Essaouira packs more into its compact medina than cities ten times its size. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001, the fortified port city blends Portuguese, French, and Berber influences into one of North Africa’s most photogenic destinations. From 18th-century sea ramparts to wind-whipped beaches, artisan workshops producing thuya wood masterpieces, and a fishing port that’s been operating the same way for centuries, Essaouira delivers experiences that feel genuinely lived-in rather than staged for tourists. Most attractions sit within walking distance of each other in the medina, you can cover the highlights in two full days or stretch it to four with beach time and day trips.
Things to Do in Essaouira: Medina Landmarks and Historic Sites
Skala de la Ville
The Skala de la Ville is Essaouira’s postcard shot, a row of 18th-century bronze cannons facing the Atlantic from atop the sea bastion walls. Built in 1769 by French architect Théodore Cornut under Sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah, the fortifications were designed to defend against European naval attacks. The cannons, cast in Spain and the Netherlands, still point seaward. The views from the ramparts sweep from the Port of Essaouira in the north to the Mogador Islands offshore. Entry costs 70 MAD (US$7) and it’s open daily 9am to 5pm. Go at opening time to have the cannons to yourself before the tour buses arrive from Marrakech around 11am. The ramparts also appear in Game of Thrones (Season 3, Astapor scenes) and Orson Welles’ Othello (1952).
Essaouira Medina (UNESCO)
The entire walled medina is a UNESCO site, and wandering its grid of whitewashed lanes with blue-painted doors and shutters is the main activity. Unlike the maze-like medinas of Fez and Marrakech, Essaouira’s streets follow an organized grid pattern (another Cornut innovation), making it refreshingly hard to get lost. The main arteries are Rue Mohammed el-Qorry, Avenue de l’Istiqlal, and Rue Laalouj. Look for artisan workshops along Rue Skala where craftsmen work thuya wood, a fragrant burl native to the Atlas Mountains that’s carved into boxes, chess sets, and furniture. The spice souk near Place Moulay Hassan sells argan oil (Essaouira is the heart of Morocco’s argan region), saffron, and ras el hanout at better prices than Marrakech.
Moulay Hassan Square
Place Moulay Hassan is the medina’s living room, a wide-open plaza between the port and the medina walls where Essaouira’s social life unfolds. By day it’s a meeting point for tour groups and a staging area for seagulls eyeing fish scraps from the port. By late afternoon, the square fills with families, street musicians, and boys playing football. The string of outdoor cafes along the square’s western edge (Cafe de France, Taros, Restaurant El Minzah) are the place for mint tea (10-15 MAD/US$1-1.50) and people-watching. Taros has a rooftop terrace with the best elevated view of the square and port. The square hosts the main stage during the Gnaoua Festival in June.
Things to Do in Essaouira: Museums and Culture
Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah Museum
Housed in a 19th-century riad on Rue Laalouj, this small but well-curated museum covers Essaouira’s history from Phoenician trading post (5th century BC) through Portuguese occupation (16th century) to its 18th-century golden age under Sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah. Exhibits include Berber jewelry, traditional costumes, musical instruments, and a collection of vintage photographs of Essaouira’s Jewish community. Entry: 30 MAD (US$3). Open Wednesday-Monday 10am to 6pm, closed Tuesdays. The building itself, with its central courtyard and carved cedar ceilings, is worth the entry fee.
Galerie Damgaard
This Danish-owned gallery on Avenue Oqba Ibnou Nafiaa has been showing contemporary Moroccan art since the 1970s. The gallery represents Essaouira’s distinctive naive art tradition, characterized by flat perspectives, bold colors, and recurring motifs of musicians, animals, and boats. Paintings range from 500 MAD (US$50) for small works to 50,000+ MAD for established artists. Even if you’re not buying, the gallery owner is generous with explanations of Essaouira’s art scene. Open daily 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 7pm, free entry.
Things to Do in Essaouira: Beaches and Water Activities
Essaouira Beach (Plage d’Essaouira)
The main beach arcs south from the port for about 10km of golden sand. The northern stretch near the medina is the busiest, with beach cafes, sun lounger rentals (50 MAD/US$5 per day), and the wind sports zone at the southern end. Camel and horse rides are offered along the beach for 100-150 MAD (US$10-15) per hour. Swimming is best at the northern end where the bay curves and provides some shelter from the swell. The beach is patrolled by tourist police during summer months. The southern stretches toward Diabat are progressively quieter, eventually reaching the ruins of the Sultan’s Palace at Diabat (a 19th-century folly, not an actual sultan’s residence despite the name).
Windsurfing and Kitesurfing
Essaouira Bay is one of the world’s top wind sports destinations thanks to the reliable trade winds and a long, sandy-bottomed beach with no rocks or reefs. Several schools operate at the southern end of the main beach: Explora Morocco (the original, established 1999), Ion Club, and Fanatic. A 2-hour beginner lesson costs 400-500 MAD (US$40-50) including equipment. Full-day equipment rental: 300-600 MAD depending on board type. The best launch zone is near the Oued Ksob river mouth about 3km south of the medina, reachable by petit taxi (20-30 MAD). The wind blows sideshore from the left, ideal for both beginners and advanced riders. Check the best time to visit Essaouira guide for the best wind months.. Essaouira travel tips
Things to Do in Essaouira: The Fishing Port
Port of Essaouira
The working fishing port at the northern edge of the medina is a sensory assault in the best way. Blue wooden boats painted with evil-eye motifs bob in the harbor while fishermen haul in sardines, sea bream, and lobster. The fish auction takes place on the quay around 3pm daily, a chaotic, shouting affair that’s been running the same way for generations. The port’s grill stalls (open 11am to 5pm) are Essaouira’s essential food experience: you pick your fish or seafood from the display, they grill it over charcoal, and you eat at plastic tables with salt, cumin, and lemon. A mixed seafood platter for two including sardines, shrimp, and calamari runs 100-150 MAD (US$10-15). Stall 11 and Chez Sam are the most consistently recommended. The port is also where you’ll find boat trips to the Mogador Islands (closed to visitors, a nature reserve for Eleonora’s falcons) for about 200 MAD (US$20) per person for a 1-hour cruise.. where to stay in Essaouira
For more activities including the Essaouira events and festivals calendar and where to eat, browse the full Essaouira collection. The Essaouira neighborhoods guide covers which areas to explore beyond the medina.. Essaouira weather by month
