Things to Do in Agadir
A flawless crescent of deep, fine sand, which rolls on for miles to the south of town, Agadir Beach (Plage d’Agadir forms the heart of this seaside resort. A wealth of cafés and restaurants offer food and drink, with loungers for sun worshippers, while water sports run from Jet Ski to boat trips and deep-sea fishing adventures.
Built in 1541 and restored a couple of centuries later, the Agadir Kasbah Ruins (Agadir Oufella stand on a hill a little way out of town. Designed as a fortress, the kasbah once housed hundreds, although all that remains of the structure after the 1960 earthquake is the outer wall. Most travelers visit for the sweeping ocean views.
With a prime location on Morocco’s windswept Atlantic coast, just north of Agadir, Taghazout beach has made a name for itself as one of the country’s top surfing destinations. Running for just under four miles (six kilometers), the sandy beach south of Taghazout town is lined with hotels, restaurants, bars and surf shops, with ample opportunities to rent boards, learn to surf or join a beachside yoga class. Numerous surfing outfitters dot the sand, teaching visitors a thing or two about hanging ten.
The best time to catch a wave is between October and April, but surfing and windsurfing are possible all year-round. There are surf spots for all levels, including gentle waves for beginners and some more challenging breaks for seasoned surfers; Hash Point, Panorama, Anchor Point and Killer Point are among the most popular. When you’re ready to spend some time on land, head into the fishing village for a bite at a makeshift cafe on a warm summer night.
Also written Souq al Had, Souk el Had is Agadir’s main market, a cavernous warehouse of around 6,000 stalls selling everything from spices, fruit, and vegetables through to clothes, perfume, carpets, pottery, shisha pipes, and electronics. Tailors around the market can alter garments or make them to your specifications.
Learning more about the Amazigh people and their past is a key part of understanding Morocco and its culture. Often called Berbers, the ethnic group is native to North Africa and has a diverse history in Morocco that can be explored at Agadir's Museum of Amazigh Culture (Musée Municipal du Patrimoine Amazighe d’Agadir), which sits just steps away from the city’s sandy coastline.
Although it’s not a very large space, the museum displays a wide range of Amazighe items from the 18th and 19th centuries. While there, explore exhibits featuring everything from pottery to carpets, art, traditional costumes, and cooking utensils. The highlight for many are the collections of jewelry, which include exquisite pieces worn during wedding ceremonies.
Just southeast of Agadir, Crocoparc is one of Morocco’s most unusual and popular attractions—a botanical park that’s home to more than 300 Nile crocodiles. After entering the park through a huge, artificial crocodile mouth, visitors roam the five thematic gardens to see the crocodiles in pools and admire the park’s flora.
Those looking to be pampered Moroccan-style will find everything they need at the Argan Palace, one of Agadir’s most luxurious spas. As well as enjoying a steam, scrub and soap massage in the traditional hammam, a range of massages and treatments are available, from a typical Berber massage to relaxing oil massages and reflexology.
Alongside the spa and hammam, the Argan Palace runs a shop selling its top quality, organic cosmetics and perfumes, enriched with the region’s famous argan oil.