered.

1. Stroll the medina

READ: self-guided Essaouira walking tour

The medina of Essaouira is a Unesco World Heritage site built in the late 18th-century. Cars and mopeds are forbidden from entering the medina (although you will spot the odd moped chugging through), so it’s always a lovely place to wander and get (semi) lost.

Spend your time browsing and shopping in the souks, stopping at cafes for a mint tea, and appreciating all the beautiful doorways.

Follow our Essaouira walking tour to ensure you visit all the best bits in the medina and beyond. This is one of the best free things to do in Essaouira.

BUY YOURS HERE

2. Wander along the ramparts

open 9.00am to just after sunset every day, free entry

Walking along Essaouira’s ramparts offers up a fresh perspective on the city. These fortified walls were constructed around the medina in the 18th century to protect the city from attack and are remarkably well-preserved.

You can climb up on top of the cannons and up onto the wall. It’s a lovely place to sit looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean, watching the world go by. The ramparts also feature heavily in the hit TV show, Game of Thrones as the set of Astapor.

3. Sqala du Port

open 9.00am to 5.00pm every day, DH60 entry

Originally constructed in the 18th century by Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah, Sqala du Port is the castle-like entrance to the port that has long been one of the most iconic (and photographed) sights in Essaouira. This fort played a crucial role in safeguarding Essaouira’s strategic maritime position and facilitating trade across northern Africa.

Sqala du Port reopened in 2023 for tourists to walk along the rampart and up the main tower. It is here where you will find that classic Essaouira scene of the medina framed by a stone circle and there are steps thoughtfully placed to aid photographers.

4. Buy fresh seafood from the port

The port is a fascinating place to wander around with seafood laid out for sale and fisherman bringing in their catch and preparing their nets. It’s busy, smelly and dirty, but an absolute treat to witness. You will see sardines, pilchards, hake, sole, crab, lobster, octopus, flat fish, eels and (sadly) you may also spot a shark.

Fish can be bought directly from the fisherman and then be cooked at one of the open restaurants at the port; just ask one of the sellers and they will point you in the right direction.

5. Visit the Jewish Quarter

The Jewish corner of Essaouira’s medina shows how the Muslim and Jewish religions worked and lived in harmony. Although not as well maintained as other parts of the medina (buildings are crumbling away and the streets aren’t as clean), it’s still fascinating to see a very different and raw side to Essaouira. 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 has an adjacent Christian cemetery.

6. Blow off the cobwebs on the beach

READ: Essaouira Beach: everything you need to know

There are beaches to the north (known as Assafi Beach) and south (the main tourist beach) of Essaouira. Just below the ramparts, there’s another beach although it can be tricky to access and dangerous at high-tide.

Essaouira’s main beach

To the south of Essaouira’s medina is a 2km arc of sandy beach with a wide paved promenade running along the entire stretch. The waters here are very shallow, but the strong Atlantic wind delivers waves that are great for surfing and kitesurfing. This is the best option for swimming in the sea in Essaouira.

It’s a stunning place to watch an Essaouira sunset, and it’s 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.

The beach north of Essaouira’s Ramparts

Looking north from Essaouira’s ramparts, you can see a sandy beach buffeted by the Atlantic waves. The closest entry point to this beach is from Place Moulay Hassan where there steps onto the beach. From here you can walk right (northwards) along the front of the ramparts to the beach north of the city, although this will only be passable at low tide.

Once you’ve got past the litter, the beach opens up, and even on a summer Sunday, you may get this beach to yourself. This is a great place for a stroll and the beach continues towards Assafi Beach. Access is also possible just past the Total Energies petrol station via Bab Doukkala.

Assafi Beach

If you’re visiting Essaouira in July or August (the high season), Assafi Beach at the far northern end of town is a great place to escape the crowds. Hardly anyone goes here, and there’s an end-of-the-world, abandoned feel to it.

There are no facilities at Assafi Beach (no shop, café, or toilets). So if you plan to stay for a few hours, ensure you have drinks and snacks with you.

7. Watch the sunset

READ OUR GUIDE: Essaouira sunset times and best viewpoints

Thanks to its location on Morocco’s western coast, Essaouira offers epic ocean sunsets. It’s a magical experience to watch the sun sink into the Atlantic Ocean, the sky ablaze with orange hues, soaring seagulls casting silhouettes, and the call to prayer drifting over the rooftops.

