Famous for its budding music scene, strong winds and fishing port, Essaouira is an old port city on Morocco’s Atlantic Coast. Sitting three hours to the west of Marrakech, Essaouira offers visitors a quaint and quiet charm.

Things to do

Essaouira is packed with history and brimming with culture, and the first stop on any trip here should be to the old town, locally known as the medina. The old town is still partially protected by ramparts, which is an old 18th-century fortress wall. Wander around the walls to experience Essaouira of yesteryear.

Head down to the port early to watch the iconic blue boats bobbing in the harbour as the local fishermen haul in the catch of the day. Afterwards, a visit to the souk is an absolute must. This traditional market area is packed with colour and flavours as local’s hustle and bustle their way to the best bargains.

Essaouira is famous for its music scene with plenty of places to enjoy the Moroccan vibes. For an authentic experience, head to II Mare restaurant for sunset to enjoy sundowners as a live piano plays in the background.

Known as the “windy city of Africa”, Essaouira attracts water sports fanatics due to its year round winds, where kitesurfing and windsurfing are hugely popular activities. If you’d rather stay a little closer to the ground, you can also enjoy an exhilarating horse ride across the beach.

Getting around

Essaouira airport sits just 20-minutes south of the city, while Marrakech International airport is three hours to the west. Once in the city the medina is entirely walkable, but taxis also run regularly with taxi stands located outside the medina walls.