Essaouira, a lesser-known Moroccan port city on the Atlantic coast, offers 22°C temperatures in November, with Ryanair flights from London Stansted available for as little as £15 one-way. The city features a golden beach, a UNESCO-listed Old Town, and a vibrant cultural scene.
Beach and watersports
Essaouira's beach is a wide, sandy crescent just under two miles long, wrapping around the old Medina and harbour where traditional blue fishing boats bob on the water. Deckchairs can be hired, and there are plenty of cafes and restaurants along the promenade for lunch.
The city is also known as the 'City of the Winds' due to its Atlantic location, which creates perfect conditions for watersports, including windsurfing, kitesurfing, and regular surfing.
UNESCO-listed Medina and cultural influences
Essaouira received UNESCO status in 2001 for being an exceptional example of a late-18th-century fortified seaport town. The Old Town, or Medina, is designed in a structured grid layout and is traffic-free, with white-washed buildings and blue shutters.
Visitors can find locals selling arts and crafts, from homemade argan oil to pottery, spices, and rugs. The area is a melting pot of cultures, shaped by Amazigh (Berber), Arab, European, Jewish, and sub-Saharan African influences. Game of Thrones fans might recognise the 'Ramparts and Sqala du Port,' an 18th-century maritime bastion used for filming.
Music festival and culinary delights
The Gnaoua and World Music Festival, founded in 1998, hosts local and international artists every June with three days of music, from jazz, blues, rock, reggae, and world music. Performances are held across several venues, including Moulay Hassan Square, the beach, and historic zaouias. Open-air stages throughout the Medina are free to attend, while three-day passes to the main Moulay Hassan stage cost 1,200 MAD (£92).
Essaouira's food scene blends Amazigh (Berber), Arab, Andalusian, and Mediterranean traditions. The harbour offers open-air grills serving fresh seafood, while street food includes M'semen flatbreads and sugary Sfenj (Moroccan doughnuts). The area produces world-class argan oil, and visitors can spread amlou on flatbread, a paste made from roasted almonds, argan oil, and honey. French-influenced patisseries offer fresh croissants, baked almond cookies, and sweet baklava.
Getting there and where to stay
Throughout November, Ryanair is flying from London Stansted for as little as £15 one-way, with the journey taking 3 hours and 40 minutes. It's off-season, so hotels are more affordable. The Riad Al Madina, just 200 metres from the beach, costs £66 per night and features a central courtyard with a fireplace and an on-site hammam with massage. Alternatively, the Mama Lova Hôtel, Riad, Restaurant & Spa costs £367 per night and is located in the heart of the medina with sweeping city views and a bohemian chic vibe.
