Things to Do in Essaouira, Morocco
Discover the best things to do in Essaouira, from authentic Moroccan food and local experiences to Atlantic beach adventures, water sports and unforgettable days out. As local hosts living in Essaouira, we can help you discover the places, experiences and little moments that make a stay here genuinely special.
Whether you’re travelling as a couple, with children, with friends or simply looking for a more memorable way to experience Morocco, you don’t need to plan every moment yourself. Tell us what you enjoy, how long you’re staying and the kind of holiday you have in mind, and we’ll help you choose experiences that fit naturally into your time in Essaouira.
Some can be arranged before you arrive. Others are best decided once you’re here. Either way, you’ll have a local who knows the area to point you in the right direction.
Discover Essaouira Like a Local
Staying in the historic Medina puts you at the heart of Essaouira. Step outside and you’re surrounded by whitewashed streets, artisan workshops, cafés, restaurants and local shops, with the Atlantic coast and long sandy beach just a short walk away.
But the experiences you remember longest are often the ones you wouldn’t have found by simply following a guidebook.
As a local host, Emma can point you towards the markets, beaches, countryside farms, food experiences, surf schools and outdoor adventures that suit the way you like to travel. Some are wonderfully simple — a morning market, a long walk by the ocean, a Moroccan lunch somewhere unexpected. Others can turn into an entire day that becomes one of the highlights of your stay.
You can arrange some experiences before you arrive, while others are better decided once you’re here, depending on the weather, availability and what you feel like doing that day. Tell us what interests you and we’ll help you find the right balance — whether you want a carefully planned itinerary or simply a few brilliant ideas between lazy breakfasts and time on the beach.
Moroccan Food & Cooking Experiences
Food is one of the most memorable ways to experience Morocco. In and around Essaouira, you can do much more than simply eat at a restaurant — sit down to a home-cooked Moroccan feast, learn traditional recipes yourself or escape into the countryside for a relaxed meal made with fresh local ingredients.
Choose the experience that feels most like you: let someone else cook after a day exploring the Medina, spend a morning learning the secrets behind Moroccan flavours, or slow everything down with a farm-to-table lunch surrounded by countryside.
Home-Cooked Moroccan Feast
Enjoy a Moroccan Feast at Our Holiday House
Arrive, unpack and let someone else take care of dinner.
Our housekeeper, Amina, can prepare a generous Moroccan feast at your holiday house, so after your journey you can simply settle in, gather around your own table and enjoy traditional home cooking without heading back out into the evening.
It is an especially lovely way to begin your stay — relaxed, personal and delicious, with your first taste of Morocco enjoyed in the comfort of your own house.
From 300 MAD per person
Please enquire for availability and menu options.
Moroccan Cooking Class
Learn to Cook Authentic Moroccan Food
Don’t just taste Morocco — learn how to make it.
During this hands-on half-day experience, discover traditional Moroccan ingredients, techniques and flavours while preparing a selection of dishes with guidance along the way.
It is relaxed, practical and enjoyable for adults and families, and gives you something lasting to take home from your time in Morocco: the recipes, skills and memories of making the food yourself.
Kids’ baking classes are also available.
Please enquire for availability and arrangements.
Organic Farm Experience
A Moroccan Farm-to-Table Experience
Leave the Medina behind and discover a quieter side of Essaouira at a local organic farm, where fresh Moroccan food is enjoyed surrounded by gardens and open countryside.
Enjoy a relaxed, family-style meal made with fresh local produce and served al fresco in the traditional Berber style, with generous sharing platters and plenty of time to slow down and enjoy the setting.
A private Field-to-Table dining is also available, making this a particularly special experience for families and groups.
Sunday Set Menu: 300 MAD per person
Private Field-to-Table Dining: 500 MAD per person · minimum 4 guests
Please enquire with Emma for availability and concierge arrangements.
Alcohol is not served at the farm, but guests are welcome to bring their own.
Traditional Berber Souk & Local Markets
Experience a Traditional Moroccan Market Beyond Essaouira
If you want to see a side of Morocco that exists beyond the tourist trail, set your alarm early.
Take a morning trip beyond Essaouira’s Medina to a traditional Berber souk, where local people come to buy and sell produce and the car park is often filled with donkeys. Wander through the market, meet local traders and take in the wonderfully unpolished atmosphere before stopping for breakfast and mint tea in a traditional Berber café.
There is nothing staged about this experience. It is a chance to see everyday Moroccan life away from the Medina and discover a side of the region that many visitors never encounter.
Breakfast, tea, transport and a guide are included. For the more adventurous, a taxi-only option can also be arranged.
Please enquire for current availability and arrangements.
Beach & Outdoor Activities in Essaouira
Essaouira is made for being outdoors. The Atlantic, wide sandy beaches, surrounding dunes and famously strong coastal winds create endless possibilities for adventure — from horse and camel rides to surfing, kitesurfing, foiling and quad biking.
Whether you want to try something completely new, get your adrenaline going or simply experience the Moroccan coast from a different perspective, we can help you find an activity that suits your group, your energy and the time you have.
Camel & Horse Riding in Essaouira
Explore the Atlantic Coast on Horseback or Camelback
Swap the streets of the Medina for sand, sea and open sky.
Ride along the Atlantic beach or into the surrounding countryside and see Essaouira from a completely different perspective. Camel riding offers a relaxed way to take in the landscape, while horse riding gives you a little more freedom and adventure.
It’s a memorable choice for couples, families and anyone who wants to experience the Moroccan coast rather than simply look at it.
Camel rides from 250 MAD per person
Horse riding from 200 MAD for 1 hour
300 MAD for 2 hours
Please ask us about availability and the most suitable options for your group.
Surfing, Kitesurfing & Foiling in Essaouira
Get on the Water
This is Essaouira at its most exhilarating.
With Atlantic waves and famously strong coastal winds, Essaouira is one of Morocco’s best-known destinations for surfing and kitesurfing. Whether you’re standing on a board for the first time or already know your way around the water, we can help you find suitable local instruction for your level.
Choose from group or private sessions, with foiling also available for those ready to try something different. It’s a brilliant way to experience Essaouira from the water rather than simply from the shore.
Kitesurfing from 330 MAD per hour for a group
Private lessons from 550 MAD
Conditions vary throughout the year, so please enquire about availability and the best options for your stay.
Quad Biking in Essaouira
Explore the Dunes Beyond the Medina
When you’ve explored enough of the old town, go somewhere completely different.
Leave Essaouira behind and head into the surrounding dunes by quad bike, crossing the open sandy landscape with the wind and countryside around you. It’s a completely different side of Essaouira — and an easy way to add some adventure to a holiday that might otherwise revolve around the Medina and beach.
Choose a one- or two-hour ride depending on how adventurous you feel and how much time you have. It’s particularly popular with couples, families with older children and groups of friends.
1 hour: 300 MAD per person
2 hours: 500 MAD per person
Please enquire about availability and arrangements.
Padel in Essaouira
Padel Courts & Padel Sessions in Essaouira
When you fancy a change of pace, head out from the Medina and enjoy a game of padel in the Essaouira sunshine.
Play with friends or family at a local club with four courts, where you can book a relaxed 1.5-hour game or stay longer for a three-hour session. If you’re looking to improve your game or want something more structured, a coach can also be arranged for a private session or padel clinic.
It’s an easy, sociable way to spend a few hours — a little friendly competition, plenty of fresh air and a chance to do something different together while you’re in Essaouira.
1.5 hours: 500 MAD per court
3-hour sessions and coaching: available on request
Please ask Emma about availability and the best option for your group.
Traditional Moroccan Hammam in Essaouira
Slow Down with a Traditional Hammam
After days of walking through the Medina, exploring the coast and being out in the Moroccan sun, sometimes the best thing to do is simply stop.
A traditional Moroccan hammam is a wonderfully restorative way to experience local culture while giving yourself time to slow down. The experience begins with a traditional savon noir treatment to cleanse and exfoliate the skin, followed by a relaxing deep-tissue massage. Additional treatments may also be available.
It’s the perfect antidote to a busy day in Essaouira — or simply a lovely excuse to put everything else aside for a while and enjoy being looked after.
Full hammam: 700 MAD per person
Duration: approximately 1.5 hours
Treatment options, prices and availability may vary. Please enquire before booking.
