Morocco
Agadir
Morocco's sunniest big beach, a whole city rebuilt from scratch around its bay after the 1960 earthquake.
Agadir is Morocco's big Atlantic beach resort, a long crescent of sand on the edge of the Souss plain where the Anti-Atlas meets the sea. The 1960 earthquake flattened the old town, so this is a modern, low-rise city of wide boulevards rather than a medina, built for sun and the beach. Above the port, the ruined kasbah of Agadir Oufella looks over the whole bay, and the surf villages of Taghazout and the argan country of the Souss are close by.
Suggested stay
3–7 days
Language
Arabic, French
Currency
MAD
Timezone
UTC+1
Why you'll love Agadir
The bay a wide crescent of sand backed by a palm-lined promenade, calmer than much of the Atlantic coast
Sunshine one of the most reliably sunny cities in Morocco, and mild enough in winter to draw Europeans escaping the cold
Kasbah views the ruins of Agadir Oufella crown the hill above the port, with the bay and the city spread below
Gateway Taghazout's surf breaks, Paradise Valley and the walled town of Taroudant are all within easy reach
Best time to visit
all year
21-27° days
30.421° N, 9.584° W
UTC+1 · Africa/Casablanca
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Weather & when to go to Agadir
Month by month: typical highs and lows, rainfall and rain days.
✓ Best all year
Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
When to avoid Agadir
No bad season. The quirks are the sea, which stays cool all year, summer mornings that can start under coastal haze, and winter evenings cool enough for a jacket. High summer is also when Moroccan families fill the beach.
Top things to do in Agadir
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Agadir beach and the Corniche - walk the bay
scenic 👍 PopularSeveral kilometres of soft sand run from the port south towards the Souss river mouth, with a long seafront promenade of cafes, hotels and evening strollers behind it. The bay is sheltered enough for easy swimming on calm days.
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Agadir Oufella - the kasbah ruins above the bay
history ⭐ Highly recommendedThe 16th-century hilltop kasbah was wrecked by the 1960 earthquake, and only its walls and gateway survive. The hillside below carries the giant Arabic inscription God, Country, King, and the view across the bay is the best in the city.
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Souk El Had - the city's great market
shopping food 👍 PopularA huge walled market of thousands of stalls selling spices, argan oil, olives, produce, leather, carpets and household goods. It is where Agadir actually shops, and far less theatrical than the souks of Marrakesh.
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Agadir fishing port - grilled fish by the harbour
food ⭐ Highly recommendedAgadir is one of Morocco's biggest fishing ports, and simple grill stalls by the harbour cook the morning's sardines, sole, calamari and prawns to order. Choose your fish, sit at a shared table and eat with the boats in view.
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Agadir Marina - harbourside evenings
food 👍 PopularThe marina at the north end of the beach is a smart quarter of yachts, apartments, restaurants and cafes, and the easy place for a sunset drink before walking back along the sand.
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Medina Polizzi - a medina rebuilt by hand
culture arts shoppingWith the real old town lost in 1960, an Italian artist built this walled medina just south of the city in traditional style, using local craftsmen and materials. Its lanes, gates and artisan workshops make a pleasant half day.
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Amazigh Heritage Museum - Berber craft of the south
culture arts historyA small museum near the centre showing silver jewellery, carpets, pottery and everyday objects of the Amazigh peoples of the Souss and the Anti-Atlas, a useful grounding before heading inland.
Best areas to stay in Agadir
$ Budget $$ Mid-range $$$ Premium
Seafront (Boulevard du 20 Aout)
First-time visitors $$Beachfront hotels, cafes and promenade
Explore hotels in Seafront (Boulevard du 20 Aout) →
Founty
Resort stays $$$Quieter resort hotels at the south end
Explore hotels in Founty →
Marina
Apartments and dining $$$Yachts, apartments and harbourside dining
Explore hotels in Marina →
Talborjt
Budget travellers $Older local district, cafes and small hotels
Explore hotels in Talborjt →
Live nightly prices from Booking.com, Agoda and others, centred on Agadir
Getting to & around Agadir
Getting there
Fly into Agadir Al Massira, about 30 min from the beach by taxi, or come by coach from Marrakesh and the rest of Morocco
Flight
Agadir Al Massira Airport (AGA)
Al Massira sits south-east of the city, roughly 30 min by grand taxi or hotel transfer to the seafront hotels; airport buses also run into town.
