Essaouira in May

May may be Essaouira at its best. Daytime highs around 21°C are mild and bright, rain has all but vanished, and the trade winds blow steady and energising without the peak-summer ferocity. The long, clear days light up the blue-and-white medina and the Skala ramparts beautifully, the town is lively but not overwhelmed, and the wide beach is alive with kitesurfers and windsurfers enjoying some of the most dependable conditions of the year on the Atlantic.

It is an excellent month for an active coastal stay. The water-sports season is in full swing — Essaouira's wide, shallow beach is a favourite for learning — while the working fishing port, the thuya-wood studios, the art galleries and the easy, walkable medina reward unhurried days. Beach-sitting is breezy, as always, but rampart sunsets, harbour-side grilled sardines, long coastal walks and a steady, refreshing wind make May a near-ideal time to be in town.

May also cements Essaouira's appeal as a cool escape: while Marrakech warms toward summer, the coast stays mild and breezy, and the two-and-a-half-hour drive makes a Essaouira leg an easy, deliberate contrast on an inland itinerary. A windbreaker is essential — the steady wind defines the place — with a light layer for cool evenings. For reliable, dry, breezy weather and superb wind sports, May is hard to beat.