Essaouira Hotels

Like the rest of Morocco, the city of 70,000 people has prehistoric roots and by the early 16^th century, was Castelo Real de Mogador, a military outpost of Portugal. Modern-day Essaouira is a relatively new apparition and took shape in the late 18^th under the direction of Muhammad III, Sultan of Morocco, with notable help from French and Genoese engineers. For decades, the city was the principal port and a vital trade node in the country. Indeed, the road from Marrakech to Essaouira still runs arrow-straight for 178 km for a reason. Essaouira’s singular heritage also includes a once-vibrant Jewish community, lost in the wake of the establishment of Israel and the subsequent Arab-Israeli conflicts. Still, valuable traces tinge the cityscape, from Chaim Pinto Synagogue to Essaouira’s Jewish cemetery. Above all however, what truly charms visitors to Essaouira are the narrow harbour-side streets, tidy oceanside restaurants and cafés and breezy panoramas. The city’s natural bay and vast sandy beach both provide a nice cover for a few tranquil days in coastal Morocco.

Attractions

• Bordj El Berod
• Medina of Essaouira
• Chaim Pinto Synagogue
• Simon Attias Synagogue
• Diabat

Activities

• Gnaoua Festival of World Music
• Medina Shops
• Camel Desert Tours
• Water Sports
• Argan Woods

Restaurants

• Restaurant d’Orient et d’Ailleurs
• Elizir
• La Licorne
• M’riste Jouhar
• Chez Driss

Nightlife

• Taros
• Le Chalet de la Plage
• Les Chandeliers
• Restaurant Baraka
• La Triskalla

Climate

Essaouira has a warm Mediterranean climate, with mild weather throughout the year. Temperatures generally vary between 12°C and 22°C and the months of December and January receive the most rainfall.