Visiting Essaouira as a Day Trip from Marrakech
It’s very easy to go on a day trip to Essaouira from Marrakech. The breezy Atlantic port is just a 2 hr 44 min drive from the Red City. Since Essaouira’s UNESCO-listed medina mixes Portuguese, Amazigh, and Moroccan heritage, you get to experience a different side of the country. Evidently, you can go to the beach too! The long, golden bay is perfect for walks, kite-surfing, and chilling with locals.
Essaouira sits on a small peninsula that shelters a lively fishing port and opens to wide, wind-brushed sands. Since most foreign tourists flock to Marrakech, the Sahara, and Chefchaouen, Essaouira still feels wonderfully laid-back. White-washed houses with blue shutters line narrow lanes scented with sea air and cedar wood. You’ll see Portuguese ramparts, Moroccan riads, and art galleries everywhere. Locals are relaxed, friendly, and great hosts! You’ll love it here!
How to Get to Essaouira from Marrakech
Marrakech to Essaouira by Car
You can go to Essaouira on a day trip from Marrakech. The town is about 113.2 miles (182 km) away. Most people go from Marrakech to Essaouira by car. It’s a scenic ride that takes you across argan-tree country, where you’ll spot goats climbing branches! The trip is an attraction in itself, so don’t rush and enjoy.
Leave Marrakech heading west on the N8 and connect to the R207 toward Essaouira. You’ll pass through Chichaoua and Ounagha, dotted with roadside cafés and argan cooperatives. There are service stations and viewpoints to break up the journey. As you approach the ocean, the air turns salty and cool—keep a light jacket handy.
Private Tours to Essaouira
If you don’t feel like going to Essaouira on your own, there are excellent small-group and private day tours from Marrakech. A couple of friends took one and had a blast. Most tours include photo stops in the argan groves, time at the port, and a guided wander through the medina with free time for lunch and shopping. You can also book a private driver for a flexible schedule—perfect if you want extra beach time or sunset on the ramparts.
We have another tour idea that’s perfect for food lovers. Essaouira’s port is famous for ultra-fresh grilled fish. Many experiences pair a market walk with a cooking class in a riad kitchen. You pick your seafood, learn to spice it Moroccan-style, and enjoy lunch on a terrace. Classes are in English and usually include all ingredients.
Buses from Marrakech to Essaouira
There’s no train to Essaouira. However, the intercity buses are comfy, punctual, and easy. Coaches depart from the Supratours and CTM stations in Marrakech and take about 3 hours, depending on traffic. Tickets are affordable and sell out on weekends and holidays, so consider booking ahead. The bus station in Essaouira is just outside Bab Marrakech gate—an easy walk to the medina, or a short petit taxi ride if you’ve got luggage.
What to Do in Essaouira
Climb the Ramparts of the Skala
Of all the things to do in Essaouira, walking the Skala de la Ville ramparts is a must. The 18th-century bastions overlook the Atlantic and the Purpuraires Islands, with bronze cannons pointing seaward. The ocean views are incredible, especially when waves crash against the walls. Go in the late afternoon for golden light and sea breeze. The stairways are easy, and the fortifications are in great shape.
Stroll the Port and Fish Stalls
Essaouira’s heart beats at the port. Blue wooden boats bob in the harbor while fishermen mend their nets. It’s famous all over Morocco. Follow the smell of charcoal to the open-air grills where you can pick your fish and shellfish by the kilo and have it cooked on the spot. Prices are posted and vendors are friendly. Do a quick wander to the Sqala du Port for sweeping views back toward the medina—stunning at sunset when the lighthouse flickers on.
Learn History in Essaouira’s Museums
Though Essaouira is not that big, it’s got more than one interesting museum to visit. Our favorite is the Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah Museum, housed in a beautiful old residence. The collection showcases Gnawa instruments, Amazigh jewelry, and city history. From there, stroll to the Jewish Quarter (Mellah) to see restored synagogues like Slat Lkahal and learn about Essaouira’s cosmopolitan past.
Art lovers will enjoy the city’s many galleries exhibiting contemporary Moroccan painters and photographers. On windy afternoons, step inside a thuya-wood workshop to watch artisans shape glossy boxes and inlays—the cedar scent alone is worth it.
Roam the Streets of the Medina
Essaouira’s medina will take your breath away. In fact, it is one of the most charming in the country. The city preserved its traditional grid layout designed by European engineers, but its spirit is pure Moroccan. Start at Bab El-Menzah and wander toward Avenue Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah. You’ll pass spice shops, basket weavers, and tailors. Look up: blue-shuttered houses with iron balconies line sunlit lanes.
