Places to Visit in El Jadida, Morocco, North Africa, Africa

Places to Visit in El Jadida, Morocco, North Africa, Africa

El Jadida is a tourist favor city situated on the Atlantic coastline of Morocco, around 100 km southwest of the country’s largest city, Casablanca and 190 km north of the tourists’ paradise, the city of Marrakech. El Jadida coordinates with 33°14′ N latitude and 8°30′ W longitude. El Jadida is one of the prominent tourist attractions of Morocco, mainly noted for the Portuguese Fortified City of Mazagan, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The economy of El Jadida is centered on tourism and agricultural activities. El Jadida has also a great hand in producing almonds, maize, chickpeas, wool, hides and pools.

History of El Jadida:

The history of El Jadida begins with its occupation by the Portuguese in the year 1502, who ruled the region until 1769 when they abandoned and left the region, then El Jadida had name of Mazagan. Following the departure of Portuguese, Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah took care of the reconstruction of Mazagan and changed the name to its current name, El Jadida, which means ‘the New’.

How to reach El Jadida?

There is no airport in El Jadida, so international tourists are needed to reach the Mohammed V International Airport (near Casablanca) first and then they can take bus or taxi or pre-booked private transfer to get El Jadida. This airport is situated around 115 km away from the centre of El Jadida.

El Jadida is linked to the city of Casablanca by train and the bus connection of El Jadida extends to Rabat, Agadir, Casablanca and many other Moroccan cities.

Culture, Food and Shopping in El Jadida:

El Jadida is home to a municipal theatre, where regular exhibitions take place showcasing the city’s history and culture.

Shops are abundant in El Jadida and some prominent restaurants in the city are listed below:

Patisserie le Regal
Restaurant Al Bahri
Cafe Restaurant l’Alligator
Mazagan Ice Cream

What to do in El Jadida?

Golfing
Exploring beaches
Portuguese city tour

Tourist Attractions in El Jadida:

The Portuguese Fortified City of Mazagan:

The Portuguese Fortified City of Mazagan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated in the year 2004. The most buildings in the site feature the blend of Portuguese and Moroccan architectures, of which the most famous ones are the Manueline Church of the Assumption and cistern.

The 5 star resort complex of Mazagan:

The 5 star resort complex of Mazagan is situated few kilometers away from El Jadida, attracting tourists from the Persian Gulf and Europe, apart from locals.

Golf courses in El Jadida:

El Jadida houses two excellent golf courses, of which one was designed by Gary Player and another is located close to Pullman Hotel, called Royal Golf El Jadida. Both of these feature 18-holes.

Portuguese Cistern:

The Portuguese Cistern in El Jadida was originally constructed in 1514, used as a warehouse and it had been changed into cistern in the 16th century. The cistern is mainly noted for the thin layer of water covering the floor of the cistern.

List of other places of interest in El Jadida includes:

The Municipal Theater of El Jadida
The Old Port
The Canons and the Fortress
El Jadida Market
Sidi Bouzid Beach
Haouzia Beach
Deauville Plage
Chapel of St Sebastian
Garden Mohamed V
Church of the Assumption
Parc Hassan II
Galerie 104
Moulay Abdellah Amghar
Mosquee de la Cite Portugaise
Phare de Sidi Mesbah

Best time to visit El Jadida:

Throughout the year is best, especially the months of April, May, September and October are best to visit El Jadida in Morocco.

Accommodation options in El Jadida:

Apart from housing several star rated hotels, El Jadida houses many campsites that are located at the northeast end of the town, offering all basic facilities. Mazagan Beach Resort is the prime luxurious accommodation option in El Jadida, featuring 500 rooms and suites. List of the major hotels in El Jadida include: