Essaouira · Month comparison
October vs May
May ranks #1 overall vs October at #4. Best all-round month — 21C, almost no rain, wind manageable till midday, riad rates not yet at summer peak.
October
#4 of 12 months
Best match
Best balance month — 22C, wind easing further, surf swells returning, Europeans returning for school-holiday breaks.
- ↑Surf season picking up — winter swells start hitting Anchor Point at Taghazout
- ↑Wind down to 20-25 km/h afternoons — beach more usable
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
| Factor | October | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 8 | 9 |
| Value score | 6 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 6 | 5 |
| Events score | 5 | 5 |
| Atmosphere | 9 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 22°C | 21°C |
| Monthly rain | 18mm | 7mm |
| Daily sunshine | 9hrs | 10hrs |
October trade-offs
- ↓European autumn-break weeks (last week Oct) bring a small spike
- ↓First Atlantic storms possible at month-end
- ↓Sea temperature dropping back to 18C
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
Scores compare months within Essaouira. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →