They speak no English and minimal French but, since so little communication is needed, Google translate is more than enough. With the almost guaranteed warm sunshine every day, April is climatically a good time for sun-seeking Europeans to visit Essaouira. It's a wonderful way to kickoff a weekend in Essaouira. Secondly, the people who praise Essaouira for its chilled-ness have usually come from the mighty intense Marrakesh. Id say that if you have time and money to go to Essaouira, you should absolutely prioritize doing so. When youre finished, take a stroll back along the beach to the medina (if thats where youre staying). In fact, this was the first place I visited in EssaouiraI headed here late in the evening, once my stomach had calmed down, and enjoyed having the place basically to myself as I wondered whether I would relapse into sickness. But Essaouira is a very small town. The town's main attraction is the long and wide beach. Did you see my Taghazout post? 7 years ago We loved Essaouira and would come back in a heartbeat. So we recommend you check out our list of top restaurants in Essaouira. However, there are always days cooler and hotter than this. Essaouira is unique in Morocco, as a result of its dramatic coastal scenery and relatively cool weather during certain times of the year. The restaurants in Essaouira that I ate at or enjoyed a Mint Tea in that Id recommend are Mega Loft, La Tolerance, The Coast Cafe, Taros, Il Mare. Essaouira with kids: why it's a fantastic family-friendly destination! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-72093491', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Marrakech. Pay cash before or after your rental, as you prefer. Whether you return to Marrakech (and, likely, the Sahara Desert) after exploring Essaouira, or continue heading south to the surf paradise of Agadir, this city is as enjoyable as its name is difficult to pronounce. I am also a writer, and have started my own blog recently. We were completely carefree, which is the fundamental thing to fully enjoy a holiday. WARNING: continuing to read this article may lead to booking flights Explore Essaouira ebook 8.99 Add to cart Explore Essaouira ebook It's bustling and chaotic, which can be wonderful, but doesn't make for a relaxing visit. Visiting Marrakech in August, The Weather & Things To Do in Marrakech in August! WARNING: continuing to read this article may lead to booking flights . The calm vibes of Essaouria create a safe environment. In fact there are so many restaurants and eateries in Essaouira that if you ate in a different restaurant or caf each day, you would need to stay much longer than a month. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah and Av. Many locations in this city, which was once known by the name Mogador, were featured in HBOs soon-to-be-ending most-famous TV series. And if you are lucky, Game of Thrones cast may be there! We appreciate hearing from you and will do our best to help. Essaouira does experience some cloudy and drizzly days. Instead, order your seafood off the menu at a restaurant, whose chefs will know better what's fresh and how to cook it. In the wild, local goats will often climb these trees in order to eat the argan fruit. As I hit my 30s I met my husband and now I live in Manchester with my family doing trips from here around the U.K and the world! London With Kids Itinerary 2-3 Days & Tips For Planning a Trip to London With Kids! Why Essaouira Is The Best City In Morocco | Aaron Jarvis Travel There are rugs for sale, clothes, furniture, bags, shoes, plus everything else! Prices are high for Morocco but similar to Europeans or Americans. No Essaouira beach is quiet as spectacular as what you find farther south in Agadir (a place Ill write more about in just a couple of paragraphs), but the city is home to several serene stretches of sand nonetheless. 14667703, "We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.". To the north of Essaouira is another long stretch of beach, known to locals as Safi Beach. (See schedule.) As the Muslim calendar is slight shorter that the Gregorian calendar, Ramadan begins 1012 days earlier each year. If youre staying in Essaouira then you really should stay in a Riad within the Medina and itll be even better if you stay in a Riad with a Rooftop as I did. As its perched on Moroccos western coast, Essaouria offers epic ocean sunsets. One of the biggest draws of Essaouira is its affordability. Travelers going from Marrakech to the coastal town of Essaouira have several transport options for the 118-mile (191 km) journey, ranging from 2-4 hours in duration. Is Essaouira Worth Visiting? You'll need cash for most purchases here outside the higher-end restaurants and hotels and the Carrefour supermarket. When we felt we'd worn out our welcome at L'Atelier, we'd go to Mega Loft, the only other work-friendly option we found in the medina. Only one shop outside the northern walls of the medina and the Carrefour at the southern end of town sell alcohol. It stuck around until being replaced by Essaouira in the '60s. Then follow our one day in Essaouira itinerary. Is it worth a visit? If you would like to experience serenity at its best, take a walk to the secluded areas south of the beach. If you