Illustrative photo of the region — the property's own gallery is on the booking page.

A large beachfront resort with two pools and direct beach access — the conventional-hotel alternative to Essaouira's boutique riads.

Atlas Essaouira & Spa is the odd one out in Essaouira's boutique-riad landscape: a 156-room, five-star beachfront resort run by Atlas Hospitality Morocco, the country's second-largest hotel operator. Direct beach access, two swimming pools, a fitness centre and a full spa with hammam, sauna and hot tub put it in a completely different category from the medina's small guesthouses.

It suits a different traveller entirely — families or anyone uncomfortable navigating medina alleys with luggage, who'd rather have a conventional resort experience a short drive from the old town. Reviews are more mixed than the boutique riads nearby, which is worth knowing going in, but the breakfast buffet, spa and sea-view rooms are consistently praised.

Why we chose it

• Direct beach access — the only property in our Essaouira collection actually on the sand
• Two swimming pools plus a full spa with hammam, sauna and hot tub
• 156 rooms, by far the largest-scale option in town

Amenities

• Two swimming pools
• Direct beach access
• Spa with hammam, sauna and hot tub
• Fitness centre and à la carte restaurant

Getting there

Atlas Essaouira & Spa is in Essaouira, 15–20 minutes from Essaouira Mogador Airport (ESU). From here, Essaouira's highlights are within reach, including Walk the Skala de la Ville ramparts, Skala du Port and the fishing harbour and Watch thuya-wood marquetry being made — see the full Essaouira guide for more on what to see nearby.

Frequently asked questions