
Were you an intrepid backpacker in your previous life? Exploring distant and exotic lands on a budget, getting off the beaten track and feeling like you were doing something different? Now that young kids are in the picture, travel priorities may have changed. But you don’t have to get sucked into the package holiday bubble.
Let us suggest Essaouira (pronounced ‘essa-weera’). If you haven’t heard of it before, Essaouira is a bustling port city, with a beautiful windswept beach on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. It’s so much more laid-back than hectic Marrakech, but still retains a quintessential Moroccan charm and character, with a fascinating culture to satisfy the latent explorer in you. It’s a very gentle introduction to an Islamic country and you will be travelling with your kids in Africa!

We visited as a family in May when the average daily temperature was a perfect 24°C (also meaning we could pack light) and during the school term when flights are cheapest. We had the best time and this is why we think Essaouira is the perfect intrepid travel destination for young families.
No jet lag
Morocco is in the same zone as the UK. So no adjustments required to the daily nap routine whatsoever. Easy.
No travel vaccinations are required
As long as your little ones are up to date with their standard vaccination schedule at home, you’re good to go. Just ensure you have adequate health insurance before you travel as the national health service isn’t that great and the private hospitals in Morocco are very expensive.
Reasonable flight time and no visas
Ryanair is currently the only airline flying direct to Essaouira from the UK (London Stansted). Flights are on a Tuesdays and Saturdays and the flight time is 3.5 hours. Otherwise, fly to Marrakech and then take the three hour bus to Essaouira. Check out Supratours for bus time and prices. Alternatively, you could hire a car in Morocco.
As for visas, they are not needed for most visitors to Morocco (including Brits) and you are allowed to remain in the country for 90 days. You also get a very cool stamp in your passports.
It’s cheap
Now you have a family, your pennies just don’t go as far as they used to. Accommodation, travel, food and activities are a fraction of what they are in the UK. Just be prepared for some light-hearted haggling at times. Plus, easyJet have off-season return flights for only £42 per person. Now that is very tempting.
Great selection of afforable accommodation available
Stay in a central riad with a rooftop overlooking the medina, or enjoy something a bit more upmarket with a pool for the kids. It’s a compact town so it’s easy to get around, and your tourist dollar goes much further here, so you can treat yourself with a bit of a splurge.
For budget try: White And Blue
For midrange try: Villa Daba
For luxury try: Heure Bleue Palais – Relais & Châteaux
Warm, friendly and open locals
The locals absolutely adore children. We spent most afternoons just roaming freely around the medina; waving, high-fiving and chatting to locals. Even down at the port, the hardened fishermen wanted to meet our boys and teach them how to mend their fishing nets.

There’s so much to do on your doorstep
Sandy beach with safe, shallow waters, camels to meet and ride, the medina, souqs, fishing port and ramparts to explore. Essaouira is the perfect sensory playground for your little ones. There is enough to easily fill a week-long holiday, without having negotiate transport outside of the city. Plus, so many of these activities are FREE!
Meal times made easy
Eating out anywhere in the world with little ones is not exactly a relaxing experience. Keeping them entertained until the food arrives can be a challenge, only for them to gobble it up in 5mins and the meal is over. In Essaouira, street food is available everywhere. From tajines and fresh seafood from the port, to the more familiar pancakes, shwarmas and fries. Vendors pile their carts high with fresh fruit and there are even French pattisseries dotted around the medina. There is so much on offer that all family members are happy. A big hit for our boys were the fresh orange juice stalls. Pick up whatever you fancy, whenever you fancy. Snack away whilst you continue your leisurely discoveries around the medina, or if it’s dinner time, make a pit stop on your way back to your accommodation to enjoy round the dinner table. Just don’t forget pick up some lovely Moroccan bread for breakfast the next morning. It’s rather sweet and the kids love it.

This asside, there are plenty of restaurants that are very welcoming to children. Just have the kids tablet and sticker book handy for entertainment, as even a pancake may take 20mins to prepare.
Nappies and essentials are available everywhere
And we really do mean everywhere! You will see bags of Pampers hanging from every other street stall! And the staples of milk, eggs, bread, crisps are easily purchased on your doorstep. Your kids will love the interaction with the individual stall holders; allow them to ask for/point to what you need, give them the money to pass over, whilst perhaps attempting a bit of Arabic if they can (‘es salaam alaykum’ – Hello, and ‘shukran’ – thank you).

