Sidi Ifni

city in Guelmim-Oued Noun, Morocco

Sidi Ifni is a fishing town in the northern coastal part of Anti Atlas built by the Spanish in Art Deco style. Its a very calm and relaxed town – a place to go if Essaouira and Chefchaouen look too crowded for you. Don't expect a lot of tourists here, but there are plenty of older European grey-haired caravaners!

Understand

As it was a Spanish colony later than the rest of northern Morocco, there are numerous areas that look very Spanish.

After violently suppressing protests of fishermen in 2008/2009, Morocco poured a lot of money into the region to pacify it. As a result, a lot of the old Art Déco buildings have been restored.

Get in

By bus

CTM and Supratours stop here on all trips south into Western Sahara.

Note that CTM buses have a 30- to 45-minute stop at a gas station/restaurant just a few kilometers before Tiznit and thus the trip takes longer than the distance suggests. CTM takes the route through Aglou on which you have a beautiful view on the ocean if you sit on the right hand side of the bus.

By car

From the north: From Tiznit go to Aglou and at the entrance of Aglou, turn left. Brace for beautiful views onto the ocean. At the next crossroad, turn right and then follow that road through Mirleft.

From the south: From Guelmim take the mountain road that passes the airport. Once on that road, just keep following it for about one hour.

Get around

Petite taxis are available, though the architecturally interesting part of town is small enough to be covered on foot.

See

The Art Déco buildings.

Do

  • hang out at the beach, do some surfing
  • visit the big souk on Sunday
  • eat in one of the restaurants on top of the cliff above the beach

Buy

  • Fish is good and cheap.
  • A few vendors sell antiquities (for insane prices - when haggling, start at 1% of the initial asking price).

Eat

  • Fish in the small permanent souk's stalls. There are five small stalls with plastic chairs and tables with similar menues: Fish Tagine (40 MAD), fried sea food plate (20 MAD), drinks (5 MAD); all come with bread, olives and salat.
  • The beach promenade is lined with cafes and restaurants.

Drink

  • Hotel Bellevue at the higher end of the beach promenade serves alcohol and you have a nice view towards the ocean.
  • At the lower end of the beach promenade, two bars server alcohol; both with sea views.

Sleep

There are plenty of hotels, though in high season (winter in general, Christmas and NYE in special) booking in advance is recommended.

Go next

  • south towards Western Sahara, Guelmim is a beautiful one hour drive through the mountains
  • north towards Agadir with a possible break at one of the beautiful beaches in Mirleft or in Aglou - when going north in your own car, take the route through Aglou for nice views
  • north towards to the stunning rock arch in Legzira
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