Atlantic Coast

Essaouira is the counterpoint to Marrakech: Where the Red City is hectic, hot, and demanding, the "City of Wind" welcomes with a cool Atlantic breeze, relaxed atmosphere, and a medina where you can drift without constantly being hassled. No wonder Jimi Hendrix lingered here (and allegedly wrote the song "Castles Made of Sand").

★★★ Medina (UNESCO World Heritage)

The medina, laid out by the Portuguese in the 18th century, is a masterpiece of military architecture: straight streets (revolutionary for Morocco!), white-blue houses, heavy wooden gates, and mighty bastions (Skala de la Ville, Skala du Port) with cannons pointing to the sea. The alleys are wide enough not to feel lost but winding enough to offer surprises: art galleries, thuja wood workshops, spice merchants, Gnaoua musicians at every corner.

★★★ Harbor

The fishing harbor is the heart of Essaouira. In the morning, the blue boats return with the catch, and on the harbor mole, dozens of grill stands sizzle fresh fish and seafood — sardines, shrimp, squid, lobster. You choose the fish, negotiate the price (about 50-80 MAD for a platter), and 10 minutes later it's served. The best lunch in Morocco for under 5€.

★★ Gnaoua Music

Essaouira is the center of Gnaoua culture — a mystical music tradition with West African roots, combining trance, healing rituals, and Sufism. The annual Festival Gnaoua et Musiques du Monde (June) turns the whole city into a stage for four days: international stars meet local Maâlems (master musicians), and the atmosphere is electrifying. But even outside the festival, you can hear Gnaoua everywhere — in cafes, on squares, in riads.

Beach & Wind

The main beach south of the medina stretches for kilometers — wide, sandy, and constantly windy. Swimming is possible, but the surf is strong, and the current is powerful. Essaouira is primarily a paradise for windsurfers and kitesurfers: The trade wind (Alizé) blows reliably and strongly from April to September. Several surf stations on the beach rent equipment and offer lessons.

Agadir is Morocco's number one beach holiday city — and frankly, the least Moroccan city in the country. After the devastating 1960 earthquake that killed 15,000 people and destroyed 90% of the city, Agadir was rebuilt in the brutalist style of the 1960s: wide boulevards, concrete hotels, package resorts. Nothing remains of the historic old town.

The Beach

What Agadir has is the beach: 10 kilometers of fine sandy beach, sheltered in a bay, with mild climate year-round (even in January 20°C). For a beach holiday with guaranteed sun, Agadir is unbeatable. The beach promenade (Corniche) is modern and well-maintained, lined with restaurants and cafes.

Souk El Had

The Souk El Had is one of the largest souks in Morocco (over 3,000 stalls!) and the only thing in Agadir that truly feels Moroccan. Here you can find everything: spices, argan oil, leather goods, clothing, household items. Prices are lower than in Marrakech, but haggling is still part of the experience.

Kasbah Agadir Oufella

The ruins of the old fortress on the hill above the city offer a panoramic view over the bay and the city. A memorial plaque commemorates the earthquake victims. Especially rewarding at sunset.

Excursions

Agadir's true strength lies as a starting point: Taghazout (20 min north), Paradise Valley (1 hour, a hidden river valley with natural pools), Tiznit (silver jewelry), the Anti-Atlas Mountains, and Essaouira (2.5 hours).

Taghazout has evolved from a sleepy fishing village into Morocco's surf mecca — and has remained surprisingly laid-back. The village clings to a promontory over the Atlantic, the alleys are colorfully painted, and the atmosphere is reminiscent of a Moroccan Byron Bay: yoga studios next to tagine kitchens, surfboards next to donkey carts.

★★★ Surf Spots

Within a 15-kilometer radius of Taghazout are some of the best surf breaks in Africa:

• Anchor Point: Morocco's most famous right-hand wave — long, powerful, perfect with northwest swell. Only for advanced surfers
• Hash Point: Right in front of the village, a friendlier point break, good for intermediates
• Panoramas: Beach break for beginners, gentle and wide
• Killer Point: Big, hollow waves — the name says it all. Only for experts
• Devil's Rock: Reef break with fast tubes

The main season runs from October to April, when the North Atlantic swell reaches the coast. In summer, the sea is often flat, but perfect for swimming.

