10 of the Best Things to Do in Essaouira, Morocco

Located on Morocco’s West Atlantic Coast, Essaouira is a port city that has long been a one of the country’s most visited destinations. Designed by a French architect Théodore Cornut and with a rich history as a key African port, it’s very different to other Moroccan cities. Its whitewashed medina walls, bright blue shutters and beautiful coastal scenery makes it a great place for those that want a relaxing, laid-back experience with the same rich culture of other cities.

In this guide, we share 10 of the top things to do in Essaouira. From its UNESCO World Heritage Site medina to its historic city walls, labyrinth of souks and stunning beaches, you’re sure to find inspiration to plan your own visit. Essaouira blends history, art and seaside charm into a destination that’s both relaxing and full of character.

Google Map of all locations in our guide

The City Walls and Bab Marrakech Tower

We started our Essaouira adventure exploring the walls, gateways and towers that surround the old city centre. The gateway to town has neatly maintained garden areas, several cannon batteries and several gate entrances. There’s also Bab Marrakech Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a gallery at its centre. Once you’ve browsed the gallery, you can ascend to the top of the tower, where you’ll find panoramic views of town and several canon lookout spots.

Walking around the outskirts of town is a great way to get an appreciation of Essaouira’s historic fortifications before venturing into the centre.

The Essaouira Medina

Just like other Moroccan cities, Essaouira has a winding labyrinth of streets known as the medina. These narrow alleyways make up the heart of the city centre. They’re full of market stalls, shops, cafes and restaurant, plus some excellent art murals. Hanging rugs, aromatic spices and unique ceramics give it a bold, colourful appearance. Unlike, the dusty, terracotta street of Marrakech, the medina in Essaouira is bright shades of white and blue, which is perfectly fitting with its coastal location.

Spend some time exploring the medina on foot and get lost amongst the alleyways. We loved the smells, colours and traditional architecture of this area of Essaouira and appreciated how laid-back it was compared to the medina in Marrakech.

Essaouira Beaches

Next up on our itinerary is Essaouira Beach, which is a major reason why people visit. The beaches in this area are excellent for surfing, attracting kite and board surfers from around the world. Essaouira’s breezy weather and moderate temperatures make it a great beach destination year-round. The beach just outside of town is the main attraction. It has sports and recreation areas and a long stretch of sand with sun loungers.

Other top beaches to check out include Tagharte beach, or the remote, sand-dune covered beaches to the south, which we’ll talk about later in our guide.

Walk along the ramparts

We’ve already mentioned the fortified walls that surround the city. Head to the north of Essaouira and you’ll see these grand fortifications and turrets up close. Walking along the city walls, or ‘ramparts’, as they’re commonly known, is one of the top things to do in Essaouira. The walls have various lookout points, cannon batteries and towers to peer out from.

They’re also a great place to shop. During the day, the streets beneath the walls are full of market vendors selling everything from gifts and homeware, to intricate, handmade rugs. Walking along the Essaouira ramparts is a completely free activity.

Discover the local food scene

We can’t go any further in our guide without mentioning Essaouira’s food scene. Morocco is famous for its cuisine and the restaurants on offer in Essaouira are excellent. Sure, you’ll find eateries around the main square that cater mainly to tourists. However, head deep into the medina and you’ll uncover lesser-known spots to enjoy a tagine or cous cous dish.

Being near the sea, some of the top dishes to try in Essaouira are seafood. The fresh fish on offer is affordable and delicious! Trying the local food is one of the best things to do in Essaouira at any time of the day.

Explore the Essaouira sand dunes on a quad bike, camel or horseback

The beaches to the south of Essaouira city centre are remote, vast and covered in rolling hills of sand dunes. You can walk to the Ord Omar sand dunes and beach from town. However, considering how large this place is, it’s far more enjoyable to join a guided tour.

Choose a horse riding, camel riding or quad bike tour and have fun exploring the dunes and beach over a couple of hours. We booked a 1-hour quad bike tour with Sabiza Quad and had a great time zooming up and down the dunes. We passed over beaches, through forests and over towering dunes. It was a highlight of our trip to Essaouira!

