Riad Dar Adul is located inside Essaouira’s 18^th century Medina, one of Morocco’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visible from the terrace of our riad, and a very short walk away from our door, are ramparts featuring canons once installed for the defence of the city.

Follow the city wall to the south, and you’ll find yourself in Essaouira’s fishing port and boat harbour. Each day, the commercial fishing vessels, including the traditional small, blue wooden boats, depart and return. See the variety of fresh seafood for sale, right from the boats, and eat in one of the small, local fish cafes nearby.

The beaches and shores of Essaouira are known for world-class kitesurfing and windsurfing. It’s a laid-back atmosphere with great (windy!) conditions most days, and a number of options for equipment rentals or lessons near the beach. Novice surfers can find ideal waves for practicing their budding surf skills. Essaouira beaches welcome those who prefer to relax, too, with long stretches of inviting sand, swimming, cafes, and camel and horse rides along the shore. The Atlantic waters might be a little cool, but the weather is frequently warm and dry.

Just outside the door of Riad Dar Adul are the winding passageways of the Essaouira Medina, with shops featuring traditional and new Moroccan crafts. These include handwoven rugs, hand-cast pottery, and intricately inlaid wood furniture, which is a local speciality. The argon oil co-ops, many of them owned and operated by local women, are regional to Essaouira, and feature not only the oil, but also argon cosmetics.

Essaouira is renowned for live music and excellent restaurants, both traditional and modern. If you are looking for recommendations for good food and music, please feel free to ask our staff about their favourites.