With plenty of culture and a fantastic climate, Morocco is a popular getaway year round. We take a look at the experience of visiting the southern coastal city of Agadir.

My first ever visit to Morocco was preceded by feelings of trepidation. Like most people coming this country for the first time, I had paid far too much attention to the media and negative press. But I needn’t have worried as Morocco is full of amazing, and surprisingly tolerant people.

Getting there

The flight to Agadir from Manchester takes about four and a half hours and I recommend taking a daytime flight if possible, as there are some amazing views! Among my favourites are the stunning Atlas mountains as the plane soars above the peaks!

Agadir is well connected from Europe and the UK, with links to many major cities. There are actually two airports, Al-Massira being the main one which is 28 kms from downtown Agadir.

To get to Agadir city you can either take a shared taxi for approx 30-40 Dirhams (GBP2.50-3.50) or take a private taxi for 200 Dirhams (approx £15-17) – max of 4 people per taxi.

Many visitors have bookings with resort hotels and often use a transfer to take them direct to their door.

Where to stay inAgadir

This first trip I decided to stay all inclusive at a hotel called Al Moggar. It was situated just across the road from the city’s main beach, a long stretch of sand lined with plenty of loungers and parasols. Along the promenade are plenty of restaurants and shops.

The seafront is where most of the hotels and resorts are situated, and whatever hotel you choose you’ll most likely be no more than a few minutes walk from the beach.

The north end of the beach is dominated by the huge hill of Oufella, with the ancient kasbah atop, and large Arabic writing that says “God, Country, King” which is lit up at night.

This spectacular feature dominates the marina below, where the more affluent spend their time shopping in the many boutique shops or dining in the higher end restaurants.

Nightlife in Agadir

As the sun descends, Agadir’s nightlife comes alive. Boulevard du 20 Aout is the main strip that features bars such as the chilled out Actors lounge bar, which is frequented mainly by locals and has the friendliest staff and clientele.

English Pub, is a karaoke bar and has a multi-national clientele on the Boulevard du 20 Aout. If you’re planning on partying the night away, you’ll be spoiled for choice, with options including Duplex and Naya Night Club.

Although it’s a Muslim country, alcohol is served in hotels, bars and restaurants. Not all restaurants will serve alcohol, but on the whole drinking is accepted for tourists. Public drinking and being drunk in public are best avoided.

A beer in a restaurant is between 30-50 Dirhams (£2.50-5 ish). A bottle of wine can easily be £10 in a restaurant, but in the shops it’s much cheaper.

Culture and sightseeing in Agadir

People frequently ask me about dress code and harassment in Agadir. Personally I found very few issues as it’s a very touristic resort. I dressed in a long skirt on an evening out but was fine in shorts through the day. There are a lot of street sellers etc who can be a little persistent but a polite “La chokran” (no thank you) usually does the trick, if not simply ignore them.

On the whole, Moroccans are amazing people and learning a few darija (Moroccan Arabic) words goes a long way. They are a very proud nation and very patriotic and get completely blown away if you speak to them in a little Darija. I made some lifelong friends there and ended up returning three times within six months!

Even though Agadir has a very touristic vibe, it’s still very rich in history and culture and the local cuisine is an absolute must-try, especially the tagine!

The main attraction is the Souk El Had, where you can pick up everything from spices and confectionery to locally made handicrafts. Expect to haggle… A word of warning; don’t start haggling unless you’re actually interested in the product as they can be very insistent.

There’s plenty to do in Agadir itself such as the Agadir Bird Garden, which is free to enter and has a little aviary and some water features. There are also numerous excursions including sunset camel rides, desert safaris and Paradise Valley. The latter is a beautiful location, rock formations cut out of the river running through the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.

On another visit to Agadir, I spent a few days in a little village called Taghazout which is 17km north of Agadir. This beautiful little fishing village is a hot spot for surfers from all around the world.

I stayed in an apartment overlooking a stunning little bay and sat on my balcony to watch the sun set. On the way back to Agadir I passed through a quaint little village with street stalls displaying hundreds of bananas!

So whatever you’re into, culture, luxury all inclusive hotels, secluded beaches, clubbing, a visit to Agadir in Morocco will absolutely have something for you.

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