Preparing your trip to Essaouira
Essaouira is particularly easy to include in a trip to Morocco, especially from Marrakech. The city is accessible by coach, car and plane. It has no railway station: travellers using the train must therefore combine the rail network with road transport.
Here is the main practical information to know before you leave.
How do you get to Essaouira from Marrakech?
By CTM coach
CTM currently serves the Marrakech–Essaouira route. The company shows a distance of about 191 km and several daily departures on this route. The fares shown depend on the date and the service chosen. To know the exact fare, it is best to search directly for your travel date.
→ Check CTM availability for Marrakech–Essaouira
With Supratours
Supratours also serves Essaouira from Marrakech. This option is particularly well known among travellers who use the ONCF network and want to continue by coach to Essaouira. Schedules should be checked for the exact date of travel.
By car
Driving lets you do the Marrakech–Essaouira trip with more freedom. It becomes particularly interesting if you also want to visit:
- the argan forest;
- the cooperatives;
- Sidi Kaouki;
- the beaches;
- the villages around Essaouira.
A day excursion to Essaouira from Marrakech is also possible. Before leaving Marrakech, our guide on when to visit Marrakech helps you choose the right season.
How do you get to Essaouira from Casablanca?
CTM also runs Casablanca–Essaouira services. At a recent check, departures were shown from 200 MAD depending on the service, with journey times varying roughly from 6 h 30 to 8 h depending on the departure. Schedules and fares should be checked for the chosen date.
How do you get to Essaouira from Agadir?
Agadir is south of Essaouira. The journey can be made by coach or by car. A car is particularly attractive if you want to turn the trip into a coastal itinerary and discover some beaches along the way.
Can you get to Essaouira by train?
No.
For travellers coming from Marrakech, the simplest option is generally to compare coach, car and excursion directly.
Can you fly to Essaouira?
Yes. Essaouira-Mogador airport, IATA code ESU, is about 16 km from the city.
ONDA, the National Airports Office, states a terminal capacity of 300,000 passengers a year and notes international connections with London, Marseille and Paris on its presentation page. As air links may vary by season, always check the flights available for your dates.
How do you get around Essaouira?
- On foot: to visit the medina, walking is clearly the simplest option. Most of the main historic sites are within a fairly compact area.
- Petit taxi: taxis let you reach different districts and areas outside the medina.
- Car: it is mostly useful for exploring the surroundings. If your stay is limited to the medina and the beach, it is not essential.
- Organised excursion: for an excursion to Sidi Kaouki, the argan forest or certain activities, an organised package can simplify transport.
Where should you stay in Essaouira?
- In the medina: riads and guesthouses suit travellers looking for a heritage experience. You are then right in the heart of the historic lanes.
- Near the beach: seafront hotels suit travellers who want to combine city and beach.
- Outside the centre: the surroundings offer accommodation more oriented towards nature and relaxation. This option can be interesting with a car.
What price range should you expect?
As a guide, for one night:
- budget accommodation: about 250 to 450 MAD;
- riad or mid-range hotel: about 450 to 900 MAD;
- upscale hotel: 900 MAD and more.
Prices vary widely with the season, the weekend, events and proximity to the sea. These figures should therefore be used only as a basis for planning.
What budget should you plan for Essaouira?
To build your budget, plan for: return transport, accommodation, meals, visits, activities, excursions and local transport.
- Budget trip: coach + simple accommodation + local restaurants + visits mostly on foot.
- Comfort trip: comfortable riad or hotel + restaurants + taxi + one or two activities.
- Experience trip: upscale accommodation + private excursions + water activities + food or cultural experiences.
→ See the water activities: kitesurf lessons
How many days should you stay in Essaouira?
1 day
Possible for a quick first discovery: medina + Skala + port + beach. The pace will be fairly intense if you arrive from Marrakech the same day.2 days
A good length to discover the city without rushing. Day 1: medina, Skala, port, Mellah. Day 2: beach, activity and excursion.3 days
Combine heritage + beach + activity + excursion.4 days or more
You can explore the surroundings at a slower pace, notably Sidi Kaouki, Diabat and the argan forest.
When should you visit Essaouira?
Essaouira can be visited all year round. Spring and autumn are particularly good for combining cultural discovery and outdoor activities. Summer can be very pleasant for enjoying the coast, but the wind is an integral part of Essaouira's climate.
For surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing, conditions should be assessed according to your level and the period.
Example of a 3-day stay
[Timeline]
- Day 1 — Heritage: medina → Skala de la Kasbah → galleries → Mellah → port → fish market.
- Day 2 — Ocean: beach → surfing or kitesurfing → lunch → walk → sunset.
- Day 3 — Surroundings: argan forest → cooperative → Diabat or Sidi Kaouki → back to Essaouira.
Useful numbers and emergencies in Essaouira
It is better to know these numbers before you leave. These are Morocco's emergency numbers, valid throughout the country:
- Police emergency: 19 (in towns and cities);
- Royal Gendarmerie: 177 (roads, villages and rural areas outside the towns);
- Civil protection and fire brigade: 15;
- SAMU, medical emergencies: 141.
Duty pharmacy. Pharmacies take turns to provide night, weekend and public holiday cover. To find the one that is open in Essaouira, check the directory of duty pharmacies in Essaouira on med.ma, or look for the duty list displayed in the window of the nearest pharmacy. Your accommodation can also tell you which pharmacy is on duty today.
Preparing your stay with MoroccoMuseum
Once transport and accommodation are booked, you can organise the visits and activities:
- Heritage: medina, Skala de la Ville, Skala du Port, museum and historic monuments;
- Nature: beach, argan forest, Sidi Kaouki, Diabat;
- Experiences: surfing, kitesurfing, guided visits, excursions and cultural activities.
→ Discover the experiences available: surf lessons in Essaouira
Essaouira in summary
Essaouira is a destination that is easy to discover in two or three days, but it can also serve as a base for exploring the Atlantic coast. Its main advantage is bringing together in one stay: medina + heritage + ocean + food + crafts + water sports + nature.
Before you leave, always check transport schedules, flights and activity availability for your dates.
