A Complete Guide to Planning Your Trip. They will jump on you as soon as you linger for a few seconds or look with your hands rather than your eyes but they are not extremely pushy. Medina of Essaouira: Only worth visiting en route - See 4,530 traveler reviews, 4,419 candid photos, and great deals for Essaouira, Morocco, at Tripadvisor. I aim to inspire people to find ways to fit more travel and adventure into the lifestyle they already have. You'll love Essaouira. And if you are lucky, Game of Thrones cast may be there! See our in-depth guides to where to eat and things to do for more. Buses are only 6dh but go infrequently. The season typically runs from March through to September, with July and August being the best months for strong winds. Morocco Honeymoon Morocco Beach Morocco Itinerary Visit Morocco So you are guaranteed that there wont be any hammering or drilling happening to disturb your peace. places worth visiting near essaouira in the car - Tripadvisor Theyll head south, optionally exploring things to do in Agadir (such as trekking in the nearby Paradise Valley, said to have been named by Jimi Hendrix himself) besides hitting the waves. I visited at the end of March and it was pleasant, I wore jeans and trainers and had to wear a light jumper and jacket later on and although it felt chilly in the shade the sun was shining and the sky was blue! Obviously, the majority of these (and the best ones) are riads, traditional residences that have been converted into hotels, often modern ones that boast every amenity you could possible think of. Where to Eat in Essaouira: Street Food, Seafood, Restaurants, and Cafs, Things to Do in Essaouira: Inside the Medina, Outside, and Beyond, Marrakech Medina Guide: How to Prepare to be Amazed. Best things to do in Essaouira, Morocco Essaouira Ramparts Medina of Essaouira Whilst this is very rare, it does happen. Wander the safe sidestreets both inside and outside the medina and you can find plenty of cheap but tasty Moroccan food. But Essaouira is a very small town. Is Essaouira worth visiting in Morocco? So how do you get from Essaouira to Marrakech? Beside it is a well-maintained beachside promenade with an outdoor workout area, ideal for getting some exercise before or after your plane ride. Really not a lot that made it worthy to be there. We enjoyed the day we spent there. But the French history of the town also means that there are also some fantastic patisseries and creperies dotted around the medina. Learn how your comment data is processed. To the north of Essaouira is another long stretch of beach, known to locals as Safi Beach. Learn more about me here. (No more details about my sicknessI promise!). You can even buy food directly from the fishmongers at the port and take it to a local restaurant at the port for them to cook for you. Or ride a horse carriage! Quick overview of Essaouira Read our affiliate policy. You can opt for a private or public hammam. DETAILED Golden Triangle India Itinerary 1 Week India Itinerary! For any stalls and shops open during Ramadan, you will find that just 5 minutes before sunset, everyone will quickly rush to shut up shop and head off for prayers and Iftar. Whether youre looking for acamping spot, a characterful Airbnb in the heart of the medina,a high end hotel, or a beach resort with swimming pool, there will be something in Essaouira to suit your budget and needs. If youre convinced after reading this be sure to see MyRelaxed 2 Day Itinerary for Essaouira Morocco! Hope you made it there and enjoy it! The reason for the chill is the wind! I also travel solo, and Im going to Morocco in November. There are two main streets that run northeast to southwest: Av. Theres even a beach playground for little ones to go wild in (10DH per child, only open weekends and holidays). Essaouira city of wind and love - Visit Morocco Visiting Marrakech in August, The Weather & Things To Do in Marrakech in August! After all that walking, its time for some relaxation. It's known for laid-back beach towns, good surfing, and better seafood. 