Where to stay in Essaouira?

Staying in the Medina

A historic city refounded in the 18th century on a site occupied since antiquity, Essaouira's fortified Medina is a mecca for cultural tourism in Morocco. Full of charm, it's the best place to stay in the area.

Many places of tourist interest are concentrated in and around its walls. The most important of these are

• the old port, where many small blue boats are still used for traditional fishing. You can still buy fish at the auction and have it prepared and cooked on the spot.
• the Sqala, a former artillery rampart that protected the port. It still bears its 18th-century cannons.
• the ramparts, open to the public, which offer a beautiful view of the Medina and the ocean.

It's also a real pleasure to wander through the ancient streets of the Saouiria city. Even if you're not staying here, you can't miss the chance to stroll through the many craft stalls, restaurants and cafés, as well as the gates (or Bab) of the city wall. Many of the shops are geared towards tourism, but this doesn't stop the products and dishes from being authentic and the fruit of the craftsmen's labor.

All this commerce makes the area very lively during the day, but at night it's a little quieter. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés open late, however, and the evenings are very pleasant.

All your walks will be on foot, as the narrow alleys are inaccessible to cars. Keep this in mind when choosing your accommodation, especially if you've packed large suitcases.

As for the type of place to stay in the Media souirie, you 'll mainly find riads. Widespread throughout Morocco, these are thecountry's traditional type of accommodation.

They are “inns” for travelers, with guest rooms often organized around a central, open-air patio, often with a rooftop terrace. They are often magnificent, charming accommodations, provided they have been well-maintained and adapted to modern standards of comfort. Choose to stay in a riad if the opportunity arises - it's an experience not to be missed during a stay in Morocco.

Sea view: staying by the beach

Just south of the ancient city, Essaouira beach is a kitesurfing paradise, but also a good place to stay in a hotel or modern rental.

The neighborhoods and housing along the Atlantic are part of the new, ever-expanding zone, with newer and newer buildings the further south you go. As for the beach, it stretches for several kilometers.

Made of fine sand, it is often wide and very pleasant to walk on. The wind can be quite strong, which suits the many surfers and kitesurfers who come to Essaouira especially to practice their sport. However, this makes the area unsuitable for swimming, with large waves and often cool water temperatures. If you want to sunbathe in summer, or take a stroll along the beach to enjoy the ocean air, no problem! You can even take a dromedary ride, if you want to sacrifice yourself to this “tradition”.

Apart from the beach, the area doesn't offer much in the way of tourist attractions. As mentioned, it's rather modern, and you'll have to head north to old Essaouira for your visits. However, even if you choose to stay there, you won't be far from the historic center on foot. In fact, depending on the location of your accommodation, you'll only have to walk between 10 and 30 minutes (at worst) to reach the entrance to the city walls.

The seafront is quite lively, with cafés, bars and restaurants all along the beach, catering for locals and travellers alike. There's not a great deal of activity, however, as the area is fairly residential. Once again, if you decide to stay here, you'll have to look north for more activity in the evenings. Nothing to worry about, though.

Finally, as regards the types of accommodation available, no riads here, but modern establishments. On the waterfront, you'll find some rather luxurious hotels, while the residential part of the district offers some quite decent tourist rentals.