How to get to Essaouira from Marrakech

Essaouira is a port and tourist city located on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. A real jewel on the Moroccan coast, bathed by the sea breeze, which sparkles with history and tradition.

It is only 192 km from Marrakech and is a city well worth visiting. If you are going to spend a week or more days in Marrakech, you might consider a trip to Essaouira. You can go and come back in the same day from Marrakech or even stay overnight to enjoy the city a little more - you won’t regret it!

Essaouira has a lot of charm and things to offer!

In this article, I’ll introduce you to the different ways you can get to Essaouira from Marrakech. I hope it will help you plan your trip better.

Bus

It’s one of the cheapest and safest ways. You have several schedules a day to and from several different bus companies. If you want, you can make the trip in one day, but you will have a short time in Essaouira, and I personally find it a bit of a drag. 3 hours one way, a few hours in Essaouira and then 3 hours back… It can be done, but in my opinion it’s a bit tiring. The best thing is to stay at least for a night.

I went to Essaouira by bus from Marrakech, with the Supratours company. The best thing is to buy the ticket a little in advance to secure your place. The bus is very comfortable and fast. We didn’t have any problems. It takes about 3 hours and costs about 80 Dhs each way. You can also go by bus from other cities in Morocco. Here you can check the timetables and fares.

Please note that Supratours is a private bus company, so it is faster, as it does not make stops on the way. The route is direct between Marrakech (or another city) and Essaouira. There is also the possibility to go by public bus, but the journey will be longer, as there are many stops along the way. It is a little cheaper than Supratours, but in my opinion, the difference is not very big and it is not worth the extra time it adds to the journey.

Another private bus company that makes the journey from Marrakech to Essaouira is CTM. Both CTM and Supratours are comfortable and fast companies. You can choose the one that suits you best based on the schedule.

Advice if you are going to make the journey by bus

• Buy your ticket in advance to avoid running out of space. Especially if it is summer or high season.
• They charge you for putting luggage in the hold of the bus (5 Dh per piece when I was there). Make sure you are at the station in time to find out where your bus is and pay the extra charge for the luggage in the hold. This is bought at the station ticket office, so there may be queues. It is best to allow enough time for what may happen.
• I recommend that you go with a private bus company such as CTM or Supratours, which make the direct route without stops, instead of using the public bus.

Private taxi

You can hire a private taxi or negotiate with a driver to take you to Essaouira. The price is not fixed, it depends on the deal you make with the driver. The ability to negotiate is important in order to get a good price, as they usually ask you for a lot at the beginning.

The good thing about this option is that you will have more freedom of schedule than with the bus and you will probably arrive faster. The disadvantage is that the price will be much higher.

Rent a car

Renting a car is another way to get to Essaouira. The car gives you total freedom of movement and schedule. Although one of the negative points is that traffic can be crazy in big cities like Marrakech.

If you are leaving from Marrakech or another big city, you can ask one of the employees of the rental agency to take you with the rented car to the outskirts of the city, towards Essaouira. This way you won’t have to drive in the middle of so much traffic and it will be easier for you to get there, as the center of Marrakech is a bit crazy when it comes to cars.

Private or group excursion

Another alternative to reach Essaouira from Marrakech is to hire a private or group excursion. The round trip is usually done on the same day. Group tours are cheaper than private tours. The price may vary according to the operator who organizes the tour.

The advantage is that everything is organized, you don’t have to worry about anything. You will be picked up from your accommodation in Marrakech and taken to Essaouira, in a comfortable and fast way. Once in Essaouira, they usually guide you or give you advice on visiting the city and show you the tourist attractions. They also leave you free time to visit the city at your leisure.

The disadvantage is that you have to adapt to the timetables set by the tour and respect the itinerary. You have less freedom and it is more expensive than the bus. You also have to make the return trip in one day, which can be tiring.

In my opinion, if you do not have much time and do not want to complicate your life, hiring an organized excursion can be a good option. Here is a link in case you wan to hire a group tour or a private tour from Marrakech.

Other options from abroad or other cities further afield

Plane

Essaouira has an international airport that connects directly to several European cities. So, if you are coming from abroad and the connections allow it, you can fly directly without having to go through Marrakech, Rabat or Agadir. If you are in Morocco, but in a remote city, you can also see the possibility of taking a domestic flight with Royal Air Maroc.

I recommend you look for flights through Skyscanner or Edreams. Two flight search engines will allow you to find the best deals.

And that’s it! I hope that these tips will help you plan better how to get to Essaouira. The city is 100% worthwhile!

I’m sure you won’t regret.