have found this website useful for planning your family adventures, you can show your support bybuying me a coffee. Alternatively, Supratour sells combo tickets including a bus to Marrakech and train to Casablanca. Points of Interest & Landmarks 2023 Essaouira Fishing Port 2,179 Piers & Boardwalks, Points of Interest & Landmarks 2023 Cheval Essaouira 329 Equestrian Trails, Hiking Trails 2023 Essaouira Beach How many days to spend in Essaouira? Adventurous 2 Week Pakistan Womens Tour To The Mountains! Blue shutters line the Medina alleyways where usually rug and ceramic goods spill onto the street, street food stalls are almost non-existent, and many local corner shops where you would normally buy bread, milk, and eggs, will be closed. Essaouira is very much an Arabic City, an African City too and it's easy to feel, see and smell this! There are very few tourists around. Whether youre looking for acamping spot, a characterful Airbnb in the heart of the medina,a high end hotel, or a beach resort with swimming pool, there will be something in Essaouira to suit your budget and needs. Being a fishing port, it will come as no surprise that Essaouira is haven for seafood lovers. After the Portuguese were pushed out, Mogador became a haven for pirates for the next couple hundred years. Do you only have 2 days to spend in Essaouira? 25. The medina here is surrounded by the ramparts and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Is it worth it? - Essaouira Forum - Tripadvisor After your adventures, head to one of the beach bars by the camels for lunch and a beverage. until the Portuguese colonized it in the 1500s. FULL Tenerife Road Trip Guide | Itinerary, Places To Visit in Tenerife, Car Hire! New flights are being added all the time. Indeed, the wind can make all the difference to how warm (or cold) it may feel, especially on the exposed beach; Essaouira has been coined the Windy City of Africa for a reason! Personally, I stayed atRiad Arambys, which manages to be regal yet delightfully simplistic in its designwith very clean toilets, at least according to my close inspection. Id recommend spending between 1-3 days in Essaouira, depending on what you plan to do here. 14667703, "We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This may be you! The majority of businesses close during this time, and for non-Muslim visitors to Essaouira, Ramadan perhaps doesnt seem like an ideal time to visit and enjoy all the things to do in Essaouira. Alternatively its just a 30 minute walk each way. Essaouira (pronounced sah-weh-rah) is a port city of about 80,000 people on Morocco's west coast. Essaouira travel - Lonely Planet | Morocco, Africa If youve been dining on tagine for a while, you may be relived to hear that Essaouira restaurants offer a lot more variety, including for vegetarians. When it's not so cold and windy you need to wear a jacket and pants: Guys: Plenty of Moroccans have embraced the surfer dude style, so shorts, flip flops, and tank tops by the beach is no issue. For a local Essaouira accommodation booking experience, look for guys standing by the main traffic circles coming into town by Carrefour and by Beach and Friends and waving keys at the passing cars. From traditional woodfired pizza, to an extensive vegan menu, trendy rooftop restaurants, to Asian food, theres choice in Essaouira to keep even the fussiest eater happy. The city retained the name until the mid-1900s, but the Portuguese only held it for about 4 years. Before your go, check out these useful reads for your visit: Essaouira travel FAQs: everything you need to know before your visit, Where to go for the best pizza in Essaouira. And Best Rooftops in Marrakesh! There is nothing worth stopping along the way. A city situated in the Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz region of Morocco, Essaouira is an up-and-coming hotspot for European travelers looking for something beyond the usual tourist attractions. Before booking this tour, I was worried that a day trip to Essaouira would feel too rushed. Though this post begun in a TMI vein, I think youll agree that I succinctly answered the question: Is Essaouira worth visiting?. And two flights a week, Thursday and Sunday from Brussels. Also, the majority of restaurants in Essaouira will be closed during Ramadan. Here the cool breeze, blue skies, and laid back atmosphere will relax and calm you. All three options will drop you by Essaouira Medina. Best Things To Do In Essaouira Morocco Morocco Travel - Kevin & Amanda Youll want to consider weather (and crowds) in other parts of the country, particularly amid the dunes of the Sahara, where youll be the most exposed to whatever the elements are doing. Do you only have one day to spend in Essaouira? Essaouira offers a much slower and easy-going pace, and can make for a relaxing destination. - JRR Tolkien. Or ride a horse carriage! That's how we found our all-time favorite tagine place, Snack Chamali. Essaouira Travel guide - Ask Aladdin, The Middle east Travel Experts Guides Is Essaouira worth visiting? Will I wish we had moved on? As Essaouira is coined the Windy City of Africa it may come as no surprise that Essaouira is one of the top destinations in the world for kite-surfing! Staying at Dfrost Almugar Surf & Yoga House in Taghazout Morocco! Whilst this is very rare, it does happen. Morocco It is the coastal wind - the beautifully named alizee, or taros in Berber - that has allowed Essaouira (essa-weera, or es-sweera in Arabic) to retain its traditional culture and character. 