5 Best beaches in Morocco for different travel styles
Visit Morocco's beaches for adventures and peaceful getaways. The best beaches in Morocco include Legzira, Taghazout, and Saidia.
Morocco has beaches on two coastlines. The best beaches in Morocco line the Atlantic coast in the west and the Mediterranean coast in the north, ranging from windy surf spots to calm, family-friendly bays. Popular options include Legzira, Taghazout, Oualidia, Sidi Kaouki, and Saidia.
Wondering where the best beaches in Morocco are? They line both the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, each with its own feel. Here’s our list of the five best beaches in Morocco to visit, especially for those looking for exciting activities, secluded getaways, or family-friendly fun
Legzira Beach (Sidi Ifni)
✔️ Best for adventure

Legzira Beach, near Sidi Ifni, is a 5-mile (8-kilometer) strip of golden sands and Morocco’s best beach for adventure and excitement. A majestic thousand-year-old sandstone archway stands tall here; its twin was swept away in 2016 after constant erosion. This natural formation creates a perfect photo opportunity, especially with a purple, pink, and orange-hued sunset as the backdrop.
If you’re an expert surfer, pack your surfboard and meander through the whipping waves. However, be careful because the water can get rough due to the rugged terrain.
Besides surfing, you can go paragliding or parasailing and even hike up many naturally-formed paths surrounding Legzira Beach. To make your experience even better, begin your journey through the hills and valleys just before sunset to have a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean, Legzira Beach, and the famous stone arches.
Taghazout Beach (Agadir)
✔️ Best for socializing

Taghazout Beach is perfect for social butterflies who love to dive into different experiences and fully immerse themselves in local culture. This small yet lively traditional fishing village is packed with travelers and backpackers relaxing underneath the sun or learning to ride the waves with experienced surfers. Cafe culture is booming here, so once you’re done having a lazy beach day, head over to a nearby shack for a quick bite.
Overall, the atmosphere is lively and social, and you can get a heavy glimpse into Moroccan culture here, with locals jamming out on ouds. If you travel inland to the nearby Paradise Valley, you can even do some safe cliff jumping into lime-green pools for a quick adrenaline rush.
Oualidia Beach
✔️ Best for a romantic getaway

If you’re traveling to Morocco soon, be sure to visit Oualidia Beach. The natural sand wall creates a lagoon ideal for shallow-water swimming, kayaking, and paddle boarding in calm and clear water. If you’re traveling as a couple, Oualidia Beach’s laid-back atmosphere makes it the perfect romantic getaway.
Imagine the pink-hued sunset against the vibrant blue lagoon. What better place to travel to for a honeymoon or a couples retreat? End the perfect day with your partner by trying one of the many fish restaurants around the lagoon. Enjoy the best oysters, which are coincidentally also considered an aphrodisiac, in Morocco’s oyster capital.
Sidi Kaouki Beach (Essaouira)
✔️ Best for a peaceful experience

Located in the Wind City of Africa, Sidi Kaouki is a popular beach amongst wanderers and travelers looking for a secluded beach to sit with their thoughts in peace. The white noise and swoosh of the winds are enough to put anyone into a meditative trance, but make swimming a bit difficult. However, this beach has many activities besides being a windy dune paradise.
Relax on the golden white sands or rent deckchairs for a few Moroccan dirhams. Walk along the beautiful argan trees, side-swept by the constant winds. Make friends with the beautiful horses and have a horse ride along the sand as the wind tousles your hair.
If you’re looking for some adventure, the perfect windy conditions make quad biking, windsurfing, and kite surfing possible.
Saidia Beach
✔️Best for families

Nicknamed the blue pearl for the water’s gorgeous deep turquoise color, Saidia Beach combines old Morocco’s charm with modern extravagances. This long, white-sand beach is perfect for families to visit, especially in the summer, and is surrounded by stunning white villas, restaurants, and hotels.
The beach is equipped with playgrounds for kid-friendly entertainment and various activities for families to do together, such as paddle boarding. The waters are warm and quiet, and you can go for a safe swim, dive, or even do some water skiing.
Top tips for your trip to the best beaches in Morocco
Check the best time to visit: September is the sweet spot, with warm weather and fewer crowds. Morocco is pleasant year-round, so there’s no single best month. October to April draws travelers escaping the European and North American cold, while May to August is peak season for music festivals and outdoor activities.
Stay safe in the sun: Wear SPF 30 or higher, applied 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapplied every 2 hours, even on cloudy days. The windy Atlantic coast dries your skin and raises UV exposure, so add a wide-brimmed hat. Pack sunscreen in a checked bag, as it’s pricey in Morocco.
Be aware of local customs and etiquette: Pack some covering swimwear like light tops, leggings, and long shorts, since Morocco is a Muslim country where modesty is part of the cultural code. If you wear a bikini or open swimsuit, carry a scarf or cover-up for leaving the beach.
Where to go for beachside food and water: Most Morocco beaches have restaurants, cafes, and eateries nearby, so where to find a delicious meal is never a worry. Try fresh fish and local dishes like sardine tagine, or look for calamari, prawns, swordfish, and sea urchins straight off the boats, plus fruit, popcorn, and nuts at low prices.
Get an eSIM for data at Morocco’s beaches: Stay online to navigate, find food, and share the view. A prepaid Morocco SIM card works, but a Holafly eSIM is more complete. For a single trip, eSIM Morocco gives you unlimited data, 5G, 24/7 support, and hotspot sharing. If you travel often, a Holafly Plans subscription comes with you from trip to trip, with Unlimited or 25 GB options. Every Holafly eSIM also includes Always On, 1 GB of free backup data each month across 70+ countries, so you have a safety net if your main plan runs low.
FAQs about the best beaches in Morocco
Yes, Morocco has excellent beaches along two coastlines. The Atlantic side offers surf and wide sands at spots like Taghazout, Legzira, and Sidi Kaouki, while the Mediterranean side has calmer, warmer water at beaches like Saidia. You’ll find everything from lively resort towns to quiet coves.
Swimming is safe at many Morocco beaches, especially calmer spots like Saidia and Oualidia. Atlantic beaches such as Legzira and Sidi Kaouki have stronger currents and wind, so they suit surfing more than swimming. Look for flagged, lifeguarded areas and check local conditions before going in.
Morocco makes a good beach holiday if you want sun, surf, and culture in one trip. Resort areas like Agadir and Saidia are built for families, Taghazout draws surfers, and Oualidia suits couples. Beaches pair easily with nearby cities, souks, and desert trips.
The best beaches near Marrakech are on the Atlantic coast, around a 2.5 to 3 hour drive west. Essaouira and nearby Sidi Kaouki are the closest popular options, with Taghazout and Agadir a little further south. There are no beaches in Marrakech itself, as it sits inland.
The best beaches in Morocco for swimming are the calmer, shallower ones. Saidia on the Mediterranean has warm, quiet water, and Oualidia’s lagoon is protected by a natural sand wall, so both work well for families. Avoid the rougher Atlantic surf beaches if swimming is your main plan.