On a recent trip to Morocco, I embarked on a day trip to the beach town of Essaouira. I went with no expectations, but it quickly became the highlight of the trip. 

Essaouira is a perfect juxtaposition from the chaos of Marrakesh. There aren’t many grand things to do, but just being able to relax, listen to the waves, and wander around the white-washed cobbled streets feels like a little slice of heaven.

Essaouira is a walled city, known for its medieval history, surfing retreats, and cooler weather than you’ll find in other Moroccan cities.

Read on to learn about how to plan a day trip from Marrakesh, where to stay, and the best things to do in Essaouira!

Is Essaouira Worth Visiting?

Categorically YES! 

Taking this day trip to Essaouira was the best decision we made in Morocco. 

My only regret is that I wish I had stayed longer – if I had the chance to do the Morocco trip over again, I would have switched itinerary – Essaouira for 5 days and visited Marrakesh as a day trip. Throughout the trip, I kept making ‘jokes’ that our driver should just leave there and go back without me. 

If you can make it to Essaouira, definitely jump at the chance. 

Getting to Essaouira

We took a day trip with a guide and a private car. It took about 3 hours to arrive, including the three stops we made along the way – once for a bathroom break, once to tour an argan oil women’s collective, and once to pet camels. It was very convenient and our guide was able to tell us a lot about the city and its history.

If you want to make the trip by yourself, Supratours is the national bus company in Morocco. They have a direct line between Marrakech and Essaouira – you can purchase a ticket online or in person at the bus station.

Prices vary, but a single one-way ticket is usually in the 90 – 120 Moroccan dirhams range ($9-12). The bus ride takes 3 hours. 

Staying at Essaouira

When visiting Morocco, staying in a riad is a must! 

A riad is a traditional Moroccan home where the rooms are built around a central courtyard where there is often a garden or a pool. This helps keep the building cool during the day and warm at night. 

We stayed in a riad in Marrakech after seeing it listed on every “Marrakesh Essentials” list, and we were not disappointed!

A Budget Option: A bed in a female dorm at Essaouira Beach Hostel starts at 15 euros a night. While I didn’t personally stay here, I did chat with some British girls who stayed here and loved it. They raved about the social atmosphere, breakfast buffet, closeness to the beach, and the bar that served alcohol.

A Middle-of-the-Road Option: Salut Maroc is a gorgeous boutique hotel with views of the ocean and the Essaouira city ramparts. Designed to match the colors of the ocean, the entire hotel is covered in bright funky blue and yellow art. They offer an airport shuttle service, a rooftop bar and restaurant, and a hammam spa. 

A Luxury Option: Just dream for a second. Picture a suite with a private pool, an ocean view, and an indoor fireplace for winter nights. That’s Riad EspritBleu, a luxury boutique hotel in the Medina. 

Things to Do in Essaouira

Visit an Argan Oil Women’s Collective

On our way into Essaouira, we stopped at Cooperative Marjana, an argan oil women’s cooperative. The center helps women facing hardships become financially independent as they make argan oil entirely by hand. 

We were given a tour of the complex and introduced to the women who work on an assembly line. Using rocks to get down to the argan fruits’ innermost layer, they work on an assembly line, passing the fruit down until it reaches the final woman, who uses a grinder to extract the oil. 

Then we were taken to their storefront and given samples of argan flower honey, argan nut butter, and dozens of beauty products. 

I went with the mindset of “I’m only going to buy one thing”. 

$50 later I have a jar of honey, hair oil, verbena scented lotion, lip balm, and a Christmas gift for my sister. If you’re a bad haggler – like moi – this will be refreshing as everything has a set price.

Enjoy Lunch with an Ocean View

Even if you don’t stay overnight, it’s definitely worth your time to swing by Salut Maroc’s rooftop restaurant. We were a bit early for lunch, so we were the only ones there and we were able to sit right on the edge of the terrace. 

They had traditional Moroccan cuisine, seafood, and burgers for a reasonable price. Everything was deliciously fresh and again, just look at that view. 

Shop in the Medina

The Essaouira Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of nine in Morocco. Inside the 18th-century walled city center, you’ll find shops, art galleries, and restaurants, all in shades of white, blue, and gold.

