Le Palazzo

Lined with palm trees along Avenue Oqba Ibn Nafiaa, Le Palazzo sits just outside Essaouira's ramparts, a five-minute walk from the Skala fortifications and the fishing port's grilled-sardine stalls. The medina's blue-and-white lanes begin at the Bab Doukkala gate, close enough for morning visits without the noise at night.

Rooms open onto a central courtyard rather than the street, with a rooftop terrace facing the Atlantic for sunset views over the ramparts.

The address suits travellers wanting medina access without sacrificing quiet, and easy onward trips to the surf beaches south of town.