Essaouira Things to Do

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If you want to experience a place in Essaouira, where there is a great knowlegde of cultural subjects, you can visit Dar Souiri, located right inside Bab Sbaa.
The house has over the years done a great work for the benefit of Essaouira -- especially concerning the cultural life.
In Dar Souiri you will find for instance a beautiful library with a fine collection of books -- covering many subjects -- as for instance books about Moroccan art and culture, with wonderful photoes. It's a realy nice place to spend a couple of peaceful hours -- and Fatima, a nice young woman working there, speaks english.
There is also always an exhibition going on -- of art or of a subject, concerning everyone -- like cilmate/ pollution.
There are many other activities going on in the house - you have to go and see it - and enjoy the beauty of the house.
In Dar Souiri you can have very qualified information about Essaouira -- especially on cultural subjects.
For the future there are plans of making a café / study on the roof - it will be great, from there you kan see the whole bay of Essaouira and the madina as well.

I have been going to Essaouira for over 10 years now. I have made so many friends, it feels like going home :)

One thing i often notice when i'm chatting with a friend, is that many tourist fail to enter a street not knowing if it actually goes somewhere or if it is a dead end ... and there are many dead ends.

Download this free map and you will no longer hesitate. This Essaouira Map has all the streets names and is perfect to get around and position yourself within the Medina.

http://e-essaouira.com/EssaouiraMedinaMap.html

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A very interesting place to visit in Essaouira is the house of AFBK - Association Feminine de Bienfaisance el Khier.
It is an organisatation providing help for women and children with social difficulties -- for instance left alone without husband or family.
AFBK has started a production of patisserie (moroccan cakes) - to create work for some of these women - and has also a small shop in the Madina, selling for instance craft made by the women.
In AFBK's house you can have a very fine course in making patisserie or in Moroccan cooking -- and if you are interested learn a little about the work of the organisatation.
Among other things AFBK has courses in French, English and Arabic.
It is very interesting to visit the house - located in Rue Regraga, near Avenue Al Masira, near Cinema RIF. Avenue Al Masira is one of the streets outside Bab Doukkala.
When you are there -- take your time to enjoy life in Ave Al Massira and the streets in the neigbourhood - take a cup of tea or coffee in on of the many small cafees - it's real Moroccan life here!

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In Essaouira you will find a very nice market for carfts -- Ensemble Artistanal. It is located right inside Bab Marrakech to the left.
In the market there is a beautiful square and surrounding this workshops with different kinds of craft: Bijouterie, wowen tissues, wood-works - and others. The things you can buy is of fine quality, and the prices are reasonable.
At the same time, you can be sure, that the the crafts are not produced using childrens labour.
In the workshops you can see how the things are made, the people working there like to tell about their work.

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I often come to Essaouira, and one of the first things I just have to do every time is taking a walk in the fishing harbour.
In the afternoon, when the boats are returning from sea, It's a fantastic place to walk --- a lot of things are going on. Here you have a sight of some "true Moroccan life" -- meaning you can see, how hard people have to work here to make a modest living. But still -- the working people here have energy left to be friendly and say hello to a stranger passing by. This friendly attitude to strangers always impresses me.
Just be aware not to be in the way for the work that has to be done - and remember, that not everyone likes to have their picture taken, ask for permission -- and respect it if someone says no!
In the harbour there are a couple of fine restaurants -- of cause offering dishes with fish.
You also have the possibility of taking a tour with a boat along the coast to the south and around the islands in the sea nearby Essaouira.

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Visiting Essaouira you should not miss the great chance to visit Ranch de Diabat and take a ride on horses or camels along the wonderful Atlantic coast or in the mountains.
The camels of cause are well known as a part of Moroccan life, but here you have the chance also to get to know the beautiful Moroccan horses - a mix of barb and arab blood.
Breeding and riding horses like these is a highly valued part of the old Moroccan (and North African) culture -- and also today Moroccan people love the horses.
In Ranch de Diabat you have the opportunity to see some beautiful animals, treated properly and well trained. For skilled riders or beginners -- it's always possible to find a horse that fits, and you will be taken very well care of!
The style in riding is very similar to western -- relaxed, you can feel that here riding is not ment to be a show-off competition, it's a part of daily life.
The place itself is worth a visit -- it's beautiful and there is a great atmosphere.
The ranch can arrange for you a ride for one or two weeks, for a few days or for a couple of hours -- anything you like.
I have head many people say, after returning from a tour -- on horses or camels -- that this was the highlight of their Morocco-trip.

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For prople who like arts -- and beautiful paintings, Essaouira has a lot to offer. Around the old Madina, you will find many galeries -- and some of them with paintings in a very fine quality. For instance in the neigbourhood of Bab Sbaa, you can find some fine galleries.
I love very much the many paintings done in a special, very colourful, very "african" style -- it seems to me to be the visualisation of the gnawa-music !
You can find really great examples of this in Gallery Damgaard, located in the main street near Bab Sbaa. Walking along this street, from the madina to the harbour, you can't miss it.

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The fishing harbour is one of the liveliest places in Essaouira.
It's still very much a working harbour and it's brimming with life and full of fishermen bringing in todays catch and people helping them loading it on to trucks.
The harbour also has some very good places to eat seafood.
It's my own favorite place in essaouira and i went there every day when i was in town.