Our favorite square is Place Moulay Hassan, opening to the sea. From there, get lost discovering hidden riads and calm side streets. It’s a small area packed with boutiques and cozy cafés. Stop by the clock tower and the souks for local textiles and ceramics.
Walk along the Coast
One of the best things to do in Essaouira is to walk. As mentioned, the town opens to a long, wide bay with a flat, car-free promenade. Begin your stroll at Place Moulay Hassan and head south along the plage, watching kite-surfers dance across the water. Keep an eye on the Skala and the Purpuraires Islands offshore.
Continue as far as you like—the farther you go, the quieter it gets. If you want a gentle climb and big views back to the medina, follow the path up to Borj Bab Marrakech. The area around the dunes is also popular for horseback and camel rides, as well as quad biking.
Spend Some Time on the Beach
Granted, Morocco’s Sahara and Atlas Mountains are epic. Who doesn’t want to visit them? However, the Atlantic coast has lovely beaches too. Essaouira is no exception. Note that the bay is famously windy—great for kiting, less ideal for sunbathing at midday without a windbreaker. Swimming is possible but watch currents and follow lifeguard flags.
Essaouira Beach is right in town, an easy 10–15 minutes from the medina. You can rent boards, take kite or surf lessons, or simply lounge at a beachfront café. Sidi Kaouki is 30 minutes south by taxi or bus: a wilder beach with mellow surf vibes. To the north, Diabat has dune landscapes and Jimi Hendrix lore.
Where to Stay in Essaouira
Essaouira has some of the most atmospheric riads in Morocco. We stayed at a traditional riad in the medina and loved it. Rooms wrapped around a tiled courtyard kept us cool and quiet, yet we were steps from cafés and the sea. Many riads offer rooftop terraces for breakfast with gulls and ocean views!
If you like sea views, book a room at a waterfront hotel on the corniche or a stylish riad overlooking the ramparts. Wake up to the sound of waves and enjoy a generous Moroccan breakfast—think msemmen, amlou, and fresh orange juice. Choose a superior room for balconies facing the Atlantic. Public parking sits just outside the gates if you’re driving.
Where to Eat and Drink
For us, Morocco offers some of the best flavors in North Africa. Essaouira has incredible restaurants for all tastes and budgets. At the port grills, pick your fish and let them fire it up—simple and unforgettable. Inside the medina, cozy spots serve tagines, couscous, and bissara. Rooftop terraces pour mint tea and mocktails with breezy views.
We love casual cafés along Avenue Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah for people-watching. On Place Moulay Hassan, grab a seat for sunset and live music. For coffee with sea views, duck into a beachfront lounge and linger as kites streak the horizon. In the evening, listen for Gnawa rhythms drifting from bars and cultural centers.
When to Visit Essaouira
Most tourists visit Morocco in spring and fall. Essaouira’s weather, however, is famously temperate year-round thanks to the ocean. In fact, we like going from Marrakech to Essaouira in summer when the coast is cooler and breezier. In winter, days are mild and nights fresh, with the chance of a passing shower.
It hardly ever goes beneath 50 Fahrenheit (10 C) or much above the high 70s F (mid-20s C) even in peak season. The sun shines often, but the alizé wind can be strong. Almost everything stays open all year, so you can eat, sip tea, and relax in peace. Nevertheless, the best time to visit Essaouira is from May to June and from September to October. The wind is friendlier, and the light is dreamy.
suggestion reading: Best Time to Visit Morocco
Useful Tips
We strongly recommend spending at least a night in Essaouira. Since many visitors come just for the day, you’ll have the lanes and ramparts to yourself in the evening. Besides, Essaouira caters mostly to locals and relaxed travelers, so you’ll enjoy a real Moroccan coastal town. Cars don’t enter the medina—park outside the gates and walk.
As mentioned, it can be very windy in Essaouira. Therefore, be sure to grab a light jacket, sunscreen, and a recyclable bottle of water. Likewise, try to avoid the midday glare on the sand. Sit for a refreshing mint tea and cool down before continuing. There’s often live Gnawa and acoustic sets in the center at night. Ask around and enjoy a lovely evening.
Other Nice Places in the Area
The Atlantic coast around Essaouira offers some of the best day trips in Morocco. On your way from Marrakech, stop at an argan oil cooperative near Ounagha to learn how the golden oil is made. From Essaouira, it’s a short drive to Sidi Kaouki for surfing and broad, empty sands. You can also ride north to Safi for ceramics and cliffside views.
History buffs will enjoy the old caravanserai towns inland, where you can visit weekly souks and taste local goat cheese and honey. Base yourself in Essaouira and explore the dunes of Diabat or take a horseback ride at sunset. One of our favorite coastal towns is further south: Taghazout has great surf and a chill café scene. Agadir, with its sweeping bay, is a couple of hours away.
