Agadir‘s 10 kilometres of golden coastline and comforting summer haze make it an attractive alternative to the hubbub of Marrakech. Many refer to it as the Miami of Morocco, and, if for no other reason than the fact that it is the largest seaside resort in the country, it’s certainly a strong contender. But what makes this city similar to the famed USA city of Miami? We dealcheckers made it our mission to find out!

Climate

Miami has a tropical monsoon climate which means hot, humid weather year round. Temperatures rarely fall below 20°c, and most of the rainfall is seen in October. In summer, highs of 28°c make for amazing beach conditions.

Agadir enjoys a subtropical-semi arid climate, which is in between dry and humid, meaning that the temperatures are cooler here than in the capital, Marrakech, but still balmy throughout the year, with highs of up to 26°c in July and a milder 15°c in January.

 

Architecture

Miami is famous for its attractive modernist and art deco architecture, and a branch of this, Miami Modernist architecture or MiMo, was developed here after the great depression. Many of them are characteristically white, high-rise buildings like the iconic Fontainebleau.

Agadir suffered extreme damage from an earthquake in the 60s, which resulted in the loss of much of the city’s historical architecture and monuments. It was swiftly rebuilt using Italian architect Coco Polizzi’s designs. It’s now an eclectic mix of traditional moorish-style architecture and luxury modern resorts, many of them, coincidently, highrise and white.

 

Beaches

Miami‘s beaches boast white sand and turqoise sea. The most popular ones lie in the Miami Beach resort and, even in January, the temperature of the water is at its lowest at around 23°C!

Agadir has a wide, sweeping six-mile coastline of golden sand, much of which is occupied by luxury resorts. It is a popular surfing destination, and water temperatures hover between 16-19°C during the winter months. Marina d’Agadir is a well-groomed upmarket spot, you only have to skim a glance over the harbour to see rows of yachts glinting unabashedly in the sunlight.

Attractions

Miami’s cutting edge museums and art galleries put the city’s cultural scene on the map, with galleries popping up seemingly daily in Wynwood and the design district. Nearby, the Everglades breathe life into the city and attract droves of tourists yearly.

Agadir’s answer to the Everglades is Souss-Massa National Park, situated between Agadir and neighbouring city Sidi Ifni. It covers almost 40,000 hectares, and is made up of sand dunes, wetlands and rocky areas. The vast park is home to a variety of species including the Northern Bald Ibis, and the ostrich is currently being reintroduced here. Another must see attraction is the remains of the Kasbah which was built in the 16th century to protect the city from attack. All that’s left now is a section of one of the walls but its location on a hill provides lovely views of the city below.

 

Entertainment/Nightlife

Miami‘s nightlife is at the city’s core. South Beach is a hive for clubbers and dance music is huge here. A myriad of swanky clubs filled with A-listers popping bottles and casinos whose bright lights beckon amateur and professional gamblers, you’ll not find it hard to find somewhere to go after dark.

Agadir’s nightlife plays a part in the city’s appeal, but on a much smaller scale. There are a few clubs playing international dance music which are cheap to enter but, once you get in, drinks tend to be on the pricier end of the spectrum. The multi-level Le So in Sofitel Royal Bay hotel is one of the most popular clubs in the area with live bands and DJs spinning the decks most nights of the week. There are also some casinos which are open ’til the early hours.