Day Trips to Essaouira from Marrakech

Marrakesh is a captivating place, but its chaos can be overwhelming. Marrakech also asks for a respite from its visitors: that respite is on the Atlantic coast and its name is Essaouira. Known as the 'Pearl of the Atlantic', this fishing town is a great way to round off your trip.

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Essaouira Day Trip from Marrakech

Discover Essaouira on a day trip with expert guide

You will discover this coastal city, its medina and its promenade on a round trip from Marrakech.

From £17 at Hellotickets

Strolling around Essaouira is like taking a holiday from the hustle and bustle of the capital, as well as a great chance to sample its fish or seafood at bargain prices. You can visit Essaouira comfortably and completely with this round trip from Marrakech.

It takes in the seafront promenade, the streets of the historic centre and, of course, the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will be accompanied by a local guide who will tell you about the great cultural wealth of this marvellous city on the shores of the Atlantic.

In addition, throughout the tour of Essaouira you will learn how argan oil, a typical product of the region, is produced, thanks to a visit to a cooperative.

Recommended if... You don't want to miss this little oasis of Morocco and visit it on a comfortable day trip at the best possible price.

Essaouira is only a three-hour drive from Marrakech. This distance, combined with the sheer size of this fishing town, means that a day trip to Essaouira and back is a great way to get to know the area. I recommend this day trip to Essaouira as you'll be picked up and dropped off at your hotel and you'll make several stops along the way to see points of interest. Once you arrive in Essaouira, you'll have time to see the city at your leisure.

The price of this tour is quite affordable and you will be accompanied by a specialised guide; the tour is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, French, Italian and Arabic. Transport is by air-conditioned minivan, which is very much appreciated in this country and will allow you to forget about discomfort and logistics.

Departure from Marrakech will be early in the morning, so expect to get up early that day; return will be in the late afternoon, so don't make too many other plans that day apart from this excursion, except perhaps dinner at a restaurant near your hotel in Marrakech.

Itinerary

Before arriving in Essaouira you will make a few stops. Although these may change depending on the date of the tour, when I did it they were:

If you leave early in the morning, you'll arrive in Essaouira by midday. You'll have plenty of time to visit the city in depth, so the first thing I recommend is that you take a stroll around the centre to get a feel for the area.

If you go on an organised excursion, the guide will easily tell you which tourist sites you should visit, although remember that on this type of excursion you will be on your own and the guide will not accompany you during your time in Essaouira, but you will meet up with him again at the meeting point on your return. The main points of interest to visit in Essaouira in one day are:

The streets of the Medina

Thanks to them, the town of Essaouira has been declared a World Heritage Site. The white and blue colours take you back in time as you stroll through the city centre and lose yourself in its narrow streets, calmly and unhurriedly. Although Essaouira is used to tourists, you won't be pressured to shop like in Marrakech, which is a relief.

Mulay el Hassan Square

This is the heart of Essaouira. This square is where the streets converge on one side and the wall and the sea on the other. It is an ideal place to take a break and sit down for a coffee or tea on one of its terraces. It is also a key location during your tour of the city.

The Skala de la Ville Wall

Opposite the square you will find the city wall (an 18th century Berber construction) and a walk along it is a must in Essaouira. You'll be interested to know that this wall was one of the settings for the well-known series Game of Thrones, and you'll probably find a reference to it during your walk along the wall.

What you'll also find if you keep your eyes peeled is a hole in the wall from which you can see the island of Mogador. Get your camera ready and get in line to immortalise these views. Finally, if you're a fan of shopping and handicrafts, the lower part of the wall has several shops where you can browse and, if you're lucky, find some different treasures from the souk in Marrakesh.

The port

Essaouira is known for being a fishing town, so a visit to the town's port is a must. As well as beautiful views by the sea, what you'll enjoy here is a fabulous fish and seafood feast at a very affordable price. Lunchtime in Morocco is between two and three in the afternoon or so, but it is possible that some of these restaurants, which are used to tourists, will serve you out of hours, especially if it's a weekend.

The beach

If you fancy a dip, a stroll along the sand or watching the sunset from the rocks, Essaouira's beach is waiting for you. It has a year-round water temperature of 18 degrees Celsius, which in summer can be a relief if you're escaping the sweltering heat of Morocco.

Eating in this fishing town deserves a special mention. The fish and seafood served in the port delights all visitors, especially for the value for money. For around 8 or 10 euros you can eat excellent quality fish and for around 15 euros you can feast on it. Make the most of the opportunity.

