Essaouira · Month comparison

January vs May

May ranks #1 overall vs January at #8. Best all-round month — 21C, almost no rain, wind manageable till midday, riad rates not yet at summer peak.

January Essaouira blue fishing boats in harbour under cloudy Atlantic sky

January

#8 of 12 months

Best match

Quietest month — mild grey 18C days, occasional Atlantic storms, riads from MAD 400/night, medina belongs to locals again.

  • ↑Riad Baoussala and Heure Bleue Palais at MAD 600-900 (half of summer rates)
  • ↑Medina alleys empty enough to photograph the blue boats at golden hour
May Essaouira ramparts overlooking Atlantic with surfers in distance

May

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Best all-round month — 21C, almost no rain, wind manageable till midday, riad rates not yet at summer peak.

  • ↑Sea temp climbing to 18C — surf possible in 3/2 wetsuit
  • ↑Morning calm allows breakfast on the ramparts and a beach walk before wind picks up
FactorJanuaryMay
Weather score
5
9
Value score
9
6
Crowd score
8
5
Events score
3
5
Atmosphere
7
9
Avg high temp18°C21°C
Monthly rain53mm7mm
Daily sunshine7hrs10hrs

January trade-offs

  • ↓3-5 storm days/month with sideways rain off the Atlantic
  • ↓Sea temperature 17C — surfers in 4/3 wetsuits only
  • ↓Kite/windsurf rentals at Sidi Kaouki running skeleton crews

May trade-offs

  • ↓Kitesurf schools busiest as Europeans descend for half-term break
  • ↓Boutique riad rates jumping 20-30% vs April
  • ↓Top riads (Heure Bleue, La Sultana) require 6-8 week lead time
See all 12 months for Essaouira →January in detail →May in detail →
Scores compare months within Essaouira. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →