Agadir, places to visit?

Captivating wellbeing destination in Morocco

Located in a splendid position near the foothills of the Atlas Mountains and overlooking the sea, Agadir is also one of the most captivating destinations for getting back in shape. Thanks to its environment rich in iodine, oxygen and sun - which warms the air for some 300 days a year - the city has seen the blossoming of numerous thalassotherapy centres and spas for regenerating body and mind. Almost all the finest hotels have luxurious hammams run by qualified staff, who treat their guests with natural local products such as argan oil, henna, seaweed and rhassoul, a valuable natural clay used for centuries by local women as a beauty elixir.

The beaches of Agadir

The ten kilometres of beach that extend from the sea to the provinces of the Sahara form a spectacular half-moon-shaped bay surrounded by eucalyptus, tamarind and palm trees. The bay is considered one of the 10 most beautiful in the world.

Golf courses on the sea and marine sports in Agadir

This lively tourist city is also renowned for its numerous and impeccably maintained golf courses, including the Soleil Golf Club, Ocean Golf Club and Royal Golf Club, which are wonderful green oases even for non-players.

The continuous breeze also makes it an ideal location for water sports such as sailing and surfing, and its busy promenade, the Corniche, is abundant with characteristic bars, cafes and pubs as well as enticing shops. Lovers of gambling will enjoy the numerous all-night casinos.

The Port of Agadir

Capital of the Souss Massa region, Agadir is a crossroads of art and culture between Africa, the East and old Europe, which made it an important economic centre. Its well-equipped vessel port can hold 300 yachts of any dimension all year round. Trade is also very important in Morocco’s largest port where fish is exported worldwide, as are locally grown products such as citrus fruits, vegetables and flowers.

Agadir, green city, modern and welcoming

The city’s architecture is modern - Agadir was largely rebuilt after the dreadful earthquake of 1960 - with a predominance of the colour white with touches of blue, and interspersed with vast parks, flower-filled gardens and wide avenues.

Birds Valley, where birds of many species can be found together with monkeys, kangaroos and llamas, is particularly interesting, as is Olhao Garden, named in honour of its Portuguese sister city, which is a triumph of exotic flowers and palms, with lakes and streams that bring a feeling of coolness under the boiling sun.

Culture and traditions of Agadir

Although the imposing walls of the old Kasbah, situated on high ground above Agadir, no longer stand, being almost totally destroyed by the earthquake of last century, a climb to the top is well worthwhile to enjoy the extraordinary spectacle of the bay and city below.

The city’s festivals, which include the famous Timitar festival dedicated to world music and in particular traditional Berber Amazigh songs, as well as the ornate, symbolic jewellery - silver bracelets, enamelled buckles and headdresses decorated with coral, amber and even coins - worn by the local women with pride during festivals, offer an insight into the traditions and customs of the Berbers.

For a more comprehensive overview, tourists can pay a visit to the city’s museums, such as the Amazigh Heritage Museum, which displays the musical instruments, rugs, vases, jewellery and weapons of the ancient Berber people.

Lastly, in order to fully engage in the spirit of the place, the Great Mosque is well worth a visit, as is the large Souk of Agadir, a popular marketplace with over 6,000 shops selling every kind of local product, including spices such as cinnamon, cumin, sesame and coriander that fill the air with aromas.

The culinary specialties of Agadir

These are the spices that add zest to the local cuisine, which offers interesting dishes such as tuna with raisins, monkfish with saffron, bean soup and chicken tagine with almonds and honey, another superb local product celebrated with its own festival in May.

While the Moroccan ritual of sipping an aromatic mint tea is the ideal way to quench your thirst during the day.

Text by Anna Glik

Avion Tourism Magazine

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visitmorocco.com

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Where to sleep in Agadir

Agadir is a welcoming city and offers different possibilities for accommodation.

To find the ideal hotel and the best offers you can do a search for the stars but also for districts or landmarks.

