Essaouira is a coastal town on the Atlantic Ocean, about a 3-hour drive from Marrakech. In this blog, we’ll tell you why this unique and romantic city should be on your Morocco list. The city offers a mix of modern hotels and restaurants, but you’ll also find an authentic atmosphere in the medina, souk, and bustling fishing port. Thanks to the sea breeze from the Atlantic Ocean, the city is perfect to visit year-round, with an average temperature of around 22 degrees Celsius.
Medina of Essaouira
Every major city has a medina, and Essaouira’s medina may be the most enjoyable we’ve encountered in Morocco. Before arriving here, we explored the medina of Marrakech, but it was incredibly crowded and touristy. In Essaouira, you’ll find a similar medina, but much quieter, allowing you to take everything in at your own pace. The medina is quite large and surrounded by a beautiful city wall. You’ll find several lovely squares, and the wall along the sea is definitely worth a visit. There are plenty of small shops tucked into the wall, and as you walk along it, you’ll see the old cannons and enjoy a stunning view of the Moroccan coast.
Authentic Souk
In the heart of the medina, you’ll also find an authentic souk. This is the place to do your shopping. In addition to plenty of tourist shops where you can find shoes, clothing, carpets, jewelry, and much more, you can also buy delicious fresh products here. On the main street, you’ll find lots of bread and vegetables, but as soon as you venture into one of the smaller alleys, you’ll come across a bustling fish market, as well as many shops selling fresh chicken. Here, you can choose the chicken you want, and they’ll slaughter it for you on the spot. We still opted for the Carrefour chicken, but if your stomach can handle it, the quality here should be good.
Lively Fishing Port
Essaouira can’t be a coastal town without a port. The fishing port is definitely worth a visit. The harbor is surrounded by a wall with beautiful towers. Within this wall, you’ll find hundreds of traditional fishing boats, and the fishermen sell their fresh catch. Just beware of the seagulls that occasionally poop on your head!
A Relaxing Day at the Beach
Essaouira has a beautiful and peaceful bay where you can relax on the beach. The bay is suitable for beginner surfers as the waves here are quite small. To complete your trip, you can also take a nice camel ride along the coast. From the beach, you have a view of the island that separates the bay from the ocean. On the island, there’s an old prison that you unfortunately can’t visit, but the view is very beautiful.
Essaouira with the Camper
Contrary to many places in Morocco, we found Essaouira quite challenging to visit with the camper. We found a spot on the beach, but the police had us leave within an hour. However, there’s a street where it’s more tolerated to park, and you can find it here on park4night. We also stayed here overnight, but we’ve heard from others that the campsite further on is also a good option and that you can easily visit the city from here by taxi.
If you want more inspiration for your camper trip to Morocco, take a look at our other Moroccan destinations!
