If Marrakech is the “Red City,” Essaouira is the “White and Blue City.”
Located just three hours west of Marrakech, this fortified coastal town feels like a different country. The air is salty, the pace is slow, and the light has attracted artists and musicians including Jimi Hendrix and Cat Stevens for decades.
At The Expat Tours, we love sending clients to a Coastal Retreat here. It is the perfect place to wash off the desert dust and enjoy a few days of breezy relaxation.
1. The “Alizés” Breeze
Essaouira is known as the “Windy City of Africa.”
Thanks to the constant trade winds or Alizés, it never gets too hot here. It offers a refreshing cool break from the baking interior of the country.
This is not a place for sunbathing on a towel all day as the sand blows! It is a place for long walks on the beach, kitesurfing, and sitting on a terrace wrapped in a scarf while watching the waves crash against the rocks.
2. A Fortress by the Sea
Staying in Essaouira means staying inside history.
Our favorite boutique hotels are often built right into the old city walls or ramparts. You can wake up, open your blue shutters, and look straight out at the 18th century cannons and the endless ocean.
The streets here are wider and calmer than in Fes or Marrakech. The shopkeepers are more relaxed. You can browse for thuya wood carvings or argan oil without the hard sell.
3. Port to Plate
If you love seafood, this is your paradise.
Every morning, the blue wooden fishing boats return with the catch. You can point to a fish, crab, or lobster at the port stalls, and they will grill it for you right there on charcoal. Staying locally means you are never more than a few minutes walk from the freshest lunch of your life.
4. The Soundtrack of Gnaoua
Essaouira has a soul. It is the home of Gnaoua music which is a spiritual and rhythmic African Islamic music.
In the evenings, many hotels and restaurants host live Gnaoua bands. Falling asleep to the hypnotic sound of the guembri or bass lute and castanets is a deeply Moroccan experience.
The Artist’s Escape
See why poets, painters, and musicians have been hiding here for years.
???? The “Game of Thrones” Walk Ready for the breeze? We know the boutique hotels that offer the best ocean views while being sheltered from the strong winds. Book your Essaouira stay with us, and we will point you to the exact spot on the ramparts where Daenerys Targaryen met the Unsullied in the TV show. Essaouira doubled as the city of Astapor!
