Agadir Holiday Guide

Many of the big four- and five-star hotels sit along the seaside promenade at the back of the main beach, so pretty much everything you need will be a short stroll away. Local buses in the resort are cheap and frequent, but you may have to barge your way on to some of them (particularly in rush hour) as they get crowded.

Taxis are fairly cheap, too, but make sure you remind the driver to turn the meter on as they sometimes conveniently "forget". Ask at your hotel for a rough estimate of how much your journey should cost before you leave.

It's highly likely that your hotel will be right near the main beach, which is long, wide and very clean - it's swept every morning. The sand's fine and soft, the sea's calm and safe for swimming in and there are tons of watersports on offer. You can hire jet skis, pedalos and surfboards.

If you get bored of the same beach every day, there are other smaller beaches and they're all equally immaculate.

Agadir's not really the place to go for cultural attractions and most of your time will be spent at the beach. It's worth visiting the ruins of the kasbah (citadel), about nine kilometres out of town, for great views of the area.

It's also worth strolling around the fishing port, especially at dusk, when it's hustle-and-bustle time as the boats return with the day's catch.

It's worth taking a day of your holiday in Agadir to visit the lovely, laid-back resort of Essaouira, just up the coast. It's a UNESCOWorld Heritage City, with narrow, winding streets and a long beach. It's a windsurfer's paradise and is also a great place to kick back and do nothing - Bob Marley and Jim Morrison both did just that in years gone by.

Many of the hotels cater for all tastes and have lots of Western-style food. The city is dotted with fast-food outlets as well as international restaurants serving French, Italian, Chinese and Mexican food. You'll find plenty of recognisable names too, such as McDonald's and Pizza Hut.

If you fancy trying the local food, specialities include spicy sausages, beef patties, lamb cutlets and harissa, a fiery pepper sauce. Be sure to try a tagine too, a kind of casserole cooked in a heavy clay pot. Popular varieties include mqualli (chicken and lemon), kefta (meatballs and tomato) and mrouzia (lamb, plums and almonds).

Most of the action is found along the seaside promenade, which is lined with bars, cafes and nightclubs that stay open until the early hours. There are sports bars, too, so you'll be able to catch up with some Premiership football action on the TV.

Hotels often put on evening entertainment where you can check out traditional Moroccan music and dancing.

A visit to the souk is a must as it's a bargain-hunter's dream. You'll find big clothing brands at knock-down prices as well as Moroccan souvenirs. It's a good idea to remember the number of the door you enter the market through, as there are 21 of them and if you leave by another door it's easy to get a bit lost.

The Medina d'Agadir Coco Polizzi is also a great place to buy souvenirs - you can watch the local craftsmen work before buying their products. These include leather shoes, clothes, wooden boxes and stone carvings. A bus going to the medina stops at many of the major hotels.

Away from the beach, you could try the Valley of the Birds - named because it's a popular resting spot for many species of migratory birds throughout the year. Set in a small stretch of parkland, it's also home to a zoo, a waterfall and a children's playground.