18 Best Things to Do in Essaouira (2026): Prices, Map & Tips
The best things to do in Essaouira are walking the Skala de la Ville ramparts at sunset, watching the fishing boats come in at the port, eating grilled sardines by the harbour (30–40 MAD a plate), exploring the whitewashed medina and its galleries, and getting out on the beach for a camel ride, a surf lesson or kitesurfing. Most sights are free and within a 10-minute walk, so two days covers the town and a third adds Diabat, horse riding or a winery.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this guide are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. This never changes what we recommend.
Essaouira is a town for slowing down, so timing matters more than ticking off sights: the port is busiest early, the grills fire up at lunchtime and the ramparts glow at sunset. This list of 18 things to do in Essaouira gives you prices, hours, a map and the best time for each, from the medina and the port to the beach, the dunes and the countryside. For transport and practical advice, read our Essaouira travel guide.
Things to Do in Essaouira at a Glance
| Activity | Cost | Time needed | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Medina and Place Moulay Hassan | Free | 2–3 h | Morning |
| 2. Skala de la Ville ramparts | Free | 30 min | Sunset |
| 3. Fishing port | Free | 1 h | 7:00–10:00 |
| 4. Skala du Port | About 60 MAD | 30–45 min | 9:00–11:00 |
| 5. Fish grills and auction | 50–80 MAD a meal | 1–2 h | 11:00–14:00 |
| 6. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah Museum | Small fee | 1 h | Any time 10:00–18:00 |
| 7. Mellah and Bayt Dakira | Free to walk | 1 h | Morning |
| 8. Art galleries | Free | 1–2 h | Afternoon |
| 9. Souks and spice shops | Varies | 1–2 h | Morning or Sunday |
| 10. Hammam | Public or spa prices | 1–2 h | Late afternoon |
| 11. Cooking class | Varies | 3–4 h | Morning |
| 12. Beach walk and camel ride | Free / negotiate | 1–2 h | Late afternoon |
| 13. Surf or kitesurf lesson | Varies | 2 h lessons | April–September for kite |
| 14. Horse riding | Varies | 1 h to full day | Morning |
| 15. Quad biking | Varies | 2 h to half day | Morning |
| 16. Diabat and Dar Sultan | Free | Half day | Afternoon |
| 17. Val d’Argan winery | About 200 MAD tasting | Half day | Book ahead |
| 18. Sailing cruise | Varies | About 4 h | Calm days |
Map of Things to Do in Essaouira
Numbers match the list below. Tap a pin for details, or open it in Google Maps. Diabat and the winery are off the default view: zoom out to see them.
Blue = medina and port, green = beach and countryside. Pins are approximate.
Best Things to Do in Essaouira Medina and Port
1. Wander the medina and Place Moulay Hassan
Essaouira's UNESCO-listed medina was laid out in the 18th century on a grid, so it is much easier to explore than Fes or Marrakech. Start at Place Moulay Hassan, the square between the port and the old town, where cafés serve mint tea and musicians often play (MarocMama). Then walk the main street and get lost in the side lanes with their blue doors and shutters.
For the best photos, explore the medina early in the morning, before the shops open and the day-trippers arrive from Marrakech. The quieter side lanes away from the main street are where you will find the whitewashed walls and blue doors the town is known for.
2. Walk the Skala de la Ville ramparts
The 18th-century sea ramparts are lined with bronze cannons and have the best sunset views in town. Game of Thrones fans may recognise them: Essaouira stood in for Astapor in the series, according to The Discoveries Of. Walking along the Skala de la Ville is free, which makes it one of the best free things to do in Essaouira.
3. Watch the boats at the fishing port
The port is the most photogenic place in town: hundreds of blue boats, nets drying in the sun, boatbuilders and swirling seagulls. Come between 7:00 and 10:00 to see the catch unloaded (Nomado).
4. Climb the Skala du Port
The fortified sea battery at the harbour entrance has the classic view back over the port and the medina walls. Entry is 60 MAD, according to MarocMama, and it is open roughly 9:00–17:00 (Nomado). Go before 11:00, when the wind is calmer and the light softer.
5. Eat at the fish grills and watch the auction
At the grill stalls by the port, pick your fish and they cook it on the spot. Nomado lists sardines at about 30–40 MAD a plate and a mixed fish plate at about 50–70 MAD; agree the price before you sit down. In the afternoon, the fish auction is one of the most authentic things to do in Essaouira, as Anywhere We Roam describes.
6. Visit the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah Museum
Housed in a 19th-century mansion on Rue Laâlouj, this ethnographic museum covers local crafts, music and Essaouira's history. It is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, according to Journey Beyond Travel.
7. Explore the Mellah and Bayt Dakira
In the 18th century, Jews made up nearly half of the town's population (Journey Beyond Travel). The Mellah, the old Jewish quarter in the north of the medina, still has synagogues and Star of David carvings. Bayt Dakira, a restored house dedicated to this heritage, is the best place to understand it.
