Landing directly in Essaouira saves you three hours on the road from Marrakech and lets your holiday begin by the ocean. The small Essaouira Mogador airport welcomes flights from several European cities, mainly in season. But its small size holds a few surprises: few taxis, a medina closed to cars and accommodation often spread along the coast. Here is how to reach the medina, Diabat, Sidi Kaouki or the kitesurf spots without stress.

Essaouira airport at a glance

  • Name and code: Essaouira Mogador, code ESU.
  • Location: about 15 km south-east of the town.
  • To the medina: about 20 minutes.
  • To Diabat: 15 to 20 minutes.
  • To Sidi Kaouki: 20 to 30 minutes.
  • To Moulay Bouzerktoun, to the north: 35 to 45 minutes.

A small airport with limited options

Unlike Marrakech or Agadir, Essaouira airport only sees a few flights a day, sometimes fewer. As a result, taxis are not always plentiful at the exit, especially when several planes arrive at once or in the evening. There is no real scheduled bus line suited to travellers with luggage.

The options are therefore mainly:

  • a taxi, negotiated on the spot, subject to availability;
  • a hire car, booked in advance with the agencies on site;
  • a private transfer, booked in advance, with a driver waiting for you outside the terminal.

Fly into Essaouira or Marrakech?

If your stay is focused on the coast, landing directly in Essaouira saves about three hours on the road and half a day of holiday. On the other hand, flights are fewer, often seasonal and sometimes more expensive. A very popular solution is to combine both airports: arrive in Marrakech for a few days in the city and the Atlas, travel to Essaouira by private transfer, then fly home from Essaouira airport, or the other way round. That way you avoid driving the same road twice. We are happy to organise this kind of itinerary, with a single contact for all your journeys.

Getting to the Essaouira medina

The medina is pedestrian: no vehicle can drop you outside your riad. Your driver takes you to the town gate closest to your accommodation. Porters with handcarts wait there for travellers and carry luggage to the riad door for a small tip. Tell your riad your arrival time: many send someone to meet you, which saves getting lost in the alleys on the first evening.

Diabat, Sidi Kaouki and the southern coast

South of Essaouira, the coast becomes wild. Diabat, a small Berber village at the end of the long beach, is known for its tranquillity and guesthouses. Further on, Sidi Kaouki attracts surfers, kitesurfers and lovers of wide open spaces with its huge beach and white marabout. As the airport lies south-east of the town, these places are sometimes closer to the airport than to the medina. Your driver drops you right at your door, including on the tracks leading to isolated villas, as far as the vehicle allows.

Kitesurfers and surfers: your equipment

Essaouira and its surroundings are renowned spots for kitesurfing, thanks to steady winds, and for surfing at Sidi Kaouki or further south. When booking, state the number of kite bags and boards and their length: we plan a vehicle with enough room, usually a Mercedes Vito, so that everything travels inside, protected.

Heading straight to Marrakech or Agadir

Some travellers land in Essaouira but then stay elsewhere, or end their trip in Marrakech. From the airport, your driver can take you directly:

  • to Marrakech, in about 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours;
  • to Agadir, Taghazout or Tamraght, in 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes along the coastal road, one of the most beautiful in the country.

We compare the different ways of linking these towns in our guides Marrakech to Essaouira and Marrakech to Agadir or Taghazout.

The return trip to the airport

As the airport is small, formalities are usually quick, but still plan to arrive about 2 hours before an international flight. From the medina, your driver waits at the town gate closest to your riad: ask the porter or riad staff to bring your luggage down.

Practical tips

  • Withdraw dirhams on arrival or keep some change for the porters: there are few ATMs at the airport.
  • Pack a windproof jacket in your cabin bag: Essaouira is often windy, even in summer.
  • Send the exact address of your accommodation in advance, especially if it is outside the town.
  • Book your transfer as soon as you buy your tickets in high season and during the Gnaoua festival in June.

What to do once there?

Ramparts, a harbour full of blue boats, a UNESCO-listed medina, thuya wood marquetry: discover the highlights in our guide Essaouira in one day and on the Essaouira page.

Book your transfer

Our Essaouira airport transfer serves the medina, Diabat, Sidi Kaouki and the whole region, by SUV, Mercedes Vito or Sprinter, with a fixed price per vehicle and payment on site. For an overview, see our complete guide to private tourist transport in Morocco.