What to do in Essaouira? The essential activities between medina and ocean

Essaouira, pearl of the Atlantic, casts its spell from the very first moments with its subtle blend of authenticity and creative energy. ‘What to do in Essaouira? The essential activities between medina and ocean’: as soon as this question crosses your mind, a whole world of emotions opens up. Between the blue and white lanes of the medina, a World Heritage Site, the salt air brushing the ramparts, the delicate craftsmanship of thuya wood and the invigorating breeze of the Atlantic, the city fascinates with its dual nature: elegant and bohemian, vibrant and peaceful.

Written by Mogador Conciergerie, a concierge service with exceptional villas in Essaouira, this guide is an invitation to experience the essence of the city: to wander where history meets modernity, to awaken the senses and to savour the present moment. We promise you a rich and precise itinerary, from the medina to the ocean, designed for those who want to discover the essentials while enjoying Essaouira’s unique atmosphere in refined, tailor-made comfort.

Into the heart of Essaouira’s medina

A UNESCO World Heritage medina

White and blue lanes, a unique atmosphere

Essaouira’s medina is not just an old town: it is a living stage, a setting that changes with the Atlantic light. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, it embodies a perfect harmony between Moroccan heritage and European influences. Its white and blue lanes, laid out on a grid plan unique in Morocco, are a reminder that Mogador (Essaouira’s former name) was a city designed to connect Africa, Europe and the New World.

Every turn invites you to slow down, to look, to catch the smell of warm bread drifting from a neighbourhood oven. Here, everything breathes authenticity.

Local crafts: thuya wood, jewellery, leather, spices

Essaouira is also a kingdom of skilled hands. Thuya woodcraft, noble and fragrant, has been practised for centuries by craftsmen who turn the raw material into refined boxes, tables and sculptures.

The medina’s jewellers, for their part, make silver and amber sing in pieces that have charmed travellers for generations. In the little shops, the scents of spices, cumin, paprika and cinnamon, compete with the smell of worked leather. This is not just a market: it is a theatre of the senses.

The souks and their essentials

Souk Jdid (spices, textiles)

You can’t visit Essaouira without passing through Souk Jdid, the beating heart of the medina. You will find everything here: colourful rugs, light fabrics perfect for keeping off the wind and, above all, mountains of spices.

Morocco exports more than 70,000 tonnes of spices a year (source: Moroccan National Tourist Office), and Essaouira distils all their flavours. The merchants, with their gift for words, turn every purchase into a piece of theatre.

Art galleries and contemporary studios

Essaouira is not just a museum city: it is a creative breeding ground. In its galleries and studios, contemporary painters and sculptors reinvent the codes, blending African, Eastern and European influences. Essaouira’s naïve art, championed in particular by self-taught artists since the 1960s, is now recognised on the international stage. Buying a canvas here means taking home a fragment of the bohemian soul of the city of the trade winds.

Traditional cafés and riads

A mint tea break with a view of the medina

No discovery of Essaouira would be complete without a break in one of its historic cafés. On a terrace, a piping-hot mint tea becomes a sensory experience: the scent of sugar and fresh mint, the sound of the city in the background, the call of the muezzin in the distance. You then see the medina differently: no longer as a backdrop, but as a breath.

An immersive stay in a traditional riad

Spending the night in a riad in the medina is a taste of Essaouira’s understated luxury. These houses built around a central patio, once the homes of wealthy merchants, reveal their charm in the details: colourful zellige, carved doors, an intimate atmosphere. At Mogador Conciergerie, we select riads for our guests that combine authenticity with modern comfort, turning a simple night into an experience.

Exploring the ramparts and the Sqala facing the ocean

The Sqala of the Kasbah and its cannons

A military heritage inspired by Vauban

In the 18th century, Sultan Mohammed Ben Abdallah entrusted European architects with fortifying Mogador. The Sqala of the Kasbah is one of these masterpieces: a bastion directly inspired by Vauban’s techniques.

Lined up facing the Atlantic, its Spanish bronze cannons are a reminder that the city was a strategic gateway between Africa and Europe. This is where history is still being written, in stone and salt.

A panorama over the Atlantic

Walking along the ramparts also means treating yourself to one of the finest panoramas in Morocco. The ocean stretches as far as the eye can see, dotted with gulls wheeling in the wind. You understand then why Essaouira is nicknamed the ‘city of the trade winds’: on more than 300 days a year, these constant winds shape its climate and its unique atmosphere.

The lively fishing port

Authentic scenes: the fish auction, grilled sardines, blue boats

A few steps from the Sqala, the fishing port of Essaouira offers a spectacle of rare authenticity. The blue boats, emblematic of the city, come back every morning laden with sardines, Essaouira being one of the largest sardine ports in the country.

According to the FAO, Morocco produces around 1.4 million tonnes of fish a year, and here the sea is part of daily life. The shouts of the fish auction, the creaking wood of the boats and the laughter of the fishermen make up a raw symphony.

Local tastings

For a taste of Essaouira, nothing beats an impromptu meal at the port. The sardines, grilled before your eyes, cost barely a few dirhams and have an unrivalled taste of the sea. This is food in its purest form: simple, fresh, immediate.

Sunset in Essaouira

The most spectacular spots

The setting sun turns Essaouira into a living painting. From the ramparts, the Sqala or even the beach, the sight is striking: the horizon catches fire, the sails of the windsurfers stand out like shadow puppets, and the medina is bathed in golden light. It is a daily ritual, but never the same twice.

Tips for the best view

For a more intimate moment, simply move away from the crowds. The rooftop terraces of the riads offer unique perspectives, far from the hubbub. Or a dinner in a seafront villa, selected by Mogador Conciergerie, lets you enjoy the spectacle in complete peace. In Essaouira, every sunset tells a different story, and each one stays with you.

Enjoying the beach and water sports

A vast, windswept beach

Perfect for relaxing and walking

In Essaouira, the beach is not just a postcard backdrop; it is a real playground stretching for several kilometres. Wide, sandy and airy, it invites contemplation as much as deep breaths. The wind, a faithful companion here, keeps any heaviness at bay: even in the height of summer, the air stays invigorating.

During the day you will see walkers, joggers and families looking for a moment outside time. In the morning the calm is almost meditative. In the evening the colours of the sunset are reflected there, quietly poetic.

Unusual activities: camels and horses

For a touch of the exotic, why not swap your sandals for a saddle? Camel and horse rides are offered all along the bay. Led by professionals, they let you discover the coast differently, at a slow, stately pace.

At low tide, the gallops become cinematic, amid golden reflections and salt spray. These experiences are especially popular with children, but not only with them: couples in search of romance also find what they are looking for.

Surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing

Essaouira, Morocco’s water sports capital

Essaouira, nicknamed the city of wind, is a world reference for board-sports enthusiasts. The wind blows at between 20 and 30 knots from May to September, making it a renowned spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing.

In 2022, Morocco welcomed more than 20,000 board-sports enthusiasts to its shores (source: Royal Moroccan Sailing Federation), and Essaouira is at the top of the list. Its bay offers ideal conditions: steady wind, shallow water and optimum safety.

The best schools and spots for beginners

Whether you are a beginner or experienced, several certified schools offer lessons for all levels. Among them: Explora Watersports, ION Club and Yousurf Essaouira. Lessons are usually given in small groups, with equipment provided and insurance included.

The best time to learn is spring or early autumn, when the sea is calmer and the winds gentler. At Mogador Conciergerie, we can organise your session with ease: pick-up, booking, equipment, everything flows as smoothly as the ride itself.

Seaside escapes around Essaouira

Sidi Kaouki: a wild surf spot

25 minutes from Essaouira, the village of Sidi Kaouki shows a rawer face of the Atlantic. Here nature rules: endless beaches, windswept dunes and a rustic atmosphere.

Surfing is king here, with more powerful waves than in Essaouira. The setting is popular with travellers looking to disconnect, with surf trips and bivouacs under the stars. A few guesthouses and cafés facing the sea offer simple but sincere service. A perfect place to get lost… on purpose.

Diabat: a hippie atmosphere and old ruins

A few minutes’ walk south of Essaouira, Diabat surprises with its suspended-in-time atmosphere. A former hippie haunt in the 1970s, it has kept that alternative energy. Here you will find the ruins of the sultan’s palace, lost in the dunes, and a Portuguese bridge mysteriously cut off from the world. It is also the ideal starting point for horse rides towards the wild beaches. A short detour that says a great deal about the invisible history of Mogador.

Immersing yourself in Essaouira’s culture and art

Museums and heritage

Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah Museum

Housed in a former noble residence in the heart of the medina, this museum pays tribute to Essaouira’s history and soul. You will find traditional objects, Gnaoua musical instruments, Berber jewellery and a rich collection of documents tracing the evolution of Mogador over the centuries.

It is a valuable insight into the plural identity of a city where Arab, Jewish, African and European cultures meet.

Landmarks: mosques, the clock tower, Bab el-Menzeh

Essaouira also has a distinctive, well-ordered architecture, shaped by the winds and by history. The medina’s monumental clock tower, built in 1926, is one of the most photographed landmarks in the city. The Ben Youssef and Kasbah mosques, discreet but elegant, embody the sober, geometric religious aesthetic of the region.

The Bab el-Menzeh gate, for its part, symbolises the city’s openness to the ocean and the world. Each of these places tells a different facet of Essaouira’s past.

Music and festivals

The Gnaoua World Music Festival

Every June, Essaouira becomes an open-air stage. The Gnaoua World Music Festival brings together Moroccan and international artists for 4 days of free concerts in the open air.

“In 2023, more than 300,000 visitors came to move to the rhythm of the guembris and drums. This festival is not just a cultural event: it is a moment of communion between generations, peoples and traditions.”

The spiritual, rhythmic soul of Essaouira

Beyond the festival, music is part of everyday life. The Gnaoua brotherhoods bring the streets, squares and souks to life. Every note evokes an ancestral memory, between sub-Saharan Africa, Sufism and trance. In some riads and cafés, impromptu concerts offer a suspended, almost sacred moment. Essaouira’s soul is musical, and those who listen to it often find far more than a simple souvenir.

Crafts and art galleries

Thuya wood marquetry

Thuya wood lies at the heart of Essaouira’s craft DNA. This noble, veined, fragrant wood is worked with millimetre precision to create boxes, tables, trays and sculptures. In the workshops of the medina, the gestures are slow, respectful, almost choreographed. Thuya, like the city, cannot be tamed; it reveals itself.

Women’s cooperatives and local creations

Essaouira supports an inclusive craft movement. Several cooperatives, many of them run by women, promote local savoir-faire: weaving, ceramics, cosmetics made with pure argan oil. Buying local here is not mere consumption: it means taking part in a human, committed economy.

“At Mogador Conciergerie, we recommend these addresses for their quality, but also for their direct impact on local life.”

Unique local experiences

Moroccan cooking classes

An introduction to tagine and pastilla

If Essaouira is a feast for the eyes, it is also a pleasure on the plate. Taking a traditional cooking class is one of the most immersive ways to understand the soul of the city. Fish tagine with preserved lemons, sweet-and-savoury chicken pastilla, crisp briouats…

These recipes say far more than food: they reflect a history, a land and a way of life. The workshops are often led by local women cooks, guardians of a savoir-faire handed down from generation to generation.

Visiting the souks before the workshop

It all begins with a detour through the souks of the medina, where you pick out freshly ground spices, seasonal vegetables, fragrant olives and, of course, the star ingredient: culinary argan oil, produced locally.

This foretaste helps you understand short supply chains and the importance of each ingredient. The result: a meal cooked with heart, to be shared in an inner courtyard or on a sunny terrace. A rare, delicious and deeply human moment.

Nature walks and excursions

Hiking on foot, by camel or by quad bike

Essaouira can also be explored beyond its ramparts. For lovers of the outdoors, there is no shortage of options: walks along the beach, horse rides through the sand dunes or quad-bike excursions to the surrounding villages.

These outings offer another view of the region, rawer and more natural. You pass through argan forests, lunar landscapes and isolated Berber villages. The routes suit all levels, from a gentle stroll to a more athletic adventure.

Birdwatching around Mogador Island

A short distance from the port, Mogador Island is a protected nature reserve, closed to the public but visible from the coast. It is home in particular to Eleonora’s falcons, a rare species that nests here every summer.

