Essaouira, Morocco Photography

Photographing Essaouira

Essaouira is an Atlantic port town of whitewashed, blue-shuttered lanes inside 18th-century sea walls, known for its cannon-lined Skala ramparts, a working fishing harbor, thuya-wood crafts, and a cool, windy climate that sets it apart from Marrakech.

Where to shoot

Skala de la Ville — the cannon-lined 18th-century sea bastion on the medina's north wall, best at sunset.
Essaouira Port — blue fishing boats, the morning catch, and stalls that grill fresh fish on the quay.
The Medina — a UNESCO-listed, near-grid old town of whitewashed lanes, blue shutters and souks under arcades.
Essaouira Beach — a long Atlantic beach south of the port and one of Morocco's main kitesurfing spots.
Skala de la Ville — the ramparts lined with brass cannons facing the Atlantic, dramatic in the late-afternoon sea light
The fishing harbor — rows of blue wooden boats, nets and circling gulls, busiest in the morning catch
The medina ramparts — whitewashed walls and blue shutters against the ocean, a scene used in many films
Essaouira beach — a broad windswept strand south of the walls, popular with kitesurfers

When to go

April to June and September to October give warm days, fewer crowds and slightly gentler wind; July and August are breezy and around 22-25°C, far cooler than Marrakech, but busy with Moroccan holidaymakers.

What to eat

Eat grilled sardines and sea bream from the port stalls by Place Moulay Hassan, agree the price per kilo before they cook, and try a fish tagine or a plate of Oualidia oysters in the medina.

Where to stay

Stay in a riad inside the medina near the Skala de la Ville or Place Moulay Hassan, so the ramparts, the port and the souks are all within a five-minute walk.

Pack a windbreaker even in summer: the trade wind blows most afternoons, and the beach can be sandblasted while the medina lanes stay calm, so plan the beach for the morning and the walls for sunset.