Agadir Morocco: A Cheap All Inclusive Holiday

Yes, Agadir Morocco is absolutely worth visiting, especially if you want cheap all inclusive holiday value without sacrificing sun, beaches, or things to do. The promenade stretches nearly 10km, Souk el Had is one of Africa’s largest urban markets, and day trips to Paradise Valley and Mini Sahara are excellent. We found it genuinely affordable, safe, and easy to enjoy.

Where should I stay in Agadir Morocco?

Agadir Beach

Agadir Beach is a wonderful area for your holiday. With a long promenade that stretches nearly 10km, you have a lot of choice when it comes to great beach side hotels. Along the promenade you find restaurants and cafes, making it the perfect place for a relaxing break. We stayed by the beach at a hotel called ‘Allegro Agadir‘. A really affordable option with a great kids club.

Taghazout

Taghazout lies 20km from Agadir and has a completely different vibe. Popular with surfers and young travellers, this colourful city has more of a village feel to it. Once just a small fisherman’s village, Taghazout has flourished since surfers arrived in the 70s. The long beach to the south of Taghazout has a few luxury beach side hotels like this one. We got a taxi to Taghazout and spent an afternoon here.

What currency do they use in Agadir, Morocco?

The Moroccan Dirham is the currency used in Morocco. It is a closed currency, meaning you can only get it within the country. We always have euros lying around the house so took some of those, some GBP, and as always our travel credit card. Some places in Agadir would accept Euros when they didn’t accept card.

Should I tip in Agadir?

Tipping and haggling is standard practice in Morocco, so make sure you always have some small change with you.

Once we arrived at the hotel we went looking for an ATM. The one in the hotel had expensive withdrawal fees, so we crossed the road to use an ATM attached to a bank. This saved us a decent amount of money.

Best things to do in Agadir Morocco?

Enjoy the beach

An obvious one, but spending a day at the beach is a fun and inexpensive way to enjoy yourselves! There are shops selling buckets and spades and all the usual kiddy stuff. The Allegro Agadir hotel has its own private section of beach with sun beds that you can use for free. It is a roped off area so get some beds in the middle and you won’t be bothered by people selling things.

Visit the old Kasbah

You can take a cable car up to the Kasbah to enjoy some amazing views of Agadir. You can walk around the walls but can’t currently go inside the Kasbah. There is a playground at the top if you have young children with you. Leo really enjoyed the cable car ride and it was a fun way to spend a couple of hours.

How much to use the Agadir Cable Car?

It was 50 Dirhams (around £4) to get a taxi from our hotel to the cable car station. We needed a big taxi given there was 5 of us. The price for the cable car was 120 Dirhams each (just under £10) for the round trip. It was around £7 for kids under 1.40m and free for little ones under 80cm.

We have videos of our whole trip saved on our “Agadir highlight” over on instagram. Here you can see video clips of us enjoying these activities.

Visit Souk el Had

Souk el Had is considered Africa’s largest urban market. This vibrant, bustling market is a great place to walk about. Take in the sights and smells and maybe do a bit of haggling! We bought some spices, shoes and souvenir fridge magnets!

Should I haggle?

Yes! The initial price you are given will be high, they are expecting you to barter with them to get a lower price.

What time should I visit Souk el Had?

We got a taxi there around 9:30am and it was pretty calm. When we left around 10:30am it was starting to get a lot busier.

A lot of blogs don’t seem to mention the poor reptiles in boxes used to lure children and adults towards stalls. Obviously a cute little tortoise or lizard will interest a child, Leo had a variety of these put on his t-shirt or in his hand as we walked by certain stalls. Something to be aware of so you are expecting it!

Agadir Medina

The Medina is a beautiful place to explore. The original Medina was destroyed in the 1960s earthquake. The one we see today was rebuilt, influenced by the original architecture. We visited here after the Souk, we spent 30 Dirhams on a taxi (around £2.50), 40 Dirhams for the adult admission (around £3.15) and Leo entered for free.

Don’t miss…

There is a really great playground for the kids within the Medina and a place to sit with a drink and ice cream. You can see this in more detail on our “Agadir highlight” over on Instagram.

Mini Sahara day trip

This is one of the most popular tours in the area. The hotel price for this trip was quite high, but we soon found out it was a lot cheaper to book with the touts on the promenade.

Who to book with?

We weren’t sure who to trust but in the end we negotiated a bargain price of £26 per adult with Leo travelling for free. This was for a private full day tour including lunch. I have since recommended the man who arranged the tour for us, and lots of our followers have gone with him and enjoyed his trips too. His name is Aziz and you can contact him on WhatsApp using his number +212 661 7386 44. Mention you got his number from us and he will give you a good price.

What does the trip involve?

We were picked up at our hotel by our driver where we paid for the trip in local currency. The first stop was at the river Sous where we saw flamingos in the wild. Next up we visited a pottery factory and then Tifnit fishing village. This was followed by a dune rally to a beautiful coastal area with amazing views. We were welcomed into one of the little fishing houses and given traditional tea and snacks. From here we went for lunch at a Berber village. They gave us a large chicken tagine with cous cous, bread and oranges for dessert. Drinks were charged extra. After lunch we went to Mini Sahara where you could ride a camel if you wish. The final stop was at a reservoir to enjoy some great views.

Overall the trip was amazing. An absolute bargain for what we paid. Again, check out our Instagram highlight to see videos of the whole tour.

Visit to Paradise Valley

We booked this tour with Aziz (the man I mentioned above) after having a lovely time on the Mini Sahara tour. He arranged a private trip so it was just us in the car. You first visit an Argan oil factory. We had a tour of the botanical gardens and then got to sample honey, tea, and the products they make. After this we had a beautiful drive to get to the start of our walk to the valley. The walk takes around 30 minutes and there are places to stop and get refreshments en route. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes and clothing. You can get an idea of the type of walk this is on our Agadir Instagram highlight.

Paradise Valley is a section of the Tamraght River valley in the Moroccan Atlas mountains. It’s a beautiful place to visit if you want to escape the hustle of the city. There are lots of small waterfalls and rock pools before you reach the main valley where you can swim.

Other activities to consider

• Crocoparc – a great activity with kids
• Taxi to Taghazout and explore the town
• Dune buggy excursion
• Surf lessons
• Visit the Grand Mosque
• Camel ride excursion or arrange to do on the beach
• Overnight stay visiting the Sahara desert
• Visit Jardin de Olhao
• Hot air balloon excursion

Why Are Morocco Holidays So Cheap?

The cost of living in Agadir Morocco is lower than we are used to in the UK. With budget flights heading there it is easy to bag a great value holiday. A lot of people ask if it is safe in Agadir, and we felt it was. The people were really friendly, welcoming and great with kids. It is a fantastic option for winter sun that people often don’t consider. With cheap flights, cheap hotels and lots to do once there, it is a perfect destination for your next holiday.

Is Agadir Safe for a Holiday?

Yes, Agadir is considered one of Morocco’s safer tourist destinations. The resort areas along the beach promenade are well-lit, heavily visited, and feel comfortable to walk around at night. We felt safe throughout our stay and found the locals genuinely welcoming.

A few sensible things to keep in mind. Bag snatching can happen in any busy market, so keep valuables secure at Souk el Had. Touts on the promenade will approach you, but a polite no is usually enough. Haggling is expected, not confrontational. The reptiles in market stalls (tortoises, lizards) are worth knowing about in advance so they do not catch you off guard.

Agadir also sits away from the medina-heavy city centres that some visitors find overwhelming. It is a purpose-built beach resort and feels noticeably more relaxed as a result.

Is Agadir Better Than Marrakech?

It depends entirely on what you want from a Morocco holiday. Agadir is a beach resort first. The promenade, the Atlantic, the year-round sun, and the all-inclusive hotel scene are what it does best. If you want to switch off and get some warmth without navigating a busy city, Agadir wins easily.

Marrakech is a completely different experience. The souks, the Djemaa el-Fna square, the riads, and the sensory overload of the medina make it one of the world’s great city breaks. It is a lot more intense.

The honest answer? Many people do both. Agadir makes an easy first trip to Morocco because it eases you in gently. You still get the markets, the food, and the culture without being thrown into the deep end. Marrakech rewards those who want to go further.

Best Time to Visit Agadir, Morocco

Agadir enjoys over 300 days of sunshine per year, which makes it a genuinely year-round destination. That said, the sweet spot for most visitors is October to April, when the Atlantic coast temperature is warm but not sweltering and European crowds are thinner.

December to February is particularly popular with UK travellers looking for winter sun. Temperatures sit around 20 degrees Celsius during the day, which is plenty warm enough for the beach. Summer (June to August) is hot, busy, and more expensive. Spring (March to May) is a lovely time to visit with pleasant temperatures and quieter beaches.

Ramadan is worth factoring in if you are visiting for the food and bar scene. During Ramadan, many local restaurants and cafes operate reduced hours. Agadir’s resort hotels continue as normal, but it is worth checking the dates before you book.

Key Takeaways

• Agadir beach promenade stretches nearly 10km.
• Moroccan Dirham is a closed currency, get it in-country.
• Book promenade tours direct, not through your hotel.
• Use a bank ATM, not the hotel ATM.
• Souk el Had: arrive by 9:30am to beat the crowds.
• Over 300 days of sunshine yearly, ideal winter sun destination.
• Mini Sahara day trip: £26 per adult when negotiated well.
• Agadir Medina adult entry: 40 dirhams (around £3.15).

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I avoid in Agadir?

Avoid booking tours through your hotel, as promenade touts offer the same trips for much less. Be wary of stalls using reptiles (tortoises, lizards) to attract attention in the Souk. Use a bank ATM rather than a hotel ATM to avoid high withdrawal fees. Always carry small change for tips and taxis.

What currency is used in Agadir, Morocco?

The Moroccan Dirham (MAD) is the currency used in Agadir. It is a closed currency, meaning you can only obtain it inside Morocco. Some places in Agadir accept Euros as an alternative. Avoid hotel ATMs, which typically charge higher withdrawal fees than nearby bank ATMs.

How much does the Agadir cable car cost?

The Agadir cable car costs 120 dirhams (around £10) per adult for the round trip. Children under 1.40m pay around £7, and children under 80cm travel free. A taxi from the beach area to the cable car station costs around 50 dirhams (roughly £4).

Should I haggle at Souk el Had?

Absolutely. The initial price you are given will be high, sellers fully expect you to negotiate down. Start lower than you want to end up and enjoy the process. We picked up spices, shoes, and souvenir fridge magnets and came away happy with what we paid.

What time should I visit Souk el Had?

Arrive early. We got there around 9:30am and it was calm and manageable. By the time we left at 10:30am it was already getting noticeably busier. Earlier is definitely better if you want to browse without the crowds.

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