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The Agadir Medina is an architectural delight and one of the best attractions we visited during our time in the city. However, it’s completely different to any other medina in Morocco and in this complete guide I’ll tell you exactly why as well as what to expect during your visit.
After visiting the chaotic Marrakech Medina, the labyrinth-like Fes Medina, and even the more laidback Essaouira Medina, our experience in the Medina of Agadir was…different.
A completely different experience in fact.
And this is because rather than being a history-laden maze of alleys that has seen different empires come and go, the Agadir Medina is actually a miniature reconstruction of the original Medina, which, along with around 90% of the entire city, was sadly levelled during the swift but devastating 1960 Agadir Earthquake.
So, rather than being a sprawling sensory overload of people, smells, and pure history, the Agadir Medina is a small but exquisite take on traditional architecture, style and pre-earthquake heritage.
I would say it’s a masterpiece and a must-visit when in Agadir!
About The Agadir Medina
Before getting stuck into the rest of this travel guide, it’s important to give some background about the Agadir Medina and the devastating events that led to how it is today.
As I mentioned, the original Medina was completely wiped out by the 1960 Agadir Earthquake. This 5.8 magnitude shockwave obliterated nearly the entirety of the old city, and only parts of the Kasbah of Agadir Oufella, a hilltop fortress, survived.
With between 12,000 and 15,000 people dead (one third of Agadir’s population) and 35,000 people homeless, the word devastating doesn’t even come close to describing the impact on the historical port city.
But then, in steps Beato Salvatore Polizzi (known as Coco Polizzi) into the frame.
Coming from Rabat and known for designing high-end restaurants, luxury villas and hotels, Polizzi is considered one of Morocco’s greatest craftsmen and he moved to Agadir in 1970.
He helped in local post-earthquake projects but in 1992 started building what became one of his greatest creations: the Agadir Medina reconstruction.
The mini medina, which is also known as the Medina Polizzi, is a beautiful exhibition that helps to preserve the heritage of Amazigh culture with details like mosaic floors, traditional wooden archways, Amazigh mosaic carpets and slate pebbles.
And it’s undoubtedly become one of Agadir’s best attractions!
Next Read: Best Agadir Tours And Day Trips
Where Is the Medina?
The Agadir Medina is found in the south of the city, around 5km from the centre of Agadir.
We assumed that this would be the same location as where the original Medina stood, but actually, it’s in a completely different part of the city. The original was in the north of Agadir, near the Kasbah area, as this is where the old city used to be before it was destroyed.
I’ve pinned the Medina on the map below so you can see exactly where it is.
How To Get There
Similar to other attractions like the Kasbah of Agadir Oufella and Crocoparc, the Medina of Agadir is not walkable from any of the city’s main areas.
Therefore, you need some sort of transport to get there, but it’s only a 10 minute drive from the centre.
We visited as part of this Agadir city tour, and while we actually would have liked to stay a bit longer, it was an efficient way to see some of Agadir’s top attractions in one day.
It’s also possible to visit independently and I’ve outlined all the ways to get there (including by taxi, bus, and tour) below.
Organised Tour
We joined this highly rated tour through Get Your Guide as we wanted to see a few spots in one day without the hassle of getting taxis between each, and we’re really glad we chose this one. What really made it though was our guide Bob, who was not only knowledgeable and informative but also so friendly and relaxed, which created an overall great vibe!
We were picked up from our place in a comfortable minivan and the medina was actually the first stop on the tour. Entrance tickets were also included in the tour price so we were ushered straight in and didn’t have to hang back in the queue!
The only negatives I have is that we were limited to just 30 minutes to explore independently, and it wasn’t a guided tour.
However, as well as giving background information, Bob was more than happy to answer all of our questions. It was more than enough time to explore the tiny Medina, we just would have liked more time to sit and have a coffee to take in the beautiful setting.
Book Your Spot Here: The Tour We Did With Bob
Taxi
The easiest way to visit independently is to take a taxi which you can hail on the street or find on the ride-hailing app InDrive (similar to Uber).
If hailing a taxi on the street, we were advised by our Airbnb host to insist on having the meter running which they’re supposed to do, as otherwise you’ll have to haggle down a set price. But we always used InDrive when not on the bus as it was really convenient and seemed to be cheaper than the quotes we were getting from ordinary taxi drivers.
The only problem can be that, as InDrive isn’t officially recognised in Morocco, drivers don’t like to pick you up and drop you off near taxi clusters. So for the Medina, you may need to get off a short distance away, and the same for taking one after your visit.
We saw several standard taxis sitting in the medina’s small car park so there shouldn’t be a problem finding one for the return journey.
Related Post: Best Things To Do In Agadir
Bus
The bus may be the cheapest way to visit the medina, and that’s normally the option we like to go for, but it’s not very convenient. It only costs 4 MAD each way and you can catch either the L11 or L97 (according to Google Maps) along the main road, but it’s nearly a 20 minute walk to the Medina from the closest bus stop.
The same is required to catch one of the buses back towards the centre.
Entrance Fee and Opening Times
The Agadir Medina is open from 9am until 6pm every day except Tuesdays, and the entrance fee is 40 MAD for adults and 20 MAD for children up to 12 years old.
You can purchase your ticket at the entrance unless, like us, it’s included in the price of your tour.