Useful Travel Info:
Best time to visit: Mar-Jun & Oct-Nov
How to get there: Ryanair is currently the only airline flying direct to Essaouria from the UK (London Stansted), on Tuesdays and Saturdays only. Alternatively you could drive or catch a three hour bus from Marrakech.
ATMs: Plentiful and easily accessible in the medina
Visas: Not required for most nationalities for stays of up to 90 days. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond date of entry.
Language: Morocccan Arabic (Darija), Berber and French
Time: GMT/UTC
Government travel advice: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco
Where would we be without our trusted Lonely Planet.
You may like to read:
A day in Marrakesh with young kids
A self drive Morocco itinerary with kids
Should you hire a car in Morocco?
Blog Comments
Annabel Kirk
December 28, 2016 at 9:44 pm
Sounds like a great trip. I hadn’t thought to use airbnb for Morocco, the house you stayed in looks lovely.
Travelynn Family
December 28, 2016 at 9:46 pm
It was indeed a gorgeous house. Good price and stunning roof top views. We’re big fans of air bnb.
Tania
June 21, 2017 at 8:19 am
I am so keen to visit Morocco. This post has just made me even more eager! Thank you!
Travelynn Family
June 25, 2017 at 10:14 am
Oh this makes us so happy! Good to hear 🙂
minitravellers
June 21, 2017 at 10:40 am
This sounds brilliant I am going to look into this as an option for October half term. Thanks for linking up to #MondayEscapes
Travelynn Family
June 21, 2017 at 10:51 am
Most definitely! We can’t recommend it enough ?? #MondayEscapes
tinboxtraveller
June 21, 2017 at 10:57 pm
What compelling reasons! Especially the price of the flights and the fact that you can go AirBnB in somewhere so full of colour and culture! #MondayEscapes
Travelynn Family
June 25, 2017 at 10:13 am
Exactly! We love Morocco and have dreams of driving around the country in a camper one day 🙂 #MondayEscapes
travelpictorium
July 27, 2017 at 8:50 pm
It looks lovely, I’ve always wanted to go to Essaouira
Travelynn Family
July 28, 2017 at 1:51 am
Do it. You won’t regret it. Promise ?
Sam | North East Family Fun Blog
September 12, 2017 at 9:31 am
We’ve travelled to Marrakech without our children and would love to return to Morrocoo with them – Essaouria really does look ideal. You can’t beat fresh OJ from a stall can you? Love the photos of your children with the locals x
Travelynn Family
September 12, 2017 at 2:02 pm
It’s a wonderful destination for families. Maybe even combine it with a few days in Marrakech? We took our eldest there when he was just 14 months and it was such a success! And YES! LOVE THE OJ! Thanks for reading ?
California Globetrotter
September 12, 2017 at 6:10 pm
Looks like a very interesting city! I hope to make it to Morocco one day! #CityTripping
Travelynn Family
September 13, 2017 at 1:50 am
We love Morocco! I hope you make it there some day too ?
Elizabeth (Wander Mun)
September 13, 2017 at 8:53 am
What a great place for a family break. You’ve certainly given me some inspiration! We’ve been to Marrakech (without kids) and would like to explore more of Morrocoo in a less hectic city. Thanks for linking! #citytripping
Travelynn Family
September 13, 2017 at 2:21 pm
I cannot recommend it enough. You guys are in London, right? Direct flights from Luton 😉 Thanks for reading.
Kat
September 13, 2017 at 2:02 pm
A great introductory post on Essaouira especially for me for I’m only aware of Marrakech and Casablance in Morocco. Glad to know that it’s a laidback and casual city. Love your photos and my favourite is your son with the cat 🙂 #Citytripping
Travelynn Family
September 13, 2017 at 2:25 pm
Thanks Kat. I love that pic too. The writing above – Mogador – is what Essaouria used to be called. It’s a lovely lovely place. Can’t recommend it enough 🙂
Sol Solntze
September 13, 2017 at 8:24 pm
Very persuasive! Partly because of the wealth of helpful, practical, down to earth informaiton and advice. Sounds very doable as well as exotic!
Travelynn Family
September 14, 2017 at 3:13 am
Thanks you so much for reading. It’s a wonderful first intrepid destination for a young family. We loved it!!
Helen
October 18, 2017 at 8:21 pm
Moving from fb questioning to here! Just a practical question from a naive mum, did you take cot and car seat with you or did you manage to get out there? Sounds such a great pace for little ones!
Travelynn Family
October 18, 2017 at 8:32 pm
Hi Helen. The airbnb we stayed at had a cot (link towards bottom of blog). Didn’t bother with a car seat as we only used a car to get to/from airport. Hope that helps ?
Helen
October 18, 2017 at 8:57 pm
Thanks for your help, love the blog!
Travelynn Family
October 18, 2017 at 9:48 pm
No worries and thank you ? Feel free to email us at travelynnfamily@gmail.com if you have any more questions!
Laura
November 1, 2017 at 11:12 pm
I loved Essaouira too! Literally one of the best places I’ve ever been! I haven’t been with my son though so I can’t wait to do that one day! #fearlessfamtrav
Travelynn Family
November 2, 2017 at 4:12 pm
Oh I’m so pleased you loved it too! I’m sure your son will too. Thanks for reading 🙂