What's on in Essaouira, Morocco through the year

Busy — Mid-year holiday in Morocco, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Ramadan

  19 Feb – 19 MarClosures

  The medina cafes close through the day and the fishing port lands its catch to a town that will not eat until sunset. After iftar the ramparts fill and stay full. Source ↗

Still on: Winter Atlantic swell (15 Oct – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Ramadan, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Ramadan (19 Feb – 19 Mar), Winter Atlantic swell (15 Oct – 31 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr

• Holiday

  Eid al-Fitr

  20–21 MarRamadan & EidCrowdedClosures

  Two days when the medina shuts and Marrakesh empties onto the beach. The riads fill, the grills at the port close, and the town is entirely Moroccan for the weekend. Source ↗

Still on: Ramadan (19 Feb – 19 Mar), Winter Atlantic swell (15 Oct – 31 Mar (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  The alizes

  1 Apr – 30 Sep · usuallyWind seasonRisk

  The north-easterly blows almost every afternoon through summer, which made the town a windsurf capital and makes lying on the beach a losing argument. Mornings are usually calm.

Still on: Eid al-Fitr (20–21 Mar)

Busy — Fourth interim break (May) in Morocco, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: The alizes (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Gnaoua and World Music Festival, Summer holidays in Morocco

• Festival

  Gnaoua and World Music Festival

  25–27 JunMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Four days of gnaoua and its collaborations on free stages at Moulay Hassan square in late June, with the town at several times its normal population. Beds go months ahead. Source ↗

Still on: The alizes (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Marrakesh comes to the coast, Summer holidays in Morocco

• Season

  Marrakesh comes to the coast

  1 Jul – 31 Aug · usuallySchool holidaysCrowded

  Anyone who can leave the inland heat does, and Essaouira is where they go. The medina is at its busiest, parking is a sport and the wind still blows every afternoon.

Still on: The alizes (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)), Gnaoua and World Music Festival (25–27 Jun)

Peak crowds — Marrakesh comes to the coast, Summer holidays in Morocco

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: The alizes (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)), Marrakesh comes to the coast (1 Jul – 31 Aug (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Morocco, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: The alizes (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — First interim break (October) in Morocco, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Winter Atlantic swell

  15 Oct – 31 Mar · usuallySurf seasonRisk

  The groundswell arrives and the surf moves to the points south of town at Sidi Kaouki and Imsouane. In the bay it mostly means grey water, closed beach cafes and a hard wind.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Winter Atlantic swell (15 Oct – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Second interim break (December) in Morocco, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Winter Atlantic swell (15 Oct – 31 Mar (usually))