Essaouira

Essaouira (Overview)

Essaouira, the ancient Mogador is the “Bride of the Atlantic”. It is one of those coastal cities where the distinct atmosphere and water activities coexist harmoniously. Walk quietly in the shade of its ramparts, which define the contours of Astapor, the red city from the “Game of Thrones” series.

It is a jewel that sits at an altitude of 120 meters above sea level. In addition to its beaches and cliffs, it offers an exceptional view of the Atlantic Ocean and its famous azure waters.

The old medina consists of narrow streets between walls that are decorated with Moorish-style balconies. The architecture is characterized by geometric patterns decorations and colored tiles that resemble mosaics.

About Essaouira

In the heart of Essaouira, you will find a small street called Rue Ahmed Tijani.

If you walk down this street and look up you will see a beautiful mosque that looks out over the ocean. The mosque is named after the founder of the city, who was a Sufi saint and visionary. He was also known as Sidi Ahmed Tijani.

The mosque has been restored several times over the years and it is still in use today. The walls are covered with geometric patterns that are painted in reds and yellows around the doors and windows. These patterns were originally made from clay by local artists but they have been replaced by more modern designs made from paint on plaster walls inside.

All You Need To Know About Essaouira Before Traveling To Morocco - Quick Morocco

Destination Highlights

Climb these walls and take the parapet walk to see the Purpuraires Islands, as well as falcons, gulls, and seagulls hovering above this nature reserve. Surfers, windsurfers, and kitesurfers, on the other hand, are taming the waves by taking advantage of the wind.

A short walk will take you to the fishing port, where the sailors are at work. Get to the fish market and taste the night’s catch of fish and seafood. The medina, located in the heart of the city, invites you on a discovery journey through its winding alleys. Every summer, the city hums to the beat of the music, as UNESCO ranks it as one of the most beautiful cities in the World. The Gnaoua festival celebrates Afro-Maghrebin rhythms, making people’s stays memorable.

Morocco has been promoting responsible tourism for several years; the eco-resort Mogador, which is a must-see for peaceful moments, as well as the Blue Flag beaches in the surrounding area, are living proofs of this goal.

Make the most of your stay in this Moroccan windy city!

It's Location On Map

As you look out over the Atlantic Ocean from the cliffs of Essaouira, you’ll see its azure waters, clear as glass. You’ll feel like you’re staring into a pool of water that has been frozen in time—the way it was when you first saw it.

It’s no wonder that this jewel lies at an altitude of 120 meters above sea level. It’s also no wonder that it offers such an exceptional view of both the Atlantic Ocean and its famous azure waters.

Best Time To Visit

Essaouira is a year-round destination, so if you’re planning a trip don’t worry about seasonality as it’s ready to welcome each and everyone of its visitors all year around!

The climate of the city is mild and dry. It receives an average rainfall of about 300mm per year and has a mean temperature of 26.4 degrees Celsius. The city’s average annual humidity is 88%

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FAQs

It's is a city that deserves to be discovered. It has a lot of enjoyable things, so you'll want to stay for at least a night or two. Or maybe  weeks since you will fall in love with the place!

The seaside wind is a regular companion. It will immediately appeal to those who enjoy windsurfing. After all, the city is renowned as "Africa's Wind City." It seems to reason that kite-surfing and ordinary surfing are popular here as well.

Agadir has a significantly larger population than Essaouira, so if you want a more intimate atmosphere, Essaouira may be a better choice. However, if you want a lot of things to do and the rush of a large metropolis, Agadir is a better option.

Beautiful, broad, clean beach with surfing, horse and camel riding, wind surfing, wave boarding, quad biking, and much more... FANTASTIC bay with smooth sands and clean water, even if it is a little chilly - well, it is the Atlantic after all.

The ancient city (medina), a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001, is a renowned tourist attraction known for its many riads (a type of bed-and-breakfast). Essaouira is famous for its artisan industries, particularly inlaid woodwork. It has road connections to Safi, Marrakech, and Agadir.

People do sunbathe and swim. However, because it is a windy beach, it is quite popular with windsurfers and other watersport lovers, and lying in the sun would necessitate a windbreak.

I'd recommend staying in this town for 1-3 days, depending on what you want to accomplish. A whole day and night is enough if you only intend to stay inside the medina and see the coastline fortifications. If you want to go down to Agadir, you'll need an extra day or two.

The city has 320 days of sunlight on average each year, but it appears that due to its coastal position, the majority of those days are accompanied by significant winds, which contributes to its reputation for windsurfing, kite-surfing, and watersports.

Without a car, the easiest way to go from Marrakesh to Essaouira is via bus, which takes 3 hours and costs MAD 75 - MAD 120. 

The bus from Marrakesh to Essaouira takes 3 hours, including transfers, and operates five times a day every day.

Travelers from Marrakech to this seaside town have many transport options for the 118-mile (191-kilometer) journey, which can take anywhere between 2-4 hours. Because there are no trains or planes to Essaouira, you must count on a private driver, a shared shuttle, or a rental car.

A private taxi from Marrakech to Essaouira (or the other way around) will cost you between $130 and €150 for up to four people. If you are not going in a group of four, it is usually best to take a taxi to the bus station and then take a bus to Essaouira/Marrakech from there.

This amazing city has a beautiful beach with nice water and good sand. If you enjoy water activities, the area is recognized for having good winds, so you may go surfing, windsurfing, or kitesurfing. The town is windy, but it's a nice break from the busy Marrakech.

Learn to surf in this destination and say goodbye to these worries, knowing that it is one of the world's safest surf spots. Because it is a beach break, if you do fall, you will land in water and sand. There is no threat of sharks or other harmful marine life that would make you cautious to enter the water.

The city's Bay is an excellent surf place for beginners and calm surfers, with lots of wave, kite, and windsurfers. The Mogador Islands filter the swell and allow fantastic waves to reach it's bay for ideal surfing conditions, especially from September to April.

EasyJet is currently the only airline that flies straight from the UK to Essaouira. If you don't mind a stopover, Royal Air Maroc, Ryanair, and Transavia all fly to this destination from a variety of French airports.

When flying from London to Essaouira, most passengers depart from Heathrow, Gatwick, London Stansted, Luton, or London City. Ryanair, Transavia, Wizz Air, Vueling, and Turkish Airways are the most popular airlines on this route. There are 52 weekly direct flights between London and This little windy town.

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