What other names could this fantastic Moroccan city have?
Regardless of the term, it has a magnificent tone and seems to convey “how wonderful” when translated from Arabic. The city’s name has been pronounced in various ways as a result of detailed and varied translations from the original Arabic into the world’s major languages. Americans, Europeans and others, for example, call it Essaouira. However, since I was traveling with a European, I chose to refer to this place as Essaouira in Morocco .
Before visiting Essaouira in Morocco, the only thing I knew was that its names perplexed me and that I had seen some photos of the port city on Instagram. Essaouira is a port city, an Atlantic neighbor and my future African metropolis. The saying “the lower the expectations, the greater the shocks” is true. Essaouira surprised me and I loved it, and that’s exactly what happened.
The Portuguese, who used to own the city, left their mark on the fortress and the European appearance of the city. Daenerys, by the way, used the fortress as a city where she bought slaves for her army. “Game of Thrones” fans will understand.
Essaouira was the “Mecca” of hippies in the 60s, when the city was immersed in uncontrolled freedom.
Essaouira, Morocco, is now mestizo: a cross between East and West.
The city air is easy to breathe because it smells like the ocean, sounds like screaming seagulls, and tastes like fresh seafood.
One day I would like to move to Essaouira in Morocco and start doing yoga, listening to music and surfing. In this city, it is also impossible not to fall in love with me, with Essaouira and with the other person.
What are your intentions?
There are several options to get to Essaouira, but none are practical unless you fly, take a bus or drive your own vehicle, rented or passing through.
If you are flying from anywhere in the world, the best option is to fly to Casablanca or another large Moroccan city with connections or even stopovers in a beautiful region of Europe, and then take a bus or travel independently to Essaouira in Morocco. . Flying to Spain, taking a ferry to northern Morocco, and then taking a bus or car to Essaouira are other options.
By air
Essaouira Airport, 18 kilometers away, serves domestic and international flights. As a result, flights to the port city are available from Eurasia and other Moroccan capitals. Wizz Air, easyJet, airBaltic, Meridiana, Air Moldova, Aeroflot, Royal Air Maroc, Turkish Carriers and other airlines fly direct from Moscow, but it takes two transfers to get anywhere in Europe, which takes 20-30 hours and It costs 150 EUR each. -shape. These flights, which only operate twice a month, require a change of airport at some transfer locations. This is not an option for us, you must understand! Because it’s so short that everything doesn’t fit!
Another option is to fly from Moscow to Casablanca for 200 EUR and then to Essaouira on a direct flight from Casablanca. The one-way ticket costs approximately EUR 80 and takes approximately one and a half hours to complete. You won’t save money, but you will save time. Only Casablanca offers direct service to Essaouira in Morocco.
While flying remains the most convenient way to get to Essaouira in Morocco, the useful Vandrouki website constantly features interesting and cost-effective ways to visit Arab Africa. Below is an example of a flight schedule from December 2017: For just 100 EUR you can fly from Tallinn to Milan and then to Morocco. However, you will be dropped off in Fez, Morocco, where everything is close by, including Essaouira at your feet and public transport options such as buses and trains. Tallinn is easy to access and reasonably priced for St. Petersburg residents. You can also find the most convenient and affordable flights here.
Upon arrival at the airport
A taxi from the airport to the city center will cost you between 4 and 5 EUR.
by train
The country’s excellent train service is only available between major cities such as Marrakech, Casablanca and Tangier, so reaching Morocco’s port city by train is not an option.
By bus
Traveling by bus to beautiful Essaouira is an economical and practical option. The port of Essaouira is connected to almost all major Moroccan cities. CTM and SUPRATOURS are two bus transportation companies. There are buses heading to Essaouira from cities such as Agadir, Casablanca and Marrakech, among others.
From Marrakech we took the bus. The trip lasted three hours and cost about four euros per person. It was cheap and fast. However, unlike many others, we took a local bus instead of a commercial tourist bus, saving €4 each. That turned out to be correct because we had intended to hitchhike to the port city but couldn’t do it. Instead, a bus full of Moroccan revelers boarded ahead of us and the driver exclaimed, “To Essaouira, 40 DH! Get on.” The bus arrived and took us to the beach after we exchanged glances and nodded.
A commercial bus from Marrakech costs €8, more than double the price of a typical, cheerful Moroccan bus. I’m not sure how much it costs in other cities. However, we took a local bus from Essaouira to Casablanca for only €7.5, compared to €15 for a commercial bus. Overall, there is a noticeable difference, but the prices are still reasonable and the buses, after spending some time in Spain, are quite modern and comfortable.
Directions from the bus terminal
You can walk 700 meters from the bus terminal, where all buses stop, to the ocean, the Medina and all the charms of spectacular Essaouira. You won’t need a taxi and walking is a great way to meet new people, get your bearings in the city and ask directions to places you want to see.
by car
Since it is always available, owning or renting a car is the most practical option for traveling independently. You can try to travel from Russia to Essaouira via Europe or buy a four-wheeled vehicle in Morocco right away. Both scenarios are plausible, but the latter is more relevant. This mode of transportation is familiar to many Moroccans, especially Americans. But our people also like this means of transportation. Morocco has excellent roads, both paid and unpaid. And, to rent a car, you can do it through the websites of rental companies (like this one), or you can do it once you arrive in Morocco by haggling over a price with the locals. Low-cost vehicle rental.
I’m afraid I don’t know how much gas, rent or roads will cost. I’m still planning a road trip to Morocco:
via ferry
a coastal city that is inaccessible by ferry. It’s also the best for everyone! Otherwise, tourists would not have been able to visit Essaouira, and the city’s attractiveness and beach offering would have been affected. Let’s just say this charming town is still out of reach. Traveling by sea from Spain to Tangier, a port city in northern Morocco, is simple. More information is available in the Fez article.
What season are we? When is the most ideal time to travel?
Esauir’s climate is subtropical, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The season is believed to be more like summer than winter. Most likely it’s all because of the huge ocean and the Gnahua music festival (more on the event in the holiday section below).
Summer in Essaouira
Summer has finally arrived. Simply put, it’s hotter. Essaouira has a daytime temperature of +33 degrees Celsius and a night temperature of 28 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, the ocean temperature is currently around +25°C. Only the wind, the Gnahua festival, kitesurfing, windsurfing and a positive attitude can save you.
Essaouira in autumn
During autumn, Essaouira’s daytime temperatures gradually drop from +30°C to +25°C, and nighttime minimums remain around +25°C. Meanwhile, the ocean warms, eliminating both surfers and non-surfers. In my opinion, Esauir is spectacular in autumn.
Spring in Essaouira.
The spring season in Essaouira lasts three months, with temperatures ranging from 20 degrees in March, 25 degrees in April and 30 degrees in May. That is the temperature during the day; At night it is only five degrees cooler. In spring, the Atlantic warms up to a comfortable +20 degrees, which makes swimming possible. Essaouira is best visited in spring, when the Gnahua music festival is held periodically in May.
Winter in Essaouira
We have had a beautiful winter: 17 degrees! In addition, the city’s summer atmosphere and its proximity to the ocean provide eternal joy.
We have officially entered winter in Essaouira and even I have warmed up in the sun.
Swimsuits are unusual, but sandals and robes are required. Even though it was hot (+18°C), we didn’t dare swim in the ocean.
Winter nights are especially pleasant, with temperatures of +10 °C and no heating, but with the sound of the sea and the birds you can sleep peacefully and comfortably.
Neighborhoods. What is the best city to live in?
According to cartographic symbolism, Essaouira, one of the smallest cities in Morocco, is the only one that looks like a bird with open wings. Similar to how Spain is represented by a shirt and Italy by a boot, Essaouira is represented by a seagull, which serves as a distinctive symbol.
Seagulls are common in the city because it is a port, but for economic reasons, people prefer to live closer to seagulls than seagulls. Essaouira’s treasures include two long, magnificent beaches, and the rest of the coast is dotted with residences and a town longing for the sound of the waves and the fragrance of the sea.
The city districts, like those of most Moroccan cities, are simply divided into old and new sections. The new sector is still in its early stages, while the first half has long been known as the Medina.
The most important aspects of the Medina are its long history and all aspects of city life. It also has many interesting and attractive articles. The new one has many avenues, fairly tall residences, highways, a bus station and the usual urban bustle.
medina
Whether in Fez, Chefchaouen or Esauir, it attracts visitors from all over the world for no apparent reason other than the fact that it is in Morocco. This force remains in force until the last second in the city. So it seems that exploring a new neighborhood in the city is simply impossible. Whether because it arises from a strong desire to return to the city and see everything, including all the streets of the new Essaouira, or from the fact that we, as civilized people, long for silence and tranquility.
When it comes to living in the city, everything is scrutinized. Both new and old include options for people of all tastes and abilities. A double room costs €16 per night, a house €350 per night and a hostel €5. Booking allows you to make a reservation and compare prices.
The beaches, port and bus terminal are all nearby, and if this is your first visit to Essaouir, stay in the Medina to fully immerse yourself in the city’s atmosphere.
based on my own experience.
In Esauir we will stay at the cool and mysterious Atlantic Hostel. This hostel is reasonably priced and popular, but its most notable feature is its high energy level. Because it is in Medina, local passersby passing by can help you find it.
