Is Essaouira as a Day Trip Worth It?

Essaouira, Morocco’s Windy City, is not as popular as Marrakech or Fes, and perhaps that’s the origin of its charm.

It’s much smaller, more manageable, with a distinct appeal that comes from its ocean-hugging fortress walls, the beach with its waves and seafood, the old medina with its cobblestone alleys, and the real sovereigns of the place – the cats.

Essaouira is underrated, and you won’t regret going.

But is it worth it as just a day trip, or are a few hours not enough to soak in the spirit of the city? Well, it depends, though I believe a day tour to Essaouira is a good compromise. Here’s why.

How much time do you really need for Essaouira?

Some say that Essaouira isn’t a place you “do” by ticking boxes at high speed. However, realistically, one full day is enough to see the highlights, eat well, get lost on purpose, and still have time to sit by the ramparts watching waves slam into the rocks.

As with many other places, of course, it’s better if you can slow down and let your plans arrange themselves. But it’s also about the opportunity cost, and if you’re tight on time in Morocco, Essaouira should not eat much of it.

Two nights is the sweet spot. You will have an unrushed morning, the luxury of a lazy beach walk, and a nighttime walk inside the medina.

Anything longer is indulgent, unless you’re there to surf, work remotely, or have a self-imposed creative retreat.

Is a day trip to Essaouira worth it?

Yes, a day trip to Essaouira from Marrakech is worth it!

There is just a small caveat: such a short time won’t make you fall deeply in love with the coastal city, though it will give you enough nuggets to make you curious. And then perhaps you will go back…

In a day, you’ll get a strong first impression – the sea air, the cannons, the cats, the seafood straight off the boats… Essaouira is quite different from Morocco’s big imperial cities like Marrakech and Fes, and even just a few hours will allow you to find out why for yourself.

You won’t see everything, and that’s fine. Is it better to go for a little or not go at all? I firmly believe even just a teaser is quite enjoyable.

Best things to do in Essaouira in 1 day

Essaouira isn’t big, and you can see its main sights in 1 day.

In all fairness, we didn’t even spend a full day there, as we took this day trip from Marrakech. The transport was good and on time, and we had 4 hours of unscripted time to spend in Essaouira.

I totally recommend it – it’s the best option if you’re in Marrakech and want to visit Essaouira without committing too much time. Also, it’s both cheaper and more convenient than taking public transport to and from!

Now, without further ado, here’s what we did in a day in Essaouira and some optional add-ons.

Reimagine Game of Thrones at Sqala

I don’t think the award-winning TV series put Essaouira on the map, but it definitely made it a lot more famous.

If you haven’t watched Season 3 of Game of Thrones, imagine Daenerys, golden blonde hair, strong-willed, negotiating the fate of several thousand slaves on top of the defensive fortifications of Astapor, a coastal city bordered by the desert.

Or don’t imagine and just visit Essaouira’s Sqala du Port – the exact place where several scenes were shot.

Entry inside the walls is ticketed – 60 MAD (~6 EUR) for foreigners – but walking around and even scaling some of the fortifications is totally free (see below).

Eat oysters and sea urchins at the port

What’s that… a strong fishy smell in the air?

Indeed, as a port city, Essaouira has its fair share of fishermen who brave the waves and bring back all sorts of sea creatures.

They display their fresh produce in carts right next to the port, on the other side of the city walls.

The best-selling seem to be the oysters – 10 MAD (~1 EUR) a piece. Not a fan myself, but it’s a fun experience.

The sea urchins (only their gonads are edible, go figure) are a prized delicacy and also go for 10 MAD a piece. The taste is creamy, salty, and a little sweet – delicate indeed, but I am still not a fan.

Climb the Medina Walls

The walls protect the port (Sqala du Port) but also the city (Sqala du Ville).

The latter are on the northern side of the medina (the old city) and present some exhilarating views of the ocean. If it’s a windy day (which it often is – Essaouira is called the Windy City) and the waves are high, the scenery is spectacular, albeit a bit scary.

Worry not – the walls are quite high, and the waves can’t compete. The breeze and sea water spray will definitely reach you, though.

Built in the 18th century under Sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah, but designed by European military engineers, the ramparts and their bastions are a sight to behold. Climbing this section of the Sqala is free.

If you spend a whole day (or more) in Essaouira, go to the walls for sunset – it will likely be even more breathtaking.

Roam the old town alleys

What’s behind the walls is also an exceptional example of preserved architecture.

Mogador, as the medina, i.e., the old town, was called, dates back to the 18th century.

As with other medinas in Morocco, it has a characteristically maze-like layout with winding alleys, small streets, and only a few wide thoroughfares that serve as the commercial arteries of the city.

Essaouria’s medina is relatively small, and you’re unlikely to get lost. Any maps app works to help you navigate, though I recommend Maps.me. See what other apps I think every traveler should have.

The alleys are lined with shops – leather, magnets, woodworks, shoes, ceramics, souvenirs, spices, argan oil, you name it. I found prices to be slightly lower than in Marrakech, although you must haggle hard, as anywhere else in Morocco. You’re also less likely to be scammed, but that’s subjective.

Don’t skip having a coffee at one of those cute coffee shops. Strong, flavorful, and very affordable (7-10 MAD for espresso and 10-15 MAD for cappuccino).

Have lunch with locals at the souk

We had the cheapest lunch in Morocco at one small local restaurant in Essaouira: 4 portions of chicken with potatoes (boiled/fried) for 48 MAD (<5 EUR)!

It was nothing fancy, perhaps a little shabby too, but you know what they say – the places with the worst toilets have the best food! They know their food is good and that’s enough.

And yes, the chicken was marvelous! Better than the overpriced tajine we had the day before in Marrakech for sure!

This is the exact location. It’s close to Bab Doukkala and is super popular with working men during lunchtime.

Photohunt the cats

Many cities around the world are famous for their large stray cat populations. Istanbul is often considered the cat capital of the world, whereas Ainoshima in Japan is the cat heaven.

Essaouira gives them a run for their titles!

Cats are everywhere and usually relaxed, sleeping or soaking in the sun. Friends of the feline can pet them freely, though cats normally have a mind of their own when it comes to that.

A cool game you can play with your friends while in Essaouira is who will take the most pictures of different cats. Suffice it to say, children will have a blast here, too!

Ride a camel or drive a quad bike on the beach

You won’t really have time for extra activities if you only have 4 hours in Essaouira.

A full day, though, allows you to try something fun at Essaouira’s famous beach – Plage d’Essaouira.

The two most common activities are riding a camel or driving a quad bike. It’s best to organize both before coming to the beach itself:

• Book a 2-hour camel ride on the beach.
• Book a Quad Bike tour with a guide.

We didn’t do either in Essaouira because of the limited time, but we tried both in the Agafay Desert, and it was awesome! Definitely worth the money!

We were there in winter, and the beach was, understandably, empty. But go in warmer months, and the combination of wind and sea results in one of the best places to surf in Africa.

So if you want to improve your surfing technique, book this 2-hour surfing lesson in Essaouira.

Parting Words

I hope I have convinced you to visit Essaouira. You must’ve found at least one pull factor in all the options in presents.

Yes, I’d love to have spent more time there. Perhaps even buckle down for a month and really feel the city’s spirit. But choices had to be made, and made they were.

If you have just 1 day to spare – yes, go and visit Essaouira. And if you have the luxury to live there for longer, cherish that privilege as you’re rich in more ways than one.