STARS

Hotels for stars, differentiated by type of services:

DISTRICTS

Hotels in the districts

LANDMARKS

Hotels in tourist areas

Agadir Oufella Ruins

Agadir port

Amazighe Heritage Museum

La Medina d'Agadir

Marina Agadir

Medina Polizzi

Souk El Had of Agadir

House of Activities Club

Ocean Golf course

Golf Club Med les Dunes

Golf du Soleil

AIRPORT

Hotels near the airport

Agadir Airport AGA

SURROUNDINGS

WHERE TO GO in agadir

Places of interest in Agadir

THE NEW MEDINA

Rebuilt in 1982 by the Italian architect Coco Polizzi, the New Medina of Agadir has been beautifully designed with many wooden sculptures. It creates a striking corner of the city with its narrow alleyways and numerous shops selling fabrics, spices and Berber jewellery. In summer the amphitheatre hosts important events.

THE GRAND MOSQUE

Surrounded by palms, with a towering minaret and beautiful doors with detailed plasterwork and geometric motifs, this Mosque is worthy of a visit for its solemn interior with monumental arches and tall columns, artistic decorations on the walls, brightly-coloured tile flooring and the atmosphere inside.

Museums of Agadir

AGADIR AMAZIGH HERITAGE MUSEUM

Situated in the city centre of Agadir in a beautiful modern building, the Museum offers a comprehensive overview of Amazigh, or Berber, traditions, with an impressive collection of jewellery crafted according ancient methods and valuable rugs. Many interesting items include documents rolled up and stored in wooden tubes and marriage contracts written on wood.

MEMORY MUSEUM

Situated to the south east of the very beautiful Olhao Garden, in the modern centre of Agadir, this museum illustrates with images and documents the events of the dreadful earthquake of 1960, which destroyed the city and caused the death of 18,000 people. It displays a vast collection of photos of places before and after the city’s reconstruction.

Excursions in Agadir

BIRDS VALLEY

Birds of many species, monkeys, peacocks, llamas and even camels are found among the palm trees and exotic flowers in this vast green area of the city, located near to the beach. This zoo with its many play areas is the ideal place to take the children.

CROCOPARK

Just 14 kms from Agadir, this nature park is home to Nile crocodiles in an environment that has been carefully created to mimic their natural habitat. Plants and flowers found in the region, including orchids, bring a touch of colour to this unique place.

ESSAOUIRA

This seaside fishermen’s town, one of the most attractive in Morocco, is well worth visiting for its extraordinary Medina - a UNESCO World Heritage Monument - and for the interesting Sidi Mohammed ben Abdellah Museum, which is located in the former residence of a pasha. It houses a collection of regional art and traditional musical items.

PARADISE VALLEY

A visit to this green lung, situated a few kilometres from Agadir in the middle of the desert but surrounded by eye-catching rocks, small streams and paths lined by palms, is not to be missed. It offers three waterfalls that drop into natural turquoise pools, ideal for swimming. The half-hour route passes through villages among the mountains.

TIZNIT

Situated between the mountains and the Atlantic coast, this small seaside town is located about an hour from Agadir. A place of rocks and canyons, it is also known for silver jewellery making. Its Medina sells beautifully crafted pieces such as brooches, earrings, women’s decorated headdresses and beautiful daggers for men.

SOUSS MASSA NATIONAL PARK

This 33,800-hectare park of dunes, steppes and cliffs along the coast is found just a few kilometres south of Agadir. It features an extraordinary biodiversity of flora and fauna with hundreds of rare birds, including a large colony of bald ibis, a protected species, as well as mammals such as gazelles, hares, mongooses, foxes and even porcupines. Grown here are the famous argan trees, also known as the “tree of life” for the health properties of their fruits from which a valuable oil used in cosmetics is extracted.

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Recommended tours in Agadir

CAMEL TOUR IN AGADIR

Camel ride to Ranch Amodou, along the sandy beach on ancient paths towards the mountains. An incredible experience to admire panoramas in tranquility and finish the camel ride with a mint tea on a local ranch. Two-hour camel excursion in Agadir.

SAHARA and PARADISE VALLEY

Departure from Agadir to admire the dunes of Timlalin, up to the dunes of Tagoba which overlook the Atlantic Ocean. A beautiful panorama to discover sand dunes and fishermen's houses on the beach. Then continue to the banana village, with a lunch in a local house, the pools of Paradise Valley in the High Atlas Mountains along the road to the Paradise Valley from Taghazout where you can swim and relax. Tour: Sahara and Paradise Valley.

Discover all tours in Agadir