Agadir is a city in the southern part of Morocco.
Agadir is of interest primarily because of its location, as it is surrounded by the Anti Atlas, the Sahara Desert, many natural parks, and secluded beaches which are all easily accessible from Agadir.
The city of Agadir is primarily a tourist resort that is popular with European travelers and Moroccans alike. It has a beach with all the appropriate facilities for beach-tourism. The city is especially attractive, it is clean and orderly with very friendly locals.
- Museum Municipal du Patrimoine Amazigh, Avenue Hassan II. The museum which exhibits a small collection of Berber objects from 18th and 19th century the likes of old Berber music instruments, Berber jewelry, traditional clothing and old manuscripts.
- Memory of Agadir Museum. The sign is missing: you go through iron gates on the corner. Mostly photographic exhibits which concentrate on the Agadir earthquake on 29 February 1960. Cost is 20-30 dirham each and there is a guide who speaks Arabic, French and English. After you have browsed you can walk around the super Jardin Olhao, where there is a cafe, toilets and children's playground.
- Coco Polizzi's Medina. Coco Polizzi has been recreating a traditional Moroccan Medina on route N1 in Bensergao. Out of town you will need to take an orange Petit taxi, and arrange a time for the taxi to return to collect you, but its well worth the effort for the architecture alone. Amble along the cobbled alleys amongst artisans and chatty shop keepers and take a traditional souvenir or two. 40 dirham.
- Fortress. There's part of the original fortress which is at the top of the hill beside the city, over the huge painting. It's possible to walk up there, taxi will cost 30-50 dirham. Free admission.
Museum Municipal du Patrimoine Amazigh, Avenue Hassan II. The museum which exhibits a small collection of Berber objects from 18th and 19th century the likes of old Berber music instruments, Berber jewelry, traditional clothing and old manuscripts.
Memory of Agadir Museum. The sign is missing: you go through iron gates on the corner. Mostly photographic exhibits which concentrate on the Agadir earthquake on 29 February 1960. Cost is 20-30 dirham each and there is a guide who speaks Arabic, French and English. After you have browsed you can walk around the super Jardin Olhao, where there is a cafe, toilets and children's playground.
Coco Polizzi's Medina. Coco Polizzi has been recreating a traditional Moroccan Medina on route N1 in Bensergao. Out of town you will need to take an orange Petit taxi, and arrange a time for the taxi to return to collect you, but its well worth the effort for the architecture alone. Amble along the cobbled alleys amongst artisans and chatty shop keepers and take a traditional souvenir or two. 40 dirham.
Fortress. There's part of the original fortress which is at the top of the hill beside the city, over the huge painting. It's possible to walk up there, taxi will cost 30-50 dirham. Free admission.
Agadir is primarily a resort and as such has a limited number of attractions
- Beach. The main attraction is the beach, which is very big and not very crowded. The beach is very windy, at least in February.
- Surfing. Imesouane, Devils rock (at the town of Tamragh and with the neighbouring towns of Aourir and Taghazout), Anchor point, Cro-Cro and many others. There are a lot of surf schools and surf camps and surf shop. The best surf season from November till March - but if you are just beginner - you can surf every day all year long.
- Zoo. This is a small zoo, called "Vallée des Oiseaux" ('Birds Valley'). There is a very nice cage you can walk inside, many birds from all the world, some goat-like animals from the Atlas, and even exotic mammals. The children of Agadir go there to play in a small and crowded playground. Free.
- Golf. With three top-notch golf courses, Agadir can rival most countries' golf facilities. Ask at any large hotel about the bus transport which collects visitors several times a day.
- Souk El Had. Tu-Su. With over 3000 stalls the souk is a must see. Everything from tourist souvenirs, clothes, leather goods, household items, to fruit and veg. If you are a tourist and enter via Gate 9 or 10 (the main gates) expect to be approached by someone offering to guide you. Which of course means he'll take you to all his friend's stalls. If you wish to avoid this, and explore on your own, enter through one of the lower numbered gates where the Moroccan's go. Haggle hard and note some stores advertise fixed prices. Worth looking there first so you have an idea of the 'right' price to pay before trying your hand at haggling. Personal favourites and the olives and spices stalls. Generally stallholders are happy to be in your photographs, but be respectful and ask permission first.
Beach. The main attraction is the beach, which is very big and not very crowded. The beach is very windy, at least in February.
Surfing. Imesouane, Devils rock (at the town of Tamragh and with the neighbouring towns of Aourir and [[Taghazout]]), Anchor point, Cro-Cro and many others. There are a lot of surf schools and surf camps and surf shop. The best surf season from November till March - but if you are just beginner - you can surf every day all year long.
Zoo. This is a small zoo, called "Vallée des Oiseaux" ('Birds Valley'). There is a very nice cage you can walk inside, many birds from all the world, some goat-like animals from the Atlas, and even exotic mammals. The children of Agadir go there to play in a small and crowded playground. Free.