8. Eat crepes at Moulay Hassan Square

There’s a strong European vibe at Moulay Hassan Square with restaurants spilling out onto the pavement and street musicians injecting some rhythm into the passers-by. Pull up a chair at one of the cafes or, if you’re just passing through to the beach or fishing port, pick up a fresh crepe from one of the stalls.

9. Horse riding

Riding a horse along the quiet beaches south of Essaouira is a definite bucket list moment and even beginners will soon get used to being in the saddle. There are a handful of horseback riding companies that cater to all abilities and we personally recommend Diana Dromedaries (yes they do camel riding, but also horse riding).

Staff are experienced riders and know the horses very well. Riding helmets are provided, and we recommend you wear long trousers and closed-toe shoes, although absolute beginners will be fine in shorts as you will just be moving along at walking pace.

10. Take a cooking class

READ OUR GUIDE: Essaouira cooking class

Learn to cook like a local on an Essaouira cooking class with the wonderful Latifa. Although there are other cooking classes offered around town that take place in a restaurant or accommodation, Latifa’s is unique as you’ll be invited into her family home.

Begin the day shopping for ingredients at the local markets in the medina and then jump into a taxi to Latifa’s family home to start the preparations. It’s a wonderfully relaxed environment and Latifa will share with you stories of Moroccan life beyond the kitchen as you grate and chop the veg and meticulously prepare the couscous. And, of course, you get to eat your masterpiece!.

11. Surfing and kite-surfing

READ OUR GUIDES: Kite-surfing in Essaouira and Learning to surf in Essaouira

Essaouira is known as the ‘Windy City of Africa’, so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the best places in the world for kite-surfing. The optimum section of the main beach is at the far end, away from the median. Here, the prevailing north-east winds are in a safer direction for learning (cross-onshore). This is where all the kite-surfing schools teach, and also where the camels tend to reside (watch out for camel poop on the shoreline).

There are a number of kite-surfing schools in Essaouira. All the equipment, including wetsuits and helmets, is provided. All schools speak some Arabic, French, English or Spanish.

If the wind isn’t strong enough, or you have younger kids, Essaouira is also a great place to learn how to surf. All the kite-surfing schools also offer surfing tuition, and will get you standing up on that board and riding a wave by the end of your first lesson.

12. Camel riding

The best place to arrange camel rides is at the far end of the beach, away from the medina. You’ll probably be approached by camel owners/guides offering anything from short ten minute rides to full-day tours.

If you’d prefer something more formal, camel rides and tours can be arranged through your accommodation or contact Diana Dromedaries.

13. Quad biking

READ OUR GUIDE: Essaouira quad biking

Essaouira quad biking is brilliant way to explore the beach further south of Essaouira. There are a handful of quad biking companies in the nearby village of Diabat, and we recommend Diana Quad.

You can book anything from an hour session to a full day tour, although most people will find two hours is enough time. Each tour includes a personal guide on their own quad bike, who will show you the way, take photos and help you out if needed.

There is very little in the way of training; you’re taken straight out onto the dunes so, take your time, trust the quad bike, and you’ll be fine. Most of a two-hour tour will be along a long stretch of beach, which is easy driving, although there are sections where you are taken up into the dunes and then through local villages along the way.

14. Ride vintage electric bikes through the countryside

READ OUR GUIDE: Ride vintage electric bikes through the Essaouira countryside with Lou’s Rides

Explore the Essaouira region on a 100% electric vintage bike with Lou’s Rides.

There are one hour and half-day tours offered, but this is more than a sightseeing tour. A tour with Lou’s Rides is an immersive and personalised experience to explore the local region, culture and people in small group sizes. Visit a local village, meet a clay artist, explore Argan hills, spot wildlife, and interact with locals on your chosen tour.

You must be 16+ to drive one of the bikes. although no license is required. Kids aged 10-16 can ride as a passenger but those under 10 are not permitted on the tours.

15. Enjoy a traditional Hammam

READ OUR GUIDE: Experiencing a traditional hammam in Essaouira

To rejuvenate the skin and revitalize the body, experience a traditional Moroccan hammam in the heart of Essaouira’s medina.

