Agadir is Morocco’s premier beach resort city, rebuilt from scratch after the devastating 1960 earthquake. Today, it offers 10 km (6 miles) of sandy beach, a modern marina, a hilltop kasbah with panoramic views, and one of the country’s largest souks. The surrounding Souss-Massa region adds desert excursions, Berber villages, and world-class surf breaks within a 30-minute drive. Here are the essential things to do in Agadir, with practical details on locations, costs, and opening hours.
Things to Do in Agadir: Beaches and Waterfront
Agadir Beach (Plage d’Agadir)
The city’s defining feature: a 10-km (6-mile) crescent of golden sand stretching from the Oufella Kasbah in the north to the mouth of the Oued Souss in the south. The beach is public, free, and patrolled by lifeguards in peak season (June to September). The promenade (Corniche) runs parallel with cafes, restaurants, and beach clubs. Sun lounger and umbrella rentals cost roughly 30 to 50 MAD (3 to 5 euros) per day. Water sports operators offer jet skis (300 MAD for 15 minutes), parasailing (350 MAD), and banana boat rides (100 MAD per person). The northern end near the Marina is generally calmer and better for families; the southern end attracts surfers.
Agadir Marina
Built in 2007, the Marina blends Moroccan architecture with a Mediterranean-style waterfront. It houses upscale restaurants, cafes, and shops alongside a 300-berth marina filled with fishing boats and yachts. It is free to walk around and is especially lively in the evenings when families and couples promenade along the docks. Boat trips departing from the Marina include half-day fishing excursions (250 to 400 MAD per person) and sunset cruises (200 MAD). The Marina is a 10-minute walk north of the main beach.
Things to Do in Agadir: Culture and History
Agadir Oufella (Kasbah)
The ruins of the 16th-century kasbah sit on a hilltop 236 metres (774 ft) above the city, offering the best panoramic views of Agadir’s bay, the port, and the Anti-Atlas mountains on clear days. The original fortress was built in 1540 by Sultan Mohammed ech-Cheikh and destroyed in the 1960 earthquake. A cable car opened in 2021 connecting the city to the kasbah: a round-trip ticket costs 80 MAD (roughly 7 euros) for adults, 40 MAD for children. The ride takes about 6 minutes each way. The cable car station is on Boulevard du 20 Aout, near the port. Alternatively, you can drive or take a petit taxi (roughly 50 MAD from the city centre). The kasbah is free to enter and open daily. Visit at sunset for the best photos.
Musée Municipal du Patrimoine Amazigh
This municipal museum, housed in a modern building on Avenue Hassan II near the beach, showcases the culture of the Amazigh (Berber) people who have inhabited the Souss region for millennia. Exhibits include traditional jewellery, carpets, pottery, wooden crafts, and musical instruments. Entry costs 20 MAD (roughly 2 euros). Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 17:30. Closed Sunday and Monday. The museum is small (allow 45 to 60 minutes) and all signage is in French and Arabic, with limited English.
Souk El Had
The largest covered market in Morocco, Souk El Had sprawls across 13 hectares with over 3,000 stalls. It is the real deal: locals shop here for everything from spices and argan oil to leather goods, electronics, and livestock. The souk is enclosed by high walls with numbered gates (Gate 1 through Gate 11). Gate 5 leads to the spice and herb section, Gate 6 to fresh produce, and Gates 7 and 8 to crafts and souvenirs. Open daily except Monday, roughly 08:00 to 19:00. Plan for at least two hours to get oriented. Bargaining is expected: start at 50 percent of the asking price and negotiate from there. The souk is a 15-minute walk inland from the beach or a 10-minute petit taxi ride (10 to 15 MAD).
Things to Do in Agadir: Nature and Day Trips
Paradise Valley (Vallée du Paradis)
A lush oasis in the foothills of the High Atlas, about 40 km (25 miles) northeast of Agadir. Paradise Valley features natural rock pools filled with clear, cool water, surrounded by palm trees and rocky cliffs. It is a popular half-day excursion from Agadir. Most tours cost 200 to 300 MAD (18 to 27 euros) per person and include hotel pickup and about three hours at the valley. The hike from the parking area to the main pools takes 20 to 30 minutes on rocky terrain; wear trainers or hiking sandals. The pools are at their fullest from December to April after winter rains; they can be low or dry from July through October. Bring water and snacks as there are limited facilities.
Crocoparc
A well-designed crocodile park about 15 km (9 miles) east of the city centre on the road to Marrakech. Crocoparc opened in 2015 and houses over 300 Nile crocodiles in landscaped enclosures with elevated walkways. The park also has giant tortoises, iguanas, snakes, and botanical gardens with cacti and tropical plants. Entry costs 80 MAD (roughly 7 euros) for adults, 45 MAD for children aged 3 to 12. Open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 (July and August until 19:00). Feeding times are at 12:00, 15:00, and 17:00. Allow 90 minutes to two hours. A petit taxi from the city centre costs roughly 70 to 100 MAD each way; negotiate the fare before getting in.
Taghazout and Surf Beaches
The fishing village of Taghazout, 20 km (12 miles) north of Agadir, has been a surf destination since the 1970s. The coastline between Taghazout and Imsouane offers some of Morocco’s best breaks: Anchor Point (a long right-hand point break, intermediate to advanced), Killer Point (another right, advanced), and Panorama Beach (beginner-friendly). Surf schools in Taghazout charge roughly 200 to 300 MAD (18 to 27 euros) for a two-hour group lesson including board and wetsuit. Bus line 32 (Alsa/Ilévia) runs from Agadir’s Inezgane station to Taghazout for 10 MAD; a grand taxi costs about 150 MAD each way. The village itself has a relaxed cafe and restaurant scene popular with digital nomads.
Souss-Massa National Park
A 33,800-hectare protected wetland and dune system about 30 km (19 miles) south of Agadir, stretching along the Atlantic coast to the mouth of the Oued Massa. The park is an Important Bird Area: it hosts the northern bald ibis (one of the world’s rarest birds, with roughly 500 remaining in the wild in Morocco), flamingos, storks, and migratory species from Europe. Guided half-day tours cost about 300 to 400 MAD (27 to 36 euros) per person and typically include transport and a local guide. The park is best visited from October to April when migratory birds are present. Independent access requires permission from the park office in Tifnit village.
Things to Do in Agadir: Other Activities
Desert Day Trip (Mini Sahara)
Several operators run full-day 4×4 excursions to what locals call the “Mini Sahara”: the sand dunes and rocky desert landscapes around the village of Tifnit or further inland near Tiznit. A typical tour (roughly 400 to 600 MAD or 36 to 54 euros per person) includes hotel pickup, a visit to a Berber village for lunch (tajine and mint tea), stops at argan oil cooperatives, and an afternoon in the dunes. Tours depart around 08:00 and return by 17:00. The terrain is not true Sahara erg (those are much further east) but the dunes are photogenic, especially near Tifnit where sand meets the ocean.
Argan Oil Cooperatives
The Souss-Massa region is the heart of Morocco’s argan oil industry, and several women-run cooperatives around Agadir welcome visitors. The Coopérative Tifaouine on the road to Immouzer (about 25 km inland) offers free demonstrations of the traditional argan extraction process, from cracking the nuts by hand to cold-pressing the oil. You can buy culinary and cosmetic argan oil directly from the cooperative at better prices than in the souk (roughly 80 to 120 MAD for 250 ml of culinary oil). Most tours include a cooperative visit as part of a day trip to Paradise Valley or the desert.
