Best Beaches in Essaouira | Morocco Beach Guide
Essaouira: Morocco's Wind City and Bohemian Atlantic Port
Essaouira is a UNESCO World Heritage walled port city on Morocco's Atlantic coast, 175 kilometres north of Agadir, where Portuguese, Moorish, and Jewish trading cultures converged to create one of North Africa's most atmospheric and beautiful medinas. The city's 18th-century ramparts, blue-shuttered white houses, and perpetually wind-blown beach have attracted artists, musicians (Jimi Hendrix famously visited in 1969), and travellers seeking an authentic alternative to Marrakech. The beach is magnificent — wide, wild, and 5 kilometres long — but the constant Atlantic trade wind (alizé) that batters the shore has made Essaouira legendary for windsurfing and kitesurfing. This is less a beach-lounging destination and more a place of culture, craft, and coastal drama.
Top Beaches Near Essaouira
Essaouira Beach (Plage Essaouira)
The main beach stretches 5 kilometres south from the medina ramparts, backed by enormous dunes and entirely free of development. The northern section near the medina is where the argan wood carvers and horse riders operate. The further south you walk, the wilder and emptier the beach becomes. The wind is constant and powerful — sunbathing requires a windbreaker of some kind, but the beach is spectacular at sunset when the ramparts glow orange.
Moulay Bouzerktoun (Kitesurfing Beach)
Fifteen kilometres north of Essaouira, Moulay Bouzerktoun is one of the world's most consistent kitesurfing destinations — strong, reliable wind year-round and a wide flat-water lagoon behind the surf line create perfect conditions for beginners and advanced kiters. Several kite schools operate from the beach. The village behind is a simple Moroccan fishing settlement with a few surf camps.
Diabat Village Beach
The ruins of a small Almoravid fortress (Dar Sultan) sit on the dunes south of Essaouira near the Oued Ksob river mouth — this is the site that local legend (and Jimi Hendrix fans) associate with the musician's stay. The beach here is more sheltered than the main beach, backed by argan trees and the ruins, and the river mouth creates interesting wildlife including migrating waders and flamingos in winter.
Best Time to Visit Essaouira
April–June and September–October offer the best balance of warm weather (20–24°C), manageable winds, and cultural atmosphere. July and August are warm but windy — some days the wind makes beach time unpleasant. The windsurfing and kitesurfing season runs April through October. Winter (November–February) is mild (14–18°C) with occasional rain but very few tourists — the medina and souks are at their most authentic. The Gnaoua World Music Festival in June is one of Africa's great musical events.
Getting There and Where to Stay
Essaouira is 3 hours from Marrakech by bus (CTM or Supratours) and 2.5 hours from Agadir. There is no airport — the nearest is Marrakech Menara (RAK). Browse hotels in Essaouira and discover more beaches in Morocco for your Atlantic coast journey.
