5 star hotels · Marrakesh–Safi · Morocco
We reviewed 8 top-rated properties in Essaouira and picked the 5 best for this page, spanning beachfront resorts, medina palais, and boutique riads.
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Beach & Golf
Essaouira
A beachfront 5-star with golf views, pools, and a spa – plus a nightclub for evening entertainment.
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Seafront spa
Essaouira
A 5-star seafront escape with a thalasso spa, two pools, and a location that puts both beach and medina within walking distance.
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Seafront spa resort
Essaouira
A seafront resort with sea-view rooms, a private beach, and a full spa — a 25-minute walk from Essaouira's ramparts.
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Kasbah Boutique
Essaouira Guest house
A boutique stay with sea-view rooftop dining in Essaouira's Kasbah.
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5-star Riad
Essaouira
A 5-star Essaouira palais with a rooftop pool, spa, and a location just a short walk from the medina and city walls.
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Medina spa riad
Essaouira Riad
A 5-star riad in the medina with a full spa, rooftop terrace, and standout service.
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Rooftop & spa
Essaouira
A polished 5-star base minutes from the medina's main sights, with a rooftop terrace, plunge pool, and highly rated service.
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Garden retreat
Essaouira Guest house
A peaceful garden retreat 40 km from the airport, with a free shuttle, a pool, and a spa.
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Surf & Relax
Essaouira
A laid-back surf house with a pool, spacious balconies, and close beach access.
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Wellness retreat
Essaouira Guest house
A calm, well-run Essaouira base with standout staff, a golf course, and a full spa.
Map & live prices by our partner
The five five-star hotels in Essaouira offer a genuine range in style and price. The most affordable is Atlas Essaouira Riad Resort from 809 MAD, a seafront resort with a private beach and spa. At the other end, Heure Bleue Palais costs 2678 MAD and delivers a Relais & Châteaux experience inside the medina. For the highest guest ratings, Suite Azur Hotel (8.9) and Heure Bleue (8.8) lead, while Atlantic-facing views and thalasso treatments define Le Medina Thalassa and Le Golf. Choose by location: beach resorts for sea and spa, medina palais for authenticity and walkability.
Nightly rates for five-star hotels in Essaouira range from 809 MAD at Atlas Essaouira Riad Resort to 2678 MAD at Heure Bleue Palais, with most stays landing around 976 MAD. Prices tend to be lower outside the peak summer and festival seasons.
For a first visit, staying inside the medina near the ramparts puts you steps from the main sights and the sea. Heure Bleue Palais and Mama Lova Hotel offer that location with luxury amenities. If you prefer a resort with a private beach, the seafront properties like Atlas Essaouira Riad Resort are a short walk or taxi from the old town.
Essaouira-Mogador Airport is roughly 40 km from the city center. Some hotels, like Villa Kamilia, provide a free shuttle, while taxis and private transfers are also available.
Most five-star properties are within walking distance of the medina or right inside it. Le Medina Thalassa and Heure Bleue Palais are both a short walk to the old town's gates. Atlas Essaouira Riad Resort is about a 25-minute walk from the ramparts, and Suite Azur is minutes from the main sights. After dark, the area is generally safe, though it's wise to stick to well-lit streets.
Book ahead for August and during the Gnaoua World Music Festival in June, when Essaouira fills up quickly. For lower rates and smaller crowds, consider spring or autumn—shoulder seasons offer pleasant weather and more availability.
Essaouira's five-star scene is split between two very different worlds. Along the seafront, you have sprawling resorts like Le Medina Essaouira Thalassa Sea & Spa and Atlas Essaouira Riad Resort, where thalasso spas, private beach access, and pools are the norm. Step inside the medina walls, and the luxury turns intimate: Heure Bleue Palais and Mama Lova Hotel are restored riads and palais with rooftop terraces, plunge pools, and service that guests consistently rate among the city's best.
The price spread reflects that split. At the budget end of five-star, Atlas Essaouira Riad Resort starts around 809 MAD a night, while the top of the range is Heure Bleue Palais at 2678 MAD. In between, the typical nightly rate hovers near 976 MAD—still far below what equivalent luxury costs in Marrakech or Casablanca. Beyond the five hotels on this page, the listing also includes a pair of guest houses and a riad that share the five-star rating, stretching the definition of the category to include boutique garden retreats and kasbah hideaways.
This set of five-star hotels in Essaouira suits travellers who want a certain level of comfort and service, whether that means a beachfront resort with a spa or an intimate palais inside the medina. If you're watching your budget, the three-star and four-star options—or the cheap and budget hotels—offer lower rates with fewer frills. Families might prefer the family-friendly or beach hotels with more direct access to activities, while those arriving by car should look at hotels with parking, and anyone set on a riad experience can browse the riads page for more choices.