8. Browse the art galleries
Essaouira has a strong art scene. Anywhere We Roam recommends Galerie Damgaard and Galerie Espace Othello, and The Discoveries Of suggests Centre d'art Le Real Mogador and Galerie La Kasbah. Most galleries are free to visit.
9. Shop the souks, spices and woodwork
Look for thuya wood boxes from the woodworkers' workshops near the ramparts, argan products, and spices. Journey Beyond Travel recommends Si Said's spice shop, behind the fish market, for saffron and "royal tea". On Sundays, an open-air souk is held, with second-hand goods on La Joutia square (MarocMama).
10. Relax in a hammam
Public hammams have separate times or rooms for men and women and cost very little; spa hammams in riads and hotels are more comfortable and offer massages. After a windy day on the beach, it is one of the best things to do in Essaouira.
11. Take a cooking class
Learn to make a tagine or couscous. Journey Beyond Travel lists L'Atelier Madada (classes 10:00–14:00, plus pastry classes in the afternoon, closed Sundays), and MarocMama recommends Khadija's Kuzina, held in a local home.
Browse Essaouira tours and classes on Klook →
Outdoor Things to Do in Essaouira
12. Walk the beach and take a camel ride
The wide beach curves south from the medina for several kilometres. It is better for walking than sunbathing because of the wind, and camel and horse handlers offer short rides along the sand; agree the price and duration first. The water is calm and shallow near town, according to MarocMama, but cool in winter.
13. Learn to surf or kitesurf
Essaouira is known as North Africa's wind capital, with the kitesurfing high season from April to September (Journey Beyond Travel). Learning to kitesurf is one of the most popular things to do in Essaouira, and beach schools offer two-hour surf lessons and kite courses for beginners; book ahead in summer.
14. Go horse riding
Rides along the beach and through the dunes range from one hour to multi-day trips with a night in a Berber tent. The Discoveries Of recommends Ranch de Diabat.
15. Ride a quad through the dunes
Quad tours cover beach, dunes and argan forest, from about two hours to half a day (MarocMama, The Discoveries Of). Choose an operator with helmets and a guide.
16. Visit Diabat and the Dar Sultan ruins
About 4 km south of town, the village of Diabat has sand dunes and the ruins of Dar Sultan, with no entrance fee (MarocMama). Local legend links the ruins to Jimi Hendrix's "Castle Made of Sand", but Journey Beyond Travel notes the song came out in 1967, two years before his 1969 visit.
17. Taste wine at Domaine du Val d'Argan
Operating since 1994, this vineyard grows Rhône Valley grapes in the countryside outside Essaouira. Tastings cost about 200 MAD and must be booked by email; there is no public shuttle, so take a grand taxi or a driver (MarocMama).
18. Go sailing
Sailing cruises run roughly 10:30–14:30, with sunset options, serving tea and pastries on board, according to Journey Beyond Travel. Book the day before, as trips depend on the weather.
How to Plan Your Days
The easiest way to fit these things to do in Essaouira into your stay:
- One day: port at 8:00, Skala du Port, medina and museum, fish grills for lunch, galleries and souks, then sunset on the Skala de la Ville.
- Two days: add the beach, a camel ride or surf lesson, the Mellah and a hammam.
- Three days: add Diabat, horse riding or quad biking, or the Val d'Argan winery.
Our day-by-day plan is in 2 Days in Essaouira. To walk everywhere, stay in the medina; see where to stay in Essaouira.
Compare riads and hotels in Essaouira on Klook →
Tips for Visiting Essaouira
A few tips make all the things to do in Essaouira easier:
- Bring a windbreaker and sunscreen, even when it feels cool.
- Agree prices first at the fish grills, for camel rides and with taxis.
- Carry cash for grills, souks and entry fees.
- Check festival dates: the Gnaoua World Music Festival, usually in June, fills the town.
- Avoid July and August if you dislike crowds (MarocMama).
Get a Morocco eSIM on Airalo →
Things to Do in Essaouira: FAQs
What is Essaouira famous for?
Its UNESCO-listed 18th-century medina and ramparts, its blue fishing boats, fresh grilled fish, Gnaoua music and strong winds that make it a kitesurfing hub.
Is one day enough for Essaouira?
One day covers the port, ramparts, medina and a fish lunch, but two days lets you enjoy the beach, a sunset and quieter mornings.
Are things to do in Essaouira expensive?
No. Most things to do in Essaouira are free; the Skala du Port costs about 60 MAD and a grilled-fish meal 50–80 MAD. Lessons, rides and tastings cost more.
Can you swim in Essaouira?
Yes, near town the water is calm and shallow, but it is cool and the wind is strong. Many visitors wear a wetsuit outside summer.
What is there to do in Essaouira at night?
Dinner in the medina, live music in cafés and bars, and sunset on the ramparts. It is much quieter than Marrakech at night.
Was Game of Thrones filmed in Essaouira?
Yes. The ramparts were used as the city of Astapor in the series.