Why you should escape to Essaouira? Discover the 7 TOP things to do in Essaouira and All the useful information you need when travelling to Essaouira.
Essaouira or Mogador is located on the western coast of Morocco. Known as the ‘Wind City of Africa’, it attracts plenty of windsurfers between April and November, but the majority of visitors come here in spring and autumn to wander through the spice-scented lanes and palm-lined avenues of the fortified medina, browse the many art galleries and boutiques, relax in some of the country’s best hotels and watch fishing nets being mended and traditional boats being constructed in the hugely atmospheric port.
The vibe :
The vibe in Essaouira is considerably less bustling than in bigger Moroccan cities. The slow pace is only occasionally interrupted by the sound of locals shouting “ballak, ballak” — if you hear this jump out of the way quick before you’re hit by a cart carrying goods to market!.
Essaouira is a great place to take things slow, whether that involves an afternoon of peaceful cycling or pottering around the numerous shops that sell spices, painted bowls, music, and colorful clothing
The fresh seafood :
The signature dish of Essaouira is sardines: grilled straight off the quayside or in “boulettes de sardines” tagine (a stew of sardine balls steamed in the classic Moroccan conical-hatted pot).
The port’s open-air restaurants entice visitors with dishes prepared from the morning’s catch- impossible to resist the inviting aroma of freshly grilled Fish ! and in the heart of the medina, the most demanding of gourmets will delight in the sophisticated cuisine and fairytale settings provided by the town’s top restaurants.
The Beautiful Sceneries :
Essaouira’s biggest attraction may be its relaxing atmosphere. It’s not a big town, and being a beach place it has a holiday feel about it. Essaouira is very much a working port and a fishing town.
Like so many other Moroccan cities, Essaouira has a medina; unlike many other medinas, where You can walk here for hours, get lost in narrow passageways. most people recognize Essaouria from Game of Thrones (remember Astapor?). Wandering through the UNESCO World Heritage Site medina’s twisting streets is far more interesting than watching it on the TV!
And nothing better than climbing the stairs onto the ramparts on the outer fortifications. The original cannons from the 1700s are still in place, and because the walls are quite high, you can enjoy beautiful views of both city and ocean while taking a leisurely stroll.
On the other side of the ramparts is the fishing port, which is a very traditional and local place. You can observe the fishermen trading their daily catch and bargaining.
Medina’s Souks, which is the heart of Essaouira and where all the key business is done. Here, you are surrounded by bustle and business: the fish souk, the spice souk, the auction souk, the veg souk, the chicken souk – the butchers, bakers, and Berber pharmacists. In one direction is the port, in one Bab Doukkala, in another Bab Marrakech. Once you figure that the sea is on two sides and figure out the main gates (Bab) in the medina walls, you have Essaouira in the palm of your hand.
And for sure Essaouira is particularly famous for its beaches with cool water and clean sand. it’s also quite windy so it’s ideal for people who love watersports like surfing, windsurfing, or kite surfing. The beach is also nice for a stroll and since it runs for about 6 miles (10 km) there’s plenty of it. Locals use the beach to play soccer and other sports as well as paddling in the summer.
The Gnaoua World Music Festival :
Each year, as summer gets underway, Essaouira is transformed into a temple to music. Hundreds of thousands of festivalgoers abandon themselves to the bewitching rhythms of Gnaoui music. A four-day free party of Sufi and world music, it is a great open-air party. The more intimate concerts at the beautifully colonnaded Dar Souiri and on the rooftop of the Bastion Bab Marrakech are not to be missed. Where else can you watch gigs while lounging on poufs listening to the crash of the waves and the cawing of the seagulls?
Festival des Alizés :
A date in every music lover’s diary, the Printemps Musical des Alizés Festival offers four days of multicultural music to suit all tastes. Symphonic music, classical and popular music, chorales and opera sonatas fill the air in idyllic surroundings.
The Atlantic Andalusia Festival :
This is a real Moroccan-Spanish cultural forum with the Mediterranean and Latin American influences are thrown in.
Argan Forest :
The world’s largest area of argan forest lies between Essaouira, Agadir and Taroudant- a national treasure. you can enjoy unspoiled natural surroundings, where Argan, Almond, and Olive trees grow wild side by side.
The warm hospitality :
Have you ever been to Morocco and tasted the Moroccans hospitality and generosity, I ensure you that the best gift you may get in the city of Essaouira is cheerful eyes and welcoming hearts around you. and you can admire the know-how of the women as they work at extracting argan oil in their cooperative, and appreciate the traditional hospitality of Berber culture.
