Essaouira sits on Morocco's Atlantic coast, about 200 km north of Agadir and 400 km south of Casablanca. It is a small port town that Moroccans love as much as visitors do, and many will tell you it is the most beautiful city in the country. Its old name, As-Sawirah, means "the well designed one". The whole medina, with its gates and ramparts, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.
A mild climate, all year
The ocean keeps the temperature in a narrow band. It is never really cold, and thanks to the sea breeze it is never stifling either, even in August. The sun is out around 300 days a year.
- January, daytime: around 18°C
- August and September: around 25°C
- Sea temperature: about 18°C in winter, 25 to 28°C in late summer
That breeze is the thing to know about. Essaouira's spot on the southern Atlantic coast gives it a steady thermal wind, which is why it is nicknamed "the wind city" and why surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers have been coming here for decades.
Morning fog, big sunsets
The cold Canary Current sometimes leaves a light fog over the bay early in the morning. It usually burns off within an hour or two. Some afternoons it drifts back in just in time to turn the sunset orange and pink. Watching the sun go into the Atlantic from the ramparts is one of those things people remember years later.
Which month is right for you?
- Beach and gentle sun: April to October
- Surf, kite and wing: June to September, when the wind is at its most reliable
- Quiet streets and cooler days: November to March
There is no bad month. It depends on whether you want to ride, to rest, or to wander the medina without the crowds.
Stay with us
We run surf, kitesurf and wingfoil lessons and week-long packages, and we can put you up a few minutes from the beach and the medina: at the City Surf House, at Studio Nour in the medina, or at Villa Casa Cala in Ghazoua if you want something more private.
Travelling solo, as a couple or with friends? Interested in yoga or a proper digital detox? Have a look at the packages or send us a message and we will build the week around you.