Things to do
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Agadir Oufella
Ramparts on a hill 236 metres above the port are almost all that survived the 1960 earthquake, which levelled the old town inside them. A restoration has added walkways and an interpretation centre, and a cable car now climbs from the city below. Late afternoon gives the clearest view across the bay, and the hilltop has little shade.
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Medina Polizzi
Italian designer Coco Polizzi built this walled craft village from the 1990s with local masons, recreating the kind of medina the earthquake erased. Workshops for woodwork, ceramics, weaving and jewellery line its lanes, and craftsmen can be watched at work. Entry is ticketed, and it lies south of the centre in Ben Sergao, on the Inezgane road, best reached by taxi.
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Souk El Had
Thousands of stalls fill a walled compound east of the centre, selling produce, spices, argan oil, carpets, leather and household goods in long covered lanes. Goods carry no labels and haggling is expected. Mornings are calmer and cooler, and the market closes on Mondays. Several gates lead in, so noting the one used makes the exit easier.
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Souss-Massa National Park
Coastal dunes, estuaries and scrub run south of the city to the mouth of the Oued Massa, home to one of the last wild colonies of the northern bald ibis. Flamingos and waders gather on the Massa estuary from autumn to spring. Tracks are sandy and signage sparse, so a local guide helps find the ibis feeding grounds.
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Tawada Promenade
Six kilometres of sand curve south from the marina, backed by a paved promenade lined with cafes, hotels and palm gardens. Swimming is easier here than on the surf coast to the north, since the bay takes the edge off the Atlantic swell. Evening walks along the seafront are best timed for sunset over the port and the kasbah hill.
