Ramparts and Skala du Port
45 minEveryone
The two bastions of Essaouira: the Skala de la Ville, free and with cannons facing the sea, and the Skala du Port, 60 DH, with views of Mogador.
Access3 h from Marrakesh
Best timeApr · May · Sep · Oct
Minimum time1 night
WindStrong in summer
What to do
What to do in Essaouira
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Fishing Port
1 hEveryone
A working fishing port next to the medina: blue boats, an open-air sardine auction in the morning and free entry.
Essaouira Medina
2 hEveryone, with pushchairs on the main streets
An 18th-century medina of straight, flat streets, a World Heritage site since 2001: you stroll free and without a guide in about 2 hours.
Plan the trip
Essaouira, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Essaouira
Almost all year, because the ocean keeps it mild: in summer it hovers around 25 °C when Marrakesh exceeds 38. The trade wind blows strongly from June to August, good for kitesurfing and bad for your towel.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Who you're with
Essaouira for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
The quietest city of the trip
After Marrakesh, Essaouira is a rest for everyone: a flat medina, less noise, less hassle and a beach. Children can walk without anyone tugging at them.
- What works bestThe port in the morning…
- Where to sleepVilla Maroc, with family rooms…
- Where to eatChargrilled fish at the harbour…
- Keep in mindA pushchair works on the…
What works best
- The port in the morning, with the boats and the gulls
- The ramparts and the Skala, with cannons you can touch
- The beach, for running about and watching the kitesurfers
Where to sleep
- Villa Maroc, with family rooms in the medina
- A riad with a sea-view terrace in the northern part
Where to eat
- Chargrilled fish at the harbour stalls
- Terraces on Place Moulay Hassan
Keep in mind
- A pushchair works on the main streets, not the side ones
- The wind lifts sand on the beach: sunglasses for the little ones
- The water is cold all year: a short, supervised swim
What to do as a family
Where to stay
Where to stay in Essaouira
Heure Bleue Palais
Why we like it: A 19th-century riad with 35 rooms and a rooftop pool, five minutes from the beach and the medina.
Villa Maroc
Why we like it: Several old houses joined together next to the wall, a few minutes from the beach. One of the first hotels with character in the city.
Small hotel
Riad Mimouna
Why we like it: A large riad on the northern edge of the medina, with a terrace overlooking the Atlantic.
Where to eat
Where to eat in Essaouira
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Taros
What to order: a drink on the rooftop at sunset; the cooking is Moroccan and Mediterranean fusion.
Two rooftop terraces above the square and the port · live music Thursday to Sunday · book for sunset
Takeaway and markets
Harbour Fish Stalls, Port entrance
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Eat fish at the harbour
You choose the fish at the stalls and they grill it for you. Ask the price per kilo before they put it on the fire.
- 2Bring a jacket
Even when it is sunny, the sea wind gets very cool in the afternoon.
- 3Go up on the ramparts at sunset
The Skala de la Ville faces west: the sun sets over the ocean and the islands.
What is Essaouira?
The old Mogador: an 18th-century port city laid out with straight streets inside walls, a World Heritage site since 2001. You tour it on foot in a morning and stay for the rhythm: chargrilled fish, art galleries, cats and seagulls. Two nights is just right; one, if you are in a hurry.
How to get there from Marrakesh
It is about 190 km and around three hours by road. Supratours and CTM have buses several times a day from Marrakesh, and it is the most comfortable way: the medina has no cars and parking outside is easy. From Spain, Vueling flies direct from Barcelona to Essaouira; from other cities, fly to Marrakesh and continue by bus.
You need a passport valid for more than six months (checked in November 2026).
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim in Essaouira?
Yes, but the water is cold and the wind strong for most of the summer. The beach is more for walking, surfing and kitesurfing than for lying down.
How many days do you need?
Two nights for the medina, the harbour and the beach without hurry. You can do it in a day from Marrakesh, but it is six hours on the road.
Is it good with children?
It is one of the quietest cities in Morocco: a flat medina, less hassle in the street and a beach. What tires is the wind.
Do you have to haggle?
In the souks and shops of the medina, yes, as in the rest of the country. At the harbour fish stalls, agree the price beforehand.