Pool Days & Countryside Escapes
Not every day of a holiday needs an itinerary.
After a few mornings exploring the Medina, shopping for crafts and walking along the Atlantic, there comes a point when the best thing to do in Essaouira might be… nothing much at all.
Escape the bustle for a while. Swim, enjoy a leisurely lunch, stretch out in the garden and spend a few unhurried hours somewhere quieter. Sometimes the slowest day of a holiday ends up being the one you remember most.
Pool Day & Lunch Near Essaouira
A Relaxed Day by the Pool
Take a day off from sightseeing Essaouira and simply enjoy being somewhere beautiful.
Spend the day in a peaceful garden setting with access to a swimming pool and lunch. Swim, relax in the sun, enjoy the garden and take your time over lunch without having to think about what comes next.
It’s an easy, restorative choice for families, couples and anyone who wants a slower day away from the bustle of the Medina.
From 420 MAD per adult
Children under 12: 180 MAD
Transport from the Medina may be available for an extra charge.
Please enquire about availability and arrangements.
Pool Day with BBQ Lunch
Swim, Relax & Enjoy a BBQ
Gather your group, leave the sightseeing behind and make a day of it.
Enjoy a private pool day with a relaxed BBQ lunch, giving you plenty of time to swim, eat, talk and enjoy the countryside at your own pace.
Transport can be arranged, making it simple to leave the Medina behind for a few unhurried hours. It is particularly well suited to families, friends and groups who want a more private day together.
Please enquire about current prices, availability and arrangements.
Private Beach Day in Essaouira
Enjoy a Private Beach Day by the Atlantic
Imagine arriving at a beautiful, secluded stretch of Moroccan coastline and knowing that, for the day, the beach is yours to enjoy without a crowd, a timetable or anywhere else you need to be.
Our hidden beach shack is reserved exclusively for you and your group. We’ll take care of lunch, firing up the grill for the freshest catch of the day and serving it with colourful organic salads, while you settle into the rhythm of the Atlantic.
Swim in the sea, stretch out in the sun, take a barefoot walk along the sand or simply sit back and listen to the waves. There is no sightseeing schedule and no rush — just a beautiful, unhurried day by the ocean with the people you came to Morocco with.
It’s a particularly special experience for families, groups of friends and celebrations, or simply for anyone looking for a more private and memorable way to experience the Moroccan coast near Essaouira.
Everything You Need to Know
Private hire is 1,000 MAD per adult, with children under 12 at half price. A minimum of three guests applies and advance payment is required. Prices and arrangements are subject to availability, so please enquire before booking.
Make It an Adventure: Camel Ride to the Beach
Turn the journey into part of the experience with an optional camel ride from Sidi Kaouki to the beach. 300 MAD per camel, subject to availability. Simply mention it when enquiring if you would like to include the ride.
More Ways to Experience Essaouira
Some of the best things to do in Essaouira aren’t activities at all.
They happen while wandering the Medina without a plan, stopping for mint tea, discovering an artisan workshop, finding a quiet stretch of beach or watching the fishing boats come and go as the Atlantic light changes.
If you’d like to explore further, Emma can also recommend restaurants, cafés, beaches, shops, artisan workshops, day trips and other local places based on what you enjoy.
You can plan as much or as little as you like. We’re here to help when you want a recommendation, without taking away the freedom to discover Essaouira at your own pace.
See What Our Guests Say
The best way to understand what staying with us is really like is to hear it from the people who have been here.
Our guests have shared their experiences of staying in our Essaouira holiday houses, discovering the Medina, following Emma’s local recommendations and enjoying the food, beaches and experiences we help arrange.
From memorable days out and meals they still talk about to the feeling of being genuinely looked after, these are the stories of people who have experienced Essaouira with us.
Take a look through the reviews below and see what previous guests have loved about their time here.
Let Us Help Plan Your Experience
Not sure which experiences are right for you? You don’t have to decide everything from a screen.
Tell Emma who you’re travelling with, how long you’re staying and what you enjoy — whether that’s Moroccan food, beaches, surfing, adventure, relaxation, local culture or simply finding somewhere special that isn’t in every guidebook.
