Morocco is a beautiful country, full of life, history and vibrant atmospheres. Each week, we will feature a city in morocco, highlighting the places to stay, the places to eat and the sites to see. This week, we will look at Agadir.

Agadir

This city in southwest Morocco, which has a population of 678,596, is the capital of the Souss-Massa-Dra region, and one of the main tourist areas of Morocco.

The city is located on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, north of the Souss River. Its winter climate, 20 degrees Celsius in January, makes it the go-to vacation for many Northern Europeans who are trying to escape the snow and the cold.

The city began life as a small fishing village in the Middle Ages, before the Portuguese established a trading post there in 1505. By 1572, a large stronghold was built on the site of the city and two centuries of prosperity ensued for the residents of Agadir.

Over the course of its history, Agadir has seen earthquakes and disputes, including one involving Germany and France during the First World War, but now it is known as a tourist resort with beautiful beaches that have all the features of beach-tourism.

Today, Agadir is known as an important fishing and commercial port, along with being a seaside resort.

Location

The city is located in a highly unique spot in Morocco, with the Anti-atlas region, which have many beautiful mountains, the Sahara Desert and several national parks nearby. Having all of these amazing natural features nearby has made Agadir a major tourist resort in Morocco, which makes it stand out from many of the other cities in the country. About 40 kilometers to the south of Agadir there is the Souss-Massa River National Park, while 80 kilometers to the east there is the city of Taraoudannt, considered a very historical city in Morocco.

There are many beautiful and accessible beaches that are often empty up the northern coast of Morocco, including Taghazout about 15 kilometers from the city. The Zetrap bus line will be able to get you to the town and others from the center of Agadir.

Getting around Agadir

Agadir is a city of diversity and history, so you are going to want to travel around and see what you can of it. There are many petit taxis around, which use the taximeter to charge your fare. A trip through the center of the city will usually cost between 10 and 20 Moroccan Dirham (Dh).

Agadir has a public transit system but it is often very crowded and slow. Instead of taking the bus, you should be able to get around the city simply by walking as it is small enough to do so. It will probably be quicker and cheaper for you.

What to do in Agadir

Agadir is a relatively new city, in the historical sense of the word, so the main attraction for visitors to the tourist resort is the beaches. The beaches are very big, with little wind and are not very crowded at all.

For history buffs, you can visit a part of the original fortress from 1572, which is at the top of a hill beside the city. You can get there by taking a taxi, bus or riding a moped, which usually cost about 100 Dh.

The Vallee des Oiseaux zoo is located in the city and only costs 5 Dh to get in for adults and 3 Dh for children. It features a beautiful cage you can walk inside of, with many birds from around the world. There are many exotic mammals located in the zoo.

Shopping in Agadir

One aspect of Agadir that warrants itself to shopping is that there are many fixed-price shops, which saves you from having to haggle. This is in contrast to other cities in Morocco, like Marrakech, where haggling is common. There is a large building called the Marche Centrale, which has many shops inside of it. Most of the goods in there were made outside of the Agadir region, and can be expensive.

Dining out

Agadir has many excellent places to eat, with the restaurants being split up into three zones. There is the New Talbourjt zone that has the cheapest restaurants. The menus are usually around 35 Dh. If you are on a small budget in Agadir, this would be the place to go.

The beach zone has many excellent restaurants that serve everything from fast food to Indian food. This is the most expensive food zone in Morocco, and the touristiest.

If you don’t want to go too expensive, but don’t want to go cheap, then head the Uniprix, which has many restaurants for both tourists and the local people of Agadir.

Morocco is a dry country, but alcohol can be found at some shops and night clubs. Agadir has many night clubs in the tourist zones, which has alcohol. If a night club is not your thing, you can check out the many cafes along Hassan II Avenue, including La Fontaine, La Veranada and Le Dome. Cafes are a big part of the lives of the Agadir citizenry.

Places To Stay

There is a wide variety of places to stay in Agadir, depending on your taste and your budget.

If you want to go all out, check out the Five-Star Palais Des Roses Hotel, which has comfort, great food, gardens and a large pool.

If you prefer a boutique hotel, try the luxury guest house Riad Des Golf, which is located at 6 minutes from the tourist resort, in a superb eucalyptus forest, 250 meters from the Golf des Dunes (27 holes, international class) and 850 meters from the Golf du Soleil (27 holes). This luxury Riad, the first of this kind in Agadir, is one of the finest of Morocco's guest houses.

Overall

Agadir is a modern city in Morocco that will give you a tourist experience like no other in the region. In the city you will find beautiful shops full of interesting pieces at a reasonable price. The surrounding countryside is beautiful beaches, soaring mountains and the dominating Sahara Desert.

Any trip to Morocco would not be complete, without a trip to Agadir.