With a pair of binoculars and a little patience, you can watch these birds of prey in full flight, in a hypnotic aerial ballet. Birdwatching walks attract enthusiasts from all over the world every year. Essaouira is not just a postcard: it is a living ecosystem.

Wellbeing and relaxation

Traditional hammams

The hammam is an essential ritual of Moroccan culture, and Essaouira is no exception. In traditional hammams or more modern spas, you come for a moment of purification: a black soap scrub, a rhassoul clay wrap, gentle steam, mint tea…

It is a moment outside time, ideal after a day exploring the medina or the beaches.

Argan oil massages and treatments

You cannot talk about Essaouira without mentioning its liquid gold: argan oil. Rich in vitamin E, it is used for facials and for relaxing or invigorating massages.

Several of Mogador Conciergerie’s partner establishments offer high-end treatments in a soothing setting. It is the perfect opportunity to slow down, breathe and look after yourself the Moroccan way.

Practical tips for making the most of Essaouira

When to go to Essaouira?

A mild climate and constant wind

Essaouira enjoys a temperate microclimate all year round. In summer, temperatures rarely exceed 28°C thanks to the Atlantic trade winds. In winter, they hover around 17°C during the day. The result: a pleasant destination to visit in any season, with no heatwaves and no extreme cold.

The best seasons for culture, the beach and festivals

To make the most of the city, spring (March to June) and autumn (September to November) are ideal. Fewer people, soft light and perfect winds for board sports. The Gnaoua Festival, for its part, takes place every year in June: a festive time not to be missed if you love music and collective energy.

Where to stay?

Traditional riads in the medina

Essaouira’s riads, with their flower-filled patios and rooftop terraces, offer an intimate experience of hospitality. Perfect for travellers in search of authentic charm and cultural immersion.

Villas and hotels on the ocean side

For those who want to combine calm, views and comfort, Mogador Conciergerie’s villas, by the sea or on the outskirts of the city, offer an elegant, secure and entirely private setting. Ideal for families, couples or groups of friends who want to enjoy Essaouira at their own pace.

How to get around?

Exploring the medina on foot

Essaouira is best explored on foot. The medina is entirely pedestrianised, and that is a blessing: you take the time to get lost, to stumble upon a tucked-away workshop, a carved door, a smile freely given.

Organised excursions around the city

To explore the surrounding area, Mogador Conciergerie offers private transfers and excursions: Sidi Kaouki, Diabat, Val d’Argan, Berber villages… With a driver, a guide or simply a vehicle with assistance. You choose; we take care of the rest.

Essaouira is a city apart, a delicate balance between land and sea, tradition and modernity, silence and energy

Its ramparts tell its history, its beaches draw the horizon, and its souks pulse with a dense, colourful, sincere life.

Are you a lover of history, surfing, food or crafts, or simply looking to disconnect? Essaouira has something for everyone, without ever forcing its charm. It is not a place to consume in a hurry: you discover it, you breathe it, you inhabit it.

At Mogador Conciergerie, our ambition is simple: to let you experience Essaouira as it deserves to be experienced. With care, with passion, and always with the discreet elegance that makes it unique.

Your stay will not be just a trip. It will be an encounter. An imprint. A memory that will linger for a long time, like the wind that sweeps its beaches.

What to do in Essaouira? Activities between medina and ocean

What are the must-see places in Essaouira?

The medina, the port, the Sqala, the beach, the souks and Mogador Island are Essaouira’s absolute essentials.

Can you surf in Essaouira all year round?

Yes, thanks to the constant wind and ideal conditions, surfing and kitesurfing are possible in Essaouira almost 12 months of the year.

Where can you see the best sunset in Essaouira?

From the ramparts, the beach near the Sqala or a riad terrace in the medina, for a panoramic view over the Atlantic.

What souvenirs should you bring back from Essaouira?

Thuya wood objects, argan oil, spices, Berber jewellery or local handcrafted pieces.

What is the best time to visit Essaouira?

Spring (March–June) and autumn (September–November) offer the best combination of pleasant weather, steady wind and few crowds.