The Southern Atlantic Coast
We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Southern Atlantic Coast - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Port of Essaouira
Built in 1769 in the reign of Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah by an Englishman who had converted to Islam, Essaouira's port is still going strong in the southwest corner of town, and it's the one must-see sight for any traveler coming here. Trawlers and other boats bob along the quay, and middlemen and independent sailors sell the daily catch of sardines, calamari, and skate from small dockside tables. You'll be selling yourself short if you don't have a meal of the freshest fish imaginable at one of the shoreside grill restaurants. As Moroccan ports go, it's also one of the most beautiful, not to mention accessible and tourist-friendly.
Essaouira, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco -
2. Bayt Dakira
A new historical, cultural, and spiritual landmark in Essaouira, this museum in the Mellah dedicated to Jewish heritage and culture celebrates the Moroccan Jewish culture that once dominated Essaouira, as well as the continuing mutual respect between Muslim and Jewish communities in Morocco. Within the space are the Simon Attias synagogue, the museum Bayt Dakira, and the Haim and Célia Zafrani International Research Center for the study of the history of relations between Judaism and Islam. The exhibits are based around rare objects and photographs illustrating the history of Jewish life and culture in the area.
Rue Ziry Ibn Atiyah, Essaouira, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco0524-66--35--87Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
3. Dar Souiri
MedinaHome to the active Essaouira-Mogador Association, Dar Souiri is the hub of cultural life in Essaouira, with a notice board outside the door with information on upcoming festivals, concerts, film screenings, and other cultural events. Inside, the building is an excellent example of 18th-century Mogador (a former name of the city) architecture and houses an art gallery and a library. Free Wi-Fi is available.
2, rue de Caire, Essaouira, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco0524-47–52–68Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. -
4. Diabat Beach
DiabatEssaouira's beach is fine for an early-morning jog or a late-afternoon game of soccer, but serious sunbathers typically head south to quiet Diabat. Walking along the beach, cross over the mouth of the river and continue past the Borj el Baroud, a former Portuguese fortification. To your left, a few miles south of town nestled in eucalyptus fields, you'll see the ruins of the so-called Sultan's Palace. This building is said to have inspired Jimi Hendrix to write "Castles in the Sand," although he actually released the track a couple of years before his visit to this village, which has been trading on his name ever since. On a windy day the only escape is behind the Borj at low tide. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunset.
Essaouira, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco -
5. Essaouira Bay
Essaouira's main beach is a sweep of sand along the bay that has provided shelter to seafarers from Atlantic storms since antiquity. Although temperatures are moderate all year and the sun is nearly always shining, the wind is consistently strong, making sunbathing or swimming less attractive than farther south in Agadir. Nonetheless, sunbed rentals are relatively inexpensive or even free if you eat at one of the cafés at the southern end of the beach. The wind comes from the north and creates three main areas. The most northerly part, tucked up into the armpit of the port, has wind that comes in gusts. Just south of this the wind strengthens, with fewer gusts. Farther south are the steady, strong trade winds the town is known for, and that make it a mecca for wind and kitesurfers. The range of areas makes the bay perfect for every level of water-sports enthusiast. The surrounding islets, the Iles de Mogador, are home to nine bird species, including the endangered Eleanora's falcon. They are closed to visitors during breeding season (April to October), but otherwise you can get a boat trip from the port, with boats leaving morning and afternoon depending on weather conditions. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (summer only); toilets; parking (fee); water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking; windsurfing.
Essaouira, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Fikra Travel
MedinaBased out of Essaouira and Ouarzazate, Fikra Travel offers personalized tours of Morocco, specializing in the south and desert regions. It will tailor tours to suit your traveling needs and often deals with small groups and families traveling by 4x4, but can also offer routes by bus, camel, or even donkey.
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7. Medina
MedinaThe medina isn't so much a sight as the essence of Essaouira, where you are likely to stay, eat, shop, and wander. It was designed by French architect Théodore Cornut in the late 18th century, on the instructions of Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah, who wanted to create a new town and port to rival Agadir and demonstrate Morocco's outward focus. Cornut built the kasbah, and the sultan invited prominent Jewish traders to settle here. Mogador (as it was then known) soon thrived. The medina is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and restoration efforts are underway for some key buildings from Mogador's heyday, namely Simon Attias synagogue (already restored) and the Danish consulate. The former Portuguese consulate and church are earmarked for restoration. All feature the colonnaded ground floor and rooms off internal walkways on the higher levels that are typical of the era. From the kasbah, heading northwest, pass through the Mellah Kdim (old Mellah) before reaching the Mellah proper. It was in this latter area that less affluent Jews settled. Following the end of the French protectorate and the creation of the state of Israel, most of Mogador's Jews left and the area became home to poorer urban families and squatters. Today the area is under redevelopment. Two original synagogues can be visited: Synagogue Slat Lkahal and Haïm Pinto Synagogue. The area is best avoided after dark. As you approach the Mellah, look for the Star of David carved in stone above doorways.
