Day trip to Essaouira from Marrakesh
If you feel like you’ve had enough of the Marrakesh madness, it’s time to go on a day trip to Essaouira, a pretty little town on the Atlantic coast.
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How to get from Marrakesh to Essaouira?
We traveled from Marrakesh to Essaouira by bus, with a company called Supratours. You can find their website here. The departing point is located right next to the city’s Central Railway Station (Gare de Marrakesh). To get here, it will take you a short taxi ride or a 40-minutes walk from Djemaa el-Fna. We spent 150 Dirhams (around 14€) each for the return trip. Make sure you arrive 20-30 minutes prior to the departure as tickets are selling out quickly. The bus ride takes around 3 hours with a 15 minutes break and if I recall correctly, we could use some very-low-speed WiFi network aboard.
What to do in Essaouira?
Explore the streets of Medina. If Marrakesh got you anxious because of the hustle and crowds, Essaouira will feel like a tranquility oasis for you. All its white, bright buildings and the background sound of the ocean make it look so contrasting against the absolute chaos in Marrakesh.
Shopping. Essaouira’s souk is smaller than the one in Marrakesh, no doubt about that. However, people are more welcoming, prices are way better and so is the quality of the goods. We bought some spices and Argan oil and I can tell you, it’s a much better deal than buying them in Marrakesh!
The fishing port and the rampards. The Rampards provide a splendid viewpoint over the city’s fortifications and make up a suitable place for an extended photoshoot. If you are a seafood lover, have a break in the port and spoil yourself with some grilled sardines or octopus. If you are not really into fish, cover your nose, the fish nets’ smell is no joke.
The beach. Bright and breezy, Essaouira’s wide beach makes Marrakesh’s madhhouse vibe seem so far away. We bought strawberries, olives and khobz (Moroccan white bread). Laying on the beach with plenty of sunshine, watching people kitesurfing and riding their handsome arab horses meant the perfect V-day to us.
The real-life Astapor from Game of Thrones
Maybe you didn’t know but a day trip to Essaouira is your chance to visit one of GOT’s set locations. Check out this scene, filmed on Essaouira’s fort walls. Season 3 – Episode 4 where Daenerys meets The Unsullied Army:
Before heading to Morocco, make sure you check out our article to find out what to know before visiting Morocco.
