Agadir in 5 days

Morocco's resort coast: 10km of golden sand, year-round sun, and the Anti-Atlas and Souss Valley on the doorstep. Best time to visit: Year-round, best April-June & September-November. Average daily budget: $70 to $150 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: The Beachfront, The 10km promenade of resort hotels, cafes and beach clubs.

Morning: Paradise Valley. Swim in palm-lined rock pools in the Atlas foothills, an hour inland.

Afternoon: Explore The Beachfront, The 10km promenade of resort hotels, cafes and beach clubs.

Evening: Agadir Oufella kasbah. Ride the cable car or taxi up to the 16th-century ruins for sunset over the bay.

Eat: Grilled sardines and seafood platters at the port

Day 2, Iconic sights

Base: The Marina, Yachts, restaurants and boutiques at the beach's northern end.

Morning: Surf Taghazout. Take a lesson at Anchor Point or Panoramas in Morocco's surf capital.

Afternoon: Explore The Marina, Yachts, restaurants and boutiques at the beach's northern end.

Evening: Souk El Had. Get lost in one of Africa's largest markets, 6,000 stalls strong.

Eat: Amlou, the almond-argan-honey spread, with fresh bread

Day 3, Local neighbourhoods

Base: Talborjt, The local quarter with the best-value restaurants and everyday Moroccan life.

Morning: Souss-Massa National Park's bald ibis and flamingos at dawn.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Talborjt, The local quarter with the best-value restaurants and everyday Moroccan life.

Evening: The Memoire d'Agadir museum's moving account of the 1960 earthquake.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Berber tagine cooked over coals in Paradise Valley

Day 4, Day trip or nature

Base: Agadir Oufella, The ruined hilltop kasbah with panoramic views over the bay.

Morning: Crocoparc's 300 Nile crocodiles in botanical gardens.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Agadir Oufella, The ruined hilltop kasbah with panoramic views over the bay.

Evening: The Amazigh (Berber) heritage museum and argan cooperatives in the Souss Valley.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Fresh avocado and almond smoothies, a Souss Valley specialty

Day 5, Slow finish

Base: Taghazout & Tamraght, Surf villages 20 to 30 minutes north, with laid-back camps and cafes.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Taghazout & Tamraght, then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Taghazout & Tamraght, Surf villages 20 to 30 minutes north, with laid-back camps and cafes.

Evening: Dinner at Grilled sardines and seafood platters at the port, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Taghazout & Tamraght.

Eat: Grilled sardines and seafood platters at the port

Hidden gems

Souss-Massa National Park's bald ibis and flamingos at dawn.
The Memoire d'Agadir museum's moving account of the 1960 earthquake.
Crocoparc's 300 Nile crocodiles in botanical gardens.
The Amazigh (Berber) heritage museum and argan cooperatives in the Souss Valley.

Getting around

Agadir Al Massira airport is 25km southeast with direct flights from across Europe. In the city, orange petit taxis are cheap and metered on request, and buses 5 and 6 run the beach strip. Taghazout and Paradise Valley are easy by grand taxi, tour or rental car, and the motorway connects to Marrakech in about 3 hours.

Safety

Agadir is one of Morocco's safest and most tourist-adapted cities, with a visible police presence along the promenade. Petty theft on the beach and pushy vendors in the souk are the main irritations. The sea can have strong undertows, so swim in supervised zones. Dress codes are relaxed in resorts but modest dress suits the local quarters.

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