A hammam is a tiled, hot room, where you strip down to your underwear and enjoy a good scrub and soapy clean. All inhibitions need to go out of the window with this experience, as everything is on display.

A private hammam is more expensive, but means that you get a hammam all to yourself. A public hammam is a local hammam shared with other people (of the same gender), and is much cheaper and a more authentic experience.

Most of the Essaouira spas offer a private hammam experience, which is often combined with a massage. Once you get over any initial inhibitions, it really is the most amazing feeling, and you will feel the cleanest you ever been in your life!

16. Experience a Berber massage

If baring all in a hammam isn’t quite to your taste, try a Berber massage instead. This is offered at all of the Essaouira spas in the medina.

A Berber massage is similar to a standard, relaxing massage, except that it includes some light tapping with cupped hands. Ladies, we recommend advising your masseuse whether or not you would like your chest and stomach massaged. Otherwise, you may receive a chest massage towards the end of your massage.

Recommended spas to try are Spa Cocooning, and Azur Spa Essaouira for a bit of well-deserved pampering.

17. Shop for local crafts

READ OUR GUIDE: Shopping in Essaouira

Hand-crafted rugs, quirky metalwork ornaments, hand-carved woodwork, soaps and spices, vibrant artwork, stunning ceramics, and lots more… there are so many cool things to buy in Essaouira.

Shopping here is a much calmer and friendlier experience compared to Marrakech and shopkeepers here are proud of their friendly reputation.

Keep a clear, cool head with haggling, and make sure you check out a few shops first to gauge prices. But most of all, enjoy connecting with local people and collecting a few items to take home to remind you of your wonderful Moroccan travels.

18. Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah Museum

READ OUR GUIDE: Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah Museum

Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah Museum is a small museum in the heart of the medina and one of the few Essaouira tourist attractions that charges an entry fee (70DH per adult).

Housed in an 1800s colonial house with an impressive stairway and ceiling, it displays old photography, utensils found from prehistoric ages, musical instruments, old photography of Essaouira, jewellery and some armoury.

All the written explanations are in French and Arabic, there is no English. So unless you speak French or Arabic, it’s not always possible to appreciate the context of the items displayed in the bland glass boxes.

19. Dine in one of the many restaurants in Essaouira

READ OUR GUIDE: The BEST restaurants in Essaouira

Being a fishing port, it will come as no surprise that Essaouira is a haven for seafood lovers, but the French influence on the town also means there are some fantastic patisseries and creperies dotted around the medina.

Alongside the standard tagine, couscous, brochette, and Western standards at most of the restaurants, there are also Asian and Italian restaurants (handy if you’ve been travelling Morocco for a while and need a bit of variety).

There are excellent options for vegetarians in Essaouira, and even a designated restaurant for vegetarians and vegans in the heart of the medina, serving incredible food and run by the most lovely family.

20. Explore Dar Sultan Palace in Diabat’s sand dunes

READ OUR GUIDE: Diabat, Morocco: Jimi Hendrix and sand castles

Five kilometres south of Essaouira’s medina is the dusty, sleepy village of Diabat, which gained prominence in the 1960s and 1970s as a hippie commune. Around this time, the legendary musician Jimi Hendrix popped in for a couple of days (in fact, apparently he wanted to buy Diabat), and this was enough of a reason to open a Jimi Hendrix café and hotel in the village, both of which are still open today.

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, but it’s also worth the visit 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’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 sundowner at Beach and Friends. Check out our guide to walking from Diabat to Essaouira.

21. Visit 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.

You can hire sun loungers and a parasol on the beach, 50DH for a pair, although laying your towel out is free. There are also rockpools to explore on the opposite side of the white building.

22. Enjoy a day pass at a pool in the countryside

READ OUR GUIDE: Day passes in Essaouira

If your Airbnb, riad, or hotel in Essaouira doesn’t have a swimming pool, consider treating yourself to a day pass at a swimming pool. For couples and solo travellers we recommend Les Jardins de Villa Maroc, and families should check out Hôtel Domaine de L’Arganeraie.