Actually, this hostel is part of another one, whose name I don’t remember but which is right opposite. At first we slept there, but the circumstances were very different from those at the Atlantic Hostel; Specifically, the hostel was more of a sleeping place, so it was only occupied at night. With music, chess, cards, a guitar and a patio, the Atlantic Hostel was bustling with activity and good times. With its modest terrace, hammock and sleeping area right on the roof, the neighboring hostel seemed empty and lonely. Although it seemed to be a good hostel overall, it seemed to be a warehouse for surfers, so we switched to Atlantic Hostel.
The hostel staff is friendly and outgoing.
The rooms are cozy and tastefully decorated in traditional Moroccan style. The hostel also has a kitchen where Moroccan meals are prepared approximately once a week. They prepare tagine, couscous or another dish, which is then served to the group. It is an excellent opportunity to meet new people and at the same time learn about Moroccan culture. The hostel also has a surf school with trained instructors and all the necessary equipment. Although we haven’t learned or tried surfing yet, we have a long way to go!
The patio of the Atlantic Hostel also stands out. It’s big, stylish and sunny, with a sea of sofas and pillows and a small bar with panoramic views of Essaouira, Morocco. The terrace is truly spectacular, the coolest I’ve ever seen, and I wouldn’t want to leave even if I could.
Breakfast is served on the terrace every morning for €3-4, but you can make your own by buying fresh fruit and oriental sweets nearby and then eat it all while watching the seagulls and enjoying the sun. In fact, we did exactly that.
Even if you don’t stay at Atlantic Hostel, you will undoubtedly enjoy visiting its terrace.
How much does a vacation cost?
Prices! How much weight do we give to this issue? Morocco is also not a place where everything is coherent and stable. Morocco is a place where you can trade or negotiate almost anything. There is no system, but there are tourists, and that is what really sets it apart. Pagan visitors issued for items for which locals pay pennies. Furthermore, while it seems right, it is far from equitable.
You must understand that if you behave like a tourist, you will pay like a tourist; However, if you behave like a local, you will save 99 kopeks for other fines. After all, Arabs always get what they want and reach a compromise through negotiation. There is no reason to complicate things; Both the seller and the buyer are interested in each other, so why shouldn’t they meet? Generally, in Morocco, the seller and the consumer agree on a price, and it is quite useful and interesting to investigate such a system on Moroccan soil.
And, assuming everything else is equal, it is normal to pay 3 to 5 euros per night for a house with the minimum and utilities, and you can eat hearty and tasty meals for the same price in any well-known but not too extravagant restaurant . . Moroccan restaurant (about this below in the what and where to try section).
The main illustrations. To do
Walking, breathing deeply and keeping your eyes open are the best ways to get around Essaouira, the brightest city in Morocco. The most important thing is to take your time, take as many beautiful photos as you can, and smile at everyone you see. And appeal can be found in even the smallest details, like a speck of sand near the Atlantic, a local child’s shoelace, or the flight path of a seagull. Be attentive and trust your intuition!
top 5
- The port of Essaouira embodies the true existence of the city. A sea of blue boats, mischievous seagulls, fresh seafood and Moroccan screams. You have to see it, hear it and feel it!
- The Othello Esauir Garden is the only green space in the city and provides plenty of fresh air and vitality for your next walks.
- Street vendors sell a variety of Moroccan crafts that are more beautiful to look at than to buy.
- Unusual streets are hidden from view. The easiest way to learn about Essaouira in Morocco is to simply walk around and get lost in it.
- Beaches. Where can you go without the Atlantic and the attracted sands of the Sahara? Surfing, swimming, sunbathing, picnicking and stargazing are all options.
Beaches. Which are the most effective?
Esauir’s long sandy beaches provide gradual entry to the ocean and a constant breeze of freedom and change.
According to Google Maps, there are two such beaches in the city: one, known as Tagart, is near the port on the right side of the Medina if you are facing the sea towards America, and the other is practically beyond the municipal limits . . . To get to the second one, we had to walk about 20 minutes, passing through a small market, deserted beaches and impressive views of the sea.
The beach was wild and empty when we arrived in January, but it was also very beautiful. Right now, the only thing you can do on the beach is listen to the water. The beach was wild and empty when we arrived in January, but it was also very beautiful. On the beach right now, your only options are to enjoy the sun, smile at it, and fly with the breeze. While driving, you can still surf (more on this later), catch waves, and have a picnic.
At other times of the year, the beaches are undoubtedly modified and filled with various infrastructures, not to mention the influx of tourists looking for exotic African beaches.
In my opinion, holidays in the Moroccan Atlantic are only beneficial if you surf, because the water is usually too cold and windy for swimming and the sun is quite abrasive. It seems that in some areas extreme ocean vacations are required, instead of the traditional beach vacation.
By the way, herds of camels regularly graze on the beaches of Essaouira, which promotes calm.
You may be interested:Activities in Morocco