Essaouira in May
Great time to visit
May ranks as one of the best months to visit, especially during the legendary Gnawa Festival. Expect perfect weather but also peak prices and crowds that transform the normally laid-back medina.
Weather
May continues April's excellent weather pattern with warm, dry days and refreshing ocean breezes. Temperatures climb but rarely feel oppressive thanks to the constant Atlantic winds. Rain becomes rare, with clear skies dominating.
24°C high16°C low2 rain days
Crowds & Cost
high crowds
~$85/day average
Events & Festivals
- •Gnawa World Music Festival (late May, dates vary annually)
May Tips
- •Festival week accommodation prices double or triple - book months ahead
- •Even non-festival weekends require advance booking
- •Beach weather arrives - pack swimwear and sunscreen
All Months
April through June gives you the sweet spot. Temperatures hover around 22-25°C, the wind stays manageable, and you avoid both winter rain and summer crowds. May particularly shines — warm enough for beach time, cool enough for medina wandering.
September through November works almost as well. The Atlantic stays warm from summer heating, but the oppressive July-August wind calms down. October brings perfect weather, though hotel prices reflect that.
Winter (December-March) means rain and rough seas. January averages 8 rainy days, and the Atlantic gets too choppy for swimming. But accommodation costs drop by 40%, and you'll have the medina largely to yourself.
Summer presents challenges. The trade winds that keep Essaouira cooler than inland cities also create constant 30-40 km/h gusts. Great for windsurfers, exhausting for everyone else. July and August see the medina packed with Moroccan families escaping the heat of Casablanca and Rabat.
Essaouira Scores
Solo
8/10
Couples
8/10
Families
7/10
Adventure
7/10
Budget
8/10
Luxury
6/10
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