Surf Camps & Schools

Dozens of surf camps offer all-inclusive packages with accommodation, meals, surf lessons, and yoga. Prices start at around 300€ per week (dormitory) to 800€+ (single room with sea view). Most camps pick up guests from Agadir airport.

Paradise Valley

The Paradise Valley (about 30 minutes inland) is a small natural wonder: A river valley with natural rock pools, waterfalls, and palm trees, nestled in red rocks. Perfect for cooling off after a day of surfing. Small entrance fee (10 MAD), simple cafes at the entrance.

Forget the movie — the real Casablanca has little to do with Humphrey Bogart. Morocco's largest city (4 million inhabitants) is the economic heart of the country: modern, bustling, cosmopolitan, and at first glance not particularly beautiful. But those who look closer discover a fascinating mix of Art Deco splendor, lively neighborhoods, and a landmark worth the trip alone.

★★★ Hassan II Mosque

The Hassan II Mosque is Morocco's landmark and one of the largest mosques in the world: space for 25,000 worshippers inside and 80,000 on the forecourt, a 210-meter-high minaret (the tallest religious building in the world), a retractable roof, a glass floor over the Atlantic, and craftsmanship that leaves you speechless: zellige tiles, carved cedarwood, stucco, marble from Agadir — all created by 10,000 Moroccan craftsmen in just 6 years (1986-1993).

It is one of the few mosques in Morocco that non-Muslims are allowed to enter. Guided tours (in English, French, German) start hourly. The location directly on the ocean, on a promontory over the Atlantic, is breathtaking.

Entrance: 130 MAD. Tours: Sat-Thu 9, 10, 11, 14 (summer also 15, 16). Closed on Fridays. Appropriate clothing required.

★ Art Deco District

The city center around Boulevard Mohammed V is a fascinating open-air museum of Art Deco: In the 1920s-30s, French architects built a colonial city here that combined Moorish ornamentation with European modernity. Many buildings are unfortunately dilapidated, but the best examples (Cinéma Rialto, Marché Central, Hyatt Regency) still show their former glory.

Corniche & Beaches

The Corniche of Aïn Diab is Casablanca's nightlife mile by the sea: restaurants, clubs, beach clubs, pools. However, the beaches are mediocre for swimming (city beaches after all). For swimming, it's better to go to Mohammedia (30 km north).

Quartier Habous (New Medina)

Built by the French in the 1930s as an "idealized medina" — a clean, well-organized version of a traditional souk. Perfect for stress-free shopping: olives, pastries, babouches (leather slippers). The Pâtisserie Bennis is legendary for its Cornes de Gazelle (almond pastries).

Rabat is Morocco's capital — and its best-kept secret. While the world flocks to Marrakech and Fès, Rabat remains surprisingly undiscovered: an elegant, quiet city with a beautiful medina that can be explored stress-free, top-notch museums, and a blend of historical depth and modern lifestyle rarely found elsewhere in the country.

★★★ Kasbah of the Udayas

The absolute highlight of Rabat: A white-blue fortress on a promontory over the Atlantic — like a piece of Chefchaouen by the sea. Narrow, flower-adorned alleys, the Café Maure with the most beautiful terrace in Morocco (mint tea with views of the Bou Regreg river and the ocean), and the Andalusian Garden — a green oasis with orange trees and bougainvillea.

★★ Chellah (Necropolis)

The Chellah is one of Morocco's most magical places: a mix of Roman ruins (Sala Colonia), medieval Islamic necropolis, and wild garden where storks nest on the minaret ruins. In spring, the site is overgrown with wildflowers — a place of morbid beauty, almost surreal.

Entrance: 70 MAD. Daily 9-17:30.

★★ Hassan Tower & Mausoleum

The Hassan Tower — the unfinished minaret of a mosque that was to become the largest in the world (started in 1199, never completed) — stands as a 44-meter-high ruin amidst a field of 200 column stumps. Right next to it is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V., a masterpiece of Moroccan architecture with marble, gold, and zellige tiles, guarded by mounted guards in splendid uniforms.

