Essaouira is an easy destination to plan yourself: hotels, flights, car rental and activities in one place, no juggling ten different sites. Essaouira works well as a base for day trips to nearby towns and scenic routes. The nearest airport is in a neighbouring city, and a rental car is the easiest way to cover the rest. There are currently around 20 places to stay listed in and around Essaouira, covering a range of budgets. The catalogue includes 8 vetted activities and tours with real guest ratings. 3 routes to nearby towns are mapped out from Essaouira, handy if you're planning side trips beyond the city itself.
| Hotels from | €51/night |
| Options nearby | 20 |
| Nearest city | Taghazout, 160 km |
| Activities from | €25 |
| Airport | No |
Where to stay
Accommodation in Essaouira starts at around €51 per night, with a typical rate near €121 across roughly 20 nearby options — handy for budgeting your trip.
Well-reviewed hotels
- Ryad Watier & SPA, guest rating 9.8 from 488 reviews, from €121 per night
- Villa Quieta, guest rating 9.8 from 1071 reviews, from €128 per night
- Riad Chbanate, guest rating 9.8 from 568 reviews, from €181 per night
- Villa des Hauts Mogador, guest rating 9.6 from 120 reviews, from €127 per night
- Riad Dar Abi, guest rating 9.4 from 699 reviews, from €75 per night
Group Kitesurfing lesson with a Local in Essaouira Morocco
from €55
Day trips & routes
- Taghazout — about 160 km, 2h 47m drive
- Oualidia — about 200 km, 2h 48m drive
- El Jadida — about 278 km, 3h 28m drive
Fastest option is Taghazout: 2h 47m by car.
Things to see
- "Surf Lesson in Essaouira", rated 5 from 196 reviews, from €30
- "Group Kitesurfing lesson with a Local in Essaouira Morocco", rated 5 from 176 reviews, from €55
- "Individual Lessons of Kite Surf in Essaouira", rated 5 from 114 reviews, from €90
- "Moroccan cooking class in Essaouira city", rated 5 from 65 reviews, from €45
- "Kitesurf Rental", rated 5 from 64 reviews, from €40
Moroccan cooking class in Essaouira city
from €45
Getting there and around
Essaouira has no direct airport — most travellers fly into the nearest airport city and continue by rental car or transfer. Getting around the city and out to the 3 nearby destinations listed above is easiest by car — intercity public transport tends to be slower and less frequent. The median nightly rate in Essaouira is around €121, useful for comparing overall trip cost against nearby cities.
Car rental essentials
To rent a car in Essaouira you usually need a passport, a driving licence and a bank card for the deposit hold. With 20 places to stay nearby, it's worth comparing a base near the rental desk against one closer to the sights. Given 3 routes worth driving from here, check the mileage and one-way drop-off terms before you book. When touring Morocco, plan stops in advance: fuel stations and car parks in smaller towns are not always open around the clock.
2h surfing in uncrowded spots
from €28