Things to Do in Essaouira: 15 Best Sights & Local Experiences

Things to do in Essaouira are easy to enjoy because most of the city’s main sights are close together. You can walk from the Medina to the Skala, fishing port and beach without spending half the day in taxis.
I’m Kamal, a licensed Moroccan tour guide, and Essaouira is one of the cities I recommend when travelers want history, local life and the Atlantic coast in the same place.
In this guide, I’ll show you the sights and experiences I think are most worth your time, from the Medina and ramparts to local crafts, seafood, surfing and places just outside the city.
For practical planning such as how many days to stay, the best time to visit and how to get there, use my Essaouira Travel Guide. If you are coming only for the day from Marrakech, see my Essaouira Day Trip from Marrakech guide.

Best Things to Do in Essaouira: Quick List

1. Explore the Essaouira Medina
2. Spend time in Place Moulay Hassan
3. Walk the Skala de la Ville and ramparts
4. Visit Skala du Port
5. See the working fishing port
6. Visit Bayt Dakira
7. Check the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah Museum
8. Explore Essaouira’s Mellah and Jewish heritage
9. Visit Thuya Wood Workshops and Art Galleries
10. Walk Essaouira Beach
11. Try a surf or kitesurf lesson
12. Ride a horse or camel beside the Atlantic
13. Eat fresh seafood near the port
14. Experience Essaouira’s Gnaoua music culture
15. Visit Diabat or Sidi Kaouki if you have extra time

1. Explore the Essaouira Medina

The Medina is where I would start a first visit to Essaouira. It is compact, mostly flat and much easier to explore than the old cities of Marrakech or Fes.
Essaouira’s Medina was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001, but it does not feel like an open-air museum. People still live, shop and work inside these streets, which is part of what makes walking here interesting.
I usually enter around Bab Marrakech or Bab Doukkala and work my way toward Place Moulay Hassan and the sea. Along the way you will pass small cafés, food shops, workshops, galleries and whitewashed buildings with the blue doors Essaouira is known for.
You do not need a strict route. Walk slowly, take the smaller streets when something catches your attention and use the ocean and main gates to help you find your direction again.
Kamal’s tip: morning is especially good if you want quieter streets and easier photographs before the Medina becomes busier.

2. Spend Time in Place Moulay Hassan

Place Moulay Hassan sits between the Medina, the port and the Skala, so you will probably pass through it more than once during your visit.
I like this square because it shows a more everyday side of Essaouira. Cafés fill up through the day, people stop to meet friends, musicians sometimes perform nearby, and you are only a few minutes from both the harbor and the old city streets.
It is also a good place to pause between sights instead of trying to keep moving all day.
Kamal’s tip: stop here for coffee or mint tea in the late afternoon, then continue toward the port or Skala before sunset.

3. Walk the Skala de la Ville and Ramparts

The Skala de la Ville is one of the places I would not skip in Essaouira. These old sea walls were part of the city’s defenses, and the cannons still face the Atlantic today.
From the ramparts, you get wide views over the ocean, the rocky Îles Purpuraires and the edge of the Medina. It is one of the best places in Essaouira to understand how closely the city was built around the sea.
I usually come here after walking through the Medina because the change from narrow streets to open Atlantic views is part of the experience.
Kamal’s tip: late afternoon is my favorite time. The light is softer, the stone walls look better in photos and the wind is usually part of the atmosphere rather than something to avoid.

4. Visit Skala du Port

Skala du Port stands at the entrance to Essaouira’s fishing harbor and gives you one of the classic views of the city.
From here, you can look back toward the Medina walls and down over the blue fishing boats packed inside the port. It is a good place to stop before entering the working harbor because you can see how the fortifications, sea and fishing life all connect.
This area feels very different from Skala de la Ville. The Medina ramparts are more about the Atlantic views, while Skala du Port puts you right beside the working side of Essaouira.
Kamal’s tip: come before the port gets too busy, then continue directly into the harbor.

5. See Essaouira’s Working Fishing Port

Essaouira’s fishing port is one of the most interesting places in the city because it is still a real working harbor.
You will see blue boats packed together, fishermen repairing nets, fish being unloaded and seagulls everywhere. It can feel busy and messy compared with the Medina, but that is exactly why I like bringing travelers here.
The best time to see the port working is usually from late morning into early afternoon, when boats are coming back and the fish market area is active.
You can also find simple seafood grills nearby, but always ask the price before ordering and confirm what is included.
Kamal’s tip: watch where you step because the ground can be wet and slippery, and ask before taking close photos of fishermen while they are working.

6. Visit Bayt Dakira

Bayt Dakira, the House of Memory, is one of the most important cultural stops in Essaouira if you want to understand the city beyond the beach and ramparts.
It is in the old Mellah, Essaouira’s Jewish quarter, and focuses on the long history of Jewish life in the city and the relationship between Jewish and Muslim communities.
Inside, you will find photographs, documents, objects and displays connected with Essaouira’s Jewish heritage. I like this stop because it adds context to the city’s history as a trading port and multicultural place, rather than showing only the tourist side of Essaouira.
Kamal’s tip: combine Bayt Dakira with a walk through the Mellah instead of visiting it as an isolated museum. The surrounding streets help the history make more sense.

7. Check the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah Museum

The Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah Museum is an important part of Essaouira’s cultural heritage, but it has been undergoing renovation and redevelopment.
The museum traditionally presents objects connected with the history and culture of Essaouira, including jewelry, musical instruments, woodwork and other local heritage pieces.
Before planning a visit, check whether it has reopened because access can change while the renovation project continues.
Kamal’s tip: if it is still closed during your visit, spend that time at Bayt Dakira and exploring the nearby Medina instead.

