Budget — Essaouira

Essaouira is among the most accessible Moroccan destinations without ever sacrificing pleasure. The reference budget of €50/day/person matches a comfort trip: a night in a charm riad in the medina, two meals including grilled fish at the port, and an activity such as a surf lesson or a hammam. Budget travellers will come down to €25-35 by staying in a hostel or simple guesthouse, eating at Moulay Hassan square stalls and limiting extras.

Accommodation varies significantly with expectations. Riads in the medina range from €40 to €90 a night for a double in a charm establishment, and can exceed €150 in the most sought-after addresses with rampart views. Outside the medina, decent hotels sit between €30 and €55. For meals, the range is wide: a sardine sandwich or a flaky pastilla near Moulay Hassan square costs €2-4, a tagine in a medina gargote runs €6-10, while a grilled-seafood platter at the port climbs to €12-20 depending on the stall's generosity. Tablecloth restaurants aimed at tourists charge €20-35 per person.

On activities and leisure, an introductory surf session (board and wetsuit included) runs €25-35 for two hours with an instructor — the serious schools cluster on the beach south of the medina. A beginner kitesurf session costs €60-80 for a half-day. A horse or camel ride on the beach goes for €10-20 an hour. A traditional hammam in the medina starts from €8 (beldi soap + scrub formula), with more elaborate addresses offering full treatments at €20-45. Transport from Marrakech by coach (Supratours or CTM) costs about €7-9 one-way; in a shared grand taxi, count €10-12 per seat.

To optimise your budget in Essaouira, book accommodation in advance during summer (rates jump in July-August), favour the port stalls for fish rather than the rampart-side restaurants, and wander the art galleries and souks — most thuya marquetry workshops can be explored without spending a dirham. Example of a well-balanced day: night in a riad (€55) + lunch at the port stall (€8) + dinner in the medina (€12) + hammam (€10) + local transport (€2) ≈ €87 for two, or €43 per head.