One of the biggest reasons to visit Essaouira, Morocco is that it’s a different kind of Moroccan town. 

After the frenetic hustle and bustle of cities like Fez and Marrakesh, Essaouira is a place to take things more slowly — a restoring oasis on a Moroccan journey.

Coastal towns can be hard to resist and Essaouira fits the bill.  In just a two to three-hour drive from Marrakesh, you can be relaxing on the Essaouira beach enjoying the mild sea breezes.

The name means “little ramparts”, so called for the honey-coloured fortifications that surround the white-washed city. Walking along its sea walls is one of the best things to do in Essaouira.

It also has its own brand of cool.  It was recently used as one of the locations for the popular Game of Thrones. Jimmy Hendrix, Cat Stevens and Mick Jagger are said to have visited regularly in the 1960s.  It’s an ongoing debate as to whether they were attracted to the place because of the cool atmosphere or whether they helped to create it.  Either way, Essourira is easy to visit, but no less authentic, than other cities in this country.

Here are the reasons to visit Essaouira, Morocco as part of your trip to the country.

Enjoy the relaxed vibe in Essaouira

Maybe it’s the ocean or the not-too-hot sunshine, but the pace of life is more relaxed in Essaouira. 

It’s a place to take the time to soak in the sun and the culture.

Essaouira Medina

The medina, or historic part of town, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  It’s easy to get the lay of the land here because the streets are laid out geometrically.

There are two sides to the markets.  One is where most of the tourists go and it’s filled with brightly coloured carpets (one of the key things to buy in Essaouira), crafts, leatherware and food. Vendors will likely try to start conversations with you, but you won’t feel hassled. 

The other side of the market (shown above) is where the locals go shopping in Essaouira.  Here, you’ll find spices, pastries, mint tea and raw meats (including goats’ heads) displayed in the sun.  It’s a little less colourful, but no less fascinating.

Fresh Seafood in Essouira Restaurants

As a sea port, it’s no surprise that there’s plenty of fresh sea food available at restaurants in Essaouira. 

Every morning, local fishermen and women head out in small blue boats and then sell their daily catch at the docks.  It doesn’t get fresher than that.  You can get it grilled at small stands nearby. 

During my visit, our guide bought several kinds of fish and shrimp, and we had a delicious and messy luncheon feast at a local grill shop.

Elegant Riads

If you’re wondering where to stay in Essaouira, picture yourself in an elegant riad by the sea.  Riads are usually traditional homes built around open-air courtyards to let the ocean breezes through.  There are plenty of them to choose from in Essaouira.  As part of the G Adventures tour, we stayed at Palais des Remparts, which also had a lovely blue terrace overlooking the ocean.

Check pricing and reviews at the Palais des Remparts in Essaouira

Friendly People

The relaxed and friendly atmosphere in the city is also reflected in its people.  I was a little on guard one afternoon when I was walking on my own along the rocky seashore and a group of men approached me.  I needn’t have worried.  They only wanted to tell me the best way to navigate the shoreline.

Friendly Cats in Essaouira

This is cat lady heaven, so you can imagine that I was thrilled.  You’ll encounter cats everywhere you go in this town.  Given the abundance of fish in this seaport, most of them looked healthy and well-fed and were interested in hanging out with humans.

Essaouira Beach

A long, windswept beach in Essaouira dominates the centre of the city. 

Given the strong winds and currents, it’s mostly a beach for wading, walking and windsurfing.   And camel rides.  You’ll find them, along with some Arabian horses, at the far end of the beach. 

The Sunsets

During my visit, the mists in the air from the ocean created magical sunsets which changed from orange to magenta after the sun went down. creating moments of relaxing bliss in the seaside town of Essaouira.

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