8. Walk Through Essaouira’s Mellah

Essaouira’s Mellah is the old Jewish quarter of the city and is worth walking through if you want to understand a different side of the Medina.
The streets here feel less polished than the main tourist areas, but that is part of the experience. You can still see traces of the neighborhood’s Jewish history in old buildings, doorways and the layout of the quarter.
I would combine the Mellah with Bayt Dakira rather than treating it as a separate sightseeing trip. The museum gives you the history, while walking through the neighborhood helps you understand where that history actually took place.
Kamal’s tip: walk slowly and respectfully. This is still a lived-in neighborhood, not an open-air museum.

9. Visit Thuya Wood Workshops and Art Galleries

Essaouira has a long tradition of working with thuya wood, and you will still see craftsmen making boxes, tables, decorative pieces and smaller souvenirs inside the Medina.
I like this part of Essaouira because the shopping experience usually feels less pressured than in Marrakech. You can look, ask questions and compare work without feeling that you need to decide immediately.
The city also has a strong art scene, with small galleries spread through the Medina. Some are very simple, while others show work by established Moroccan and international artists.
Kamal’s tip: if you want to buy thuya wood, look at the finish, the smell of the wood and how the pieces are joined. Take your time and compare a few workshops before buying.

10. Walk Essaouira Beach

Essaouira’s beach starts just outside the Medina and stretches south along the bay toward Diabat.
I like this walk because it gives you a completely different feeling from the old city. The space opens up, the Atlantic is always beside you, and you can see why the beach is such an important part of Essaouira.
You do not need to walk the whole distance. Even 20 or 30 minutes along the sand is enough to enjoy the sea, watch the kitesurfers and get away from the busier streets.
Kamal’s tip: morning is usually better for a calmer walk, while late afternoon is good for the light and atmosphere.

11. Try a Surf or Kitesurf Lesson

Essaouira is one of Morocco’s best-known places for wind sports, especially kitesurfing and windsurfing.
Even if you have never tried either before, there are schools along the beach offering beginner lessons and equipment rental. Surfing is also possible, although conditions vary more from day to day.
I would only book with a proper school that provides suitable equipment and checks the conditions before taking you into the water.
Kamal’s tip: mornings can be easier for beginners when conditions are calmer, while stronger afternoon winds usually suit more experienced kitesurfers.

12. Ride a Horse or Camel Beside the Atlantic

Horse and camel rides are easy to find around the southern end of Essaouira Beach, especially toward Diabat.
For me, the horse ride fits Essaouira especially well because the beach is wide and open, and you can get away from the busier part of the waterfront quite quickly.
Camel rides are usually slower and more relaxed, while horse rides can be better if you want a longer ride along the coast.
Before starting, agree on the price, duration and route so there is no confusion later.
Kamal’s tip: late afternoon is a good time for the light, but do not wait until it is almost dark if you are planning a longer ride.

Want to book an experience in Essaouira?
Compare guided tours, surf activities, horse rides and other Essaouira experiences before you travel.

See Essaouira Tours & Activities

13. Eat Fresh Seafood Near the Port

Seafood is one of the experiences I would not skip in Essaouira.
Around the port and Medina, you will find sardines, white fish, calamari and whatever else came in that day. I usually prefer the simpler places where the fish is grilled without too much added to it.
Near the port, always ask the price before ordering and confirm whether grilling, bread, salad or drinks are included. Prices can vary depending on the fish and how it is sold.
If seafood is not your thing, you will still find plenty of Moroccan dishes inside the Medina, including tajines, harira, msemen and simple café food.
Kamal’s tip: choose what looks fresh that day instead of arriving with one specific fish in mind.

14. Experience Essaouira’s Gnaoua Music Culture

Gnaoua music is part of Essaouira’s identity, and you do not have to visit during the big festival to feel it.
You may hear live music in small venues, cafés or around the Medina, especially in the evening. The sound is very different from the music most visitors know before coming to Morocco, with deep rhythms, singing and the traditional guembri.
If your trip falls during the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, Essaouira becomes much busier and the whole city changes atmosphere.
Kamal’s tip: if you want the festival experience, book your hotel early. If you prefer a quieter Essaouira, avoid festival dates.

15. Visit Diabat or Sidi Kaouki If You Have Extra Time

If you are staying more than one day in Essaouira, it can be worth leaving the Medina for a few hours and seeing a quieter stretch of the coast.
Diabat is the easiest option because it is just south of Essaouira. You can reach it by taxi, on horseback or as part of a longer beach walk.
Sidi Kaouki is farther south and better if you want a more open beach, surf atmosphere and a slower village feel away from the city.
I would not try to squeeze either place into a short half-day visit to Essaouira. They make more sense once you have already seen the Medina, port and ramparts.
Kamal’s tip: choose Diabat for something quick and close, and Sidi Kaouki if you have enough time to make the journey worthwhile.

FAQ About Things to Do in Essaouira

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Essaouira

Essaouira is easy to enjoy without trying to do everything in one day.
For a first visit, I would focus on the Medina, ramparts, port and beach, then add one or two experiences that match your interests, such as surfing, Gnaoua music, local crafts or a trip toward Sidi Kaouki.
If you are still planning the practical side of your stay, use my Essaouira Travel Guide for transport, weather and how many days to stay, or my Essaouira Hotels guide for accommodation. For broader trip planning around the country, see my Morocco Travel Guide.

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.