El Jadida
A UNESCO-listed Portuguese fortress town and Atlantic beaches
© Ayoub Ouazizi / Unsplash
El Jadida grew around Mazagan, the fortress founded by the Portuguese in the early 16th century and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its vaulted cistern, where light falls from a central opening onto a thin layer of water, is one of the most photographed places on the coast. The town is also a summer beach resort popular with Moroccans, with wide beaches and fish restaurants.
- 1 to 2 days
- May – Sep
- from 350 MAD
- Culture, Family, Summer, Food
- A trip from Casablanca, family weekends, history lovers
Why go
- The Portuguese city and its cistern, unique heritage in Morocco
- Wide Atlantic beaches, less than two hours from Casablanca
- The oysters of Oualidia, further south
Culture & heritage
Portuguese City (Mazagan)
Ramparts, bastions and lanes; the wall walk overlooks the harbour.
Portuguese cistern
A 16th-century vaulted hall, used by Orson Welles to film Othello.
Beaches
El Jadida beach
A large town beach lined by a promenade.
Sidi Bouzid
A beach south of town, quieter outside summer.
Haouzia
To the north, a long beach backed by pine trees.
On the map
Food
Grilled fish at the harbour, seafood and, in Oualidia, oysters from the lagoon.
Where to stay
Town centre and seafront
Hotels close to the Portuguese city and the beach.
Resorts north of town
Hotels with golf and pools, for a longer stay.
Day trips
Azemmour
A small medina on the Oum Er-Rbia river, known for its painters.
Oualidia
A lagoon and oyster beds, further south on the coast.
Getting around
Regular trains from Casablanca (El Jadida line). By motorway, allow less than two hours from Casablanca.
Budget
- 350 MAD
- 850 MAD
- 2,000 MAD
When to go
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May ✓
- Jun ✓
- Jul ✓
- Aug ✓
- Sep ✓
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
May to September for the beach; the Portuguese city can be visited all year.
Combine with
Plans that stop here
No plan goes through this destination yet.
Tips
- Arrive early at the cistern to see it without crowds.
- Combine El Jadida and Oualidia over a weekend from Casablanca.
Where next?