Best Things to Do in Essaouira: Medina, Seafood, Kitesurf & Sunset

Best Things to Do in Essaouira: Medina, Seafood & Kitesurf

Essaouira, the "Wind City of Africa," is what happens when Marrakech decides to take a deep breath. The pace is slower here. The air is salty, the medina is white and blue instead of ochre and red, and the constant Atlantic breeze keeps everything cool even when the inland cities are cooking.

This is not a checklist city. Most people come here for two or three days and end up extending by one. The rhythm is: morning walk along the Skala, lunch at the port grills, afternoon kitesurfing or a nap, and sunset with a glass of mint tea on a rooftop. Everything else fits around that.

Here is the honest guide to what to do in Essaouira, how to do it right, and what you can skip.

Best for

Essaouira is best for travellers who want culture without the intensity of larger Moroccan cities. It works especially well for:

• Solo travellers (including women) — small, walkable medina, visible police presence, and a relaxed atmosphere make it one of Morocco's safest solo destinations
• Couples — romantic sunsets, seafood dinners, and boutique riads create a natural weekend escape
• Kitesurfers and windsurfers — world-class conditions from April to November, with Sidi Kaouki beach just 25km away
• Food lovers — the port seafood grills are among the best eating experiences in Morocco
• Day-trippers from Marrakech — close enough for a long day trip but rewarding enough for an overnight stay

Less ideal for: nightlife seekers, those wanting desert or mountain adventure, or travellers on tight budgets who can't handle the constant wind.

Walk the Skala de la Ville Ramparts

The Skala de la Ville is the 18th-century Portuguese fortification wall that runs along the northern edge of the medina, overlooking the Atlantic. It has brass cannons still lined up along the parapets, pointed at an ocean that no longer threatens anyone. The view is the best in the city.

Entry costs 70 MAD. The walkable section is about 300 meters of wall with two towers. From the top you can see the entire medina from above, the port to the east, the fishing boats bobbing at anchor, and the endless stretch of coast south toward the beach.

Go in the morning (8:30-10am) when the light is golden and the tour groups have not arrived. The ramparts get crowded by 11am when the bus tours start arriving.

Explore the Medina (Without Getting Lost)

Essaouira's medina is smaller and far less intimidating than Marrakech's. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it was designed by a French military engineer in the 1760s using a grid layout. This makes it essentially impossible to get lost in, unlike the tangled alleys of Fes or Marrakech.

The main streets are Avenue Mohammed V and Rue Ibn Rochd, which cross the medina in a rough X pattern. The souks are concentrated along the northern streets near the port gate (Bab Sbaa). Aggressive vendors exist but are much rarer than in Marrakech. Most shopkeepers in Essaouira are relaxed to the point of being borderline inattentive.

What to buy: argan oil (cheaper here than anywhere else in Morocco because you are in the region where it is produced), Thuya wood carvings (the local craft - boxes, chess sets, decorative plates), and woven blankets. Avoid the mass-produced leather goods you would find in Fes or Marrakech.

Eat at the Port Seafood Grills

This is the single best food experience in Essaouira. Behind the port, a row of small grill restaurants cook fish directly over charcoal - sardines, sea bass, bream, squid, octopus, and whatever the fishing boats brought in that morning.

The standard experience: you sit down, they bring a mixed platter of grilled fish and seafood, salad, and bread. Price is typically 60-80 MAD per person depending on what is included. The grilled sardines are excellent and cost practically nothing. If you eat one meal in Essaouira, eat here.

A few names to look for: Chez Sam (a classic), Grills near the port entrance, and the fish stalls inside the small port-side market. The ones with long queues of locals are always the best choice.

Pro tip: go between 12:30pm and 2pm for the freshest fish. By 3pm they are running low on the best catches.

Kitesurfing and Windsurfing at Sidi Kaouki

Essaouira is one of the best kitesurfing destinations in the world - consistent wind, flat water conditions in the bay, and a long season from April to November. The main spot is Sidi Kaouki beach, about 25km south of town.

If you are an experienced kitesurfer: the wind is steady at 20-25 knots from April to October. If you are a beginner: several schools along the beach offer lessons, including Ocean Vagabond and Essaouira Kitesurf Center. A 2-hour beginner lesson costs approximately 400-500 MAD including equipment.

Sidi Kaouki is also worth visiting if you do not kite at all. It is a long, wild beach with almost no development - just a couple of cafes and a surf camp. The drive along the coast is beautiful: argan trees, goats climbing them (a real thing, not a tourist gimmick), and views of the Iles Purpuraires offshore.

Watch Sunset from the Harbor Wall

The Moulay Hassan Square at sunset is one of the most photographed spots in Morocco, and for good reason. As the sun drops behind the port wall, the light turns the white-blue medina into shades of amber and gold. The fishing boats in the harbor create a natural foreground composition that is almost impossible to make look bad.

