Things to Do in Essaouira

Overview

While Essaouira doesn’t offer as wide a range of activities as other cities in the country, it still has plenty of nature-based and cultural events to enjoy. The Gnawa Music Festival and surfing/windsurfing are the city’s two main highlights in these areas.

Beaches and Water Activities

Beaches

Essaouira’s beach, though lively, isn’t ideal for swimming due to its condition. For a dip (despite the wind), it’s better to head out of the city and enjoy the long beaches to the north (Moulay Bouzerktoun) or south along the Essaouira to Agadir Route (Sidi Kaouki, Tafelney, etc.). Be cautious of currents, though.

Generally, the sea temperature is never extreme, averaging 16°C in winter and barely exceeding 20°C in summer.

Surfing and Water Sports

The consistent wind (called the *cherki*) throughout most of the year makes Essaouira and its surroundings the top spot for watersports in Morocco, particularly windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing, and bodyboarding. The high season runs roughly from April to October. Several shops in town rent equipment, and there are also a few clubs for beginners.

For spots, aside from Essaouira’s southern beach, those at Moulay Bouzerktoun to the north and Sidi Kaouki, Tafelney, and Imsouane along the Essaouira to Agadir Route offer great opportunities for all levels.

Boat Trips

Boat trips depart from the port for one- or two-hour excursions, either in small boats or larger vessels.

Other Outdoor and Nature Activities

Hiking

Hiking

There aren’t many hiking opportunities in Essaouira’s immediate surroundings. However, you can walk in Djebel Amsittene, about fifty kilometers along the Essaouira to Agadir Route, where the 905-meter summit offers hikers a beautiful panorama.

Horseback Riding

Two clubs (*Chez Anwar* and *L’Équidé*) offer coastal rides. Expect to pay around 25 € for two hours.

Camel Trekking

Essaouira has little to do with the desert and camel treks. Still, a few kilometers south of the city, *La Maison du Chameau* offers dromedary rides in the dunes. Prices range from 10 € per hour to around forty for a full day.

Golf

The *Mogador-Essaouira* seaside complex, located south in Diabat, has an 18-hole golf course.

Thalassotherapy and Wellness

The hammam is a Moroccan tradition, and Essaouira has several. You can choose between *Hammam Mounia* (Rue Oum Rabii), a traditional hammam, and the *Sofitel Hotel*’s hammam, which also offers thalassotherapy.

Other Activities

Among other options, if your hotel doesn’t have a pool, *Hôtel des Îles* (near the medina) offers paid access to its pool for non-guests.

Cultural Life and Activities

The city’s cultural scene revolves around the Gnawa Festival, Essaouira’s biggest event, held every late June. For four days, the city comes alive with Gnawa music and other global sounds. It draws huge crowds, so finding accommodation at this time can be tricky.

Beyond the Gnawa Festival, Essaouira hosts other major cultural events, including the *Moussem du Regraga* (commemorating the region’s Islamization in March) and the *Printemps Musical des Alizés* (April). There’s no cinema in Essaouira, but the *Alliance Franco-Marocaine* (9 Rue Mohamed Diouri) occasionally screens films.

Bars and Nightlife

Like most Moroccan cities, Essaouira doesn’t have a vibrant nightlife (outside the Gnawa Festival). You’ll find a few establishments in the old town or along the beach, along with bars and occasional nightclubs in large tourist hotels. Alcohol isn’t widely available in Essaouira.

Shopping

From its long commercial history, the city has preserved artisanal skills, particularly in marquetry, jewelry-making, and handwoven carpets. The old city is home to many small shops and several souks.

Markets

On either side of the medina’s main street, you’ll find several small indoor markets: the vegetable and spice souk, the fish souk, the jewelers’ souk, and the *Joutia* (flea market).