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Morocco has two distinct coastlines — the long, wind-exposed Atlantic and the warmer, calmer Mediterranean. Here is where to find the best beaches on each, matched to how you actually want to use them.
Sofia Marín· Coast, North & Practical Travel Editor
Spanish travel writer based in Tangier who criss-crosses northern Morocco and the Atlantic coast by bus, train and ferry. She covers Chefchaouen, Tangier, Essaouira and the practical side of getting around. Tangier · 10+ years covering Morocco
Published 11 March 2025 Last updated 5 May 2026
Morocco’s beach offer is significantly better than most travellers expect. The Atlantic coast runs for nearly 3,000 kilometres from Tangier to the Western Sahara, ranging from the calm sheltered bay at Agadir to wild, surf-pounded strands that barely see a tourist from one week to the next. The shorter Mediterranean coast — tucked behind the Rif Mountains from Tangier to the Algerian border — is warmer, clearer and, in places like Al Hoceima, genuinely spectacular.
The catch is that the two coasts behave quite differently. The Atlantic is exposed to the full force of northerly trade winds, which makes it paradise for kitesurfers and windsurfers but challenging for anyone who just wants to float in calm water. The Mediterranean is the opposite: warm and gentle in summer, but harder to reach from the main tourist circuits. Understanding the difference before you book saves disappointment.
Below you will find eight beaches worth knowing — four of them genuinely excellent — with honest notes on what each delivers, what it does not, and the best months to visit each coast. A comparison table follows for quick scanning.
Organised roughly north to south on the Atlantic, then west to east on the Mediterranean.
Atlantic
Agadir
Best for
Calm swimming, families, sun-seekers
Season
Year-round; peak May–Oct
A 10-kilometre arc of fine golden sand backed by a promenade and resort hotels. The bay faces southwest, which shields it from the prevailing north wind that punishes beaches further up the coast. The result is reliably calm, swimmable surf — rare for Morocco. Expect sun loungers and parasols from around 30–50 MAD to rent, and a strip of cafés and juice bars behind the beach.
Atlantic
Essaouira
Best for
Kitesurfing, windsurfing, dramatic scenery
Season
Apr–Oct best; wind peaks Jun–Aug
The "wind city of Africa" is not subtle about it — a near-constant trade wind funnels down this open beach from June through August. Swimmers find it tough, but kite and windsurf schools thrive here. Walk south beyond the headland and the wind drops slightly. The medina and ramparts are directly behind the beach, so a morning surf session can segue neatly into exploring the souks.
Atlantic
Sidi Ifni area
Best for
Photography, rock arch scenery, solitude
Season
May–Oct (road can flood in winter)
Two enormous rust-red sandstone arches frame this remote beach south of Sidi Ifni, roughly 160 km below Agadir. One arch collapsed in 2016, but the surviving arch is still one of the most photographed spots in Morocco. The beach is backed by basic guesthouses and a handful of cafés. Waves here can be powerful — it is more a swimming-between-the-arches-at-low-tide spot than an all-day swim beach.
Atlantic
Taghazout (15 km N of Agadir)
Best for
Surfing, surf camps, beginner lessons
Season
Oct–Apr for surf; May–Sep for calmer water
A small fishing village that has become Morocco's surf capital. Anchor Point breaks right over a rocky reef and holds swells that draw experienced surfers from across Europe. The village itself has surf camps on almost every corner, with week-long packages (from roughly 4,500–7,000 MAD inclusive) covering board hire, coaching and accommodation. Beginners learn on the gentler beach break a few hundred metres south.
Atlantic
Near Guelmim, far south
Best for
Extreme solitude, wild camping, 4x4 adventures
Season
Oct–Apr (brutal heat in summer)
Forty kilometres of utterly deserted white sand north of Guelmim, only reached by piste (unsealed track). You will need a 4x4 and some self-sufficiency — there are no services at the beach itself. The payoff is one of the emptiest Atlantic strands in the world. Wild camping is technically permitted but basic. This is an add-on for travellers already routing through the south toward Western Sahara.
Atlantic
Asilah (45 km S of Tangier)
Best for
Culture plus beach, families, day trips from Tangier
Season
Jun–Sep
Asilah pairs a whitewashed Portuguese-walled medina with a decent stretch of sandy beach directly south of the ramparts. It is calm enough for swimming most summer days and popular with Moroccan families escaping Tangier and Rabat. The annual Asilah Arts Festival in August brings murals onto the medina walls, making the beach-plus-culture combination here genuinely strong.
Mediterranean (western end)
Tangier
Best for
City beach, convenient, warm Med water
Season
Jun–Sep
Tangier's city beach stretches east from the medina along the bay. Malabata, a few kilometres east, is cleaner and less crowded. The water is noticeably warmer than the open Atlantic beaches — the strait acts as a funnel that warms the Mediterranean inflow. It is a working city beach rather than a resort, but easily combined with a day in the medina.
Mediterranean
Al Hoceima
Best for
Crystal-clear Med water, snorkelling, off-the-beaten-track
Season
Jun–Sep
The Rif coast around Al Hoceima is Morocco's Mediterranean gem — dramatic cliffs, clear turquoise water and coves that feel closer to Croatia than the busy Atlantic resorts. Cala Iris, a small fishing harbour 40 km west, has a sheltered beach that is almost entirely free of tourists outside August. The Hoceima National Marine Park protects the surrounding waters, and snorkelling off the rocks is excellent.
