5 Best Museums in Agadir: Art + Amazigh Design

From a recreated medina to a modern earthquake exhibit, discover 5 of the best museums in Agadir.

Located where the Atlas Mountains meet the Atlantic Ocean, Agadir is a bustling beach resort fringed by a long stretch of golden sand. It’s home to one of Morocco’s largest markets and is considered a major hub for Amazigh culture. Tachelhit is spoken by more than half the population.

In 1960, Agadir was devastated by a catastrophic earthquake that reduced much of it to rubble. This natural disaster left an indelible mark on the cityscape today. 

While many travellers come to Agadir to enjoy its sun, surf and sand lifestyle, it’s worth setting aside some time to delve deeper into the city’s cultural heritage. Whether you want to see what the medina looked like before the 1960 earthquake or gain a better understanding of Amazigh traditions, there are cultural institutions to pique your interest.

In this article, I’ll introduce 5 of the best museums in Agadir, with opening hours and entrance fees to help plan your visit. 

For more information about visiting this lively beach resort, check out my Essential Travel Guide to Agadir.

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Agadir Art Museum

Once a museum of Amazigh culture, this museum has reinvented itself as an art museum. Aside from handcrafted jewellery, textiles and pottery that offer a glimpse into the daily lives of local people, there are modern and contemporary artworks on display.

Included in the entrance fee is a small booklet. It contains write-ups of the exhibitions in Tachelhit, Darija, English and French. As a result, it’s a great place to better understand the history of Agadir, as well as the continued evolution and creative expression of its people. 

A visit to the Agadir Art Museum can easily be combined with a stroll along the tree-lined trails of nearby Jardin Ibn Zaidoun.

Opening hours of the Agadir Art Museum: 10 am to 6 pm (closed Tuesdays)

Entrance fee for the Agadir Art Museum: 40 dh

La Medina d’Agadir

This open-air living museum blends architecture, history and ethnology while recreating Agadir’s medina as it appeared prior to 1960. This grand reconstruction was the brainchild of Beato Salvatore ‘Coco Pollizzi’, a Moroccan-born Sicilian master who long dreamed of reviving Agadir’s historic centre.

Completed in the 1990s, La Médina d’Agadir offers a captivating glimpse into the Agadir of yesteryear. Throughout the medina are craftspeople producing traditional wares in workshops. As you wander the narrow streets and arcaded galleries, you can really appreciate the skills of the master craftsmen who worked on the project.

Highlights include the Amazigh doors carved in wood and the wrought-iron scrolls. I also love the mosaic floors and ornate mashrabiya (projecting oriel windows).

While some people feel La Medina d’Agadir lacks authenticity, I think it beautifully preserves the Amazigh architectural legacy. The recreated souks are a great place to pick up traditional handicrafts. Plus, there’s an alfresco cafe where you can sit and soak up the peaceful atmosphere. For me, it’s one of the best museums in Agadir.

Opening hours of La Medina d’Agadir: 9 am to 6 pm

Entrance fee for the La Medina d’Agadir: 40 dh

Musée de la Reconstruction d’Agadir

This newly opened museum looks into the history of Agadir, both before and after the 1960 earthquake. It showcases a large collection of photographs and newspaper clippings that illustrate the beauty of Agadir in the early 20th century. This was before the cityscape was forever altered. 

The exhibits are arranged chronologically and complemented by video projections. It’s confronting to see the aftermath of the earthquake that reduced much of the city to rubble. The museum also serves as a space to reflect on everything that was lost while listening to the testimonies of those who lived through it.

The Musee de la Reconstruction d’Agadir replaces the Memoire d’Agadir, which was located just around the corner in Jardin Olhao. Not only is it one of the best museums in Agadir but it’s located a short walk from the cable car station. From here, you can ascend to the hilltop ruins of the Agadir Oufella.

Opening hours of the Musée de la Reconstruction d’Agadir: 9:30 am to 5 pm (closed Mondays)

Entrance fee for the Musée de la Reconstruction d’Agadir: 20 dh

University Museum of Meteorites

Housed within the City of Innovation Souss-Massa at the University of Ibn Zohr is this fascinating museum. It serves as a hub for the preservation and study of celestial treasures.

The museum is operated by the university’s astronomy club. It offers visitors a chance to see a diverse collection of meteorites, tektites and other impactites. Most of the objects on display have been recovered from across the North African nation. 

As the only museum of its kind on the African continent, the University Museum of Meteorites reflects Morocco’s geological heritage. It also illustrates the country’s deep connections to the mysteries of the cosmos. Aside from its informative documentaries and interactive exhibits, it’s also a great place to learn from expert researchers.

Leading the team is meteorite expert Professor Abderahmane Ibhi, who is a wealth of knowledge about these cosmic treasures. Be sure to ask about the Imilchil-Agoudal impact crater in the High Atlas mountains. It was only recently discovered by researchers from the University of Ibn Zohr.

Opening hours of the University Museum of Meteorites: 8 am to 6:30 pm (closed Sundays)

Entrance fee for the University Museum of Meteorites: 10 dh

Palais Musee Claudio Bravo

While technically in Taroudant, this outstanding museum can easily be visited as a day trip from Agadir. It occupies the former residence of Chilean hyperrealist artist Claudio Bravo. Not only does it offer a peek into his personal life but it exhibits artefacts he collected over the years.

You need to join a guided tour to explore the museum, which showcases Bravo’s stunning paintings alongside his private collection of works. Bravo’s exceptional skill is immediately visible in the lifelike portraits and still-life artworks that brought him recognition.

Although entry to the palace itself requires a ticket, you can wander through the expansive gardens and grounds at no cost. A series of reflecting pools, fountains and flower-adorned pathways spread across the estate. There’s also an airy pavilion where you can relax with a mint tea.

Want to learn more about visiting Taroudant and the best places to stay in this “Mini Marrakech”? Check out my Essential Travel Guide to Taroudant.

Opening hours of the Palais Musee Claudio Bravo: 10 am to 4 pm daily

Entrance fee for the Palais Musee Claudio Bravo: 200 dh

About Me

I’m Malika, a global traveller who first visited Morocco in 2014 before marrying a local and settling down in a little village on the Atlantic coast. Over the years, I’ve developed an intense love for Morocco, its incredible landscapes, storied cities and the exceptionally generous hospitality of its people.

Malika in Morocco is a place to share my years of experience exploring the country, from north to south and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Sahara Desert. As a resource for travellers visiting Morocco, I want to encourage others to experience this captivating destination the way they desire, whether that’s independently or under the expert guidance of local tour operators.

I believe strongly in supporting responsible and sustainable tourism initiatives while inspiring travel experiences that are life-impacting and mutually beneficial for both travellers and locals.