In short
October is the best month of the year in Essaouira: 24°C by day, a sea at 21°C — its annual peak — the wind easing off after summer, and August's crowds gone. Bring a warm layer for the evening and a windbreaker: the first Atlantic fronts arrive late in the month.
The month in numbers · October
Long-term averages
- 24°C
- daytime high
- 16°C
- night low
- 21°C
- sea temperature
- 11 kn
- average wind
- 4
- days of rain
- 8 h
- hours of sun a day
If you ask us when to come to Essaouira and you don't kitesurf, the answer is nearly always late September or October. It is the moment everything lines up — the sea is at its warmest, the wind has let go, the August crowds have gone, and the autumn light makes the medina genuinely beautiful.
The weather
Expect 24°C by day and 16°C at night, with eight hours of sunshine. This is Atlantic mildness: never scorching, never cold. Marrakech is still hitting 30°C at the same time of year.
The month comes in two halves. The first is an extension of summer: clear skies, warm days, evenings on a terrace without a coat. The second announces autumn, with passing cloud and occasionally a proper wet day off the Atlantic. Four rainy days on average, rarely all day.
Morning fog, a local speciality, shows up more often at this time of year. It usually burns off before noon.
The sea
21°C, its annual peak. The ocean takes months to store summer's heat, so it is warmer in October than in July. It is still the Atlantic: you swim, you don't lounge about in it for hours. A shorty makes it considerably more comfortable, and one comes with any surf lesson.
The swell starts organising itself again, which makes October the start of the good season for surfers.
The wind
The alizé still gets up in the afternoon, but averages around 11 knots against 18 to 25 in high summer. In practice:
- Beach: finally possible all afternoon without being sandblasted.
- Kitesurfing: still good days, especially in the first half. Not July's guaranteed wind, but plenty to ride.
- Medina: pleasant at any hour.
What to do in October
This is the month when you can do everything in one day, which is true neither in summer (too much afternoon wind) nor in winter (short days).
- Morning: the port as the blue boats come in, a surf lesson in the bay, or the Skala de la Ville before the tour groups.
- Afternoon: the beach, a walk out to Diabat, or the souks while the sun is still up.
- Evening: the ramparts at sunset, then the grills at the port.
Days still run to about eleven and a half hours, and the low golden light of late afternoon is the best of the year for photographs.
Crowds, prices and atmosphere
Moroccan families left at the end of August, European holidaymakers in September. In October the town gets its rhythm back: riads drop their rates from the summer peak, restaurants have space without booking, and you hear darija in the alleys again.
The exception: the Andalousies Atlantiques festival, usually held at the end of October, which fills the town for a few days. If your dates fall then, book your room earlier — and come for the music, it is worth it.
What to pack
- Light clothes for the day, but a proper warm layer for the evening: once the sun goes down, 24°C becomes 17°C within the hour.
- A light windbreaker, more useful here than an umbrella: the wind turns umbrellas inside out, and the rain doesn't last.
- Flat shoes that cope with the medina.
- A swimsuit: yes, you'll swim.
- Sunscreen. The wind hides how strong the sun is, October included.
The verdict
The best month of the year for a first visit. You get the town roughly as residents live it: mild, bright, without the summer crush or January's grey. The only trade-off is the chance of a wet day late in the month, and in Essaouira a wet day is very well spent at a hammam.
The month after is quieter still, and noticeably cheaper: see Essaouira in November. For wind across the whole year, our wind and weather guide covers all twelve months.
Common questions
What is the weather like in Essaouira in October?
An average of 24°C by day and 16°C at night, with eight hours of sun a day and about four days of rain across the month. The first half still feels like summer; the second brings autumn, with cloud coming in off the Atlantic.
Can you swim in Essaouira in October?
Yes. It is the warmest the sea gets all year, around 21°C, because the ocean takes months to warm up. It is still the Atlantic: fine for a twenty-minute swim, cool for lounging in the water. Many people prefer a shorty wetsuit.
Is it still windy in Essaouira in October?
Less than in summer, which suits most visitors. The wind still gets up in the afternoon but averages around 11 knots instead of 18 to 25 in July. Kiters still find good days, especially early in the month.
Is October a good month to visit Essaouira?
It is our favourite month, along with September. Warmest sea, wind dropped, beautiful light, evenings still good on a terrace, prices back down after summer and a medina you can walk through again. The only risk is a rainy day late in the month.
Do I need to book ahead for October?
A few weeks is usually enough, except around the Andalousies Atlantiques festival, which is normally held at the end of October and fills the riads. If your dates fall then, book earlier.
