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Can’t seem to find your chill? Take a few days off in this breezy little beach town and you’ll rediscover your inner Ice Cube. Too far? I’m a glutton for bad jokes, what can I say. Obsolete rappers aside, Essaouira is just a few hours south of Marrakech, painted in pastel colors and the perfect getaway for a weekend, week or forever.
Buses leave from Marrakech several times a day and are just 70 MAD each way, that’s about $15 round trip. It takes 3 hours, counting the coffee stop in the middle, and takes you through the country side of Morocco. It’s a very pretty and easy ride, especially if you’re not sitting next to a lady with the world’s biggest elbows. Fortunately, I can’t imagine you’ll have the same luck as me running into her. You can probably take a train as well, but I think it’s more expensive and the buses are clean so in my opinion there’s no real reason to.
I had zero expectations when I went to Essaouira, somehow hadn’t even Googled it and was just going on recommendations of people I’d met. So you can imagine my delighted surprise when I arrived in a relaxed little whitewashed town just offshore of the Atlantic Ocean. Yay! So pretty! So happy! Fun fact: not the smartest way to travel, always do your research.
The medina here is like the little sister to the medina in Marrakech, you can walk from one end to the other in 15 minutes or so. It’s less noisy, crowded and much easier to shop here because the shop keepers don’t heckle as much but the goods are pretty similar; handmade leather bags, slippers and jellabas. Essaouira is a great place to buy Argan oil (Morocco is the only place where the trees grow and it’s amazing for your skin) and also silver jewelry, I got a really good deal on some very unique pieces. Go to the Medina Boutique if you’re looking for cool silver rings. :)
Also keep your eye out for the kebab stands, where you can get a delicious kebab wrap of chicken, beef, falafel or potato pancake with all the fixin’s for around 4 MAD, which is about a glorious fifty cents. You can get fresh fruit, veggies, meat, olives, spices, nuts and bread in the medina for less than it costs to go out, although that doesn’t cost much either. Tasty sweets are all over the place too, get yo hands on some of those. *Trust*
I stumbled upon quite a few hostels, riads and hotels before I found what I was looking for, which leads me to believe that there are accommodations to fit any budget. I stayed at the Atlantic Hostel in the medina and highly recommend it if you’re young, broke and up for a party. The dudes who own it are super cool and nice, the rooms are fine and affordable and they offer yummy breakfast and dinner on the cheap. The atmosphere is really laid back and if you’re traveling alone (like I was), you’ll have no problem finding compadres to chat with. The place turns into a pretty loud drum circle/ party spot at night so just be advised. They also have free wifi and a sweet roof top.
Honorable mention: Cloud Nine Hostel, across the way. Run by an awesome guy from the mountains who has some crazy stories and beat some serious odds to end up where he is by the age of twenty five.
Be sure to make it to the beach, where you can chill on the seawall and watch a beautiful sunset over the ocean and little kids play futbol on the sand. I’ve heard the beach is great for surfing as well, but I can’t attest to that since it was winter when I went and uhh… I don’t know how to surf. Must learn. It does get chilly when the sun goes down because of that blustery ocean breeze, even during the summer so definitely bring a jacket with you. Or don’t, you know, don’t let me tell you how to live your life.
I had a great time in Essaouira and even though I thought once would be enough, I’m going to try to make it back there before I leave Morocco. It’s an especially welcome escape from the absolute pandemonium that is Marrakech and a great place to just breathe. The vibe is really relaxed, the food is cheap and delicious and everyone’s happy because they’re either on vacation or live in a heavenly little beach town.
Buses leave from Marrakech several times a day and are just 70 MAD each way, that’s about $15 round trip. It takes 3 hours, counting the coffee stop in the middle, and takes you through the country side of Morocco. It’s a very pretty and easy ride, especially if you’re not sitting next to a lady with the world’s biggest elbows. Fortunately, I can’t imagine you’ll have the same luck as me running into her. You can probably take a train as well, but I think it’s more expensive and the buses are clean so in my opinion there’s no real reason to.
I had zero expectations when I went to Essaouira, somehow hadn’t even Googled it and was just going on recommendations of people I’d met. So you can imagine my delighted surprise when I arrived in a relaxed little whitewashed town just offshore of the Atlantic Ocean. Yay! So pretty! So happy! Fun fact: not the smartest way to travel, always do your research.
The medina here is like the little sister to the medina in Marrakech, you can walk from one end to the other in 15 minutes or so. It’s less noisy, crowded and much easier to shop here because the shop keepers don’t heckle as much but the goods are pretty similar; handmade leather bags, slippers and jellabas. Essaouira is a great place to buy Argan oil (Morocco is the only place where the trees grow and it’s amazing for your skin) and also silver jewelry, I got a really good deal on some very unique pieces. Go to the Medina Boutique if you’re looking for cool silver rings. :)
Also keep your eye out for the kebab stands, where you can get a delicious kebab wrap of chicken, beef, falafel or potato pancake with all the fixin’s for around 4 MAD, which is about a glorious fifty cents. You can get fresh fruit, veggies, meat, olives, spices, nuts and bread in the medina for less than it costs to go out, although that doesn’t cost much either. Tasty sweets are all over the place too, get yo hands on some of those. *Trust*
I stumbled upon quite a few hostels, riads and hotels before I found what I was looking for, which leads me to believe that there are accommodations to fit any budget. I stayed at the Atlantic Hostel in the medina and highly recommend it if you’re young, broke and up for a party. The dudes who own it are super cool and nice, the rooms are fine and affordable and they offer yummy breakfast and dinner on the cheap. The atmosphere is really laid back and if you’re traveling alone (like I was), you’ll have no problem finding compadres to chat with. The place turns into a pretty loud drum circle/ party spot at night so just be advised. They also have free wifi and a sweet roof top.
Honorable mention: Cloud Nine Hostel, across the way. Run by an awesome guy from the mountains who has some crazy stories and beat some serious odds to end up where he is by the age of twenty five.
Be sure to make it to the beach, where you can chill on the seawall and watch a beautiful sunset over the ocean and little kids play futbol on the sand. I’ve heard the beach is great for surfing as well, but I can’t attest to that since it was winter when I went and uhh… I don’t know how to surf. Must learn. It does get chilly when the sun goes down because of that blustery ocean breeze, even during the summer so definitely bring a jacket with you. Or don’t, you know, don’t let me tell you how to live your life.
I had a great time in Essaouira and even though I thought once would be enough, I’m going to try to make it back there before I leave Morocco. It’s an especially welcome escape from the absolute pandemonium that is Marrakech and a great place to just breathe. The vibe is really relaxed, the food is cheap and delicious and everyone’s happy because they’re either on vacation or live in a heavenly little beach town.