Place Moulay Hassan – square

We’re now heading back into town to Place Moulay Hassan, Essaouira’s main square. This bustling square is a gathering point for locals and tourists, featuring a selection of cafes and restaurants and easy access to some of the city’s historic towers and fortifications. Visit Place Moulay Hassan during the day to grab a drink and people-watch.

Return later in the evening for live music, DJ’s and a variety of other live performers. The atmosphere is upbeat and welcoming.

Watch the sunset

Place Moulay Hassan is also a great place to watch sunset. Essaouira’s location on the west coast of Morocco puts it in a great position for stunning sunset views. It’s known to have some of the best in Morocco!

Arrive half an hour or so before sunset, grab a drink and a snack and watch as the horizon is lit up in vibrant shades of orange and pink.

Skala du Port

We’ve already listed Essaouira’s ramparts as one of the top things to see in Essaouira. Skala du Port is part of the wall, but it’s worth mentioning in its own right. This bastion fort was built by Sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah in the 1760s. It has quickly become one of the most iconic sites of the city, featuring on postcards, social media posts and as a filming location in the Game of Thrones TV series.

Take time to appreciate the fine architecture of Skala du Port and soak in the coastal surroundings. Fishing boats, hovering seagulls and crashing waves make this site a great spot for photos.

Essaouira fish market

The fish market is located right next to Skala du Port. It’s one of the best places to visit in Essaouira to see the main local industry, fishing, which has given locals a source of income for hundreds of years. Rows of vibrant blue boats line the harbour, there’s a strong smell of fish in the air and vendors are selling their fresh catches to local restaurants. The sounds, smells and hustle and bustle of the fish market make it a must-see whilst exploring the harbour area of the city.

Le Souk Shopping

Another one of the top things to do in Essaouira is to browse its endless collection of markets, also known as souks. Market stalls can be found spread throughout the medina, selling everything from handmade rugs and leather products, to ceramics, clothing and food items. We found the shopping in Essaouira to be very good, particularly for ceramics. Prices are very reasonable and just like any other souk, you can bargain for the right price.

Essaouira has one main souk near Grain Market Square, which a hub for groceries such as fish, meat and bread. The adjacent streets and city walls are the best places to buy fabrics and homeware. Wandering the many souks of Essaouira was one of our favourite things to do during our time here.

Check out the Essaouira art scene

Alongside the souks and affordable market stalls, you’ll find some excellent art galleries and museums. Essaouira has a thriving art scene that dates back to the 1980s. It has long been a haven for aspiring artists, attracting local and international painters, sculptors and architects. You can wander around many of the city’s galleries for free. You can also buy artwork and have it shipped back home.

Some of the top galleries to check out include:

• Kasbah Gallery: Located in a beautiful, 18^th-century riad, this large gallery has an abundance of paintings, sculptures and drawings from over 100 local and international artists. Rooms are split by theme and artist.
• Le Real Mogador: One of Essaouira’s most iconic galleries, showcasing work from dozens of local artists. The building this gallery is hosted in is an attraction in itself. Opening hours for this gallery are limited so be sure to check up-to-date hours on Google before visiting.
• Espace Othello: Espace Othello houses works from countless aspiring artists, many of whom have been inspired by the colours, architecture and culture of Essaouira. Artwork here is unique and eclectic.

Stay in a Riad

Our last recommendation for Essaouira is to stay in riad accommodation. Riads are traditional Moroccan houses built around an interior courtyard that has been converted into a guesthouse. Many of the riads in Essaouira have been decorated with the vibrant blue and white façade of the rest of the city, and most are well-located for sightseeing.

We stayed in the top-rated Riad l’Ayel d’Essaouira. It was a very comfortable stay and we enjoyed our best breakfast in Morocco here. Rooms are compact, but the traditional, colourful design make a stay here an experience. It’s not just a place to sleep.

Thanks for reading our guide on the top things to do in Essaouira, Morocco. It’s a unique place to visit in Morocco, suiting those that want a quieter place to stay, with some excellent coastal activities. Essaouira has the same rich culture of other Moroccan towns, paired with a relaxing, less-hectic atmosphere.

If you have any questions about the recommendations in our guide, be sure to leave us a comment.