Location: Essaouira
Top Things to do in Essaouira
What to do and see in Essaouira, Morocco: The Best Places and Tips
Portuguese, French and Berber architecture frame the maze-like streets of Essaouira, a charming and vibrant port and resort town on the Atlantic Ocean. Nearby, couples and families stroll the beaches of Cape Sim and Sidi Kaouki, which also attract surfers of all types. Relaxation is easy to find here, as is a bus to Marrakech, for those looking for a daytrip.
Restaurants in Essaouira
1. Medina of Essaouira
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Dar Zahira is a beautifully restored and charming riad for up to 6 persons. You'll get a private & cosy place for you and your travel companions.
Reviewed By Marcos G - Greater London, United Kingdom
Moroccan people are amongst the friendliest and politest people I have met. The Medina is a beautiful car free zone.
2. Essaouira Ramparts
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
These ramparts provide a glimpse into how this old seaport village was fortified against invasion.
Reviewed By Koshkha - UK
There are multiple listings for the ramparts and city walls which are quite muddled and confusing. Based on the 'pin' location, this listing is for the small Citadel by the fish market from which you can take photos 'through the round window' (the classic cheesy Essaouira shot) and visit a small length of the fortified walls and a cute little tower. This comes with a small entrance fee - 10 dirhams - and offers an excellent spot from which to get great shots of the walled city. Well worth the entrance fee alone.
This is not for the stretch of walls inside the medina.
3. Essaouira Fishing Port
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
As one of Morocco’s main fishing centers, Essaouira’s port is a major attraction.
Reviewed By Brogan J
Easily the main drawcard of Essaouira. This place smells like a toilet but is endlessly fascinating. Traditions here are older than the walls that surround them. Everything you could possibly think of living in the ocean has been hauled up and slapped on a table for sale. It's all mud, motorbikes, tall ships, and picturesque little blue fishing boats. The docks are the best place to be at sunset, especially out along the harbour wall watching the little blue boats chug back into dock for the night. Unmissable.
4. Le Souk
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 145 reviews
Reviewed By Bob H - Mississauga, Canada
If you are looking for anything to buy you find it in the souk. Locally produced vegetables, olives, spices, fruits, cereals, meats, fish, herbs and honey are readily available. Living animals like sheep, chicken, birds are for sale. Milk, eggs and meat slaughtered in the morning is readily available.
5. Essaouira Beach
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By KiwiKerry53 - Wellington, New Zealand
We wandered along the beach on our way to the Medina. We only did a day trip to Essaouira, so it was taking in as much as we could in a short time. All those beachy things apply here, 4 wheel drive/camel! Take you pick! It was quite breezy and obviously a good surf beach.
6. City Walls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 69 reviews
Reviewed By Koshkha - UK
The city walls at Essaouira are wonderful but for the last 3 years we've not been able to access them as they've been blocked off for renovations. Honestly, how long is this work going to take? It's slower than the M6 'smart motorway' roadworks.
We love to go and sit on the walls and watch the waves break on the rocks below. Each time we visit we go and check if it's open again and each time we've been disappointed.
Two more visits booked in the next 3 months - let's see if anything is going to change.
7. Galerie la Kasbah
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 48 reviews
In a beautiful restaured 18th century Riad, Galerie la Kasbah offers its visitors one of the most prestigious art show in all its aspects. Spread over an area of 4300 square feet on the ground floor, including eleven halls, each one represents more than three artists with different schools of art: Realism, Abstract, impressionism, surrealism, symbolism, and calligraphy. Not to mention the Souiri artists whose art is very special (naïve) and have very well succeeded such as Tabal, Bouslai, Atrach, Ali Maimoun, Erraad, Talbi and many others. For lovers of artisanal art (furniture, sculptures, pottery, Zelligs, the first and the second floors display wonderful pieces of art. Galerie la Kasbah has its own collection of 22 artists who passed away that dedicated their life for arts, the collection is at the disposal of experts in plastic art.
Reviewed By Keith L - London, United Kingdom
The Galerie la Kasbah is a wonderful calm oasis. Both old and new art - paintings, ceramics and other. We had several visits there during our stay in Essaouira and the staff could not have been more courteous and knowledgeable. We bought a decorated wooden chest for Delivery to UK. We had some trepidation that it would arrive undamaged but the Gallerie's packaging and posting service was exemplary. There was a delay in our wooden chest's arrival - due to Moroccan and UK customs and the Gallerie kept us informed of our package's progress.
If you are in Essaouira, Galerie la Kasbah is a MUST. There are so many beautiful artworks to see and even the most fragile or awkward shaped purchase will arrive safely to its final destination.