Atlantic swell. Mediterranean warmth. Two very different coastlines in one country.
Star ratings are relative within Morocco — not global resort standards.
| Beach / Area | Swimming | Surfing | Wind | Crowds | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic — Agadir | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | Low | High (resort) | Families, resort holiday |
| Atlantic — Essaouira | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | Very High | Moderate | Kitesurfers, bohemian vibe |
| Atlantic — Taghazout | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | Moderate | Low–Med | Surfers, surf camps |
| Atlantic — Asilah | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | Moderate | Low | Culture + beach combo |
| Med — Tangier bay | ★★★★☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | Low–Med | High (city) | City break add-on |
| Med — Al Hoceima | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ | Low | Very Low | Snorkelling, hidden gem |
Agadir has its own international airport with direct charter and scheduled flights from most European cities — for a pure beach holiday it is the easiest entry point. Ground transfers to the beach strip cost around 150–250 MAD by petit taxi.
Essaouira is reached by bus or shared taxi from Marrakech (roughly 3 hours, from 80 MAD by CTM bus). There is no commercial airport; most travellers base themselves in Marrakech and day-trip, or arrange a two-to-three-night stay via private transfer.
Taghazout sits 15 km north of Agadir airport, making it one of the easiest surf destinations to reach in Africa. A grand taxi from Agadir costs roughly 30–50 MAD per seat. Surf camp packages typically include airport pickup.
Al Hoceima is the most remote on this list. There is a small airport (Cherif Al Idrissi) with limited seasonal connections, but most independent travellers reach it by bus from Fes (around 6–7 hours) or Tetouan. The extra effort is repaid by genuinely uncrowded, pristine water — particularly in June and early September.
Combining a beach stop with a desert tour or an imperial-cities circuit is very doable and popular. A private driver makes the routing flexible: you can, for example, fly into Agadir, spend two nights at the beach, then drive inland through the Anti-Atlas and join the Sahara route east — something buses cannot easily replicate.
Sun lounger hire
30–50 MAD / day (Agadir)
Surf lesson (1 session)
From ~300 MAD / person
Surf camp week
From ~4,500 MAD all-in
Agadir is the standout for calm, swimmable water on the Atlantic side — the sheltered bay keeps waves modest even when the north wind whips up elsewhere. On the Mediterranean coast, Al Hoceima and Cala Iris offer crystalline water that can reach 26 °C in August, making them arguably the best swimming beaches in the country. Asilah is a good middle-ground choice if you want to combine relaxed swimming with medina sightseeing in one place.
They suit very different travellers. Agadir is a purpose-built resort city with a long calm beach, international hotels and reliable sunshine — ideal for a straightforward sun-and-sand break. Essaouira is windier (often too windy for casual swimming), but the historic blue-and-white medina, the ramparts and the bohemian café culture make up for it. Choose Agadir if you want to swim and sunbathe; choose Essaouira if character and atmosphere matter as much as the beach itself.
Absolutely — Morocco is one of Europe's closest surf destinations. Taghazout and nearby Anchor Point produce long right-hand reef breaks that attract experienced surfers from October through April. Agadir's beach break is gentler and works well for beginners year-round. Essaouira's consistent wind makes it better for kite and windsurfing than board surfing. The far south, around Sidi Ifni and Legzira, holds powerful and uncrowded breaks for those willing to make the journey.
The city's own bay and Plage Malabata (a few kilometres east) are convenient for a quick dip with warmer Mediterranean water. For a better beach, the short drive south to Asilah (45 km, under an hour) is well worth it — the beach is cleaner and calmer, and the walled medina there is one of the prettiest in Morocco. The Rif coast at Cap Spartel, just west of Tangier, also has a dramatic beach where the Atlantic and Mediterranean technically meet.
Yes, Morocco's main beach resorts are safe for tourists. Agadir, Essaouira and Asilah are all well-visited and have a visible tourist infrastructure. Standard precautions apply: do not leave valuables visible on the beach, and be aware that some beaches have strong currents (Essaouira's open coast in particular). Female travellers may find conservative swimwear attracts less unwanted attention on public town beaches, though resort beaches in Agadir are very relaxed about this.
The Atlantic coast (Agadir, Taghazout, Asilah) is warmest from May through October, with July and August seeing the most reliable sunshine but also the most crowds and highest prices. June and September offer excellent weather with smaller crowds. The Mediterranean coast around Al Hoceima and Tangier warms up from June and is most swimmable in July–August. Essaouira is arguably best in April–May and September–October when the worst of the wind eases slightly and temperatures stay pleasant.
Easily, and this is one of Morocco's great strengths as a destination. A classic combination is to fly into Agadir or Marrakech, spend a few days on the Atlantic coast, then join a private tour heading inland to the Atlas Mountains, through the kasbahs to the Sahara, and ending in Fes or Marrakech. A week to ten days allows you to cover beach, mountain and desert without rushing. A private guided tour simplifies the logistics considerably, since public transport between coastal towns and the desert south is infrequent.
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