Where is the Sqala du Port?
The Sqala du Port is in Essaouira, on Moulay Hassan square, facing the port and the Atlantic. It is part of the defensive architecture of the medina.
Opening hours
The official ticket office of the Ministry of Culture gives visiting hours of 9am to 5pm. This is a general statement for all the monuments on its online ticket office: the ministry does not specify any closing day, any particular hours or any last entry for the Sqala du Port in Essaouira. Check before your visit, especially during Ramadan, national and religious holidays and official events.
Entry prices
Prices of the official ticket office of the Ministry of Culture:
- foreign adult: 60 DH (about €6);
- foreign child aged 7 to 13: 30 DH;
- Moroccan or resident adult: 30 DH;
- Moroccan or resident child aged 7 to 13: 10 DH;
- free entry for Moroccans every Friday and on the first day of national and religious holidays.
The official ticket office does not specify the conditions for children under 7 or for people with reduced mobility: ask the Ministry of Culture. Prices taken from the official ticket office of the Ministry of Culture on 18 October 2026; they may change.
Ticketing: e-ticket and digital guide
You can buy your ticket at the ticket office of the Sqala on the day of your visit, or book your e-ticket in advance on MoroccoMuseum.com. The e-ticket includes:
- the entry ticket at the official price (60 DH, i.e. about €6, for a foreign adult, 30 DH for a foreign child aged 7 to 13), plus a €1.99 service fee;
- your e-ticket (electronic ticket, or e-billet) and your access to the digital guide sent by email, usually within 3 hours;
- the digital guide, included with every ticket: an illustrated visit guide, a narrative account and an audio reading of 5 points of interest, available in five languages, to use on your phone to explore the site at your own pace.
Prices taken from the official ticket office of the Ministry of Culture on 18 October 2026; they may change.
→ Book my e-ticket for the Sqala du Port in Essaouira
What the official ticket office says about the Sqala
According to the Ministry of Culture, the Sqala du Port is an essential part of the defensive architecture of the medina of Essaouira: it was designed essentially to protect the port against possible attacks from the sea. It consists of two fortified wings 200 metres long that meet at a right angle. One, behind the pediment of the Marine Gate, overlooks the esplanade and the careening basin; the other faces the archipelago and rises above the storerooms that once housed soldiers, munitions and water reserves.
To understand the town, read our article Essaouira: the corsair city that became an artists' muse. The medina of Essaouira is discovered on foot right afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
What is the entry price for the Sqala du Port in Essaouira? The official price is 60 DH (about €6) for a foreign adult and 30 DH for a foreign child aged 7 to 13. On MoroccoMuseum.com, the e-ticket adds a €1.99 service fee. Prices taken from the official ticket office of the Ministry of Culture on 18 October 2026; they may change.
How does the e-ticket work? You book online, then you receive your electronic ticket and your access to the digital guide by email, usually within 3 hours.
Is the digital guide included? Yes, it is included with every ticket: illustrated visit guide, narrative account and audio reading of 5 points of interest, in five languages, to use on your phone.
What are the visiting hours? The official ticket office of the Ministry of Culture gives visiting hours of 9am to 5pm for all of its monuments; it does not specify any closing day. Check before your visit, especially during Ramadan, holidays and official events.
Can I walk the Sqala at my own pace? Yes: with the digital guide on your phone, you walk the two fortified wings in whatever order you like, with no group and no set schedule.
