Essaouira Day Trip Review: An Honest Marrakech Guide

Thinking of scooting off to Essaouira for a day while you’re chilling in Marrakech? Maybe you’ve seen photos, and you’re now wondering if it is all worth it, like all the buzz it gets. That is a valid question. After having had a chance to make the same trip, it’s only fair that I share the lowdown, so you, like your friends, can work out if a day jaunt to this breezy coastal spot floats your boat. Consider this review as more like a friendly heads-up than some guide, since travel is different things for different people!

Why Essaouira? The Allure of the Coast

What’s the deal with Essaouira anyway? It’s more than just a place; it’s got this certain vibe, and its setting by the coast is so unique, that it offers a total change-up from Marrakech’s red-hued hustle. It is a historical port city; it feels like stepping into a postcard what with its blue-and-white medina, where, often, the cries of seagulls provide the background music. People hit up Essaouira to escape the heat of Marrakech and for some Atlantic air that just smells of the sea and freedom, right? Very famous for its kitesurfing scene and the laid-back atmosphere.

For me, the draw was very much the promise of that coastal charm, and a quieter space than the Red City, which, admittedly, can get pretty intense. That different energy is what makes a trip worth it, arguably. After days lost among the souks and snake charmers, I wanted to find a change of scenery and sample some seafood by the ocean, basically.

Getting There: The Road from Marrakech

That ride from Marrakech to Essaouira? Very pivotal. The most usual method to travel is by bus or grand taxi; of course, you can get a personal driver to zoom you there if you want to, but the budget takes a thump, right? The drive clocks in at around three hours, so too it’s a fair old stretch. The landscape changes as you move away from Marrakech. Anyway, the dry desert slowly turns to views of argan trees – loads of them. These, they say, are where you see goats chilling in the branches if you’re very lucky, or very early.

I went by bus, it tends to be, a Supratours bus – safe and fairly priced too. The drive itself was an experience – watching life happen out of the window, that’s like watching children wave at the bus to small settlements which are like little brown smudges on the huge land. In my opinion it is all pretty scenic, yet if you get travel sick easily, take precautions! That road can get pretty windy, very.

First Impressions: Essaouira’s Medina

Step out of the bus, and immediately that air, the Atlantic one, is pretty keen. Essaouira’s medina is so smaller and somehow more manageable than Marrakech’s. Painted in those bright blues and whites, it feels like being in some Greek island, if that makes sense? It’s classified by UNESCO and feels like this mix of cultures – Berber, Arab, and European. It’s shown in the architecture and the faces of people wandering round about. The thing that is so different here is the pace of life; very slower, way less hectic, so you, similarly to others, will feel that release when you arrive.

My first thought? How do you like the calmness, right? After the frenzy of Marrakech, and too the medina felt more open, that is, more airy and easier to stroll round. The vendors aren’t quite so pushy too. It just felt more human, you know, in some respects. Very soon I got that feeling: time to chillax, right?

Things to Do: A Day in Essaouira

So, you’ve got a day – what to do? Start, arguably, with a wander by the ramparts, where the cannons are pointing out to sea. They provide great views, and the powerful waves hammering away is pretty amazing. The Skala de la Kasbah, to be exact, that, after all, featured in Orson Welles’ film ‘Othello’!

The port is pretty keen. See the fishing boats bobbing and the fishermen sorting their catches. If you are into seafood, so too it’s a must-visit spot, like it is here that you can pick up a fresh catch for a bargain. The medina’s worth getting lost in too – hunt around for some souvenirs; you’ll see stuff like thuya wood carvings that are pretty local to Essaouira. If it’s breezy, think about some time on the beach. Very famous for windsurfing, so too it’s cool for just chilling, and taking the rays, really. Later on, take the sunset from a café overlooking the ocean. That’s hard to top, right?

I ended up just ambling without aim. I’m talking walking along the beach, visiting a few galleries, and chilling at a café that’s high up overlooking the sea. It was pretty relaxing, that’s why it felt like a true holiday moment – no must-sees, nothing pushing you, you know? Though I saw some guys kitesurfing. That looked so next level! Perhaps something to think about for the return visit.

Food Scene: What to Eat in Essaouira

Talking of food, so too it’s almost seafood heaven. I got lunch down by the port, at one of those very basic grill places. Pick your fish, they grill it then, you get it served with some salads. So fresh, right? So tasty. The prices are a steal too.

Beyond that, there are all types of cafes and eateries scattered about the medina, right? Anything like traditional Moroccan cuisine up to crepes. It’s easy to discover somewhere which floats your boat. I finished with some pastry from a shop in the medina. Not that that’s exactly special to Essaouira, anyway; it did round off the meal nicely! I had my seafood right beside the port.

Is a Day Trip Enough? The Million-Dollar Question

Can you “do” Essaouira in one day? Here’s the hard question. That is dependent. So, to see all its historic monuments might require a longer stay, yet, arguably, if you just want to experience a flavor, change your scenery and breathe some fresh air, yes. Yet, too it’s a lot in one day; like travelling six hours just to visit a few. I guess if you find the possibility of chilling somewhere new very important, so too it could be for you. But very, arguably, if you think of being really tired at the end of the day, so too you need to weigh it all up.

For me? It worked pretty well. That switch-up was needed, right? Even just wandering a bit was cool. Still, it was only a quick look, so now I want to stay longer so as to actually soak stuff up. I got a good feel for the vibe, yet loads to go. Maybe give it an overnight trip if possible!

Final Thoughts: Essaouira or Bust?

All said, so too it’s very good? That day trip from Marrakech to Essaouira? In my opinion it’s a grand idea if you like you desire something other than Marrakech for just a bit. Keep your eyes peeled that is if you wish to taste the coast, taste some of the atmosphere from the sea and see things just at a slower pace. Think to the travel hours; so too it’s long on one day.

Just to add it all up, for me that trip worked. And now, possibly, it will too, just a bit, encourage you to go have it? Anyway it can get you dreaming about travels by yourself!

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