The Best Things to Do in Agadir, Morocco

Published on November 5, 2026 · Updated on November 5, 2026

My partner and I spent ten days in Agadir this July, and we chose it for a specific reason: to escape the summer heat inland. While Marrakech and the desert were scorching, the Atlantic coast was breezy and surprisingly comfortable, warm enough to spend our days at the beach but mild enough that we didn’t need air conditioning (luckily, because our Airbnb didn’t have it). We drove down from Marrakech in a rental car, settled into a slower routine, and ended up really enjoying it.

Agadir is quite different from the Morocco you might picture if you have only seen Marrakech or Fes. Much of the city was rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1960, so you will not find the same historic medina or centuries-old architecture. Instead, there is an enormous beach, a busy local souk, a lovely seafront, and plenty to explore nearby. It is relaxed and international (you will hear a lot of British accents), and while it is lined with resorts, we stayed in an Airbnb away from the strip and loved it.

Here are my favorite things to do in Agadir, the places I actually visited, a few I did not get around to, and some practical tips from our ten-day stay.

The short version: Spend your days on the long golden beach (rent a lounger, swim in the surprisingly warm sea), spend a few hours exploring Souk El Had, and head up to the Kasbah Oufella viewpoint for sunset. Then use Agadir as a base for some of my favorite places nearby: Paradise Valley, the surf villages of Taghazout and Tamraght, and the Timlalin dunes. A couple of days covers the city; longer if you want to slow down or fit in the day trips.

Things to do in Agadir city

1. Spend your days on the beach

This was the heart of our trip. Agadir’s beach is a vast crescent of golden sand, and I mean vast: we once set off for a walk along it and after an hour in one direction still had not seen the end. It genuinely seems to go on forever, which is a blessing in peak summer, because even when it is busy you can always find your own patch of sand without being on top of anyone.

We based ourselves on the main central stretch, rented a lounger and an umbrella, and swam. The ocean was much warmer than I expected for the Atlantic, so it was lovely to actually spend time in the sea, alongside plenty of Moroccan families doing the same. The seafront is lined with restaurants and cafes, so lunch, dinner, a smoothie, or a snack is never far. If you want more than swimming, in summer you can rent a jet ski (there were always people buzzing about on them) or take a sunset boat trip. We nearly did both but ran out of time, because this girl had work meetings and day trips to check off.

One practical heads-up: there are several big car parks around the central beach, and in peak summer they fill up fast. We somehow got lucky and found a space every time, but give yourself a buffer.

2. Explore Souk El Had

I loved this, it was a real highlight. Souk El Had is one of the largest markets in Morocco, and what I liked most was that it felt like somewhere people actually come to do their everyday shopping, not a market set up just for tourists. I spent several hours just getting lost in the maze of it, wandering from the food sections to clothing to beauty products. At one point I passed a stall selling fridges and kitchen appliances, another one birds… You can genuinely find everything in there.

I even had breakfast inside, in a cute little courtyard, and did some serious stocking up: amlou (their almond, argan, and honey spread), scented argan oil for my hair, a couple of emergency towel purchases, plus fresh fruit, olives, chebakia cookies, and nuts to snack on. I came in through the gate right by the mosque. Next time I am in Agadir, I will be going back to shop even more. A practical note: it is closed on Mondays, and while a lot of everyday goods have fixed prices, a bit of friendly haggling is part of the fun with crafts and souvenirs.

3. Take in the views from Kasbah Agadir Oufella

Kasbah Agadir Oufella is the old hilltop fortress overlooking the city. Much of the original was destroyed in the 1960 earthquake, but parts of the historic site have since been restored, and you can now visit the kasbah itself (admission was around 90 MAD, about €8, and separate from the cable car, so check what your ticket includes). For us, though, the real highlight was the view: the whole crescent bay, the marina, and the Atlantic spread out below, especially toward sunset, with a lovely chilled-out vibe up top.

We drove up to the car park around sunset and walked over to the kasbah, then rode the cable car down and back up again mostly just to experience it. The modern cable car opened in 2022, and it is a fun way to see Agadir from above. We paid 105 MAD (about €10) per adult for a round trip when we visited, but prices change, so check before you go.

