Planning a trip to Morocco? Here’s some suggestions for things to do with kids in this family friendly and bohemian town on the Atlantic coast
Background
“You must go to Essaouira, it’s our favourite place in Morocco”. We’d heard this a few times, from a few different people, before going to Morocco, so I was keen to see what all the fuss was about. Fortunately, the town didn’t disappoint, with it’s spacious medina, grand coastal fortifications, atmospheric fishing port and modern beachfront bars and restaurants. The addition of numerous art galleries and artisan products, as well as great conditions for surfing and kite surfing also help to give the place a cool, bohemian feel. It’s a great place to spend a couple of days if, like we were, you are touring the country, or even as a short hop day trip from Marrakesh.
Essaouira is a town full of history. An ancient and important coastal port for centuries, the town was then known as ‘Mogador’ under Portuguese rule, before being redesigned into its current form by the French in the 18th century. This brought a new name, ‘Essaouira’, which literally means ‘the beautifully designed’, with the old town home to the only pre-planned medina (market area) layout of any town in Morocco. This gives the town a unique feel, with the streets of the old town feeling pleasantly spacious and a lot less claustrophobic than other famous ancient Moroccan medinas, such as that of Marrakesh or Fes.
Top 5 things to do in Essaouira with Children
Essaouira is also a great place for children. Here’s some suggestions for great things to do with little ones.
#1 Explore the Medina
Like other medinas (markets) in Morocco, there is a dizzying variety of goods on offer, all attractively laid out amongst the shops and stalls. The spacious, designed layout of the Essaouira medina sets it apart though, particularly when visiting with children. You don’t feel as if you always have to be watching out for hazards in 3 different directions at once, as you do in some other Moroccan cities.
The prices (always negotiable) tended to be cheaper on the whole than some of the other major cities as well, so its a great place to do some shopping and pick up some gifts to take home. The area is particularly renowned for its woven, wicker baskets and goods.
The medina is also full of different food options, from upscale restaurants to pavement cafes to simple food stalls. Be sure to try some of the different delicious things on offer.
#2 Rock the Kasbah
The Kasbah, or fortifications, form an impressive coastal surround to the old town. Numerous films and TV programmes have used it as a backdrop, most recently in ‘Game of Thrones’. Our kids loved climbing on the old brass cannons, looking out to sea whilst being blown by the strong trade winds.
The winding lanes within the Kasbah also house numerous art galleries that make a pleasant distraction, along with some hip rooftop bars that are great for a sunset drink.
#3 Hit the Beach
The old town of Essaouira is sited at one end of a long crescent shaped sandy bay. It’s a great spot to relax on a sunny day and watch the world go by. Up the far end of the bay from the old town, there is also the option of taking a camel or horse ride along the beach, something our kids all enjoyed.
For older children, Essaouira is also an internationally renowned centre for surfing and, even more so, for kite surfing and windsurfing due to the consistent trade winds that blow in off the sea. There are numerous options for board and equipment hire or lessons, with an inland lagoon providing the perfect beginner training grounds for those not yet ready to take on the ocean waves.
#4 Watch the fishermen landing their catch
The fishing port is an atmospheric location, great for photos and full of colour and smells. This is especially true if you are lucky enough to witness the landing of a catch from one of the many traditional fishing boats in the harbour.
#5 Take a well-earned rest at a beachfront bar
At the far end of the beach from the town, near to the starting point for horse and camel rides, there is a small line of beachfront bars and restaurants. The very end one is called ‘Ocean Vagabond’, and is a great spot to relax at sunset after a long day walking and exploring the city. They have a great drinks menu (including all types of alcohol), decent pizzas and a good range of seats and loungers that look out onto the beach. The kids loved playing on their trampoline, giving us a rare chance to relax for a few minutes – golden!
We were also lucky enough to visit the bar when they had some excellent live music and entertainment on a Saturday night, adding to the atmosphere and making for a very pleasant and satisfying end to our stay.
Where to eat with Children in Essaouira
Besides ‘Ocean Vagabond’ (see above), some other good options for eating in Essaouira are:
1. D’Jazy Essaouira – A super friendly and lively place with interesting and varied menu options and laid back vibe. Live music is a regular feature, with dancing once the atmosphere warms up.
2. Restaurant Laayoune – Located right in the heart of the medina and serving up delicious Moroccan food in a cosy and friendly environment. Whilst there are no specific menu options for children, it is a nice place to hang out if they are willing to be a little more culinary adventurous.
3. Cafe Restaurant Le Corail – Strictly vegan and organic, this place nonetheless turns out food to satisfy all tastes. The veggie burgers are great.
Where to stay with Children in Essaouira
1. In the Medina – Palazzo Desdemona – Wonderfully located in the heart of the medina, this guesthouse occupies a beautiful historic building full of antique charm, as well as having a panoramic roof terrace with city and sea views. Family rooms and suites are available and rates include a good breakfast.
2. Out of Town Luxury – Essaouira Lodge – A short drive from Essaouira, with 2 swimming pools (one indoor and heated – great for winter) and a hammam, this hotel provides a great escape from the bustle of the city. Multiple room apartments are available; great for families.
3. Camping – As there are no campsites close to the centre of Essaouira, we stayed a night on a carpark just outside the medina (with the agreement of the attendant). It was well positioned and ok for a night, but the price to stay of 100DH (€10) was a bit steep, especially as it was very noisy.
For a great campsite for kids, check out Spirit Nature Camp. Whilst a bit too far from Essaouira to use a base for visiting the town, it makes for a great stopover when coming in or out. It has a lovely pool area, trampoline, treehouse and numerous low level rope and climbing trails in amongst the trees. The kids absolutely loved it and it was one of our favourite campsites in Morocco. The long and bumpy entrance track to reach the campsite is pretty punishing though, so you’ll only want to be coming and going once from the site.
Around Essaouira, Don’t Miss…
On the main road into Essaouira from Marrakesh, is the famous ‘goat tree’. Some enterprising locals have used a roadside Argan tree to setup grazing their goats in the branches. Crazy, but true. Goats are known to naturally climb these trees to graze, but to have so many in one tree is obviously a setup for tourists. That said, the goats seemed happy enough and the kids were very amused by it. You can take photos with the goats for a small contribution.
This article has been published in collaboration with ‘Dreamista – Twins and Travel’. To view it alongside some other great suggestions for child friendly cities to visit around the World, please see their collection of toddler friendly cities.
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This is such a wonderful, thorough post. I love seeing travel posts still as in these times they seem extra hopeful or exciting! I love all of the pictures, the goats up the trees are fascinating! The colours and markets are just beautiful. Thank you for joining #KCACOLS we hope to see you next week.
WOW! What a beautiful pictures. I can imagine my son having such an awesome adventure! He would be over the moon #KCACOLS
This looks such a wonderful place to visit. Will remember this! #KCACOLS
Stunning blog, rich of much information for any newcomers to Essaouira. Thank you so much for sharing with us
Thanks for taking the time to leave a nice comment. Glad you enjoyed reading