The guide on your excursion or any of the locals with whom you strike up a conversation can recommend places, but you can sit down at any restaurant in the port at your leisure, as the quality and prices are similar in all of them.

Forget the à la carte menu; everything here is cooked on the grill. Choosing a dish at the restaurants in the port will be easy; they usually have the catch of the day on display and the price is paid by weight. If they want to charge you a figure above local prices that seems 'very European', refuse the offer outright and go to another stall; they may be trying to take advantage of you.

The weather

The climate in Essaouira allows you to visit at any time of the year. August is the hottest month with an average temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 10 degrees Celsius.

In any case, I advise you, especially in summer, not to go too much by the thermometer because, due to the humidity, the wind chill will be much higher than the thermometer. As for rainfall, from December to March you'll find more rainy days, but the rest of the year there is practically no rain in Essaouira.

Tourist numbers

In terms of tourist numbers, the best time to visit Essaouira will depend a little on your travel plans. The city is generally not crowded, but tends to get more tourists in the spring months, which is the peak season for travel to Morocco, or in the autumn months as Essaouira is windy and this is the best time for surfing and similar sports.

If you've been to Marrakech before, you'll know that when it comes to packing your suitcase for your trip to Morocco there are certain rules to observe when it comes to clothing. Ideally, don't wear anything see-through or too tight, but here, as in Marrakech, they're used to tourists, so you don't need to cover up, although you should dress with a certain amount of restraint if you want to avoid uncomfortable situations. Remember that this is their culture, not yours.

What to bring on the tour

For this particular trip to Essaouira from Marrakech, I recommend comfortable shoes (although you won't be walking long distances either; it's more for comfort during the trip), light clothing and, if you're going in winter, a sleeve in case it cools down in the late afternoon. If you're in an air-conditioned vehicle, take something to cover up for the journey.

It wouldn't be a bad idea (at least in my case it wasn't, and I missed it) to have something to eat and drink during the trip because, even if you expect to arrive back in Marrakech within an hour of your arrival, there may be unforeseen circumstances and on the way back you won't have any stops where you can get something to eat.

Learn about the local culture

If you take a guide with you on your trip to Essaouira, don't hesitate to ask him or her questions, not only about the history and sights of the place, but also about places to buy handicrafts, places to eat according to your tastes, or lesser-known corners of the city where you can take beautiful photographs.

Regarding the latter, think twice before photographing locals without asking permission; some may get annoyed or the artisans may think you are copying their work. If you ask them politely with your camera if you can take their picture, they will either give you permission or back off if they don't want to go out.

Shopping in Essaouira

When it comes to shopping, be aware that many of the stops you make on the Marrakech-Essaouira route will bring you across local artisans. Some will probably urge you to shop a little more discreetly than in Marrakech, but don't be tempted.

Moroccans are used to dealing and bargaining with tourists, so they will always start at a higher price than they are actually willing to sell you the particular piece for. What you will want to buy in Essaouira for value for money is argan oil, but if the prices they give you are similar to European prices, then you'll want to discount them.

Ana's Traveller Tip

Beware of "unofficial taxis" in Marrakesh who approach you to take you to places like Essaouira. As well as not being professional drivers, they may not comply with safety measures.

The easiest way to get to Essaouira from Marrakesh is to go on an organised tour. As well as being very reasonably priced, private transport saves on logistics and waiting time (which in a country like Morocco can be a major plus). However, there are also other transport alternatives from Marrakesh:

Bus

It leaves from the Marrakech bus station and there are several companies (notably CTM) that will take you there in two and a half hours. A return ticket will cost you about 70 dirham (6.40 euros). If you're taking the bus, remember three things: get to the station early on the way out, don't arrive too late on the way back from Essaouira and be patient if, instead of keeping to the timetable, the buses simply leave when they're full.

Hiring a taxi

In Marrakesh it is common to negotiate a daily rate with some taxi drivers and during the day the taxi will be at your disposal to take you wherever you want to go. This may be an option if you want to visit more places besides Essaouira, but it won't be cheap (although you can always negotiate the price) and it's not the most comfortable option as most taxis in Morocco are not exactly luxury and the driving is generally not the safest either.

If the experience of going to Essaouira from Marrakech appeals to you, you're in luck. The location of the capital of Morocco has many other places nearby for excursions during your visit. These include overnight trips to the desert, excursions to other villages in the region, or excursions to see natural landscapes. You can read more about what to visit while travelling in Marrakech in this article on Camel Rides in Marrakech and this one on 10 Day Trips and Excursions from Marrakech.