1. How should you behave during Ramadan? Flights from Madrid and Gran Canaria have started in 2023. There are no trains or planes to Essaouira, so your options are a private driver, shared shuttle, or by rental car. USEFUL GUIDES:Essaouira campsitesBest hotels in Essaouira. Is Essaouira worth visiting? The season typically runs from March through to September, with July and August being the best months for strong winds. Visit Essaouira whilst you still can. It's known for laid-back beach towns, good surfing, and better seafood. Transport was in a nice Mercedes Sprinter van, and the group was fairly small only about a dozen of us. At one time, nearly half of Essaouira's population was Jewish. Best Things To Do In Essaouira Morocco Morocco Travel A Complete Guide to Planning Your Trip. If you have extra days to spend in Essaouira (or youve decided to stay longer, as we predicted!) Is Ramadan really the best time to visit Essaouira, or should you visit another time? As already mentioned, Essaouira medina is traffic-free, which makes for a calmer wander along backstreets and alleyways compared to other Moroccan medinas. Just 200dh per day, plain and simple. Closer to our Airbnb in El Borj, our go-to was Maison Gourmande. Indeed it even rains sometimes in Essaouira, although heavy rain is very rare. But I also felt I was able to soak in its laid-back vibe and sea breezes in the short time I had. Or just enjoy your extra time walking around the beautiful medina and along the beaches. Its a flat fee of 7DH during the day and 8DH at night (read our guide: how to get around Essaouira). It's an ancient coastal town dating back to at least the 5th century BC. Here are ten reasons to persuade you if youre unsure. L'Atelier is the closest thing Essaouira has to a digital nomad friendly caf. This is a PDF download for use offline and on the go (and ad-free!). Hello, Salaam! Recommended spas to try are Spa Cocooning, and Azur Spa Essaouira for a bit of well-deserved pampering. The first point leads me to this point very well. Almost every city in the country has a mellah, or Jewish quarter. 2 Day 2 Week Southern Spain Itinerary! However, this is among the only places in town to shop very extensively, and is also home to a fair share of eateries. I can't say for sure whether these goats are being abused, but this is definitely NOT a natural occurrence so keep that in mind since your tour will almost certainly stop to visit one of these trees. B right and breezy Essaouira, on Morocco 's Atlantic coast, is an enchanting, laid-back alternative to the frenetic melting-pot of Marrakesh. Those visiting Essaouira with kids will appreciate the generally clean and sandy beach to play, and the shallow waters for little legs to splash around. May 17, 2022 by Robert Schrader Leave a Comment. The local ex-pats all speak French. Hardly anyone goes here, and theres an end-of-the-world, abandoned feel to it. Yes, Essaouira is definitely worth visiting! The end of the Ramadan fast is celebrated asEid al-Fitr, the Feast of Fast-Breaking, which is one of the major religious holidays of the Muslim calendar. In fact, I liked Essaouira so much I couldnt stop thinking about writing a post on why everyone else should visit too so here it is, my top reasons to visit Essaouira and why you should visit Essaouira next! Indeed, many arrive to Essaouira for a day or so, and find themselves still there, weeks late. Getting to Essaouira. 2023 A Dangerous Business. There are enough streets to keep you wandering for a few hours but it is by no means confusing or hard to navigate. There are also so many amazing Airbnbs in Essaouira and you can get entire places like this one to yourself in the centre of the city for a great price! 17. Do Essaouira one other time when you have more time in Morocco. Paris Orly to Essaouira (4 flights per week with, London Stansted to Essaouira (2 flights per week with, Brussels South Charleroito Essaouira (2 flights per week with, Marseille Provence to Essaouira (2 flights per week with. For a special treat, consider a 290dh afternoon high tea at the Four Seasons. (I also wasnt a fan of my room and found the rooms to be very loud at night so Im not sure I would recommend where I stayed aside from the location and price!). If you have found this website useful for planning your Essaouira adventures, you can show your support bybuying Jenny a coffee. Whilst its a relaxed and laid-back Moroccan town, there are also an array of activities in Essaouira to balance your chilled vibe with an adrenaline hit. Once you've been in Morocco for a while, you'll realize that scenes like the ones above are very common here there will always be someone trying to sell you something. In Essaouira, you will hear the call of prayer from the Mosque, see the men dressed in traditional clothing, the women too. From Place Moulay Hassan, its a short hop across the square to Essaouiras fishing port past a few fresh orange juice stands and through the grand entrance of Skala du Port (also used in Game of Thrones). Im Ellie, a British Travel Blogger and Content Creator. Not if you want to party and shop till you drop. This holy month of fasting follows the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, beginning and ending with the appearance of the crescent moon. If you prefer to be extra respectful, go to the row of beach restaurants at the south end of the beach where there are fenced off areas for tourists to lounge in their bikinis and drink beer. In fact, quite the opposite. So you are guaranteed that there wont be any hammering or drilling happening to disturb your peace. Today, daily tour groups come from Marrakech to poke around the hotels, arts and craft shops, restaurants, and cafes within the blue-accented, whitewashed buildings of the medina. Supratour and CTM operate buses between Marrakech and Essaouira. Some cheap, some more glamorous. History of Essaouira Archeologists have found remnants that Essaouira has been inhabited since prehistoric times. PersonalityConnect48 1 yr. ago Why is that? Run down a huge sand dune, explore the rock pools, or just find a good spot to sit and watch the waves roll in from the Atlantic Ocean. It's 16km outside of town. I aim to inspire people to find ways to fit more travel and adventure into the lifestyle they already have. Alternatively, you may use, SofitelSofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf & Spa, Hotel Le Medina Essaouira Thalassa sea & spa - MGallery, Residence Hoteliere Domaine De L'arganeraie. Those keys are for short-term apartment rentals. In the winter (January and February) highs don't exceed 20C / 70F and lows drop to 12C / 52F. You could either try out another beach activity, or if youre wanting more of a chill day, how about visiting a vineyard or enjoying a pool day pass out in the countryside, such as as day pass to Les Jardins de Villa Maroc or Htel Domaine de LArganeraie? The bus will stop along the way so you get to see that (also unimpressive). de lIstiqla, which runs into Av. If there is no price bartering can be done. The road between the two cities, therefore, is a straight line meaning day trips to Essaouira are quite popular. People do it, but you might be stared at. Medina of Essaouira: Worth visiting! In doing so, they will strengthen their faith and improve their character through cleansing the body, mind, and soul, and learn to let go of grudges, arrogance, vanity, and other poor traits. Its eerily beautiful and wild, especially on a commonly windy day with sand whipping up everywhere. Safe Seafood Bet: If you insist on getting "fresh" fish, the safest bet is sardines. Its also worth noting that not all Muslims fast during Ramadan. I seek to inspire people to be curious about the world and find ways to fit more travel into the lifestyle they already have - and I only share tips based on my personal experiences and places I've actually traveled! The windswept beaches to the north and south of Essaouira offer an interesting dimension to the city. Have a great day. Is Essaouira worth visiting in Morocco? A very nice benefit of visiting Essaouira during Ramadan is that there are no building works taking place around the Medina. This is a PDF download for use offline and on the go (and ad-free!). Here are the best things to see and do in the beautiful beach town of Essaouira, Morocco! Typically, tourists who only have two days to spend in Essaouira visit from Marrakech. I have a love for Arabic Countries but I know that not everyone does. Home Africa Morocco Escaping to the Moroccan Coast: A Day Trip to Essaouira. :). Travel One day in Essaouira: The essential guide If you're spending a couple of days in Marrakech and you finally get tired with the hustle and bustle, you can very easily get to Essaouira - a small coastal town. If this post is making you want to visit Essaouira and you want to check out some Riads have a lookBooking.com here as there are lots available! I have a love for Arabic Countries but I know that not everyone does. If you dont fancy the walk, hop in a Petit Taxi. Generally, the rule is, if there is a written price, thats the price. I agree with this however not 100%, the market sellers definitely do try to lure you in and dont let you look in total peace, there are people begging and being a solo female did get me a few catcalls however it is by no means intimidating or too much, its just part of the culture and the tourist trade (not that catcalling should be accepted as either of these things!). Check out listings for El Borj in Essaouira on Booking.com or on Airbnb. They'll bring your car to you, you do whatever you want with the car, then they come pick up the keys when you're done. Quick overview of Essaouira A Dangerous Business is a participant in several affiliate programs. Essaouira is much more relaxed than Marrakech (where most travellers fly into). Diabat - worth visiting? - Essaouira Forum - Tripadvisor Read our affiliate policy. Hmm. They say that compared to Marrakesh the people are lovely, its easy to get around and no one bothers you! So start your day with a walk along either the shoreline or the corniche, along to Moga Surf, one of the best surf schools in Essaouira who will be able to get you all set up (email ahead to arrange lessons).