Medina & Souk

Rabat's Medina is significantly smaller and more relaxed than those of Marrakech or Fès — a pleasure to stroll through. The Rue des Consuls is the main axis with carpet dealers, antique shops, and leather goods. Prices are fair, and haggling is less aggressive than elsewhere.

Musée Mohammed VI

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, opened in 2014, is an architectural eye-catcher and showcases an impressive collection of Moroccan and international art. One of the best museums in North Africa.

El Jadida, about 100 kilometers southwest of Casablanca, is a charming coastal town with a remarkable Portuguese past. The old town (Cité Portugaise) is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best-preserved colonial buildings in Morocco — a piece of Lisbon on the Atlantic.

★★ Cité Portugaise (UNESCO)

The massive-walled Portuguese fortress (1502-1769) is a labyrinthine complex of bastions, churches, cisterns, and narrow alleys. The highlight is the Cisterna Portuguesa — an underground vaulted hall whose ceiling is reflected in the standing water. Orson Welles used the location as a backdrop for his Othello film (1952). The walk along the fortress walls offers views over the harbor and the city.

Entrance to the cistern: 20 MAD.

Beach

El Jadida's city beach is wide and sandy, but very crowded in summer (a popular bathing spot for the people of Casablanca). The beach of Sidi Bouzid (5 km south), nestled in a pretty rocky bay, is quieter.

Azemmour

The neighboring town of Azemmour (15 km north) is a best-kept secret: A tiny medina on the Oum er-Rbia river with Portuguese fortress walls, street art on the walls, and practically no tourists. Worth half a day.

The Atlantic cuisine of Morocco is a feast for fish lovers — it doesn't get any fresher, as the catch of the day often goes from boat to grill within hours. The coastal cuisine is distinctly different from that of the interior: less tagine, more grilled dishes, and the Atlantic dictates the menu.

Grilled Fish at the Harbor

The iconic coastal experience: In Essaouira, Agadir, El Jadida, and practically every fishing harbor, you choose your fish from the display — sardines, mackerel, dorado, sea bass, shrimp, squid, lobster — and minutes later, it's grilled and served with bread, salad, and chermoula sauce. A full platter costs 50-100 MAD (5-10€). In Essaouira, the harbor mole is the best place for it.

Sardines — Morocco's National Dish

Morocco is the world's largest sardine exporter, and on the coast, sardines are ubiquitous: grilled (sardines grillées), stuffed with chermoula (sardines farcies), fried, pickled, in tagine. In Safi, the sardine capital, there are dozens of variations. The simplest grilled sardines at the harbor (5 pieces for 10-15 MAD) are among the best Morocco has to offer culinary-wise.

Chermoula

The Chermoula is the queen of Moroccan coastal sauces: a blend of coriander, parsley, garlic, cumin, paprika, lemon juice, and olive oil, used to marinate fish or served as a dip. Every family has its own recipe — try different versions and find your favorite.

Seafood Tagine

The Tajine aux Fruits de Mer is the coastal version of Morocco's national dish: shrimp, squid, and fish in a spicy tomato sauce with olives and preserved lemons, slowly cooked in a clay pot. Available in almost every restaurant in Essaouira and Agadir.

Street Food on the Coast

Besides grilled fish, coastal cities offer excellent street food: Maakouda (potato cakes), Sfenj (Moroccan donuts, fresh in the morning), Brochettes (meat skewers), fresh orange juice (4 MAD a glass). In Essaouira, the fish sandwiches at the harbor are legendary.

Argan Oil

The region between Essaouira and Agadir is home to the argan tree — and thus the precious argan oil. In the kitchen, roasted argan oil is used for dipping bread (Amlou — a paste of argan oil, almonds, and honey, the "Moroccan Nutella"), drizzling on salads and couscous. Buying freshly pressed argan oil directly from a women's cooperative is the best souvenir from the coast — authentic and fair trade.