17. Thanks Anas! Take a taxi to Anfa (less than 30dh with a meter) to check out the ritzy and very-American-feeling beachside mall and promenade. At first glance, there's not a lot of charm to El Borj's rows of three and four-story apartment blocks. Travelers going from Marrakech to the coastal town of Essaouira have several transport options for the 118-mile (191 km) journey, ranging from 2-4 hours in duration. Essaouira medina is also very easy to navigate as it follows a rough grid pattern. Essaouira. If my mum said she wanted to go to Morocco or experience some Arabic culture, this is where I would tell her to go, its slow-paced, the people are friendly, its small, she would experience Morocco and the culture but it wouldnt be too much! Essaouira: A City of Art, Culture, and Historysurf - Imsouane Thanks so much! Is Essaouira worth visiting? Here are 10 reasons we say yes! The best time to visit Essaouira is up for debate, since Morocco (especially this part of Morocco) has far better defined seasons that you might expect for somewhere in Africa. FULL Tenerife Road Trip Guide | Itinerary, Places To Visit in Tenerife, Car Hire! After the Portuguese were pushed out, Mogador became a haven for pirates for the next couple hundred years. The horse and carriages can be found just past the Petit Taxi rank on the left as you come out of Bab Doukkala. Girls: Unless you're lying on the beach, showing bare legs and shoulders is frowned upon. And you'll notice it's what most of the Essaouirans eat. They currently operate two flights per week, Tuesday and Saturday from London starting at 13 GBP one way. Is Ramadan really the best time to visit Essaouira, or should you visit another time? Best Things To Do In Essaouira Morocco Morocco Travel We loved Essaouira and would come back in a heartbeat. I agree with this however not 100%, the market sellers definitely do try to lure you in and dont let you look in total peace, there are people begging and being a solo female did get me a few catcalls however it is by no means intimidating or too much, its just part of the culture and the tourist trade (not that catcalling should be accepted as either of these things!). I had been lured in by hearing it is a Moroccan City that is relaxed and I had been drawn in by the blue boats and pretty streets I had seen photos of. Im flying into Marrakesh, so your posts all seem extra relevant. Plus, it makes for a much more exciting adventure! You can either hire a private transfer (your accommodation host will be able to help you with this), grand taxi, or travel by bus from Marrkech to Essaouira (which is the cheapest option, especially for single or couple travellers). 14 Best Things to do in Essaouira Morocco, the Complete Guide to The 23 BEST things to do in Essaouira: your ultimate guide I am planning on spending 3 nights there in July and this is very helpful. The ramparts and citadel The ancient walls with their giant cannons still in place are a great place for a walk. Relaxed 2 Day Itinerary for Essaouira Morocco! The first photo stop was alongside the road where argan trees grow. I can't say for sure whether these goats are being abused, but this is definitely NOT a natural occurrence so keep that in mind since your tour will almost certainly stop to visit one of these trees. We wouldn't. In 1506, the Portuguese built a fortress on the coast and dubbed it Mogador. Essaouira is very much an Arabic City, an African City too and it's easy to feel, see and smell this! There are also some great day trips from Essaouira, including visiting the local markets of Had Draa or Ida Ougourd, wine tasting at Val dArgan, visiting the Castle in the sand in Diabat, or checking out the pottery workshops and historical medina of Safi further up the coast. Getting to Essaouira. You'll need cash for most purchases here outside the higher-end restaurants and hotels and the Carrefour supermarket. It stuck around until being replaced by Essaouira in the '60s. Marrakech to Essaouira Anything Worth Visiting - Tripadvisor Whether your excursion to Essaouira is simply one of the Marrakech day trips you take or part of a larger holiday, its certainly not going to be the only place in Morocco you go. Whilst the prevailing winds off the Atlantic isnt ideal for sunbathers, the 2km stretch of promenade along the main beach in Essaouira makes for a lovely stroll, and there are surf schools for those who want to get active on the waves. (I also wasnt a fan of my room and found the rooms to be very loud at night so Im not sure I would recommend where I stayed aside from the location and price!). On this blog, you'll find our best travel stories and tips for creating your own. We weren't visiting on a clear day, though, and the viewpoint was manned by a couple men trying to get tourists to pay money to take photos with their camels, so I didn't even both getting out of the van. Indeed, many arrive to Essaouira for a day or so, and find themselves still