Essaouira Things To Do

The Medina
The Medina, or old town, of Essaouira is a UNESCO World Heritage Listed Site. Occupied since prehistoric times, it was established as a trading centre by the Phoenicians and rebuilt as a fortified town in the 18th century on a grid system. Essaouira is known for its friendly, laid-back feel and strolling around the cobbled streets and narrow alleys of the unspoilt medina, with its battlements and white-walled, blue shuttered houses is a delight at any time.

Beach
Essaouira’s beach is one of the very best in all Africa, with miles of superb sand. It is a centre of activity with horse and camel riding, football and jogging all being popular. However, while it does keep the temperature comfortable, the wind, together with some difficult currents, means that swimmers and sunbathers may prefer the sheltered hotel pools.

Surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing
With its constant wind and wild waves Essaouira is the windsurfing capital of Africa. There are excellent facilities for surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing, with lessons for surfers of all levels and instructors with their own secret sites. Conditions are especially good between May and September, but the thought of an un-crowded beach will attract people throughout winter too.

Shopping and relaxing
Essaouira mixes souks, including spice and jewellery markets, and workshops, where the local thuya wood is crafted, with smart restaurants and bars. Seafood lovers head for the line of grill-cafés in the port where the fish could not be fresher. The town’s beauty has always attracted artists, and there are a number of galleries. Also worth a visit is the Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaire, where local crafts and gnaoua costumes are displayed.

Festival
Essaouira has become known for its annual Gnaoua and World Music Festival in June which features Morocco’s mystical gnaoua music, and attracts up to 450,000 people, including jazz musicians and rock stars.

The Iles Purpuraires,
Just across the bay lie these islands named after the dye which the Romans found here and used to colour their purple imperial cloth. The largest, the Ile de Mogador, is a nature reserve and a breeding site for the Eleanora’s falcon. Visitors are discouraged, with only the most determined obtaining a permit, but it is possible to see these magnificent birds with binoculars from the beach at Essaouira.

Exploring
The town is an excellent base for exploring the incredible scenery in the High Atlas Mountains (or for resting afterwards), for exploring the desert (jeep and 4 x 4 trips can be booked here), for travelling into the desert, for exploring the coastline or for visiting other cities (Marrakech is about 2 1/2 hours away).