Essaouira, Morocco
This beautiful fishing city is a popular destination and has even been used as a backdrop in some scenes of Game of Thrones. A great choice for those who want to soak up some culture and also for those who are keen on watersports.
Essaouira
A great resort for water sports due to the strong winds which tend to be even stronger through the winter. Summer can be very busy with Moroccan tourists.
Read more about: Beaches | Things to Do | Out and About | Nearby Attractions | Essaouira Reviews
Beaches
Essaouira enjoys a 10km stretch of beach and although it is a nice beach and ok for swimmers and sunbathing, it is better suited to windsurfers and kitesurfers due to the year round winds. There are sunbeds and umbrellas for hire as well as windsurfing boards, kites and surfboards. If you prefer to stay on dry and, you could opt for a horse or camel ride. There are plenty bars and restaurants at the beach as well as surf shops.
Things to Do
The ramparts in Essaouira are a great place to soak up local history, they are beautiful and not only are the cannons still intact but it is a great place for some fantastic views of the sea.
Morocco is famous for Argan products and with the Argan tree being native to Morocco, it is one of the best places to find Argan oil. There are a few Argan oil cooperatives where visitors will be able to watch women using ancient tools to press oil from the kernel to produce Argan cream and various other Argan products. Argan trees can regularly be seen with up to 20 goats who have skilfully climbed up the tree, certainly not something you will see anywhere else.
Out and About
The traditional souk in Essaouira is a must see, full of food, clothes, tapestries, pottery and traditional souvenirs. The souk offers a great variety of smells and colours, it really is an experience not to be missed.
There are many lovely restaurants including many fish restaurants and stalls where you can watch the freshly caught fish being cooked before your very eyes. A range of restaurants can be found to suit different tastes and budgets.
There are loads of cafes too which are popular for ice cream lovers. A popular cafe/bar/restaurant is II Mare bar which has terraces with fantastic views of the sunsets and entertaining live music together with great food, popular with locals and tourists.
For anyone looking for a little culture, a trip to the museum of regional art is worth a visit. The museum has been refurbished and houses carpets, instruments and weapons together with historical photos of Essaouira.
If relaxing is more your thing than take a trip to the Hammam Lalla Mira which is one of the oldest Turkish Baths and is heated by solar energy. It is part of a guest house and can be quite busy so best to book in advance to ensure you don’t miss out on a relaxing massage.
Nearby Attractions
Although the medieval city of Marrakech is approx 3 hours away by bus, it is certainly worth a visit. There is so much to see from souks and markets to the historical buildings, city ramparts and fantastic restaurants. The souks and markets are full of all sorts of items such as spices, textiles and clothing but be careful and be aware of prices before you agree to buy.
If Marrakech is a little too far for you then you could visit Safi which is less than two hours by bus. Safi is well known for it’s colourful pottery which is sold throughout the many souks. Sites like the Portuguese Cathedral and Kechla Fortress are worth a visit too and the beach is nice too.
The Val d’Argan is a lovely winery which is just 30 minutes from Essaouira. Guests can enjoy a tour of the impressive facilities and then relax under the olive trees and have a spot of lunch and sample some of the wine that is produced here.
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