Things to Do in Essaouira – A Local Guide’s Honest View

Things to do in Essaouira are not about rushing from one attraction to another. Essaouira is a city you feel before you try to understand. If Marrakech is the energy of Morocco and Fes is its soul, then Essaouira is its breath.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Sitting on the Atlantic coast, Essaouira moves at a softer rhythm. Many travelers come here after Marrakech and are surprised by how calm everything feels. This is not a city that wins you with big monuments. It stays with you because of its light, its ocean, its music, and the simple beauty of daily life.

As a Moroccan tour guide, I see Essaouira as a place where history, culture, and everyday life still meet naturally. You feel it in the medina walls, the harbor, the food, and the white-and-blue streets that still carry the spirit of old Mogador.

I wrote this guide the same way I speak to travelers when I walk with them here: honest, simple, and focused on what really matters once you arrive. Below, I’ll show you the places I always recommend, the walks I love most, and the small experiences that make Essaouira memorable in real life, not just in photos.

If you want to compare it with other Moroccan cities, you can also read my Things to Do in Marrakech, Things to Do in Fes, and Morocco Travel Guide.

Explore the Medina of Essaouira

The medina of Essaouira is one of the easiest and most pleasant old cities to explore in Morocco. Every time I bring guests here, they tell me the same thing: it feels calm, open, and welcoming from the first step inside. Whitewashed walls, blue doors, and the Atlantic breeze give this medina a character you do not find in Marrakech or Fes.

I usually start walks near Bab Marrakech, one of the main gates, and lead travelers toward the heart of the medina. From there, we pass through streets like Rue Mohamed El Qorry and Rue Abdelaziz El Fichtali, where galleries, small cafés, and local shops sit side by side.

What makes this medina special is not only its beauty. It is also how easy it is to enjoy. You can walk without pressure, stop where something catches your eye, and feel the city at your own pace.

Place Moulay Hassan – The Living Center

One place I never skip is Place Moulay Hassan. This open square sits between the medina, the port, and the Skala. It is where locals meet, musicians play, and cafés begin to fill in during the afternoon. From here, you can feel how Essaouira connects the city, the sea, and daily life in one place.

This is also one of the best places to pause without needing a plan. You do not come here to “do” something big. You come here to sit, watch, listen, and let the city introduce itself to you naturally.

Local tip: Sit here for a coffee or mint tea and simply watch the movement around you. It is one of the best introductions to Essaouira.

Art, Wood and Local Crafts

Essaouira is famous for its thuya wood workshops. As you walk through streets like Rue Chbanat and nearby alleys, you’ll see craftsmen shaping boxes, tables, and small souvenirs from this local wood. You’ll also find art galleries tucked into old buildings, because Essaouira has long attracted painters, musicians, and creative people.

I always tell my guests this is one of the best cities in Morocco to browse without pressure. The atmosphere is usually more relaxed than in larger tourist centers, and conversations with shop owners often feel more natural and less rushed.

This is a good place to slow down and enjoy the process of looking, rather than feeling that you need to buy something quickly.

Easy to Walk, Easy to Enjoy

The medina streets are wider and more open than in many other Moroccan cities. Because Essaouira was built as a planned port city in the 18th century, you do not feel trapped or lost in the same way. You can explore freely and still find your way back toward the sea.

That is one reason why Essaouira works so well for first-time visitors. You can discover it without stress, and the city rewards walking more than almost anywhere else on the coast.

Practical local advice:

• Start near Bab Marrakech or Bab Doukkala
• Walk toward Place Moulay Hassan and the Skala
• Keep small cash for cafés, crafts, and small purchases
• Morning and late afternoon are the best times to explore

Walk the Skala de la Ville & the City Ramparts

When I guide travelers in Essaouira, one of the first places I take them after the medina is the Skala de la Ville. This is not just a viewpoint. It is where you really understand why Essaouira was built here in the first place.

The Skala is part of the old 18th-century fortifications that protected the city and its port. Cannons still line the walls facing the Atlantic, and when you stand here with the wind in your face and the waves crashing below, you feel both the power of the ocean and the history of this port city.

I usually enter the Skala from near Place Moulay Hassan and walk along the ramparts toward the north. From here, you get wide views over the Atlantic Ocean, the rocky Îles Purpuraires, and the medina walls stretching behind you. It is also one of the best photo spots in the city.

Local tip: Come in the late afternoon when the light softens and the sky starts to change. Sunset here is unforgettable.

Skala du Port – The Harbor Fortifications

From the Skala de la Ville, you can continue toward Skala du Port, the fortified entrance to the fishing harbor. The view from above, with blue boats below and the busy port in motion, is one of the classic scenes of Essaouira.

This part of the city helps you understand that Essaouira was never only a beautiful coastal stop. It was a working port, a strategic point, and a city built around trade, defense, and the sea.

Things to Do in Essaouira Port and the Fishing Life

The port of Essaouira is one of the most alive places in the city. Every time I bring travelers here, it becomes one of their favorite stops not because it is polished, but because it feels real. This is where Essaouira works.

You enter the port through Skala du Port, passing under the old fortifications, and suddenly you are surrounded by blue fishing boats, seagulls, fishermen repairing nets, and the smell of the sea. It is a strong contrast to the calm medina behind you.