What To Expect – Our Experience In The Medina
After getting out of the minivan at the door and eagerly walking through the entrance, we came out into the small courtyard. And the first thing that immediately stood out to us was the manicured style and pristine details of the architecture, which led me to turn to Lucy and simply say “wow”! I knew I was going to enjoy exploring with a camera!
I know other medinas ooze with history and authenticity from centuries of daily Moroccan life, but there is something special about the way the Agadir Medina incorporates the traditional design and materials with modern precision to create this immaculate showcase of culture and heritage.
After admiring the ornate floor mosaic, we realised that the Medina splits off in two directions. At first, we weren’t sure which route we were meant to follow, but we now know that it doesn’t matter as they both lead to the amphitheatre at the rear and loop back around to the entrance. However, we were drawn to head left by the stunning archway, which is perfect for an Instagram shot, and we explored from there.
Wandering through the narrow streets, we came across picturesque archway after picturesque archway, small craft shops, and even a few stairways which led us to a nice view over the alley below.
We ended up at the impressive amphitheatre at the back of the medina which was definitely one of the highlights, before looping our way back towards the entrance.
Facilities
If you’ve not eaten, then don’t worry, there are three restaurants within the medina. The first you’ll come across is Cafe Maure in the entrance courtyard, which is the perfect people-watching spot while enjoying a mint tea or coffee and cake. If we had more time, we definitely would have grabbed a coffee in this stylish cafe!
For proper meals, there are also the open-air restaurant next to the kids’ play park and the Petit Riad restaurant, where you can tuck into a typical tagine, cous cous, or other Moroccan dishes.
Toilets are located next to the open-air restaurant, and there are signposts around the Medina for not only the toilets but also restaurants, amphitheatre, play parks, and handicraft shops.
Apart from a couple of information signs at the entrance, which give background information about the medina and Coco Polizzi, there weren’t any in and around the alleyways. While information signs aren’t really needed as it’s an exhibition rather than a real, historical Medina, I feel like there’s a place for them to be included as a deeper dive into Agadir and Amazigh history.
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Things To Do In The Agadir Medina
The main activity is to simply wander and admire the impeccable architecture, but there are a couple of things not to miss while you’re there.
Get A Birdseye View
The first is to climb the stairs above the entrance for a view over the main courtyard. We missed this on the way in due to our haste, but thankfully spotted it just before we left! As I mentioned, you’ll also come across a few other stairways in the medina and I’d recommend heading up for a birdseye view of the cute alleyways.
Admire The Amphitheatre
The next is to make sure you visit the amphitheatre, one of the most important areas that Polizzi wanted to create. It may be in contrast to the rest of the medina in that it’s a larger open space, but it still encompasses the same style and is one of the grand designs of the Agadir Medina.
Shop In The Local Craft Stores
If you fancy a bit of shopping, you can find this here too! The alleyways are filled with small stores and local craft shops with products that match the style and quality of the medina. You can shop for beauty products, handicrafts, pottery, leather goods, jewellery, and more. I’m actually glad that we had limited time as there’s no doubt that Lucy would have left with a trolley-full!
Capture A Photo for Instagram
The medina is also the most Instagrammable place in the whole of Agadir, so if there’s anywhere in the city to get your Instagram post, then it’s here! The large and detailed archway to the left of the entrance courtyard was our favourite photo spot, but considering the small size of the medina, there are actually plenty to choose from.
How Long To Spend
Our visit was only for 30 minutes, as that’s all our tour allowed for, but we felt this was sufficient time to explore the whole medina at a relaxed pace. It’s not very big at all so it doesn’t take long to wander the whole way around.
However, in an ideal world, we would actually have liked to have 1 hour+ so we could sit and enjoy a coffee in Cafe Maure, and Lucy would have liked longer to browse in the shops!
Is It Worth It?
Some people might say the Agadir Medina isn’t worth it as it’s not an original with real history and authenticity. And compared to the likes of the Marrakech and Fes medinas, I agree that it completely lacks in these aspects.
But that’s not what the Agadir Medina is about. Sadly, Agadir’s version of this simply doesn’t exist anymore so the Agadir Medina we have today was built for a different reason. It should therefore be viewed as a different type of attraction.
When you look at it through the lens of being a miniature medina exhibition designed to highlight and showcase the heritage of the Amazigh people in a modern and polished way, then it is definitely worth visiting!
The architecture and design is flawless and, in a country that is filled with architectural delights, it’s yet another stunning Moroccan construction!
It’s important to be aware of this before visiting, as if you arrive expecting something like you experienced in other cities, then you’ll only be disappointed.
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To Finish
Overall, the Agadir Medina should definitely be close to the top of your list of things to do in the city!
We absolutely loved our short time wandering around the narrow alleys and photographing almost every corner!
And whether you decide to join a tour or make your own way there, you’re guaranteed to be in for a treat!
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More Morocco Travel Guides
Heading elsewhere in Morocco? Find more detailed travel guides filled with helpful information and inspiration for your trip below.
- A Complete Guide To Tamraght
- Ultimate Taghazout Travel Guide
- Best Beaches In Taghazout
- Ultimate Guide To Taroudant: Morocco’s ‘Little Marrakech’
- How To Visit Taroudant From Agadir
- Getting From Agadir To Taghazout: All You Need To Know
- Essential Imsouane Morocco Travel Guide
- A Guide To Essaouira’s Beaches