4. Visit an argan oil cooperative or try a hammam

Agadir sits right in Morocco’s argan-growing region, so you will find argan oil everywhere, from Souk El Had to the cooperatives in the surrounding countryside. I stocked up at the souk, but you can also visit a cooperative to see how the oil is actually produced. If you do, I would look for a genuine women’s cooperative rather than somewhere that is mainly a souvenir shop.

Another lovely option is a traditional Moroccan hammam. I did not do one in Agadir this time, as I had already experienced it on an earlier Morocco trip, but it is something I would recommend trying at least once.

5. Visit Crocoparc

Crocoparc is a crocodile park and botanical garden on the edge of the city (out at Drarga), home to over 300 Nile crocodiles among landscaped gardens. I did not go myself, it did not particularly appeal to me, but it is well set up and popular with families, so it is an easy half-day if that sounds like your kind of thing. Admission was around 100 MAD (about €9) at the time of writing.

6. Wander the Medina (Medina Polizzi)

On the outskirts of the city, Medina Polizzi is a recreated traditional medina, a crafts village built from 1992 onward by the artisan Coco Polizzi, with workshops and gardens. Since Agadir lost its real old town in the earthquake, it is a way to see the kind of traditional Moroccan crafts the city would otherwise be missing. I did not get to it this time, so I cannot give you a first-hand verdict, but it is an option if that appeals.

The best day trips from Agadir

Some of my favorite places to explore were just outside the city. Each of these has (or will have) its own guide, so here is the quick version:

• Paradise Valley is a palm-filled canyon with natural rock pools about an hour inland, and a nice day trip if you are already based in Agadir. I would not travel all the way out here just for it, but if you are in the area, it is a lovely, scenic half-day. See my full guide: Visiting Paradise Valley from Agadir.
• Taghazout and Tamraght are the laid-back surf villages just up the coast. I did not see much surfing in Agadir itself, but when we went up to Taghazout there were surfers everywhere, and if you want that surf-village life, this is where to find it.
• The Timlalin dunes are on my own list for next time. They are about an hour north of Agadir, up near Tamri, where the sand dunes meet the Atlantic, so you can go sandboarding or quad biking or just catch the sunset. We ran out of time, but a picnic dinner out there is exactly what I would plan on a return trip.
• Taroudant and Souss-Massa National Park (good for birdwatching) are other manageable days out.

Essaouira and Marrakech are doable too, but they are a longer haul, more of a full day or an overnight than a quick excursion. Marrakech is also the way many people arrive.

How long do you need in Agadir?

Two to three days is plenty for the city itself, and you can happily stay longer if you want a proper beach break, which is what we did with our ten days.

If you only have a couple of days, I would spend the first on the beach and the seafront, with sunset up at Kasbah Oufella. Give the second to Souk El Had in the morning and a day trip in the afternoon, either Paradise Valley or the Taghazout surf coast. Add a third day for a slower pace or a second day trip.

Planning your trip to Agadir

A few practical things worth sorting, each with its own detailed guide:

• Best time to visit: Agadir works year-round. We went in July specifically to escape the inland heat, and the coast was breezy and comfortable. It is also a brilliant winter-sun escape when Europe is cold.
• Where to stay: everything from the beachfront resort strip to Airbnbs in residential areas away from it, which is what we did.
• Where to eat: loads of options along the beach and around the city. I will have a full guide to where we ate in a separate post.
• Getting there: we drove from Marrakech, an easy and scenic road trip.
• Is Agadir safe: it is a relaxed, tourist-friendly resort city, with the usual common sense.

Is Agadir worth visiting?

It depends what you want. If you are after a relaxing holiday, somewhere to lie on the beach, read a book, swim, and switch off, Agadir is hard to beat, which is exactly why it is full of all-inclusive resorts. It is also a lovely mild escape in winter when much of Europe is cold. And if you are into surfing, or just want to experience surf-village life up at Taghazout and Tamraght, it is a great base, with easy day trips on top.

If, on the other hand, you are chasing the winding historic medinas and old architecture of Marrakech or Fes, Agadir probably will not be your favorite Moroccan city. I would think of it as a beach-holiday base rather than a cultural highlight, and judge it on those terms. One thing to keep in mind is the Atlantic weather: we had a warm, breezy July, but the coast can also bring wind, cloud, and cooler days, so it is worth checking the forecast. For a relaxed ten days by the coast, we had a great time.

FAQ