23. Visit a vineyard

READ OUR GUIDE: Essaouira wine tasting at Val d’Argan

Domaine du Val d’Argan, just 25 minutes from Essaouira towards Marrakech, has been Morocco’s only vineyard dedicated exclusively to Rhône Valley grape varieties since 1994. Nestled between the desert and the Atlantic trade winds, it has expanded from 5 to 50 hectares over 20 years, cultivating 13 different grape varieties.

Visitors can enjoy wine tastings, Moroccan cuisine paired with estate wines, and stay in charming bed and breakfast accommodation with garden rooms and a swimming pool.

Wine-tasting sessions, priced at 200DH, include five wines: two whites, one rosé, and two reds. Sessions run from 11–11:30am, 2:30–3pm, and 3–3:30pm. Booking via email in advance is required.

24. 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. Local traders descend on otherwise sleepy, dusty villages with piles of fruit and vegetables, woven baskets, cattle, spices, kitchen wares, and much more, creating a bustling hub of the local community.

The largest market in the region is Had Draa, held every Sunday. Animals and produce have been traded here for centuries, and it’s the place to come if you need a camel, goat, or donkey (though check your Ryanair baggage allowance first). The market also has an on-site halal abattoir and stalls selling grilled-meat kebabs.

If your visit to Essaouira doesn’t coincide with the Sunday market at Had Draa, the next best option is Ida Ougourd, held every Wednesday. Set on a hillside, the market is divided into distinct areas: an open fruit and veg market in front of the mosque, a halal abattoir down a little alleyway, and animals traded in a walled square. There’s even a donkey park, not a car park.

25. Sandboarding the Tissa Dunes

The latest adrenaline-fueled activity to be offered in Essaouira is sandboarding. Aptly named Essaouira Sandboarding is a tour company that organises a two-hour excursion twice per day from Essaouira to Tissa Dunes, which is a 30 minute drive north of the medina.

You will be provided with all the necessary kit and expert guidance on sand boarding techniques, to ensure a safe and enjoyable ride. There are gentle slopes for beginners through to challenging heights for the more adventurous. Plus, the panoramic views from the top of the sand dunes are pretty epic (once you’ve caught your breath climbing back up them).

26. Go rock pooling

One of the best free things to do in Essaouira with kids (adults are also welcome) is to go rock pooling. 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.

27. La Cite Heureuse

Located in a restored 19th century building overlooking Place Moulay Hassan, La Cite Heureuse is a small museum (free entry) dedicated to the region’s cultural and historical heritage.

The building itself is beautiful and the mosaic work along the wall at the entrance is impressive. However, the contents are 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 think it’s worthwhile popping in as the black and white photographs are interesting.

28. Take a yoga class

READ OUR GUIDE: Yoga in Essaouira

Considering the laid back, hippy reputation of Essaouira, you won’t be surprised to hear that a number of yoga studios and classes have popped up over the years. Usually taking advantage of the natural location and views, a yoga class in Essaouira very much feels on-brand. Don’t worry if you’re only in Essaouira for a few days; many of the yoga schools offer drop-in classes, ideal if you can’t commit to a long-term pass or schedule. It’s a great way to stay healthy in Essaouira during your stay.

Some accommodations, such as Riad Dar L’Qdima and Les Jardins De Mogador yoga et SPA, offer free yoga classes to guests. Otherwise, check out Swiri Yoga or Moga Yoga Studio who offer regular drop-in classes.

For those who have time for a more immersive yoga experience by way of a retreat, La Vida Surf offer four and seven day yoga retreats at Villa Dar Zitoon.

29. Attend the Gnaoua World Music Festival

READ OUR GUIDE: Gnaoua Festival 2026

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 2026 is from the 25th to 27th 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). Some of the events have an entrance fee, but there are plenty of free events and shows popping up around town and on the beach.

Ideas for Essaouira day trips

If you have more time to spend in Essaouira and are looking to venture deeper into the countryside or along along the Atlantic coastline, then check out our guide to the best day trips from Essaouira, which includes Safi, Taghazout, and even Marrakech.

Day trips from Essaouira

Essaouira can be a perfect 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

Explore Essaouira ebook

Updated for 2026, the Explore Essaouira ebook is the only travel guide you need for exploring Essaouira. This is jam-packed with inspiration on what to do, where to eat, where to stay, and also includes a step-by-step self-guided walking tour (with photos). 

BUY YOURS HERE

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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