As our driver pulled into Essaouira, we decided to only have two items on our agenda: to eat at Salut Maroc and to wander the Medina without looking at the map.

The Essaouira Medina was a photographer’s dream and is largely responsible for the 2,389 photos I took while in Morocco.

Walk the Ramparts 

The city center is protected by an 18th-century fortress, which has been incredibly well-preserved. You can still walk along most of the city walls today.

It’s divided into two levels. The ground floor was used for military storage, and now is home to small shops.

On the top level, you’ll find cannons and a few guard towers that are free to explore. Some of the lookout nooks have cannons, and the ones that don’t are fantastic spots to sit and stare dramatically out towards the sea.

Climb to the Top of the Sqala du Port

This is where you go to take the photo that’s on all the city tourism pages. Sqala du Port is the fortress that surrounds the city’s port and fish market. You can enter and climb to the top of the tower where you’ll be greeted by 360-degree views of the ocean.

See the Blue Boats

Next to the Sqala du Port are the famous blue boats of Essaouira. This used to be the biggest port in Morocco, but it’s too shallow for modern boats.

You may not find cruise ships in Essaouira’s harbor, but instead, there are hundreds of these small blue fishing boats.

Cool Off at Sisterhood Coffee

Just as we were getting tired of walking around in the summer heat, we came across this adorable cafe. A coffee shop/vintage clothing store/bed and breakfast hybrid, Sisterhood Coffee was a relaxing space to recharge with an iced latte.

Visit the Game of Thrones Film Set

The Game of Thrones creators shot part of season three here. Essaouira became Astapor, where Daenerys goes to get an army of “Unsullied.”

More specifically, the filmmakers used the city ramparts and the area around Sqala du Port. Very little CGI was used, so the film locations are very easy to recognize.

Ride the Waves

One of the biggest draws to Essaouira is the waves! There are dozens of surf camps scattered around the city, and dedicated surfers even on the coldest days. Even if you’re a total beginner (like me) you can still sign up to take surfing lessons. Or, you can do as I did and sit back and watch others ride the waves from dry land. 

Take a Camel Ride

I had read online that the mistreatment of camels in Morocco is unfortunately common, and to do research before booking any animal-related tour. After seeing many animals being mistreated in the main squares of Marrakech, I was a little wary when I first saw the camel and horse tours in Essaouira. 

But unlike Marrakech, every animal that I saw on the beach of Essaouira seemed to be healthy and well-loved. If you book a tour, make sure to book with a company that has good reviews and/or has camels that look well-fed. 

Now that the ethical side of the situation is resolved, does it get any cooler than taking a camel ride along the beach?

Go Horseback Riding

If camels aren’t your speed, there’s always the option of taking a horseback ride on the beach.

I may not know much about camels, but I grew up with a sister who rides horses, so I can absolutely confirm that the horses I saw in Essaouira are beloved pets who are very well cared for. 

Chill on the Beach

The beaches of Essaouira are wide, peaceful, and lined with palm trees. Walk 5 minutes in any direction and you’ll find places to lounge around and enjoy the sun.

The water can get chilly, so there weren’t many swimmers, but there were plenty of surfers and kite surfers.

As it is on the western coast of Africa, the view at sunset is breathtaking.

Find a Beach Bar

It can sometimes be a bit difficult to find bars serving alcohol in Morocco, but it’s not impossible! Essaouira had several beachfront bars serving wine, beer, and cocktails. 

If these bars were any closer to the beach, they would be underwater:

• Beach and Friends – Go here for cheap pizza and good drinks, and a young, lively crowd
• Ocean Vagabond – Go here if you’re looking for a more upscale dining experience
• MBeach – Go here if you’ve ever wanted to chill on a lounge chair just steps away from the ocean eating calamari.

Take a Cooking Class

Last but not least, you can take a cooking class and make traditional Moroccan food! 

From the tagines to the kefta to the couscous, I didn’t have a single bad meal in Morocco. The host of this cooking class takes you to the local market where you do the food shopping together, then you go back to their house to create a 3-course meal together.