3. Essaouira
Want a beach but also want to explore some of Morocco’s many historic attractions? Step right up, Essaouira. This small city is a fine compromise. The central walled old town, with sturdy seafront ramparts that hold back the Atlantic Ocean’s waves, is a maze of wriggling alleys and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The beach yawns out along the coast for over five kilometers, just to the south of the old town walls. Beachgoers should be aware, though, that regular high winds on this stretch of coast make Essaouira unsuitable for sun-slothing vacations.
Instead, the beach here is all about water sports. Travelers head here for windsurfing and kitesurfing, with several operators both in Essaouira itself and in Sidi Kaouki, 25 kilometers to the south, offering lesson-packages for beginners, as well as equipment hire.
For boutique hotels in restored mansions, you can’t beat staying in Essaouira’s old town. The Madada Mogador is a great option, decorated in a stylish mix of modern and traditional, with views that span both the beach and the old town bustle.
4. Legzira Beach
One of Morocco’s most picturesque slices of sand, Legzira Beach lies 10 kilometers north of the blue-and-white old Spanish Sahara port of Sidi Ifni. Unfettered by tourism development, the beachfront here exudes a lonesome appeal, enhanced by its dramatic, wave-lapped rock formation arcing over the sand. Sunset is the time to be here for the best photographs, when the jagged rocks glow orange in the fading light.
There are few facilities here, though a handful of seafood restaurants dish up meals and refreshments. Pack a picnic and head here for the afternoon from either Sidi Ifni or from Mirleft, 23 kilometers to the north.
