Where to stay in Essaouira - Best Budget Hotels and Hostels

This article is a list of the best and cheapest hotels in Essaouira. Whether you just want to save money or you are backpacking around Morocco on a budget, this list will help you find out where to stay in Essaouira for cheap.

Essaouira is a city that we fell in love with. From the first moment we set foot there, we were charmed by its Portuguese architecture, the constant sea breeze and the relaxed attitude of the Moroccans living there.

If you want some awesome pictures, walk by the port…

I could easily say that Essaouira is now our favorite city in Morocco. We loved this city so much that we ended up staying there for almost two weeks and we didn’t run out of awesome activities to do during that time.

In Essaouira, you can find cool crafts and art from all over Morocco…

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Want to find some awesome things to do in Essaouira?

Read: An In-Depth Guide to Essaouira, Morocco’s windy city

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Essaouira attracts a crowd of young backpackers and surfers all year round. Because of this, the city has plenty of cheap hostels in the old medina.

There are so many hostels in Essaouira that it’s hard to know which one is the best. Accommodation in this coastal town is very cheap and it’s a great place to visit if you’re traveling around Morocco on a budget.

There are plenty of beautiful little cafes in the old medina…

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Want to save money in Morocco?

Read: Morocco on a budget

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If you’re wondering what are the cheapest and best hotels in Essaouira, read more to find out Which ones we compiled.

Walking on the fortified wall is the best way to start the day…

In this post you will find:

The 6 best and cheapest hotels in Essaouira

The Chill Art hostel

This hostel is one of our top recommendations in Essaouira. We spent a few nights there enjoying live music and sharing meals with some of the guests in the main lobby. The Chill Art hostel is a fantastic place for travelers. The owners are constantly organizing workshops and there is an open mic for musicians every night in the main lobby.

It’s very easy to get to this hostel as it’s just off one of the main roads in the old medina. The place is sparkling clean and the beds are very cozy.

It was built inside an old traditional restored Ryad and the architecture of the place is fascinating. The Chill Art hostel is also, as its name says, full of art and beautiful murals.

There is a delicious breakfast served every morning. The hostel also has a terrace that gives a 180 degrees view of the ocean. We particularly enjoyed celebrating new-year with an international crowd of travelers from the roof of that terrace.

Click to check out rates and availability for “The Chill Art hostel”

This is a hostel that deserves its name. They love art here…

White And Blue

This is a hostel that is always full with a young crowd of backpackers from all over the world. It has a huge terrace where you can eat and relax in the sun. This hostel has a shared kitchen where you can cook your own meals if you want to save a bit of money. It’s equipped with a really big fridge and a stove.

The owners of this hostel are really friendly and helpful and they provide their guests with tea and hot water to make coffee throughout the day. The wifi is also excellent if you need to do some work while you’re there.

The beach and the fruit and vegetable markets are very close.

Click to check out rates and availability for “White And Blue”

Most hostels have a terrace from which you can see beautiful sunsets…

Moga Hostel

The location of this hostel is ideal. It’s right in the center of the old medina and the fortified walls on which you can walk are very close. Moga Hostel has some super soft beds, warm showers, and a great atmosphere!

What I like the most about Moga Hostel is how the place is filled with art, paintings, and wall murals. If you’re an artist or if you love art, this is the place to be.

Moga Hostel is sparkling clean and decorated with very warm colors and beautiful Moroccan lamps.

Click to check out rates and availability for “Moga Hostel”

Dar Tranquille

Dar Tranquille is located completely at the end of a dead-end street so it’s always very quiet and you won’t hear noises from the streets there. It’s the perfect place to have a good rest and long nights of sleep.

The rooms are simple but very big and you’ll have plenty of space to feel at ease. The beds are also much bigger than the beds you’ll find in other accommodations on this list. The rooms come with their own toilets and bathroom.

Dar Tranquille doesn’t serve breakfast but there are a lot of small street food stands nearby. If you want to cook your own food, it’s also possible as there is a small kitchen that will be at your disposition.

Click to check out rates and availability for “Dar Tranquille”

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Planning a trip to Morocco?

Read: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Backpacking in Morocco

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Atlantic Hostel

This hostel is part hostel part restaurant and the food served there is phenomenal! It’s the ideal place to stay if you want to meet a lot of young backpackers from all over the world and try delicious Moroccan meals.

The rooftop terrace of this hostel is huge and it overlooks the old medina. It’s the perfect place to watch the sunset.

Click to check out rates and availability for “Atlantic Hostel”

Zazou

This is a private apartment in the heart of the old city. The room is very big and it has a double and single bed. If you want the privacy of your own place at a modest price, you should stay at Zazou.

The hosts are very welcoming and will prepare a delicious breakfast every morning.

If you want to cook your own food, it’s also possible. The apartment has a well-equipped kitchen with a big fridge. If you plan on spending more than a few days in Essaouira and want the feeling of being in your own home, this is the place I would recommend. The accommodation is very quiet and it has a beautiful terrace.

Click to check out rates and availability for “Zazou”

There are so many open-air markets and small shops in the streets of Essaouira…

A word of advice before you book your hostel in Essaouira

A lot of the hostels in this article are located in the old city. While this part of the city is beautiful, a few scammers here take advantage of unwary travelers (see 12 Common Scams you might encounter in Morocco).

One of the typical scams that you might encounter in the old medina is the ”Nice guy showing the way”. This scam consists of offering unsolicited help such as pointing out the way to a hotel or guiding you to a restaurant. Once you arrive at the hostel the scammer will ask you for an overinflated tip in exchange for his service.

For example, while you’re walking with your backpack in the streets of the old medina of Essaouira, someone approaches you and suggests to guide you to your hostel. Once you arrive there, he asks for 30 or 50 MAD for the five minutes it took to help you and will not leave until you give him a tip.

How do you avoid this scam?

Be very wary of exaggeratedly friendly strangers who approach you out of nowhere and offer their help. Only ask for help if you absolutely need it, and if so only ask people inside their shops or traffic and police officers. If there are young guys around just ask for directions but always remember to insist that you don’t need them to guide you.

A quick tip: Learning some words in Moroccan Arabic will help you avoid this trap.

We hope you find a great hostel in Essaouira and that you have an awesome time in this city. If you have any questions or if you’ve already been to Meknes, we love to hear from you in the comments below!

* This article contains some affiliate links. If you book a hotel/hostel through our website, we’ll receive a small commission at no extra costs for you. This way you’re helping us writing more informative and awesome guides like this. Thank you!

You’ll see plenty of seagulls in Essaouira…

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO – MOROCCO TRAVEL TIPS:

Planning to rent a car in Morocco? Read this first:
- Renting a Car in Morocco – Everything you Need to Know

A few travel and safety tips for Morocco:

Planning to travel to Morocco during Ramadan? Read this first:

How is it to travel to Morocco during Ramadan?

Everything you need to know about traveling independently in Morocco (visa, how to get to and around Morocco, where to stay,…):
The Ultimate Travel Guide to Backpacking in Morocco