What to See in Essaouira

Overview

Essaouira can generally be visited in half a day or a full day if you plan to enjoy its surroundings a little.

All the points of interest are close by, and the port as well as the old town with its ramparts only require a few hours to explore. If you have time left, you can use it to watch surfers and windsurfers (as well as fishermen) either at Moulay Bouzerktoun to the north or at Sidi Kaouki and Tafelney to the south along the Essaouira to Agadir Route.

Districts

Essaouira Medina ★★★
The medina, with its bustling activity, is the city's main attraction. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001.

Essaouira Kasbah ★★★
Place Moulay Hassan links the old town with the port. It also provides access to the kasbah, a fortified district facing the ocean, originally built to house the port’s workers.

Essaouira Port ★★
Le port est au pied des remparts de la ville et dans le prolongement de la medina. C'est le troisième port sardinier du Maroc et par son animation une des attractions d'Essaouira.

Sites, Monuments, and Architectural Ensembles

Medina of Essaouira

The medina of Essaouira has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001. It was designed at the end of the 18th century by a French architect, Théodore Cornut, and is an unusual medina protected by ramparts.

Its grid layout removes much of its mystery, though it’s still possible to get lost in the side streets. The main axis connects Bab Doukkala gate to Moulay Hassan Square and the port. It’s a bustling shopping street lined with arcades that house a variety of shops. On either side of the avenue, several small markets remain: the vegetable and spice souk, the fish souk, the jewellers' souk, and the auction souk (auctions take place daily at 5:00 PM). To the north of the medina, along the ramparts, you can also visit the Mellah, the former Jewish quarter.

Kasbah of Essaouira

Moulay Hassan Square links the old town to the port and also provides access to the kasbah, a fortified district facing the ocean, initially built to house those working at the port.

Like the port, the kasbah has its own skala. This fortification was also built by Cornut in 1765 in the Vauban style to repel enemy attacks. Along about 300 meters, a series of old Portuguese cannons are lined up—a now-famous image of Essaouira. In fact, this is where Orson Welles filmed the exterior shots for his 1951 movie *Othello*. From the top of the skala, you’ll discover a stunning landscape. The two rocky islets, the Purpuraires Islands, are visible offshore and form a bird sanctuary where Eleonora’s falcon lives. The larger island also houses the ruins of a prison and a mosque. Without special permission, this reserve cannot be visited.

At the foot of the skala, a small street is home to numerous marquetry workshops that also contribute to the city’s fame. The Sidi Ben Abdallah Museum is also nestled in the heart of the kasbah.

Port of Essaouira

The port, at the foot of the city’s ramparts, is as lively as they come. You enter it through the Marine Gate from Moulay Hassan Square. It was established in the 18th century, during the time of Mogador, to serve as a relay between sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. Gold, spices, and slaves brought by caravans from Timbuktu were traded here.

Today, Essaouira is Morocco’s third-largest sardine port. When the large trawlers return in late morning, dockworkers unload baskets that are emptied onto trays and covered with ice. Sardines and shellfish are sold at auction. Workers in waterproof gear and padded hats then carry these dripping trays on their heads to trucks. Meanwhile, crews prepare the boats and nets for the next outing. There’s never a break. On-site, sailors, dockworkers, and tourists enjoy delicious grilled fish and seafood in the open air or stroll along the fish auction. In the port, fishing boats are still built and repaired using traditional techniques and materials from old shipwrights.

Next to the Marine Gate is a smaller gate that leads to what remains of the royal castle (a moat and a tower) built by King Manuel II of Portugal. This is also where you’ll find the skala of the port. It’s a crenellated bastion built to protect it. Beneath it were once rooms for soldiers, ammunition, and water reserves, now used by the port’s shops. Though worth a detour, this skala is far less "impressive" than its counterpart in the old town.

Museums

Parks and Gardens

In the Surroundings

Beyond the beaches and coastline, which can at best be the subject of a day trip from the city (though it’s better to have your own transport), there aren’t really any other points of interest within a 100 km radius of Essaouira.

Essaouira to Agadir Route ★★★
Over more than 150 km, the road hugs the coast, offering stunning landscapes where the ocean blends with the foothills of the Atlas. It’s also where surfing and beach enthusiasts will find their paradise.