Taghazout Travel Guide: Surf, Food, Things to Do & Tips

On By saar.decosterIn Morocco

If you’re looking for a laid-back place on the Moroccan coast where you can surf in the morning, drink coffee overlooking the ocean and somehow end up chatting to half the town by the end of the day, Taghazout might be exactly what you’re looking for.

I travelled to Taghazout with my best friend after spending some time in Agadir, and honestly, I loved it. The whole place has that little surf-town feeling that reminded me a lot of Byron Bay in Australia, just with Moroccan food, mint tea, colourful streets and a completely different culture.

Taghazout is small, very walkable and easy to explore without a car. You don’t need a huge itinerary either. A few days of surfing, wandering around the shops, watching the sunset and eating Moroccan breakfast is honestly enough to understand why people end up staying longer than planned.

So if you’re planning a trip to Taghazout, this Taghazout travel guide covers where to stay, how to get there, the best things to do, where to eat and drink, how long to stay and what the town is actually like.

Where to Stay in Taghazout

If you’re wondering where to stay in Taghazout, I’d recommend staying somewhere around Taghazout Beach or the skatepark.

This is where you’ll find many of the little shops, cafés, restaurants and places where travellers hang out. Since Taghazout is so small, staying around here makes it really easy to walk everywhere and be close to the atmosphere.

There are loads of hostels, surf camps and hotels around Taghazout, so I’d definitely compare a few before booking and, most importantly, read the recent reviews.

If you’re travelling on a budget, my Morocco Cost Guide also shares the real prices I paid for accommodation, food, transport and activities during my trip.

My Experience at Ajyal Hostel

We stayed at Ajyal Hostel because I had seen it all over social media before our trip. There were loads of videos about it and it seemed to have quite a lot of hype.

Unfortunately, our experience was pretty different.

The hostel was not very clean, there was regularly no toilet paper, and our room was directly above the common area. That meant the speaker downstairs could be extremely loud until quite late at night.

The breakfast also wasn’t really our thing.

So personally, I wouldn’t choose Ajyal Hostel again.

That doesn’t mean you should avoid every hostel in Taghazout. Quite the opposite, there are so many hostels and hotels around town that I’d simply recommend checking the most recent reviews before booking.

Social media can make a place look amazing, but reviews from people who actually stayed there are usually much more useful.

Sunset at a hostel in Taghazout, Morocco
The view was pretty tho

How to Get to Taghazout

Taghazout is located on the Moroccan coast, around 20 kilometres north of Agadir.

If you’re coming from Agadir, you can take a taxi or use inDrive.

We used inDrive to get from Agadir to Taghazout and paid around 80 MAD for the ride.

Prices can obviously vary depending on the time, demand and where exactly you’re travelling from, so use this as an indication rather than a fixed price.

If you’re travelling around Morocco and comparing different transport options, I’ve also written a guide on how to get around Morocco, including rental cars, buses, taxis, inDrive and private transfers.

Getting Around Taghazout

Once you’re in Taghazout, you really don’t need much transport.

The town is small and very walkable. Most of the places you’ll want to visit are within walking distance, especially if you’re staying around the beach or skatepark.

That’s one of the things I liked about Taghazout. You can basically leave your accommodation and just start walking.

Best Things to Do in Taghazout

Taghazout isn’t a destination where you need a huge checklist of attractions. The whole point is enjoying the atmosphere, the ocean and the slower pace.

But there are definitely a few things I wouldn’t skip.

1. Take a Surf Lesson

Obviously.

You can’t really come to Taghazout without at least considering surfing.

Taghazout is one of Morocco’s best-known surf destinations, and you’ll find surf schools and camps all around the area.

Even if you’ve never surfed before, this is a great place to try it. And if you’re already comfortable on a board, you can easily spend your days chasing waves.

Book a Taghazout surf lesson →

If you’re not sure whether surfing is for you, I’d still give it a go. You can always decide afterwards that you’re much better at sitting on the beach with a coffee. No judgement.

