12 Best Things to Do in Essaouira
Essaouira on Morocco’s Atlantic coast is the town where I finally slowed down. The sea breeze keeps it cool when the inland cities cook, and the mixture of fishing port, whitewashed medina, and surf culture gave me more to do than I expected. I ended up staying two extra days just to fit in the boat trips and the music. Here is my list.
1. Walk the Ramparts at Sunset
The stone fortifications along the ocean are the defining image of the town. I climbed the bastion late in the afternoon and watched the surfers paddle out against the low sun while the gulls wheeled over the cannon. Trust the wind warning: it is real.
2. Watch the Fishing Port Come Back In
In the late afternoon the blue boats return with the day’s catch and the auction begins on the wet concrete. I stood on the breakwater and watched the sorting, the gulls, and the line of workers carrying baskets. It is raw, honest, and completely free.
3. Get Lost in the Medina
The medina is smaller and calmer than Marrakesh, and the white and blue walls glow in the evening light. I drifted through the lanes, an incense shop, a wood carver’s bench, and a stall of bright scarves. The quiet side alleys are where the town feels most itself.
4. Take a Surf Lesson on the Beach
The Atlantic waves make this one of Morocco’s surf towns, and the sandy beach breaks are beginner friendly. I took a morning lesson, got to my feet more than I expected, and spent the next day renting a board on my own. Prices are fair and the water is cold, so bring a spring suit.
5. Watch the Kite and Wind Surfers
When the trade wind builds in the afternoon, the bay fills with colorful kites and windsurfers streaking across the water. I found a café on the front and watched the show for an hour with mint tea. It became my daily afternoon ritual.
6. Eat Grilled Sardines at a Port Restaurant
The fish comes in off the boats and goes straight onto the grills. I ordered the sardines charred whole with salt and lemon and ate them over a paper tablecloth with my fingers. Order what the tables around you are ordering, because the regulars know best.
7. Shop for Thuya Wood Crafts
Essaouira is famous for the marquetry made from thuja wood, carved into boxes, boards, and jewelry. I watched a craftsman burnish a piece in his workshop before buying a small inlaid box. Prices are better in the back-street workshops than on the main tourist lanes.
8. Visit the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah Museum
Tucked in the medina, the small museum holds local art, woodwork, and photos that trace the town’s history through its Portuguese and Jewish past. I spent a quiet hour in the cool rooms and learned why the town mixes so many influences. Modest but worth it.
9. Take a Boat Trip or a Camel Ride on the Beach
South of the port, the long beach is a flat playground where you can ride a camel at a walking pace or book a short boat cruise toward the islets. I tried the camel ride one evening and the boat the next morning. Both are easy additions to a laid-back day.
10. Headline a Day Trip to a Wine Estate
The sand and sea cropped the nearby countryside, but a couple of vineyards inland produce good Atlantic sipping wines. I joined a small afternoon tour and tasted a fresh white on the terrace. Check what is open when you travel, as the vintage days vary through the year.
11. Browse the Art Galleries
Essaouira has drawn artists for decades, and the medina holds a surprising number of working studios and galleries. I stepped into one where a painter was layering the harbor scene in vivid blues and oranges. The whitewashed walls and the north light have attracted painters here since the sixties, and the trail of them is easy to follow between the craft shops. Buy direct from the studios if you want something original.
12. Watch the Gnaoua Scene and Night Music
The town hosts a famous Gnaoua festival each summer, but the music flows all year at the cafés and small venues. I caught a drum circle in a courtyard one evening and it pulled a crowd of locals and travelers together fast. Follow the sound after dinner. The mix of rhythm, voices, and the evening sea breeze makes a simple night in Essaouira memorable.
Final Thoughts
Essaouira is the place on the coast to trade crowds for sea salt and a slower pace. Walk the ramparts, eat the fish, ride the waves if you are brave, and let the wind set the mood. Every evening ended with the fish market, the music, or just the light going down over the water. I found it the easiest place in Morocco to just be.