In the late morning and early afternoon, you can see boats returning with sardines, anchovies, sea bass, and sometimes larger fish. This is one of the best places in the city to understand how closely Essaouira is still tied to the Atlantic.

Near the harbor, you’ll find simple stalls and small eateries where fish is prepared immediately. No luxury, no decoration, just fresh seafood, bread, and salad. When I guide guests, I often bring them here for lunch and tell them: this is Essaouira on a plate.

Walk along the quay and you’ll also see fishermen fixing nets, painting boats, and talking over the sound of the birds and waves. It is not staged. It is daily life, and that is what makes it special.

Practical advice:

• Ask for the price before ordering
• Choose what is freshest that day
• Share dishes if you can, because portions are often generous
• Ask before taking close photos of people working

Walk the Beach from Bab Sbaa to Diabat

Essaouira’s beach is not just for swimming. It is where the city opens itself to the Atlantic. When I walk here with travelers, I always tell them this beach is more about space, wind, and freedom than sunbeds and umbrellas.

The main beach stretches from the medina walls near Bab Sbaa south toward Diabat, with soft sand and wide open views. You can walk for a long time with the sound of waves and seagulls following you.

This is one of the best places in the city to clear your head. You do not need to arrive with a plan. Just walk, breathe, and let the ocean do its work.

Wind, Kites & Surf Culture

Essaouira is famous for wind sports. You’ll often see kitesurfers and windsurfers moving across the water, especially in the afternoon when the wind becomes stronger. Even if you do not practice, it is fun to watch and it gives the beach a different kind of energy.

This is also part of what makes Essaouira unique. The beach is not only for relaxing. It is active, windy, and full of movement.

Horses & Camels by the Sea

One scene visitors love is seeing horses and camels walking along the shoreline, especially later in the day. It is tourist-friendly, but it still feels connected to local seaside life and the open landscape around the city.

Practical advice:

• Bring a light jacket because the wind can be strong
• Do not expect very warm water for long swims
• Sandals or walking shoes are usually better than going barefoot on windy days

Eat Local in Essaouira

Food in Essaouira is closely tied to the sea. When I guide travelers here, I always explain that this city eats differently from Marrakech or Fes. The cuisine is simpler, lighter, and focused on freshness rather than heavy spices. You taste the ocean in many dishes, and that is exactly how it should be.

Essaouira is one of the best places in Morocco to eat well without luxury restaurants. Some of the best meals are found in modest places where locals eat every day.

Seafood Near the Port – As Fresh As It Gets

If you want the most authentic experience, eat near the fishing port. After watching the boats come in, you can walk a few steps to small grills where fish is prepared immediately.

Local tip:
Ask “Ashnu jadid?” which means “What is fresh today?” Then choose based on the answer, not the menu.

Medina Restaurants I Trust

Inside the medina, especially near Place Moulay Hassan and along streets like Rue Chbanat, you’ll find relaxed restaurants offering both seafood and classic Moroccan dishes.

Look for fish tagine, grilled kefta, vegetable tagines, and harira in the evening. These places are good for sitting down slowly and enjoying the atmosphere without pressure.

Street Food & Simple Bites

For quick bites, Essaouira is great. Try:

• Bissara in the morning
• Msemen or harcha from small bakeries
• Fresh orange juice from street vendors

These are everyday foods locals eat, and they are part of the real experience.

Cafés by the Sea

Cafés around Place Moulay Hassan and along the medina edge are perfect for mint tea or coffee with an ocean view. I often tell guests that sitting here and doing nothing for 30 minutes is already an activity.

That pause matters in Essaouira. The city is at its best when you stop trying to fill every minute.

My rule as a guide: If a place is full of locals and has a simple menu, you are probably in the right spot.

FAQ About Visiting Essaouira

My Local Advice on Essaouira

Essaouira is not a place you rush through. It is a city you feel. From the sound of the waves at the port to the blue-and-white alleys of the medina, from fresh grilled sardines to sunset walks on the beach, this city shows you a softer, calmer side of Morocco. As a Moroccan tour guide, I always tell my guests the same thing: Essaouira is where you slow down, breathe the ocean air, and reconnect with the simple joy of travel.

If it is your first time here, do not just wander without direction. Essaouira is easy to enjoy on your own, but a good local experience can completely change how you see the city, whether that means a guided walk through the medina, a surf lesson on the Atlantic, or a day trip into the countryside nearby.

If you are visiting in summer, do not miss the famous Gnaoua Festival. It is one of the most unique cultural events in Morocco, when the city turns into a live music stage with performances across the medina and near the ocean. You can also read my full guide to the Gnaoua Festival in Essaouira for more details.

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Essaouira

Essaouira is not a city you visit by checking attractions off a list. The best things to do here are often simple: walking through the medina, watching the boats return, eating grilled fish by the harbor, sitting in a café by the sea, and letting the rhythm of the place slow you down. That is what makes Essaouira special. It is not about doing the most. It is about feeling more.

If you only come for a few hours, you will see the beauty of Essaouira. But if you stay a little longer, walk slowly, and follow the life of the city from morning to evening, you will understand why so many travelers fall in love with it. If you are thinking about spending the night.

Disclosure: Some links in this guide may be affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend experiences I genuinely believe can improve your trip.