Welcome to Essaouira

Tanger, Danger
Marrakesh, Harnakesh
Agadir, Rien à dire
Essaouira, ça ira” !

Translated, this popular refrain could mean:

Tanger is danger
Marrakech can be annoying
Agadir, there is nothing to tell
But Essaouira... that is swell!

And swell it is, this coastal fortress town of dreameries.

Formerly known as Mogador, the town of Essaouira was only founded in the 18th century, thus making it one of Morocco's 'newer' towns.

It were French intellectuals or artist lovers that re-discovered the beauty of this town in the late 1980's. Nowadays Essaouira is one of the most popular destinations for anyone looking for the calm and the hip.

Getting to Essaouira

Essaouira is at 190 KM or a 3,5 hour bus or taxi drive from Marrakech, on a road that is mainly straight and flat, while the 2 hour bus drive from Agadir takes you along the hills of the curly coast. The best way to get to Essaouira is to take a shared taxi, or you can verify the bus times in the website of the ONCF.