Essaouira Travel Guide

Essaouira is a coastal city in Morocco.

Please note: tickets are rarely available for the next departing coach. Try and book your tickets the day before, or further in advance during peak travel periods.

The walled centre of town, the Medina, does not allow motor vehicles to enter other than the ubiquitous moped, but there are occasional horse drawn vehicles to dodge. Smile and get out of the way.

Essaouira's craftsmen are renowned for their woodwork and lacquerware. Intricately inlaid boxes, chessboards and curios can be found for good prices in the city's hundreds of shops; however, beware that extensive deforestation is taking place in the area due to these woods not being replanted. Artwork of all kinds can be had here.

Although Essaouira is on the sea, fish are quite expensive. Fishermen sell their catch through market hall and you can get it cooked in small stands nearby. Prices are clearly marked per weight on the large pricing board at the end of the fish market stalls, but this seems to make little difference to the chances of being hustled. Carefully evaluate how much you are being charged. A cheaper option is to buy Harira for 2-5DH or sandwich. There are many reasonable restaurants and cafes on the main streets and squares. Upscale restaurants worth a mention are Taros which combines a French-Moroccan restaurant, a gallery and a terrace bar with live local music and "5" for its elegant ex-pat vibe.

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