there, weeks late. Muslims still eat during Ramadan! Closer to our Airbnb in El Borj, our go-to was Maison Gourmande. Essaouira, as a coastal city, has many beaches, which allow you both to ride horses or camels and to walk or swim on the beach. On the odd day that it's not so windy that you'd get covered by sand, many women uncover themselves to sunbathe in their bikinis on the beach. Just past the medina's ramparts towards the sea, is a busy working port and a 2-kilometer sandy beach with a promenade strung with seaside restaurants and cafes. Ramadan is an extremely important and sacred time for Muslims. This itinerary includes a walking tour around the medina, passing through the Jewish Quarter and through to the fishing post, with of course some stops for shopping in Essaouira and mint tea, exploring Essaouiras beaches beyond the main sandy arc, some adrenaline-fueled activities, but also more sedate activities (indeed, experiencing a traditional Moroccan hammam in Essaouira is a must). Whether you return to Marrakech (and, likely, the Sahara Desert) after exploring Essaouira, or continue heading south to the surf paradise of Agadir, this city is as enjoyable as its name is difficult to pronounce. Is two days too many?? Is Taking a Day Trip to Essaouira from Marrakech Worth It? Is Essaouira worth visiting? This may be you! Essaouira - the best city in morocco Why Essaouira? A combination of spectacular beaches, great sea and the almost constant tropical trade winds has changed this city from a hardworking port into one of the worlds greatest sites for windsurfing, kiteboarding and other exhilarating watersports, Great way to visit choice parts of Morocco. Essaouira lies roughly 3 hours to the west of Marrakech. Your email address will not be published. Let us know how it is if you make it down there! Hello, Salaam! Walking around Marrakech with young kids can be exhausting as mopeds career around you, and touts vye for your attention. All Rights Reserved, Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission. I am also a writer, and have started my own blog recently. We particularly enjoyed the grey wine, vin gris. Note that if you want to surf you should head further south to Agadir, whose beaches are generally better regarded than Essaouiras in most ways. As Essaouira is coined the Windy City of Africa it may come as no surprise that Essaouira is one of the top destinations in the world for kite-surfing! It's a small city, meaning we saw a lot in this short time. All inhibitions need to go out of the window with this, as everything is on display and everything gets a good scrub. The majority of businesses close during this time, and for non-Muslim visitors to Essaouira, Ramadan perhaps doesnt seem like an ideal time to visit and enjoy all the things to do in Essaouira. Those keys are for short-term apartment rentals. Hardly anyone goes here, and theres an end-of-the-world, abandoned feel to it. Morocco It is the coastal wind - the beautifully named alizee, or taros in Berber - that has allowed Essaouira (essa-weera, or es-sweera in Arabic) to retain its traditional culture and character. Just make sure you check out the Essaouria sunset time and best viewpoints in advance. It's Morocco's internet-free Airbnb. In my experience, Essaouira if usually the second place people visit in Moroccoafter their main swing through Marrakech, but before taking a camel ride into the Sahara Desert, trekking in the Atlas Mountains or visiting cities like Chefchaouen, Fs and Tangier. The medina which is essentially the area within the old walls of the city that is the main place tourists visit is full of shops and stalls. I obsessed over the itinerary. You are not expected to join in with the fasting, but please show respect to those who are. 26. If you are now convinced to book flights, check out our top tips for visiting Essaouira, including: If you have found this website useful for planning your Essaouira adventures, you can show your support bybuying Jenny a coffee. Im Ellie, a British Travel Blogger and Content Creator. - JRR Tolkien. Windsurfers (then kite surfers) followed with their chill attitudes and long hair. I have been there several times - not as a day trips but after Kech the city is just great! Visit Domaine du Val d'Argan. After all, you spend more than 6 hours in a bus to get there and back, and only have about 4 hours to spend in the city itself. "It's a dangerous business, going out your door. Essaouira does experience some cloudy and drizzly days. Really. