Les incontournables d’Essaouira, et bien plus : grâce à nous, devenez voyageurs. Découvrez des lieux vrais, loin des sentiers battus.
Discovering Essaouira
Our Handpicked Places, Moments… and Experiences to Live
Once a Phoenician trading post, Essaouira has grown into a truly global city — a vibrant crossroads where cultures meet, blend and shape a uniquely rich and diverse identity.
What moved Nathalie and Patrick most? The respect for others, the kindness, and the sense of cultural exchange. Essaouira is a sanctuary of tolerance, freedom, and creativity.
White-walled, blue-trimmed, shaped by sea spray and wind , the city never reveals itself all at once — only to those who take the time to truly feel it.
Here is our personal selection of places you shouldn’t just see in Essaouira, but genuinely experience — not the “to-dos”, but the “to-live”.
Lose Yourself in the Medina
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Essaouira’s Medina is a maze of alleyways shaped by salt, sun, and time.
It’s a place for wandering, breathing, and simply taking it all in: from artisan workshops to contemporary art galleries, from spice sellers to master craftsmen working thuya wood — a world of its own.
Our tip: don’t hesitate to speak with the shopkeepers; let them share their stories. Here, even if you leave empty-handed, you’ll always hear: “No worries — maybe next time...”
Not to be missed:
- The Skala de la city, with its cannons facing the ocean
- The ramparts at sunset
- Chbanate Street and its authentic workshops
Where the Blue Boats Rest: Essaouira Harbour
A true slice of local life — not to be missed.
Our tip: try a freshly grilled fish right on the harbour, cooked over the open flames. Freshness guaranteed.
Sun, Sand and Surf in Essaouira
The winds of Essaouira are a blessing for kite surfers, windsurfers and sailors alike.
Yet the beach also invites calm: a sunrise horseback ride, a nap among the dunes, or a barefoot stroll all the way to Diabat.
Our tip: try a horseback or camel ride at sunset, with a mint tea served in the dunes — a truly suspended moment.
The Scented Alleys of Essaouira’s Souks
Essaouira’s souks don’t shout — they whisper.
There’s no chaos here, only a gentle buzz and plenty of smiles.
Take your time, chat, explore. Spices, soaps, ceramics, rugs, Tuareg jewellery… each item tells a story. Whether true or slightly exaggerated, that’s for you to decide.
Our tip: haggling is part of the fun. At Riad Eucalyptus, we’ll give you the insider guide.
Essaouira: A City of Music and Culture
Essaouira wouldn’t be Essaouira without its music.
A city of Gnaoua , its mystical and enchanting sounds from the South echo through the streets, across rooftops, and in the hearts of its people.
Not to be missed:
- A Gnaoua concert at Dar Souiri or in a café in the Medina
- The Gnaoua & World Music Festival every summer
- A musical sunset along the city ramparts
Soon, the City of Art and Culture will add another layer to this vibrant artistic scene.
Sidi Kaouki and Its Surroundings
Only 10 minutes from Riad Eucalyptus, our ethnic boutique hotel, Sidi Kaouki shows a different side of Morocco — wilder, freer, more untouched.
Here, surfers, yogis and Bohemian souls roam freely. The beach stretches endlessly, pure and magnificent.
Nathalie and Patrick’s recommendation : savour a lunch at Mohamed’s, a simple local spot on the little square by the ocean. Genuine, unpretentious, truly Moroccan.
Beyond the Must-Sees… Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Track
Essaouira has its icons: the Medina, the harbour, and the beaches.
But what we love most are the detours.
The places you won’t find in any guidebook. The whispered addresses. The experiences that happen only if someone shares them at just the right moment.
At Riad Eucalyptus , our boutique hotel in Essaouira, we are more than hosts: we are creators of emotions , travel confidences, and genuine moments.
Do you dream of:
- A dinner with your feet in the sand, away from the world?
- A horseback ride through the dunes at dawn?
- A weaving workshop in a Berber cooperative?
- A private evening with a Gnaoua musician in the patio?
We are here to advise, book, and organise every detail for you.
And if you’re not yet sure what you’re looking for… We’ll know just what to suggest.
