Essaouira
Ramparts, trade winds and grilled sardines on the quay — the most laid-back city on the Atlantic coast.
Essaouira trades the intensity of Marrakech for salt air and a slower pulse, and most guests feel the difference within an hour of arriving. The blue-and-white medina, a UNESCO site, sits inside 18th-century ramparts — Orson Welles filmed part of Othello on the walls, and the fishing port below still runs on its own unhurried schedule.
The wind that keeps the city cool also makes it one of the best windsurfing and kitesurfing spots in North Africa, and the seafood grills along the port wall are as good as anywhere in the country. I usually pair it with Marrakech as the coastal half of a two-centre trip.
Sail & seafood in Essaouira
Blue boats, wind-battered ramparts and sardines straight off the grill.
The ramparts & medina
18th-century sea walls and a blue-and-white medina, easily walked in half a day.
Port-side seafood grills
The day's catch, grilled to order right on the harbour wall — the best lunch in the city.
Windsurfing & kitesurfing
Reliable Atlantic trade winds make this one of North Africa's best wind-sports spots.
Steady winds for water sports and comfortable walking temperatures in the medina.
The same easy coastal balance as spring, with fewer visitors.
Busier with domestic tourism, but the sea breeze keeps it cooler than inland cities.
Can be genuinely windy and cool — bring a proper jacket even by Moroccan coastal standards.
Essaouira as the coastal half of a two-centre trip
Essaouira pairs naturally with Marrakech, a half-day's drive apart, giving guests both the mountains-and-medina energy of the city and a slower coastal finish.
Mustapha's usual choice for the coastal half of a two-centre Marrakech itinerary.
Ready to explore Essaouira?
Tell Mustapha your dates and he will build Essaouira into a journey that is yours alone.