Where to stay in Agadir

Agadir was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1960, and the city faces its bay. From the north end of the beach, by the marina and the port, three parallel avenues cross the main tourist area: 20 August, Mohammed V and Hassan II, according to the regional tourism board. The promenade runs south from the marina, and the national tourist office puts the seafront at 10 km.

The marina sits at the north end, below the Kasbah of Agadir Oufella, a fortress built in 1540 and restored after the earthquake. The city centre lies under a kilometre inland from the beach, with the concrete buildings of the reconstruction, among them the central post office by Jean-François Zevaco, the town hall square and a large souk.

North of the city, the N1 coast road passes Aourir and Tamraght, then the resort of Taghazout Bay, then Taghazout. The tourism board calls the area the best in Morocco for surfing, for pros and beginners alike, and Taghazout remains a fishing village. Taghazout Bay, run by the development company SAPST, adds hotels, nearly 2,000 residential units and a 27-hole golf course.

In Agadir itself, the commune has handed public parking, on the street and in car parks, to its company Agadir Mobilité. The company says the arrangements and the facilities covered are under review and publishes no tariff, so ask the hotel or host whether a space comes with the booking.

Up the coast, the tourism board sends drivers along the N1: its directions turn off between Tamraght and Aourir, and take an exit down into Taghazout. For La Source beach, a few hundred metres north of the village, it points to a hotel car park. Inside Taghazout Bay, a free shuttle runs every day from 9:00 to 22:00 between Taghazout and Tamraght through the resort, which covers short trips without the car.

The airport lies inland, south-east of the city: about 32 km by road to the city centre and about 54 km to Taghazout. For the A7, the tolls and the coast roads, GetCar's guide Driving in Agadir: the Airport, the A7 to Marrakech, Parking and the Coast Roads covers the road side; a car pays 79 to 98 MAD to Marrakech depending on the exit.

Morocco's taxe de séjour is charged per person per night on top of the room price, and each commune sets its rate inside national ranges: 10 to 25 DH in a 5-star hotel, 5 to 10 DH in a 4-star, 3 to 7 DH in a 3-star, 15 to 30 DH in a guest house and 10 to 25 DH in a riad or a house rented to tourists. Agadir's own table was not found, and Taghazout and Aourir, the commune of Tamraght, set their own. Children under 12 are exempt, and the invoice must show the tax separately.

Since Law 07-20, the tax also covers flats rented by their owners to tourists, including through online platforms, according to the Ministry of the Interior's portal.

Hotels, guest houses and other classified lodging need an operating authorisation under Law 80-14. At check-in each guest shows a passport and signs an individual registration form, the fiche de police, and the host declares the data electronically to the national police or the Gendarmerie every day before 8:00.

Book the area before the car. On the seafront, the beach, the promenade and the city buses along Avenue Mohammed V make a car optional; in Tamraght and Taghazout a car matters more, though bus 33 also runs up the coast.

For a beach holiday with children, plan around the lifeguards: the tourism board says Agadir beach is supervised by lifeguards and police from mid-June to mid-September and warns that the waves can be strong at times. The national tourist office describes the water in the bay as calmer than at Taghazout.

A beach holiday on foot: the seafront.

Harbour views at the start of the promenade: the marina.

A city stay near the souk and the buses: the city centre.

A surf trip on a budget: Tamraght and Aourir.

Surf in a fishing village: Taghazout.

A resort with golf and a free shuttle: Taghazout Bay.