ESSAOUIRA : ONE DAY

ONE DAY IN ESSAOUIRA

Only a 2.5-hour drive from Marrakech (the tourist capital), on the Atlantic coast, lies a beautiful and traditional city: Essaouira. Famous for its fishing port, its old city surrounded by ramparts, and its beaches perfect for kite surfers, we spent a day there and preferred it to the famous Marrakech for its tranquility and simplicity.

We arrived in Essaouira around 11 am from marrakech and first stopped at our accommodation. We chose a little riad inside the medina (old city). I would also recommend it because the staff were amazingly nice and gave us useful tips. The riad's name is CHEMS BLEU.

11:30 We walked to the fishing port and ate there. It's an authentic place where you can find fresh fish, the fishermen, and their traditional blue boats. If you are looking for authenticity and are not sensitive to smells and cleanliness, you will love this place. Between the port and the medina, you will find a square with small restaurants. These restaurants use fresh fish from the market and grill it for you on the BBQ. It's really cheap (around £30 for 4 people) and really good!

2:00 In the afternoon, we walked in the medina and visited the ramparts. There are two ramparts you can visit: the one next to the port where you have to pay an entrance fee, and the other one in the medina, which is free. We did the free one. Walking in the medina, you will find craftsmen and shops. We really advise you to buy your souvenirs here and not in Marrakech. First, because you can do your shopping peacefully, and second, because it's cheaper. Also, Essaouira is known for its art, craft, and creativity; you will find the same objects as in Marrakech for a cheaper price, but also different and original ones. After getting lost in the medina and buying a few souvenirs, we stopped at a cafe on the main square, watching the sunset, listening to a singer, and drinking Moroccan tea.

19:00 To end our day, we went to eat and drink at a nice rooftop restaurant called TAROS. It was a nice, chill night with traditional gnawa singers and contemporary music. 

We didn't stay too late because we woke up early the next morning to do a relaxing walk on the beach. It's the best way to recharge your batteries!