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. With direct flights from European cities (Ryanair currently fly twice per week from London Stansted), Essaouira has been firmly put on the map as a destination in its own right, promising a laid-back and colourful medina, a long swathe of sandy beach, and year-round good weather. And if youre visiting Essaouira with kids, Essaouiras medina feels much safer than that of Marrakech as its closed to vehicles, so there are no mopeds whizzing by. If youve been dining on tagine for a while, you may be relived to hear that Essaouira restaurants offer a lot more variety, including for vegetarians. In the heat of summer (July and August), highs don't exceed 30C / 86F and lows are below 20C / 70F in the evening, so you'll need a light jacket, especially because of the wind. Almost every city in the country has a mellah, or Jewish quarter. The end of the Ramadan fast is celebrated asEid al-Fitr, the Feast of Fast-Breaking, which is one of the major religious holidays of the Muslim calendar. I was excited to learn that the city was used as Astapor in Game of Thrones (the city where Daenerys gets her Unsullied army). In the winter (January and February) highs don't exceed 20C / 70F and lows drop to 12C / 52F. Essaouira, Morocco 2023: Best Places to Visit - Tripadvisor Alternatively, you may use, SofitelSofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf & Spa, Hotel Le Medina Essaouira Thalassa sea & spa - MGallery, Residence Hoteliere Domaine De L'arganeraie. Arganier, the Essaouira rental car company our Airbnb host recommended to us, has the most no-fuss system we've experienced. Is Essaouira Worth Visiting? These are intersected with little alleyways leading towards the city walls, as well as the larger Rue Mohamed El Qorry, which leads out to Bab Marrakech. Where to Eat in Essaouira: La Table by Madada. Many of the ex-pat retirees live (or at least winter) here. Alternatively its just a 30 minute walk each way. The local buses to places we recommend in our post on things to do in and around Essaouiralike Sidi Kaouki, Tagazhout, and the Had Draa marketleave from the Bab Doukkala gate at the northern end of the medina. Essaouira is still an excellent choice for people who want to visit Morocco but do not want to experience the hustle and bustle of the larger towns. When compared to other such public markets in Morocco, the Essaouira Souk is not necessarily among the best, Im sad to say. Not if you want to party and shop till you drop. Heads Up: You cannot buy alcohol from the stores on Fridays and during the whole month of Ramadan. It is jam packed with inspiration on what to do, where to eat, where to stay, and also includes a step-by-step self-guided walking tour (with photos). We have personally visited Essaouira during Ramadan, and can answer these questions for you. From where to stay, where to eat, things to do and see, as well as helping you understanding local customs, we've got you covered to get the most out of your stay. Thanks so much! Here are 10 reasons we say yes. If you would like to experience serenity at its best, take a walk to the secluded areas south of the beach. You may be wondering if all restaurants, food shops, and activities are closed in Essaouira for Ramadan? Drm Stt, Sweet Dreams Inn. Im just a small-town Ohio girl trying to balance a normal life with a desire to discover the world beyond my Midwest bubble. To book, send them a WhatsApp (+212 667 015736). Our Favourite Things to Do in Essaouira, Morocco - ALONG DUSTY ROADS From where to stay, where to eat, things to do and see, as well as helping you understanding local customs, we've got you covered to get the most out of your stay. Check out our extended post on Where to Eat in Essaouira: Street Food, Seafood, Cafs, and Restaurants for all our favorites. From where to stay, where to eat, things to do and see, as well as helping you understanding local customs, we've got you covered to get the most out of your stay. I want to encourage you to always have an adventure and see something new, even if its close to home! 14667703, "We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. I only bought a few bits and looked at a few more bits and the prices being quoted did decrease as I bartered or walked away so keep this in mind, however, again, its done in a friendly way and its also all part of the culture so enjoy it! When we felt we'd worn out our welcome at L'Atelier, we'd go to Mega Loft, the only other