Is Essaouira expensive to visit?
Essaouira is a smaller destination that attracts a broad range of travelers, encompassing various travel styles, spending practices, and budget options. You'll find a wide array of accommodation options, such as luxury hotels, mid-range places, or budget-friendly hostels.
If you choose to make it so, Essaouira can be very pricey, but you can reduce your expenses by looking for discounts and coupons.
On average, budget travelers spend $24 (MAD232) per day, mid-range travelers spend $56 (MAD557) per day, and luxury travelers spend around $124 (MAD1,228) per day. These costs are calculated from the expenses of previous travelers to Essaouira.
Within Africa, Essaouira is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Africa for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Dahab, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Dar es Salaam.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Essaouira Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Essaouira?
The average Essaouira trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Essaouira travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers. Also, you can see more details at How much does a trip to Essaouira cost?
Realistic Expectations for Your Travel Budget
Setting realistic expectations for your travel budget is important. Many people assume they can visit Essaouira on a minimal budget, but most find that style of travel to be uncomfortable. Think about what makes a vacation enjoyable for you. Do you like staying in budget hostels, regular hotels, or high-end resorts? Do you want to experience the local attractions? Do you enjoy dining out? Your budget and itinerary will be determined by your answers to these questions.
Who are Budget Travelers?
While you might think you're a budget traveler, without giving up many of your usual comforts, you'll likely need to spend more than the $24 per day that backpackers often spend.
Backpackers often work within this tight budget by staying in hostel dorms, eating fast food or street food, using public transit, and mainly visiting free attractions.
Essaouira is packed with plenty of hostels, including Atlantic Hostel, Essaouira Beach Hostel, and The Chill Art. At hostels like these, you can enjoy affordable dorm accommodation and a lively social scene, but amenities might be quite minimal.
Could You Be an Average Traveler?
Couples and families enjoying a vacation will probably want to stay in a mid-range hotel, eat at popular dining spots, and explore the key museums and attractions that have entry fees. Tourists visiting Essaouira generally aim to explore the major attractions, museums, and significant landmarks. Keep in mind that most activities cost money. Thus, it's reasonable to expect your daily budget to be around $56 per person, per day.
There's a wide selection of hotels and vacation rentals in Essaouira. If you're traveling with others, sharing a hotel room with a partner, friend, or kids will help split costs and save money. When traveling as a family, look for hotels and restaurants that welcome children. Heure Bleue Palais - Relais & Chateaux is a great choice for kids, and La Maison des Artistes is another wonderful option. For more family and couple-friendly places to stay, check out our Essaouira hotel costs guide.
Want to Escape the Daily Grind in Style?
If you're looking for a high-end escape with every amenity and high-quality service, be prepared for daily expenses around $124. Staying in upscale hotels, enjoying meals at award-winning restaurants, indulging in lavish excursions, and utilizing taxis or private drivers in the destination will entail a more premium price tag. Also, higher-end tours are common with luxury travelers, such as Essaouira Private Camel Ride . - offered by Viator.
Accommodation Budget in Essaouira
The range of hotel prices in Essaouira can be pretty surprising. Luxury hotels tend to offer more amenities, but come with higher price tags, especially during peak season. The average off-season room is $53, but during peak season the average price can reach $99. From $31 for budget hotels to $205 for luxury, there's something for everyone. Hostels are cheaper, especially dorms. Book early or travel during the off-season to save money.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid in Essaouira for two people for a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $52 (MAD519). For one person sharing a room, the average price paid for a hotel room is $26 (MAD259) per night. These costs are from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Essaouira? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
The most affordable highest rated hotels in Essaouira include:
- Villa Quieta starting at $93
- Heure Bleue Palais - Relais & Chateaux starting at $207
- Dar Danse starting at $124
- Riad Mimouna starting at $58
- Hotel Riad Benatar starting at $29
If you avoid and go during the low or shoulder season, you'll find better hotel deals and fewer tourists.
Food Budget in Essaouira
Food is a major reason many people explore new destinations, so don't skip the chance to try local delicacies.
Calculated from travelers like you
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While restaurant and meal prices in Essaouira can vary significantly, the average cost of food in Essaouira is $24 (MAD235) per day, per person, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.
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Food2
Meals for one day
$24
MAD235
When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Essaouira is around $24 (MAD235) per person, with previous travelers spending from $10 to $52. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.
Typical meal prices in Essaouira are as follows:
- Breakfast: $2 to $7
- Lunch: $4 to $10
- Dinner: $7 to $17
- Coffee: $2
- Fast Food or Street Food: $4
Food in Essaouira is quite good, but can be surprisingly expensive when compared to elsewhere in Morocco. This is particularly true of the seafood. Your cheapest option is to purchase a fresh catch from a local fisherman, but if you order seafood in a restaurant you will find the price to be dramatically higher.
There is a fresh seafood market in the middle of town that is worth visiting. You can select your catch, and they will cook it up for you on the spot or, if you have access to a kitchen, you can purchase seafood and the necessary spices and sides and prepare your own Moroccan meal.
Many accommodations throw in breakfast at no extra cost, though others might charge you for it. The price and quality can greatly vary by hotel. Knowing this in advance can help you figure out if you need to spend more money. You might find the hotel's buffet is worth it, or you may prefer to grab a cheaper bite at a local bakery or cafe.
Bring a water bottle to avoid frequent drink purchases. It's also a sustainable choice.
Before you head out on a tour, be sure to find out which meals are included. You could end up paying for some meals out of pocket, which can impact your budget.
Taking a food tour or cooking class is a great way to experience the culture in Essaouira. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. A few of the best culinary activities here include:
- Traditional Moroccan and Berber Cooking Classes for $54 details
- 3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp for $170 details
- Essaouira Cooking Class for $74 details
Typical food prices in Essaouira, as reported by previous travelers, are outlined below. These costs offer a snapshot of what meals might cost in the city. Your personal expenses will vary depending on the type of dining experiences you choose and the dishes you order.
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Baklava
MAD14
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Breakfast Crepes
MAD5.00
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Fish for Lunch
MAD150
Sightseeing and Activities Budget in Essaouira
Calculated from travelers like you
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Sightseeing activities, entertainment, and entrance tickets in Essaouira typically cost an average of $12 (MAD121) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$12
MAD121
Much of the appeal of Essaouira is the beach and the walled medina. The medina is a beautiful example of an 18th century fortified town and the original canons are still in place. The town has even been featured in several movies and television shows including the HBO show "Game of Thrones".
Many people travel to Essaouira for its nice sand beaches. There are plenty of water sports and outdoor activities available. If you're adventurous, you can try your hand at windsurfing or kitesurfing, or you can simply enjoy long leisurely walks on the beach. Windsurfing is particularly popular because the trade winds blow almost constantly but the protected bay remains waveless.
The town also plays host to the World Music Festival in June which is a fun, although crowded, time to visit.
If you're in the market for a souvenir you can easily find some great local handicrafts at the many shops that line the streets of the medina. Shop around and ask for prices so you know exactly what you should be paying. It's also fun to try your hand at bartering, which can be either fun or annoying, depending on how you approach it.
Many people choose to take a class while they're in Essaouira. In particular, cooking courses and popular. There are also bike excursions and photography excursions that you can arrange within the town. For the weary traveler, there are also Berber massages that you can enjoy.
A nice way to explore destinations in Essaouira is with local tours that last just a few hours. This way you can see as much as possible in an efficient way with knowledgable guides. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience for $57 details
- 3-Hour Camel Tour for $47 details
- Full-Day Essaouira Tour from Marrakech for $27 details
Essaouira, Morocco
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.