Best cheap hotels & riads in Essaouira (under $50 a night)
January 14, 2026 · by Sébastien Joumel
Essaouira is one of Morocco's best-value coastal towns: you can sleep in a characterful medina riad, two minutes from the souks and the sea, for less than the price of a chain hotel back home. Here's where to find the best cheap stays under $50.
At a glance
- Best value area: the medina (budget riads from ~$30).
- Also cheap: Diabat surf guesthouses (from ~$35).
- Cheapest months: November–March (low season).
- What you get: real riad character, breakfast often included.
Where the cheap stays are
The medina has the widest choice of budget riads — small, family-run houses with courtyards and rooftops, often including breakfast, from around $30–48. Diabat, the surf village across the dunes, has cheap guesthouses with a relaxed vibe. The beach and dunes resorts cost more.
Real budget picks
- Riad Mimouna — by the ramparts, sea-facing rooms, from ~$48.
- Dar Loulema — central and characterful, from ~$45.
- Ocean Vagabond Guesthouse — by the beach, surf-friendly, from ~$42.
- Medina guesthouses around Avenue Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah — simple doubles from ~$30.
How to keep the trip cheap
- Travel off-season (November–March) for the lowest rates — just pack a layer for cool evenings.
- Eat at the port grills and local cafés — fresh fish and tagines for a few dollars.
- Skip the car — Essaouira is walkable; you don’t need transport in town.
- Compare every platform — budget riads often differ 15–25% in price between booking sites.
What you give up (and don’t)
Under $50 you won’t get a pool or sea-view suite, but you will get genuine riad atmosphere, a rooftop for breakfast, and an unbeatable location inside the walls. For most travellers that’s exactly what they came for.
Cheap Essaouira hotels FAQ
How much is a budget riad in Essaouira?
From around $30–48 a night for a characterful medina riad, often with breakfast included; less in low season.
Is the medina or the beach cheaper?
The medina has more budget options. Beach and dunes hotels (with pools) cost more.
Find the cheapest rooms
Compare live rates and sort by price in our guide to hotels in Essaouira.