Coach
Agadir bus station
CTM and Supratours coaches run to Marrakesh in about three hours on the motorway, and on to Essaouira, Taroudant and the deep south
Drive
The motorway from Marrakesh crosses the High Atlas and reaches Agadir in about three hours; the rail network ends at Marrakesh
Getting around
Walk
The seafront promenade links the Marina, the main hotel strip and Founty along the length of the bay
Free
Petit taxi
Orange city taxis are everywhere; ask for the meter or agree the fare before setting off
TBC
Grand taxi
Shared cars run out of town to Inezgane, Taghazout and Taroudant, leaving when full
TBC
City bus
Buses cover the city and run north along the coast to the surf villages, paid on board
TBC
Day trips from Agadir
Taghazout
Half daySurf village
The fishing village turned surf capital of Morocco, with famous point breaks such as Anchor Point and plenty of surf schools for beginners. Come for a lesson, or just watch the surfers over a terrace lunch.
Getting there
car | bus
About 30 min north by grand taxi or city bus
Paradise Valley
Full dayPalm gorge, rock pools
A palm-filled gorge on the road to Imouzzer, where a river cuts through red rock into a chain of green pools for swimming and cliff-jumping. Pools are fullest after the winter rains.
Getting there
car | tour
About 1 hr by car or tour into the Atlas foothills
Taroudant
Full dayWalled market town
A market town inside complete ochre ramparts, often called a little Marrakesh for its souks and squares but far calmer. Its walls, tanneries and markets show the old Morocco that Agadir lost in 1960.
Getting there
car | bus
About 1.5 hr east by car, grand taxi or bus
Souss-Massa National Park
Full dayCoastal birding reserve
Dunes, cliffs and the Massa river estuary, home to one of the last wild colonies of the endangered northern bald ibis alongside flamingos and waders. Best with a local guide who knows where the ibis feed.
Getting there
car | tour
About 1 hr south by car or tour
A little history of Agadir
Portuguese traders built a fortified post here in 1505, Santa Cruz do Cabo de Aguer, to tap the trade of the Souss. The Saadian dynasty took it in 1541 and raised the kasbah on the hill above, and for two centuries Agadir was a busy port for the sugar, gold and goods of the south. Its fortunes faded after the sultan founded Essaouira in the 1760s and steered trade there instead.
In 1911 the arrival of a German gunboat off the coast set off the Agadir Crisis between Germany and France. Then in 1960 an earthquake destroyed almost the entire city, kasbah included, and killed much of its population. Agadir was rebuilt slightly to the south as a planned modern city, and has since grown into Morocco's leading beach resort and one of its biggest fishing ports.
Portuguese build the fort of Santa Cruz do Cabo de Aguer
The Saadians build the kasbah of Agadir Oufella on the hill
The Saadians capture the Portuguese fort
Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah founds Essaouira and Agadir's trade declines
The German gunboat Panther sparks the Agadir Crisis
An earthquake destroys the city, including the kasbah
Agadir is rebuilt to the south as a planned modern city
Know before you go
Payment
Cash preferred
English
Widely spoken
Wifi
Workable
Power
Type C / E
230 V, 50 Hz
Dialing
+212
Mobile network & SIM card
Get an eSIM before you fly
A Morocco eSIM installs in minutes and works the moment you switch off flight mode. No SIM swap, no roaming bill.
FAQs about Agadir
▸ When is the best time to visit Agadir?
Any time. Winter is mild and sunny and the city's main season for European visitors; spring and autumn are warm and easy; summer is warmest and busy with Moroccan families on holiday. The Atlantic stays cool all year.
▸ Is Agadir good for surfing?
The bay itself is gentle and only good for first lessons on smaller days. The real surf is 20-30 minutes north at Taghazout, Tamraght and the point breaks around them, where most surf camps are based.
▸ Is Agadir a traditional Moroccan city?
Not really. The old city was destroyed in the 1960 earthquake, so Agadir is modern and resort-like. For medinas and souks, pair it with Taroudant nearby, or Marrakesh and Essaouira further away.
▸ How do I get from Marrakesh to Agadir?
By coach it is about three hours on the motorway over the High Atlas, with CTM and Supratours running through the day. There is no train; driving takes about the same time as the coach.
▸ How many days do I need in Agadir?
Three days covers the beach, the kasbah, the souk and the port. A week lets you add Taghazout, Paradise Valley and Taroudant, or simply enjoy a proper beach holiday.
▸ Is Agadir expensive?
It is a resort, so the seafront and the Marina cost more than inland Morocco, but eating at the port grills or in Talborjt stays cheap. It is generally better value than European beach resorts.
More in Morocco
Casablanca
Morocco's modern face: an ocean-edge mosque, a downtown of Art Deco facades and a city that works rather than performs.
✓ best all yearEssaouira
Morocco's breeziest medina: a walled Atlantic port of blue boats, sea ramparts and a bay full of kites.
✓ best all yearFes
The great medieval city of the Maghreb, still living inside its walls and still closed to cars.
✓ best Sep-Jun