5 Best Things to Do in Essaouira, Morocco
Are you looking for the best things to do in Essaouira, Morocco? Essaouira is a popular day trip destination where you can enjoy the enchanting atmosphere, but for the best experience, spend at least 2-3 days there.
Wondering what to do in Essaouira? Stroll around the Medina, shop in the charming markets, enjoy water sports, visit the fish market, and explore the Game of Thrones filming locations.
This ultimate guide to visiting Essaouira includes how to get there, where to stay, and the best things to do in Essaouira.
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- 5 Best Things to Do in Essaouira, Morocco
- Where is Essaouira?
- Best Time to Visit Essaouira
- How to Get to Essaouira, Morocco
- Where to Stay in Essaouira
- Best things to do in Essaouira
- 1. Visit Marjana Argan Oil Cooperative
- 2. Walk Along the Ramparts (Game of Thrones Location)
- 3. See the Fish Market
- 4. Getting lost in the Medina
- 5. Enjoy your Stay
- Is it Safe to Travel to Essaouira?
- How many Days do you Need in Essaouira?
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Where is Essaouira?
Essaouira is a coastal city located on the western Atlantic coast of Morocco. It is approximately a 2.5-3 hours drive from Marrakech, 3 hours from Agadir, and 4.5 hours from Casablanca.
Best Time to Visit Essaouira
Morocco is a popular destination all year round! The most visited months are from May to September. But the best time to visit Essaouira is from September to October.
Essaouira is known as Morocco’s windy city, but it’s well worth a visit. The windy weather and sandy beaches attract water sports enthusiasts from all over the world. The average annual temperature is 19°C. When we visited in March, the weather was quite cool and windy, so bring a light jacket and jeans!
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In high season, we strongly recommend booking accommodation and tours in advance!
Recommended post → Ultimate Morocco Itinerary
How to Get to Essaouira, Morocco
You can easily get to Essaouira by bus, taxi, rental car, plane, or private transfer. Most people come to Essaouira from Marrakech. The distance between the two cities is about 180 km, which is 2.5-3.5 hours, depending on traffic and mode of transport.
We have a detailed post on how to get from Marrakech to Essaouira with all the information you need.
The coastal city does not have its own railway station.
Essaouira Mogador Airport (airport code ESU) is the nearest airport, just 17 km from the city, serving domestic and international flights.
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Use Skyscanner to get cheap flights.
Where to Stay in Essaouira
The coastal city has some luxury hotels, but accommodation options are available for all budgets. These are our recommendations.
Best hotels in Marrakech
- Luxury: Four Seasons Resort Marrakech
- Mid-Range: Sakkan or Riad Ksar Fawz & Spa
- Budget: Riad Paradis Blanc
Recommended post → Best Riads in Marrakech
Best hotels in Essaouira
- Luxury: Hotel Le Médina Essaouira
- Mid-Range: Riad Kafila or Riad Marosko
- Budget: Hôtel Mechouar Plaza
Best things to do in Essaouira
1. Visit Marjana Argan Oil Cooperative
Marjana Argan Oil Cooperative is just a 20-minute drive from Essaouira. This is a women’s cooperative where you can see how argan oil is extracted and even how Moroccan Nutella is made. Argan oil is obtained by pressing the kernels of the fruit of the argan tree, which is native to the southwest of Morocco.
The prices are a bit overpriced. However, this is a fantastic opportunity if you want to buy 100% pure organic argan oil products. We recommend asking for a discount if you buy several products. The cooperative is free to visit, and most group tours stop here.
Tree-climbing Goats in Morocco’s Argan Forest
You’ve probably seen pictures of goats climbing trees, which was a “great tourist attraction” near Essaouira. But the sad truth is that it was all fake, and the animals were manipulated and exploited. Nowadays, the authorities punish the local people for putting goats on trees, so fortunately, you don’t see goats on trees anymore.
2. Walk Along the Ramparts (Game of Thrones Location)
One of the best things to do in Essaouira is to walk along the ramparts and enjoy the stunning scenery. This location will be familiar to Game of Thrones fans. The massive stone walls were built around the Medina in the 18th century to protect the city from attack.
After you have spent enough time here, visit the craft markets where you can buy ceramics, rugs, blankets, soaps, and spices.
There’s no entrance fee, so for the best experience, we recommend arriving before sunset and enjoying the magical view. Unfortunately, it was a rainy day when we visited.
See also → What to Do in Marrakech
3. See the Fish Market
In the fishing port near the Old Fort, fishermen offer their fresh-caught fish and seafood. You can try the delicious oysters, sardines, shrimp, crab, octopus, mussels and snails.
Although the port is smelly and crowded, it is one of the most vibrant parts of the city, so we recommend you spend at least 1 hour strolling around.
Good to know
You can even buy fish directly from the fishermen and take it to a local restaurant to be cooked.
Best restaurants in Essaouira
- Triskala (Delicious food, vegetarian options)
- Restaurant la clé de voûte (Tasty local and fish dishes)
- Le Corail Vegan Food (Vegan restaurant)
- The Loft (The best grilled octopus)
- The Hungry Nomad Rooftop (Delicious food with a nice view)
- Mandala Society (Vegan and vegetarian dishes)
- Taros (Popular rooftop terrace)
Join a Moroccan cooking class.
4. Getting lost in the Medina
The Medina of Essaouira was formerly called Mogador. The Old Medina was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
Cars and mopeds are not allowed. So you can enjoy a pleasant stroll through the charming narrow streets. Discover the hidden gems, shop the markets, and try traditional Moroccan or fish dishes.
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You can shop much cheaper in Essaouira than in Marrakech.
5. Enjoy your Stay
Looking for more top things to do in Essaouira? The Essaouira Beach is perfect for kitesurfing and surfing. If you want to go kitesurfing, we recommend visiting in July or August, as these are the windiest months. In addition, you can also try quad biking, horse riding, or camel riding.
Our favorite place was Moulay Hassan Square, which was very cozy, with plenty of cafes, restaurants, and street musicians.
Is it Safe to Travel to Essaouira?
Yes, it is generally safe. But small thefts and pickpockets can happen everywhere. So always take care of your valuables!
Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! We always choose SafetyWing for our travels.
How many Days do you Need in Essaouira?
Most people only take a day trip to the coastal city. But we recommend you spend 2-3 days and enjoy the best things to do in Essaouira, then travel to Agadir or Casablanca.
We hope our list of the best things to do in Essaouira will help you plan your next trip to Morocco. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM: – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
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