The historic and cultural town of Essaouira lies on the Atlantic coast of southern Morocco, two and a half hours drive from Marrakesh and Agadir.

With its mild winters and warm, dry summers, Essaouira is the perfect holiday destination any time of year. Click here for a 5 day forecast.

The medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, as an example of an outstanding and well-preserved example of a late 18th century fortified seaside town.

From ancient times to the present, Essaouira has been an important port and was the key trading centre for salt, spices and sugar between Europe and Timbuktu.

Essaouira is also well-known for its cultural and musical diversity. In the 1950s, Orson Welles famously filmed ‘Othello’ in the streets of Essaouira, and in the 60’s and 70’s the town attracted and inspired musicians such as Jimi Hendrix & Cat Stevens.

The annual Gnaoua and World Music Festival in June features a great line up of musicians and artists from all over the world, and is an exciting mix of traditional Moroccan music and sounds from the world music scene.

Listed as one of the world’s best beaches, Essaouira is well-known for watersports including surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing. You can also rent a quad bike and explore the sand dunes, or take a camel or horse trek along the coast. For the less adventurous, the broad sandy beaches are perfect for long walks and the sea is great for swimming.

Wander the narrow streets and souks in the medina, pay a visit to the wood workshops, or simply find a café in the main square – Place Moulay Hassan, and watch the world go by.