We decided to do a day trip from Marrakesh to Essaouira and it was amazing how different this a port city is to the rest of the places we visited in Morocco. Essaouira is located 2.5 hours away from Marrakech. It is the perfect day trip as a colorful small city with an unique vibe. On the way to Essaouira from Marrakech you can spot the famous goats who stand on tree. If you have not seen pictures before, look the goats up right now!

As you walk along the port of Essaouira head on up the Citadel for the best views over the port and city. Behind the Essaouira Citadel you find fishermen with their catch of the day for sale. We also found a small pop up restaurant that had the freshest fish around with more food in the meal than we could handle.

➳ Find all: Hotels in Essaouira

The best way to experience Essaouira is by walking through the historic walled city of the port. With its relaxed feel, there is no rush to explore the colorful stores around every corner. Take your time talking with the local artisans and find the most interesting gifts for yourself or family back at home.

The best things to do in Essaouira in one day:

Wander around the Medina

After visiting the Medina in Marrakech and in Fez, you will find Essaouira’s medina to be small, but it is the perfect size to explore it and get a sense of the vibe this coastal city has.

Visit the Fish Market

Even though a fish market is not as glamorous as you wish it to be, it is worth checking it out while you are in Essaouira. We recommend to go in the early morning to have a chance of seeing the fishermen returning with the catch.

Take the most iconic photo of Essaouira

The reason why the hull of every boat and shutters in every window speaks of 3,000 years of history, and of the colour harvested from the shells found on the Purple Islands that protect Essaouira from the open sea.

Visit the Skala Du Port

The best views over the medina are found at the Skala du Port. It is open from 9 AM to 5:30 PM. The tickets cost 60Dh for non-Moroccans and 25Dh for children under 12 years old.

➳ Tip: Go early in the morning or at sunset. Try to avoid the crowds.

Walk along the Beach

Even though they have beautiful beaches, the problem is that they are super windy. We recommend to take a quick scroll along the beach and enjoy the view.

How to get from Marrakech to Essaouira:

We took a private taxi with a group of friends we made along the way, but there are two bus companies that operate this line (CTM and Supratours) with multiple departures every day. The journey takes just over 2.5 hours, and the cost is 70 dirhams per person.

We hope that these pictures have inspired you to start planning your next trip to Morocco. If you have any questions, comments or just want to let us know which photo is your favorite please let us know in the comments below.

Follow along on with our complete daily itinerary with more behind the scenes photos and videos on our TraveLibro account.

⇟ More articles from Morocco that might interest you:

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➳ Read More: What to do and see in Marrakech

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