Marrakech does New Year's Eve big and loud. Essaouira does it differently: a long dinner of fish and tagines, a rooftop with live music, a walk on the lit-up ramparts at midnight and, on 1 January, a quiet morning on the beach with the whole bay to yourself. If you want to start 2027 by the ocean rather than in a nightclub, New Year's Eve in Essaouira is hard to beat.
Here is how to plan it, from the dinner to the drive home.
What New Year's Eve in Essaouira is like
Essaouira has no huge public countdown. The celebration happens in its hotels, restaurants, riads and bars, and in the streets of the medina, which stay lively late into the night. Expect families and couples as much as party groups, many visitors from Casablanca, Marrakech and Europe, and a relaxed, good-humoured atmosphere.
The festive week is busy: Jazz sous l'Arganier is expected from 26 to 28 December and the Casablanca International Biennale runs in Essaouira until 10 January 2027 (see our Biennale guide), so many travellers come for the whole week.
Where to celebrate
Gala dinners in the big hotels
The large hotels on the beachfront and in the Diabat golf area traditionally organise gala dinners with a set menu, live music or a DJ, and dancing until late. They are the most festive option, with alcohol served, but also the most expensive; tickets usually go on sale in December and sell out.
Medina restaurants and riads
Many restaurants in the medina offer a special menu on 31 December, from refined Moroccan cuisine to seafood. Riads often cook a dinner for their guests — ask yours when you book. Our where to eat in Essaouira guide lists the addresses we like. Not every restaurant serves alcohol, so check if that matters to you.
Rooftops and bars
A few rooftop bars around Place Moulay Hassan and on the beachfront host parties with DJs or live bands. Book a table: places are limited and the view of the ramparts is worth it.
Midnight on the ramparts
Whatever you choose for dinner, take a walk at midnight: the Skala and the seafront are lit up, the sound of the waves mixes with music from the terraces, and the crowd is cheerful and safe.
Weather and what to wear
On 31 December, Essaouira is usually sunny during the day (around 18°C) and cool at night (around 10°C), sometimes with a sea breeze. Bring a warm jacket for the walk between dinner and the party. For the rest of the week, our best time to visit Essaouira guide explains the winter climate.
Where to stay
Book early — the week between Christmas and New Year is one of the busiest of the year. Stay in the medina to walk everywhere; choose the beachfront or Diabat if you have booked a hotel gala dinner. Our guide to where to stay in Essaouira compares the options.
Getting there and getting home after midnight
- Arriving from Marrakech: the Marrakech to Essaouira transfer takes about 2 h 30 from your riad or from Marrakech airport, from €100 per vehicle. Book early: the roads and airports are busy around 30 and 31 December.
- Flying into Essaouira-Mogador: the airport transfer to the medina takes about twenty minutes, and the airport transfer to Diabat and Ghazoua about fifteen, both from €20.
- After midnight: small blue taxis run inside town, but on New Year's Eve they are hard to find. If you are staying in Diabat, Ghazoua or Sidi Kaouki and dining in town — or moving a group — ask us for an evening pick-up with a driver who waits for you. Contact us on WhatsApp with your plan.
New Year's Eve in Essaouira on a budget
A memorable night does not have to be expensive. Many medina restaurants offer a festive set menu at a reasonable price, and the walk on the lit-up ramparts at midnight is free. Share a van with friends: from Marrakech, a van for four to seven people costs €120 at the time of writing, around €17 each for seven. Book a riad slightly outside the busiest lanes, and plan a quiet, sunny New Year's Day — the best gift New Year's Eve in Essaouira gives you is a calm beach the morning after.
New Year's Day
On 1 January, Essaouira is slow and beautiful. Walk the empty beach towards Diabat, have lunch at the fish stalls by the port, or join our full-day excursion to Sidi Kaouki and the argan country. And if your trip goes on, we drive you back to Marrakech or on to Agadir.
For everything else on during the festive season, see the Essaouira events calendar. Happy New Year — or sana saïda, as they say in Essaouira.