Golf. With three top-notch golf courses, Agadir can rival most countries' golf facilities. Ask at any large hotel about the bus transport which collects visitors several times a day.
Souk El Had. Tu-Su. With over 3000 stalls the souk is a must see. Everything from tourist souvenirs, clothes, leather goods, household items, to fruit and veg. If you are a tourist and enter via Gate 9 or 10 (the main gates) expect to be approached by someone offering to guide you. Which of course means he'll take you to all his friend's stalls. If you wish to avoid this, and explore on your own, enter through one of the lower numbered gates where the Moroccan's go. Haggle hard and note some stores advertise fixed prices. Worth looking there first so you have an idea of the 'right' price to pay before trying your hand at haggling. Personal favourites and the olives and spices stalls. Generally stallholders are happy to be in your photographs, but be respectful and ask permission first.
Agadir is maybe the city with the least charm to buy the typical Moroccan handcraft goods. All the souk is around a big square behind the Uniprix (Blvd. Hassan II with Ave. Sidi Mohammed). There is a concrete building called Marché centrale with many shops inside. Is possible to get in also from Ave. Prince Moulay Abdallah. All the goods are made outside the Agadir region, and it's difficult to find them at a good price. The good thing of buying in Agadir is that there are many fixed-price shops, which is good if you don't know how to haggle well. In fact, you may find that the cheap things you bought in Marrakech are not so cheap!
In the Uniprix shop it is possible to buy small typical pieces in maybe the least authentic shop in Morocco, but the prices are not so high and there is nobody pushing you to buy.
- Ensemble Artisanal, Ave du 29 Fevrier. Downstairs is a shop selling all the co-operatives wares, up a few steps you can see artisans working, painted furniture, ironwork, embroidery, ceramics, etc.
Ensemble Artisanal, Ave du 29 Fevrier. Downstairs is a shop selling all the co-operatives wares, up a few steps you can see artisans working, painted furniture, ironwork, embroidery, ceramics, etc.
There are four main zones in which to eat in Agadir:
- New Talbourjt: The cheapest restaurants are here. There are menus for 35 dirham. It's one of the cheapest zones in Morocco for tourists.
- The beach: Next to the beach, there are many restaurants. You can find from international fast food to Indian food, good fish restaurants, etc. It's the most expensive and touristic zone.
- Around the Uniprix: It's the mid-price zone. There are touristic restaurants and some restaurants for the local people.
If you're looking for a quick snack, keep an eye out for the pastry vendors who roam the beach carrying big plastic trays, selling sweet fried bread that are called "sfinj."
Beware, however, that these friendly hawkers will often approach you on the beach, strike up a conversation, and then thrust a pastry into your hand, whether you asked for one or not. Which, of course, you are then expected to pay for (1-2 dirham, not 5-10). If you don't want to buy, simply refuse the offer with a polite smile. They are delicious, though.
Agadir is prepared for European tourists, so you can find night clubs in the touristic zones, where you can find more tourists beside the usual locals looking for tourists.
Alcohol is found in all the touristic places and can also be purchased at the Uniprix and Atacadao supermarkets.
If you are looking just to talk and drink something during the evening, you can go to the nice and big cafes that are at ave. Hassan II, like La Fontaine, La Veranda, Le Dome, etc. It's a real ritual for many Agadir citizens.
- About 40 km south from Agadir, there is the Souss-Massa river national park. 1½ hr along the same road is Tiznit. Another half an hour later Mirleft and after yet another 30 minutes one is in Sidi Ifni.
- At about 80 km east from Agadir, there is the city of Taroudannt, which is worth the visit if you don't plan to visit Marrakech or other big historical cities.
- The coast northern to Agadir has very nice and accessible beaches, like Taghazout which is 15 km away. You can get to these towns by bus #60 and bus #12 that leave from the center of Agadir. Bus #32 runs every 20 minutes or so north on Boulevard Mohammend V, 12 dirham.
- Imouzzer with its famous cascades is located about 60 km northeast of Agadir, although the trip through the mountains will take longer than the distance suggests.
About 40 km south from Agadir, there is the [[Souss-Massa|Souss-Massa river national park]]. 1½ hr along the same road is [[Tiznit]]. Another half an hour later [[Mirleft]] and after yet another 30 minutes one is in [[Sidi Ifni]].
At about 80 km east from Agadir, there is the city of [[Taroudannt]], which is worth the visit if you don't plan to visit [[Marrakech]] or other big historical cities.
The coast northern to Agadir has very nice and accessible beaches, like [[Taghazout]] which is 15 km away. You can get to these towns by bus #60 and bus #12 that leave from the center of Agadir. Bus #32 runs every 20 minutes or so north on Boulevard Mohammend V, 12 dirham.
[[Imouzzer]] with its famous cascades is located about 60 km northeast of Agadir, although the trip through the mountains will take longer than the distance suggests.