Instead of staying in the square (which is full of people and horse carriages), walk out along the harbor breakwater - the jetty that extends into the sea on the north side of the port. The view from the end, looking back at the city, is even better and far less crowded.

Visit the Moulay Hassan Square

The central square of Essaouira, officially Place Moulay Hassan, sits between the Skala de la Ville and the port entrance. It is a wide open space lined with cafes and restaurants under shaded terraces. This is where the street musicians perform, particularly the Gnaoua musicians whose trance-influenced rhythms are the signature sound of the city.

On most evenings you will find a group of Gnaoua drummers and castanet players near the center of the square. Tip them 5-10 MAD and they will play for another five minutes. If you are here in late June, the Gnaoua World Music Festival brings international musicians and massive crowds. Outside of festival dates, the performances are small, local, and arguably more authentic.

Drink Mint Tea on a Rooftop Cafe

Essaouira's rooftops face west and catch the afternoon sun. The combination of salt air, mint tea, and a view of the ocean and ramparts is the defining image of the city.

Two rooftops worth seeking out: Taros Cafe on Place Moulay Hassan (the most famous rooftop, which gets crowded at sunset) and Le Patio, a smaller rooftop tucked behind the medina walls near Bab Doukkala. Both serve tea and coffee at reasonable prices (15-25 MAD).

The Beach: Essaouira Beach Proper

The main beach of Essaouira stretches south from the medina for about 2km. It is wide and sandy, with the city walls on one side and argan-carpeted dunes on the other. The wind is significant - this is not a calm swimming beach, and the water is cold year-round.

Do not plan on long swims. The beach is better for walking, camel rides (bargain to about 50 MAD for 15 minutes), watching kitesurfers, or sitting at one of the cafes at the southern end near the Sofitel.

The best beach walk: start at the medina gate (Bab Doukkala), walk south along the beach for 1km, climb the sand dunes, and walk back along the road past the luxury villas. About 45 minutes total.

Day Trip from Marrakech

Essaouira is about 2.5 hours from Marrakech by car (175km), making it one of the most popular day trips from the Red City. If you are on a tight schedule and based in Marrakech, a day trip is feasible - but it is not ideal.

The honest take: Essaouira deserves at least one overnight. Arriving from Marrakech around 10am, leaving around 4pm gives you barely 5-6 hours in the city. You will see the highlights - Skala, port, medina, a quick lunch - but you will miss the evening atmosphere, the sunset, and the relaxed pace that makes the city special.

If you must do it as a day trip: leave Marrakech by 6:30am, arrive at 9am, do the Skala and port first before the crowds arrive, eat a leisurely seafood lunch, and walk the ramparts before heading back around 3:30pm. A private driver costs approximately 600-800 MAD round trip.

Practical Tips

How many days: Two nights is the ideal. You arrive Day 1 afternoon, explore the medina and have sunset tea. Day 2 is the full day: morning Skala, lunch at the port, afternoon kitesurfing or beach, evening music in the square. Day 3 you leave. Three nights if you are doing kite lessons.

When to go: April-May and September-October are perfect. June-August is good for kitesurfing (steady wind) but busy with European tourists. November-March is quiet and rainy, but the seafood is at its best.

Getting there: Supratours buses run from Marrakech (90 MAD, 2.5 hours, hourly). CTM is slightly more comfortable. Private driver from Marrakech is 300-400 MAD one-way. If you are driving, the road is smooth and well-maintained the entire way. Once in town, petit taxis cover most journeys within the medina and beach areas for 10-20 MAD. Grand taxis to Sidi Kaouki (the main kitesurfing beach) cost approximately 80-120 MAD one way. Always agree the fare before the ride.

Where to stay: Boutique riads inside the medina near the Skala are the best choice. The areas near Derb Laathan and Rue Ibn Rochd are convenient and reasonably quiet. Hotels outside the medina near the beach are better for kite surfers who need gear storage.

Budget per day: Essaouira is cheaper than Marrakech. Budget travelers can manage 300-400 MAD/day excluding accommodation. Mid-range is 500-800 MAD/day.

Safety: Essaouira is one of the safest cities in Morocco for solo travelers, including women. The medina is small, well-lit at night, and the police presence near the tourist areas is visible. The main risk is standard: keep valuables secure, agree prices in advance, and watch your bag in the port area. Petit taxis are safe and metered — agree the fare before starting for unmetered rides.

What to wear: The wind means layers even in summer. A light jacket or hoodie is essential for evenings even in July. The medina is casual - dress for comfort, not for the city. Beachwear is only appropriate on the beach, not in the medina.