Surfer riding a wave in Taghazout, Morocco

2. Watch the Sunset at the Skatepark

The skatepark is one of the places that really captures the atmosphere of Taghazout.

Grab a drink, sit down and watch the sunset while people skate, surf and hang out around you.

It’s also a really easy place to meet people because there always seems to be someone around.

And honestly, sometimes you don’t need an organised activity. Just sitting here as the sun goes down is an activity in itself.

3. Go Sandboarding in the Dunes

If you want to do something a little more adventurous, you can go sandboarding in the dunes around Taghazout.

It’s a fun way to see a different side of the area and works especially well if you’re travelling with friends or a group of other backpackers.

Book a Taghazout sandboarding experience →

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4. Explore the Local Shops

Take some time to simply walk around Taghazout and browse the little local shops.

You’ll find clothes, jewellery, souvenirs, surf-related things and plenty of colourful little shops along the streets.

I actually prefer this kind of shopping to huge tourist markets because you can just wander around without having a strict list of things you need to buy.

And yes, you’re in Morocco, so don’t forget that bargaining is part of the experience.

Colourful shops and streets in Taghazout, Morocco

5. Take a Day Trip to Paradise Valley

Paradise Valley is one of the most popular day trips from the Taghazout and Agadir area.

We actually organised our own trip by taking a taxi because we thought it would be cheaper than booking an organised tour.

And it can be, but there is one important thing we didn’t realise beforehand.

Because only certain taxis are allowed to drive into parts of Paradise Valley, you can end up paying around 200 MAD each way for the taxi. That means roughly 400 MAD for the return journey.

So depending on how many people you’re travelling with, an organised tour can actually work out cheaper.

Many organised tours also include food or other activities, which can make them better value overall.

Compare Paradise Valley tours on GetYourGuide →

So before automatically assuming that doing it independently will be cheaper, I’d compare the total cost of both options.

If you’re planning a longer Morocco route, my 10-Day Morocco Itinerary includes Agadir and the Atlantic coast alongside Marrakech, the Sahara and Fes.

Where to Eat & Drink in Taghazout

One of my favourite things about Taghazout was honestly the food.

You can find everything from cafés and coffee shops to Moroccan restaurants and little local breakfast spots.

Sozi Cookies

If you’re craving something sweet, Sozi Cookies is definitely worth checking out.

The cookies were SO good, and they also do good coffee.

It became one of those places where you can easily convince yourself that you need another coffee and another cookie because you’re technically “still exploring”.

Have a Proper Moroccan Breakfast

But as good as the cafés are, nothing really beats a proper Moroccan breakfast.

I’m talking:

  • Tomatoes
  • Eggs
  • Msemen
  • Moroccan tea
  • Amlou
  • Fresh bread

We found a really good breakfast for around 40 MAD, and the staff were incredibly sweet.

The place was The Breeze, and I’d happily go back just for the breakfast.

Sometimes the cheapest, most local-looking places end up being the ones you remember most.

Eat Around La Terrasse d’Argana

For restaurants and drinks, have a look around La Terrasse d’Argana.

There are several restaurants and cafés around this area, and one of the best parts is the views.

You can sit down, order something to eat or drink and look out over the beach.

Which, let’s be honest, is exactly the kind of lunch break I want on holiday.

The Social Side of Taghazout

This might actually be one of my favourite things about Taghazout.

It’s incredibly social.

Everywhere we went, people seemed happy to have a chat, make a joke or ask where we were from.

It has that laid-back surfer-town feeling where people don’t seem to be in a huge rush.

And I mean that in the best possible way.

We met people simply by sitting somewhere, walking around town or talking to people we randomly came across.

Special Shoutout to the Locals

And I have to give a special shoutout to some of the people who made our time in Taghazout even more memorable.

Our juice guy, who kept us supplied with fresh juice.