work-friendly option we found in the medina. PersonalityConnect48 1 yr. ago Why is that? The average temperature is 17 during the winter, 18 in the Spring and 21 in the summer and autumn which means its comfortable to visit all year round. Some cheap, some more glamorous. A weekend in Essaouira: what to see and to - and where to stay A city situated in the Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz region of Morocco, Essaouira is an up-and-coming hotspot for European travelers looking for something beyond the usual tourist attractions. Read the full disclosure policy, Escaping to the Moroccan Coast: A Day Trip to Essaouira. If watersports arent your thing, how about exploring the coastline south of Essaouira on a quadbike or horse? But Essaouira is a town that relies heavily on tourism, and after a couple of tough years with the pandemic, its not surprising that some restaurants and shops are open during Ramadan, especially around Moulay Hassan Square and close to the Ramparts. If you want to go shopping in Morocco Essaouira is the place for you! In addition to the number of seagulls that fly overhead (and, when I visited in October anyway, the quantity of mysterious mist that moistened my face), this location automatically makes it one of the most beautiful places in the country. And, I run a faith and lifestyle Instagram account and YouTube channel! Look to stay near the Casa Port train station. Could I have used a few more hours to fully enjoy Essaouira? Visiting Essaouira during Ramadan 2024: everything you need to know It feels particularly cold because of the wind and lack of indoor heating. Thanks so much! Hey Alyson, thanks! I had just spent two weeks traveling around Morocco, bouncing between large cities, the Sahara Desert, and the Atlas Mountains. However, I should mention that there is sometimes the occasional moped breaking the rules and driving along the alleyways. Essaouira is also known as the windy city because well, it is very windy! In this Essaouira travel guide I'll explain why and how you can make the most out of your time in Essaouira. Visit Essaouira: Morocco's Most Charming Seaside Town - TheTravel Just wondering if you had any insights. If you have extra days to spend in Essaouira (or youve decided to stay longer, as we predicted!) The shop sellers enjoy a good chin-wag and are rarely pushy, no haggling is required with the petits taxis as its a flat fare of DH7, the medina is traffic free, and the sandy beach provides a place of natural calm, even on a windy day. During this time, theres a party atmosphere as friends and family come together to feast during the day. Id say that if you have time and money to go to Essaouira, you should absolutely prioritize doing so. Venue: Essaouira. Behind the promenade are rows of four-story apartment buildings of the new city. There are rugs for sale, clothes, furniture, bags, shoes, plus everything else! We were completely carefree, which is the fundamental thing to fully enjoy a holiday. Perhaps a good lunch option? USEFUL GUIDE:Best time to visit Essaouira. Here are 10 reasons we say yes! Our advice: Stay in El Borj, if you're staying for longer, want to save money but not stay in a hostel, are coming primarily to kitesurf, or have had your fill of medina madness and want a more chill stay. I had read that there is no bartering in Essaouira and everything has a set written price however this isnt true. Remember, if you need help planning your trip to Morocco, you should consider hiring me as your Travel Coach! Seasons of the Fox. Recommended spas to try are Spa Cocooning, and Azur Spa Essaouira for a bit of well-deserved pampering. I dont know if you ever have guest authors write articles for your site, but if you do I would love to connect and see if my work may be a fit for your audience. Thanks so much! Ramadan actually coincides with Easter in 2024 (Easter Sunday in 2024 is 31st March). Many locations in this city, which was once known by the name Mogador, were featured in HBOs soon-to-be-ending most-famous TV series. Here are 10 reasons we say yes. ", vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Essaouira, Essaouria sunset time and best viewpoints, Agadir to Essaouira road trip: 5 day itinerary. Other travelers will follow a simpler trajectoryother travelers in this instance being surfers. Essaouira travel - Lonely Planet | Morocco, Africa Only worth visiting en route - Review of Medina of Essaouira, Essaouira
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