Essaouira or Mogador, is a small port on the Moroccan coast. Its original name comes from the word Migdol which means “small fortress”. Unlike the other cities that you can visit in this country, this one is completely different. A calm place where you can relax and be amazed by its small Medina. Its streets are easy to navigate and quiet, full of small restaurants and shops where you can spend your time. It was declared as a World Heritage Site in 2001 by UNESCO.
How to get there and move around the city
If you are traveling through Morocco, my recommendation is that you take a tour with an agency like Corazón de Marruecos. In our case, Hassan took us between the cities in a very comfortable car, he explained interesting facts about each place and he knew the best places to stop. On your route through the country, the best option to come to this city is if you are in Marrakech or Casablanca.
Being in the city, you will not need any other type of transportation other than your legs. It is a small city and walking anywhere is very easy. You can walk along the beach and walk the streets in a few minutes. If you like to surf, I recommend you come here.
What to do in the city
Walk around the Medina and enter trough Bab Sbaa
Its Medina is quite small and its streets will be easy to navigate. Being a small fortress, you can walk through the walled city and get lost in its alleys. The main entrance is Bab Sbaa, a large arch that will welcome you to the city in a wonderful way.
Borj El-Barmil
As I told you, Essaouira is a small port and its economy is focused on fishing. Its main port is full of small blue boats. A spectacular place to go and see how the city’s economy works and the strange fish that come here.
Sqala du Port
On the way to the port of the city, on the main door you find this small fortress that served to defend the city from some attacks. If you want to visit it you can do it although its entry is not free or you can see it from outside and appreciate its architecture.
Bab Skala
If you want to walk through the old walls it is possible, my recommendations is that you go right before sunset to sit and enjoy the view. Watching the waves hit the wall is something that will relax you.
Essaouira beach
If there’s some good weather, or you like to get into the water, you can leave the Medina and enjoy a wide beach. Although I didn’t see people at the time I was there, I’ve heard it’s a great place to surf, so go ahead and take a dip.
where to stay
The vast majority of people visit this city on day tours but I really recommend that you stay one or two nights. As much as there is not much to do, it is a quiet place and you will enjoy it. Also, if you come by bus from Marrakech, it is 3 hours each way and what you can enjoy from the city is very little.
We booked a small hotel where we could rest and enjoy the day without any special comfort. It was called Coeur de Mogador and it was in all the center of the Medina. Very easy to get to any place of the city.
Where to eat
If you are a fan of fish, this is your place in Morocco. The port is full of fresh fish that you can buy and in most restaurants they sell fish (I am not a fan of seafood)
- Market square: In the city center, you will find the main market square and a perfect place to eat fresh fish. Every day, fishermen come to sell the catch of the day here. You can buy it and in any restaurant in the square you can ask for it to be cooked for a small price.
- Moulay Hassan Square: Another great place to eat the catch of the day is to go to the small Kiosks that are in this square just before entering the port. You select what you want to eat and they prepare it for you right there.
- El Khaima: A small restaurant on a square in the city, good place for local food and watch people pass by. In the plaza there are several vegetarian restaurants that you may like.
- Chez Ali: In the same plaza as El Khaima, this restaurant is a little more local and better priced but it is hidden. The view is better on the other side.
