Essaouira event weekends: what to do between sessions
A windy, whitewashed ramparts town on the Atlantic with a blue fishing port, Gnaoua music and a long kitesurf beach.
Events we cover in Essaouira
Arriving
Essaouira Mogador (ESU) has few flights; most visitors fly into Marrakech (RAK) and take the Supratours bus or a car, about 2.5 to 3 hours.
Where to stay
| Budget | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Medina riads | Small guesthouses inside the walls. |
| Mid-range | Beachfront Avenue Mohammed V | Hotels facing the bay. |
| Splurge | Diabat and the golf resorts | Quiet resort hotels south of town. |
Three hotels we would book
- Budget: Riad Chbanate
- Mid-range: Le Médina Essaouira Thalassa Sea and Spa
- Splurge: Sofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf and Spa
Tours
Where to eat
With kids
- Beach days on the long bay; it is windy, so bring layers.
Rainy-day backups
- Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah museum.
- Woodwork and thuya craft shops under the ramparts.
Free things to do
- Walk the Skala de la Ville ramparts at sunset.
- Watch the boats come in at the port in the afternoon.
Getting around
- The Medina is walkable. Taxis wait at Bab Sbaa and Bab Marrakech.
- Petit taxis run inside each city on the meter: ask the driver to switch it on, or agree the fare before you get in. Grand taxis are shared and run fixed routes between towns.
- Careem and inDrive work in Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier and Agadir. Expect to pay in cash in dirhams in most places.
- Al Boraq high-speed trains link Tangier, Kenitra, Rabat and Casablanca. Classic ONCF trains continue to Marrakech and Fez. Book on the ONCF app; first class is cheap and worth it on busy days.
- Fridays around midday prayers and the evenings during Ramadan change opening hours and traffic.