The Ultimate Guide to Essaouira, Morocco
The Best Backpacker’s Guide to Essaouira, Morocco
How to get to Essaouira, Morocco
Essaouira is the perfect seaside destination for any Morocco itinerary. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to get there from most major cities in Morocco. Located about 2.5 hours West of Marrakech, Essaouira is an easy stop on a visit to the country’s south, or as an overnight trip from Marrakech.
By Bus
Morocco has a great public transport system between cities. You can catch a bus to Essaouira from cities like Marrakech, Casablanca, and Agadir for a very reasonable rate.
By Car
Another way you can travel to Essaouira is by renting a car. There are plenty of car rentals in Morocco’s major cities, and Essaouira is not too far of a drive from Marrakech, Casablanca, or Agadir.
By Shared Taxi
In Morocco, there are 2 types of Taxis. The larger, white Taxis (Taxi Kabirs) can take you in between cities and can be split between up to 6 people. If you find yourself in somewhere nearby like Agadir, Marrakech, or Taghazout, catching a shared Taxi might be your best bet to Essaouira.
So how long should you spend in Essaouira?
Essaouira is a relatively small and navigable city, and I’d recommend staying for at least 2 full days. Of course, there’s a strong chance you might fall in love with the place and end up staying for a week or two (like I did!). There’s definitely a lot to do and see in the city, as well as in the nearby area. Of course, Essaouira is also known as a relaxation destination, so it’s also a great place to just chill!
Where to stay in Essaouira on a budget
Luckily for us budget travelers, Essaouira is home to plenty of amazing and affordable places to stay. You can chose to stay in the old medina center, or in the newer part of town if you prefer to be closer to the beach. Essaouira is a really walkable city, so whichever you choose, you should be able to see all of the sites during your stay.
I always use Hostelworld and Booking.Com to search for the best accommodation for my budget. If you’re a hostel person, I recommend the Chill Art Hostel located in the medina center. It’s set in a traditional Riad (classic Moroccan guesthouse), so it’s got that intricate Moroccan design that everyone loves with an added mix of bohemian flare.
If you’re traveling in a group, I’d also recommend searching Airbnb for places in Essaouira. You can find some amazing and affordable properties complete with surfboard rentals and swimming pools for your stay. Generally, the cost of living in Morocco is significantly lower than many destinations in Europe, so you should be able to find great accommodation at a remarkably affordable price. Being boujee doesn’t have to break the bank!
12 Amazing things to do and see in Essaouira
Explore the Ancient Medina
Essaouira’s famed blue-accented medina (or ancient city center) is much calmer than the ones you’d experience in Marrakech or Fez. In my opinion, it makes exploring the medina so much easier and not as overwhelming. You can meander and take your time walking through the ancient streets to get a feel for the charming and laid-back city.
Treasure Hunt at the Souks
It’s probably no surprise that this Essaouira has a great selection of souks–or Moroccan markets. What’s so special about Essaouira in particular is that many of the artisans come to Essaouira from all over the country to sell their crafts. You can find cool unique clothing, jewelry, musical instruments, decor and so much more.
Taste Your Way Around Town
In terms of food, Essaouira is known for its wonderful selection of fish and seafood. You can delight your senses with a wide variety of Moroccan staples like fish tagine, pastilla, couscous and more. There are plenty of hole-in-the wall dining places all throughout Essaouira’s old medina that have amazing traditional dishes for cheap. For a solid Moroccan place with all of the Essaouiran specials, I’d recommend Restaurant Café des Arts.
If you’re looking for some Moroccan sweets, I cannot recommend Patiserrie Driss enough! They’ve got an amazing selection of classic Moroccan pastries, full breakfast menus, and regional favorites.
Venture to the Ramparts
Essaouira was founded as a port city. Historically, its position as a center of trade along Africa’s Atlantic coast made Essaouira an incredibly cosmopolitan city in the region. The historic ramparts are a glimpse into the seaside fortress’s past, and you can catch some amazing views of the ocean.
