To be fair, Agadir is not the most interesting cultural destination in Morocco. People come here for the beach and little else. But you can hardly blame Agadir, since a devastating earthquake in 1960 levelled most of the city and its heritage. Don’t miss exploring the hilltop Kasbah, and it’s certainly worth taking a couple of daytrips to the nearby traditional towns of Tiznit and Taghazout. The Souss-Massa National Park is another gem, offering the best nature scene in the region.

Agadir Bay
Agadir’s bay is a real beauty, arching in a crescent around the centre of town for nearly nine kilometres. It is arguably one of the best beaches in Morocco, with fine golden sand, and location, which is nicely sheltered from the powerful Atlantic Ocean. There’s a promenade along the main section of beach ideal for strolling, dining and people-watching. You can rent umbrellas and sun chairs near the promenade, known locally as Avenue Tawada.

Kasbah
The earthquake of 1960 destroyed most of Agadir, and the remains of its ancient Kasbah on the hill overlooking the bay offer an excellent glimpse into what this city looked like before the disaster. It was built in 1540 by the Marrakech-based Saadians and used right up until the 1960 quake. Nowadays, the Kasbah is best enjoyed for its superb views over the bay.

Paradise Valley
This inland gorge is another great outdoor recreation destination near Agadir. Mountain trails lead to Berber villages, and waterfalls at Ida Ouatanane tumble off the cliffs during the spring. The winding gorge is filled with palm trees, and the chance to visit a traditional Berber village is a real treat. It’s a full daytrip, but well worth the effort.

Souss-Massa National Park
Thirty-five kilometres south of Agadir is one of Morocco’s best wildlife parks. The Massa lagoon and the surrounding sand dunes attract hundreds of species of birds throughout the year. The park is, in fact, Morocco’s largest bird habitat. The best time for viewing exotic birds is between February and April, and September to November.

Taghazout
This seaside town 21 kilometres from Agadir is the quintessential Moroccan fishing village. Each dawn, the town’s fleet of white and blue boats returns from their fishing excursions and the whole village comes down to the beach to check out the catch. After this daily ritual, not much else happens in this town that embodies the concept of languid. The village and its beaches are a true joy to explore and offer a look into a lifestyle that is quickly disappearing in Morocco.

Valley of the Birds
Although it isn’t technically a zoo, this wonderful oasis of nature along a dried up riverbed is a great place to take the kids to see some wildlife. It’s an ideal environment for birds to hang out, best-observed in the walk-through aviary. But there are also a number of exotic animals like Moroccan moufflons, dorcas gazelles, llamas and other interesting creatures. The Petit Train d'Agadir begins and ends here as well.