Our msemen guy, who made some seriously good breakfast.

And the guy we met on the street who literally wanted to share his cookies, tea and breakfast with us.

These little interactions were such a big part of why I loved Taghazout.

It wasn’t just the beaches or the surf. It was the people.

Fresh juice from a local juice seller in Taghazout, Morocco

How Many Days Do You Need in Taghazout?

I’d recommend staying 1 to 3 days in Taghazout.

The town itself is small, so you don’t need a week just to see the main sights.

But that doesn’t mean you have to rush.

If you’re really into surfing, you could easily stay longer and spend several days just surfing, relaxing and enjoying the town.

For a more general Morocco itinerary, though, 1–3 days is enough to experience Taghazout without feeling like you’re missing anything major.

You can combine it with Agadir, Marrakech or other destinations along the Moroccan coast.

Is Taghazout Worth Visiting?

For me?

Absolutely.

Taghazout was pretty much exactly what I expected it to be, and that’s a good thing.

I wanted a relaxed surf town, beautiful ocean views, friendly people, good food and that slightly chaotic backpacker atmosphere.

And that’s exactly what I found.

The combination of Moroccan culture and that laid-back surf-town atmosphere made Taghazout feel very different from the other places we visited in Morocco.

And weirdly, it reminded me a lot of Byron Bay.

If you’ve read my Australia content, you’ll know that’s a very big compliment coming from me.

I loved Taghazout and would genuinely go back.

Not because there are hundreds of things to tick off your itinerary, but because it’s one of those places where you can simply be there.

Surf. Eat. Walk around. Meet people. Watch the sunset. Repeat.

And honestly, sometimes that’s all you need.

If you’re still deciding whether Taghazout deserves a place on your Morocco itinerary, I’ve also shared my full Is Taghazout Worth Visiting? guide with my honest take on the town.

Final Thoughts

Taghazout was one of those places where I didn’t feel like I needed to constantly be doing something.

I could walk around town, grab a coffee, talk to someone, eat Moroccan breakfast, watch the sunset and somehow have a completely full day.

And that’s exactly why I loved it.

I’d 100% go back to Taghazout.

If you’re looking for a Moroccan destination with a strong surf culture, a social backpacker atmosphere and a much slower pace than Marrakech, I’d definitely put Taghazout on your list.

Just maybe read the hostel reviews a little more carefully than I did.

Planning Your Morocco Trip

If you’re planning your own Morocco adventure, I’ve put together all my guides from the trip, including Marrakech, Agadir and Taghazout, plus practical tips, things to do, food and places to stay.

→ START HERE: Morocco Travel Guide

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FAQ: Taghazout Travel Guide

Is Taghazout worth visiting?

Yes. Taghazout is especially worth visiting if you like surfing, beaches, social hostels, local food and relaxed coastal towns.

How many days do you need in Taghazout?

I recommend 1–3 days for most travellers. Surfers may want to stay longer.

Is Taghazout walkable?

Yes. Taghazout is small and most of the town can easily be explored on foot.

What is Taghazout known for?

Taghazout is best known for its surf culture, beaches, laid-back atmosphere and social backpacker scene.

Can you surf in Taghazout?

Yes. Surfing is one of the main reasons travellers visit Taghazout, and there are plenty of surf schools and camps.

How do you get from Agadir to Taghazout?

You can take a taxi or use inDrive. We paid around 80 MAD for our ride from Agadir to Taghazout.

Can you visit Paradise Valley from Taghazout?

Yes. Paradise Valley is a popular day trip from Taghazout. You can organise transport yourself or compare organised tours, which can sometimes be better value.

Where should you stay in Taghazout?

I’d recommend staying around Taghazout Beach or the skatepark, where you’ll be close to shops, restaurants, cafés and the social atmosphere.

Is Taghazout good for backpackers?

Yes. The town has a strong surf and backpacker atmosphere, with plenty of hostels, cafés and opportunities to meet other travellers.

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