She can suggest a few ideas based on your trip, explain what is available during your stay and help you decide what is worth booking ahead. Some experiences are perfect for a couple. Others are much better with children or a group of friends. And sometimes the best recommendation is simply to leave an afternoon completely free.
You don’t need to book everything before you arrive, and you certainly don’t need to choose from this entire page. Sometimes one carefully chosen experience is all it takes to turn a lovely holiday into a memorable one.
You can contact Emma directly by WhatsApp, email, or through the website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Essaouira?
The best things to do in Essaouira depend on the kind of holiday you want. For Moroccan culture and local life, a traditional Berber souk, Moroccan cooking experience or hammam can be wonderful choices. If you want to make the most of the Atlantic coast, consider surfing, kitesurfing, horse riding, camel riding or a private beach day. For a slower change of pace, an organic farm experience or countryside pool day can be ideal.
If you’re not sure what would suit you, Emma can recommend a few options based on your group, interests and the time you have in Essaouira.
What are the best things to do in Essaouira for couples?
Couples often enjoy experiences that give them time together away from the busiest parts of the Medina. A private beach day, horse or camel ride, Moroccan cooking experience, hammam or relaxed countryside lunch can all make memorable choices. If you tell Emma what kind of trip you’re planning, she can suggest experiences that suit you both.
What are the best things to do in Essaouira with kids and families?
Families can choose from beach days, camel rides, horse riding, quad biking for suitable ages, cooking and baking experiences, pool days and other outdoor activities. The best option depends on the children’s ages, the weather and how active you want your day to be. Emma can help you choose something that works for your family rather than simply giving you a long list of activities.
What are the best things to do in Essaouira with friends?
Groups of friends have plenty of options, from surfing, kitesurfing and quad biking to private pool days, a Moroccan feast or a private beach day. If you’re travelling as a group, Emma can also help you combine experiences with enough free time to enjoy the Medina, restaurants and beach at your own pace.
Can you help us arrange activities in Essaouira?
Yes. Emma can recommend experiences and help with local arrangements depending on availability. Some activities can be arranged before your arrival, while others are better organised once you know the weather and what you feel like doing.
How do we contact Emma about activities?
You can contact Emma through WhatsApp, email, or the website. Tell her your dates, who you’re travelling with and what you’re interested in, and she can suggest suitable options.
Do we need to book activities before arriving in Essaouira?
Not necessarily. Some experiences are worth arranging in advance, particularly private experiences or anything dependent on availability. Others can be decided once you arrive. Emma can advise you on what is worth booking ahead for your particular trip.
Can you arrange transport from the Essaouira Medina?
Transport may be available for some experiences and day trips. Ask Emma when enquiring and she can let you know what can be arranged for your chosen activity.
Can we combine Essaouira with Marrakech or the Sahara Desert?
Yes. Essaouira can work well as part of a wider Morocco itinerary, including time in Marrakech or a longer journey towards the Sahara. If you’re planning a multi-stop trip, Emma can share local advice on how to fit Essaouira naturally into your route.
Are the prices on this page fixed?
Prices shown are intended as a guide and may change depending on the provider, season, group size, availability and the exact arrangement. Please enquire for current prices before booking.
What happens if the weather changes or we don't know what we want to do?
That’s completely fine. Weather and local conditions can affect some outdoor activities, particularly surfing, kitesurfing, horse riding and beach experiences. If something isn’t suitable during your stay, Emma suggests alternatives, or simply helps you find something enjoyable to do instead.
Make Your Stay in Essaouira Your Own
You don’t need a packed itinerary to have an unforgettable time in Essaouira.
Perhaps it’s a morning wandering the Medina, an afternoon on the Atlantic, a Moroccan meal you didn’t have to cook, a quiet day by the pool or one completely unexpected experience you would never have found on your own.
That’s the beauty of staying somewhere with a local host. You can arrive with a few ideas, leave plenty of room for spontaneity and know there is someone you can ask when you want to find the right beach, the best experience for your children or simply somewhere wonderful for lunch.
Tell Emma what kind of holiday you’re hoping for and she’ll help you find the experiences that fit. Before you arrive or while you’re here, you can plan as much or as little as you like.
Stay in the Medina, take your time and let the rest unfold naturally.