Essaouira, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco -
8. North Bastion and Medina Skala
The distinctive outlines of the medina skala (a fortified bastion) and its citadel, known as the North Bastion, frame the waves dramatically at sunset. The bastion once held emergency supplies of fresh water, and the large circle of stones in the center marks what was known as a call-point, or alarm system, to warn of approaching invaders. Guards would warn of danger by stomping on the resonant circle. If you stand in the middle of the circle and stomp your foot or yell, you'll hear the echo ring far.
Essaouira, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco -
9. Port Skala
Essaouira has two principal skala, fortified bastions with fabulous cannons: the medina skala and the port skala. Each was a strategic maritime defense point. Unlike the straight-edged Moorish constructions in other Moroccan cities, the ramparts in Essaouira are triangular, so the insider looking out has a broader field of vision than the enemy peering in. Orson Welles filmed scenes of his 1951 film Othello from the tower of the port skala, picking up a magnificent panorama of town, port, and bay all in one that can still be seen today. The entrance fee is worth it to get the picture-postcard view of the medina through a round opening in the wall.
Tangier, Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima, MoroccoSight Details
Rate Includes: 10 DH; free for Muslims on Fri. -
10. Sidi Kaouki Beach
Sidi KaoukiThe tranquil beach village of Sidi Kaouki is often touted as an alternative to Essaouira's beach and is a destination of choice for younger backpackers, surfers, and windsurfers, which should give you an idea of the typical wind velocity and wave size. It doesn't have the amenities of its larger neighbor, but the "town" consists of a number of guesthouses, a couple of shops, and some small restaurants all serving the same standard tourist menus. It's easy to rent mountain bikes, quad bikes, or ponies for a jaunt along the beach toward Ouassane (the village to the north) or Sidi M'barek (with a waterfall and wide sandy beach) to the south. It's possible to walk along the beach and over a cliff from Essaouira to Sidi Kaouki—about 21 km (13 miles) one-way. Walking in the opposite direction (against the wind) is not recommended. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee in summer); toilets; water sports. Best for: surfing; sunset; walking.
Essaouira, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco -
11. Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah Ethnological Museum
MedinaThe stunning former French colonial town hall holds this smartly arranged collection of items from everyday and ritual life in and around the Essaouira area. Exhibits include items related to the China tea trade, as part of its tea museum. The permanent collection includes musical instruments of both Gnaoua and Sufi sects; displays of regional carpet styles and wood-carving techniques and motifs; and examples of Muslim, Jewish, and rural Ishelhin Amazigh rites and dress.
7, rue Laalouj, Marrakesh, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco0524-47–23–00Sight Details
Rate Includes: 10 DH, Closed Tues. -
12. South Bastion
MedinaAlso known as the Bastion Bab Marrakech, the South Bastion is a carefully restored element of the original fortified medina walls. Managed by the local Delegation of the Culture Ministry, it is open to the public when exhibitions and events take place, like the annual Gnaoua and World Music Festival. The flat roof offers a view over the rooftops to the beach and is often the backdrop to concerts and other performances. The area in front of the bastion (now a parking lot) was the site of the town's original Muslim cemetery.
Essaouira, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco -
13. Val d’Argan Vineyard
Just outside Ounagha, about 35½ km (22 miles) east of Essaouira, is Morocco's first organic vineyard. Established by Charles Melia, an experienced winemaker of the Rhône valley in France, it covers 128 acres, 100 of which are under cultivation. The vineyard produces a selection of ranges and labels featuring red, white, rosé, and—typical in Morocco—vin gris (a pale pink variation of rosé made from red grapes) wines. Many of the wines here are commonly featured on wine lists in Essaouira and Marrakesh restaurants. Tours and tastings can be arranged in French, English, or Arabic, and the restaurant on-site has a panoramic view of the vineyard and olive trees.
Domaine du Val d'Argan, Essaouira, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco0524-78–34–67Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tours free; tastings from 50 DH, Closed Sun.
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