Ride a Horse or Camel at the Beach
That’s right. A camel ride. At the beach! While it might be a bit of a shocking sight, Essauoira’s main beach hosts many Moroccans selling horse and camel rides along the coast. They’re usually under 100 dirhams (around $11 USD), and are a great way to take in the beach.
If you’re planning on riding a horse or camel in Essaouira, I’d definitely recommend riding around sunset. The views are absolutely unbelievable!
Try your hand at Kite-Surfing
Essaouira is world-renowned for it’s perfect conditions for kite-surfing. And don’t worry, you don’t have to be an expert to hit the waves. There are plenty of kite-surfing instructors located throughout Essaouira that focus on training beginners. While you can book sessions through Trip Advisor, you can also ask around while you’re in Essaouira to find and connect with instructors locally. Many hostels and guest houses have connections with instructors, and you can sometimes get a better deal this way!
Hit the Surf
You can also rent a surfboard or book a surf instructor to try your hand at Essaouira’s surfbreak. While Essaouira might not be as hyped in the surf community as neighboring Imsouane or Taghazout, it can definitely have some great surf conditions (pending the wind, of course). Many youth hostels offer board rentals, or you could check out some rental places right by the beach.
Get in touch with Gnawa music
There’s a reason that music icons such as Bob Marley and the Rolling Stones have all flocked to Essaouira’s bohemian coast. Essaouira is a world-renowned hub for music, especially traditional Moroccan Gnawa music.
As you may encounter during your visit to Essaouira, Gnawa music isn’t just simply “music”. Rather, it’s considered a spiritual experience for many Gnawa enthusiasts that comes with its own rituals and ceremonies. Essaouira’s medina is the beating heart of Gnawa music and is the perfect place to get acquainted with the culture.
All throughout the medina of Essaouira you can visit little gnawa instrument shops and get a taste for the music’s heart and flare. If you’re lucky, you might even stumble on a performance or two!
Attend a World-Renowned Gnawa Music Festival
Pending the status of large-scale gatherings in the coming months, the International Gnawa Music Festival held annually in Essaouira is the ideal destination for music enthusiasts.
The Music Festival hosts acts from all over the globe and the energy that these Gnawa performers bring to the city is truly unmatched. Hundreds of thousands of Moroccans and visitors alike flock to the city for this incredible festival every year, and its definitely an unforgettable experience.
Taste some Moroccan Wine
While it might seem counter-intuitive for a Muslim country where alcohol is *technically* illegal, Morocco has a flourishing wine-scene! Even cooler, Morocco’s got its own special blend of wine. The not-so-famous Moroccan Grey Wine is a must try for any curious traveler to the country. Luckily, bottles of Moroccan Grey are very affordable and easy to find in many convenience stores throughout the city.
If you’d like to sip your wine in a fancier setting, you’re in luck! There are plenty of restaurants throughout Essaouira that serve Moroccan Grey. I’d recommend La Coupoule or many of the seaside cafés along the beachfront.
Visit a Moroccan Vineyard
If you have a little extra time/cash to spend during your time in Essaouira, you should definitely rent a car to visit some of Morocco’s nearby vineyards. The Val D’Argan winery is a gorgeous restaurant and vineyard situated right outside of the city. Here you can sample some of their home-grown blends and pair it off with a delicious lunch.
Meet the Infamous Tree Goats
No, your eyes don’t deceive you. Those are goats. In a tree. An Argan tree, to be exact. Why, you might ask? Apparently they just like to munch on the fruit!
You can see these head-turning goats just outside of Essaouira. If you’re headed to a nearby Imsuoane or Taghazout, keep an eye out!
Visit an Argan Oil Cooperative
The south of Morocco is known for its Argan Oil production. This is the world-famous magic elixer that people put into soaps, hair products, lotions, and more. Argan oil is only found in this region of Morocco, so its a particularly special treat to see first-hand how it’s made! While some shops in the medina have little oil-extraction demonstrations for guests, you can also venture outside of the city via white taxi or car and see the Argan trees yourself.
