Visiting Essaouira by Rental Car: Medina, Beaches and the Trade-Wind Coast

In Essaouira you will not use the car in town: the medina is closed to traffic. It is for everything else, from Diabat and Sidi Kaouki to the south up to Moulay Bouzerktoun to the north, three spots 25 kilometres away or less. Loccor lists 5 cars in Essaouira, from 300 to 350 MAD a day, all manual, with unlimited mileage.

Photo: Ahmed.magdy — CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Where to park in Essaouira when visiting the medina
Which day trips to take from Essaouira
How to drive to Essaouira from Marrakech
When is the best time to visit Essaouira?
What to see in Essaouira itself once the car is parked
Which car to rent in Essaouira

Where to park in Essaouira when visiting the medina

Unlike other Moroccan medinas, Essaouira's, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, is closed to cars. You explore it on foot and keep the car outside for day trips.

Several large car parks sit just outside the ramparts, suitable for short and long stays. The most convenient is the one at Bab Marrakech, at the entrance to the medina. The port car park, also large, is a good starting point for walking into the old town.

For a quick stop near the beach, you will find space along the road, often with an attendant who watches the car and expects a tip when you come back.

Which day trips to take from Essaouira

To the south, Diabat is only a few kilometres away, about ten minutes by road. The village is known for the ruins of Dar Sultan, an 18th-century palace half buried in sand, and for the memory of Jimi Hendrix's stay in the area. Its long beach is reached by a track off the main road.

Carry on south and Sidi Kaouki is 25 kilometres from Essaouira, between 30 minutes and an hour's drive. This small settlement has become a favourite for board sports thanks to its strong, steady winds and beach breaks suited to several levels.

To the north, Moulay Bouzerktoun, a fishing village also 25 kilometres away, is one of Morocco's best windsurfing and kitesurfing spots. Powerful wind, a rocky shore and fast waves make it a spot for experienced riders, not for beginners. It is, however, well worth watching from the beach as the Atlantic swell rolls in.

Each direction fits into half a day. Head for Diabat and Sidi Kaouki in the morning, then Moulay Bouzerktoun in the afternoon, and you will have covered the coast on both sides of Essaouira in a single day.

How to drive to Essaouira from Marrakech

The official distance between Jemaa el-Fna square and the port of Essaouira is 177 kilometres, via national road 8, which absorbed the old R207 beyond Chichaoua in 2018. Allow around two and a half hours, up to three depending on traffic. After the Chichaoua motorway interchange, the road narrows to two lanes.

It is in good condition, well signposted and mostly flat. Around Essaouira, roads are generally quiet and well maintained, which makes driving easy. Do expect regular police checks, notably on the Marrakech road and on the Sidi Kaouki road, so keep your licence and the car's papers to hand.

If you are flying in, Essaouira-Mogador airport, open since June 1999, is about 17 kilometres south-east of the town; state your arrival point when you book. To carry on south, our guide to Agadir and the Atlantic coast covers the coast road between Essaouira and Agadir.

When is the best time to visit Essaouira?

Essaouira owes its nickname, the city of trade winds, to its constant breeze. The climate is mild all year: around 21 to 22°C on average in summer and 14 to 15°C in winter.

The north-easterly wind, known locally as the charki, blows all year and is strongest from mid-March to mid-September. That is peak season for windsurfing and kitesurfing, but it can make lying on the beach uncomfortable, so keep a sheltered plan B in the lanes of the medina. Summer is also the season of the Gnaoua festival. In practice, aim for mid-March to mid-September if you are coming for board sports; for the rest of the year the wind eases and beach days are calmer, with temperatures that stay mild.

What to see in Essaouira itself once the car is parked

The port is still very much a working one: it is Morocco's third-largest sardine port and lands around 8% of the Atlantic coast's catch. Offshore, Mogador island is a protected nature reserve that you can look out at from the ramparts and the beach.

With about 82,000 residents at the 2024 census, Essaouira remains a town on a human scale. The medina is covered entirely on foot, from Bab Marrakech to the port. Leave the car in the car park for the day: you will only need it again when you head back out along the coast.

Which car to rent in Essaouira

On 23 September 2026, Loccor's Essaouira catalogue listed 5 cars: Renault Kadjar, Renault Clio, Dacia Sandero, Dacia Logan and the 7-seat Dacia Jogger, from 300 to 350 MAD a day. All are manual, and mileage is unlimited, leaving room for a round trip to Marrakech.

For a couple, a Clio or a Sandero is enough. For a family or a group with boards and bags, the 7-seat Jogger or the Kadjar offers more boot space. With only five cars online, book ahead, especially in summer.

As for terms, the security deposit depends on the agency, with or without, and each listing says which. You pay a deposit online and the balance at the agency on collection. A national driving licence in Latin script is enough. Unlimited mileage covers a Marrakech to Essaouira round trip, about 354 kilometres, or repeated runs to Sidi Kaouki and Moulay Bouzerktoun at no extra cost.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive into Essaouira's medina?

No, the medina is closed to motor traffic. Park in one of the large car parks outside the ramparts, the most convenient being Bab Marrakech, or at the port car park.

How much does renting a car in Essaouira cost on Loccor?

On 23 September 2026, the 5 cars listed in Essaouira ranged from 300 to 350 MAD a day, all manual, with unlimited mileage.

How far is Essaouira from Marrakech?

177 kilometres between Jemaa el-Fna square and the port of Essaouira, via national road 8, which absorbed the old R207 beyond Chichaoua in 2018. Allow around two and a half hours.

Is there a 7-seat car available in Essaouira?

Yes, Loccor's Essaouira catalogue includes a 7-seat Dacia Jogger, manual like the rest of the local fleet.