Located where the Atlas Mountains descend to 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, with Tachelhit spoken by more than half the population. In 1960, Agadir was devastated by a catastrophic earthquake that reduced much of it to rubble, leaving 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 fascinating history and culture. 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 catering to your interests.
In this article, I’ll introduce four 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 Ultimate Travel Guide to Agadir.
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Agadir Amazigh Heritage Museum
Celebrating and preserving the cultural legacy of the Amazigh people in the Souss Massa region, this small museum brings together an impressive collection of artefacts. In addition to handcrafted jewellery, textiles and pottery, you can browse a range of objects that offer a glimpse into the daily lives of the local Amazigh community.
In recent years, the Amazigh Heritage Museum has expanded its collection to include a large number of artworks, ranging from colonial paintings to contemporary creations. These highlight not only the history of Agadir but also the continued evolution and creative expression of its people.
The majority of the exhibit descriptions are presented in Arabic, French, English and Tachelhit (the local Amazigh language) and visitors also receive a booklet on arrival filled with exhibit descriptions. A visit to the Agadir Amazigh Heritage Museum can easily be combined with a stroll along the tree-lined trails of nearby Jardin Ibn Zaidoun.
Opening hours of the Agadir Amazigh Heritage Museum: 10 am to 6 pm (closed Tuesdays)
Entrance fee for the Agadir Amazigh Heritage Museum: 40 dh
Best museums in Agadir
La Medina d’Agadir
This open-air living museum seamlessly 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, with craftspeople producing traditional wares in workshops throughout the medina. As you wander the narrow streets and arcaded galleries, it’s hard not to be struck by the sheer artistry and skill of the master craftsmen who worked on the project.
Highlights include the Amazigh doors carved in wood and the wrought-iron scrolls, as well as the mosaic floors and ornate mashrabiya (projecting oriel windows). La Medina d’Agadir has played an important role in safeguarding the architectural legacy of the Amazigh people and ensuring these traditions are preserved for future generations.
Opening hours of La Medina d’Agadir: 9 am to 6 pm
Entrance fee for the La Medina d’Agadir: 40 dh
Best museums in Agadir
Memoire d’Agadir
Nestled within Jardin de Olhão (named after Agadir’s sister city in Portugal), this poignant museum looks into the history of Agadir, both before and after the 1960 earthquake. It showcases a captivating collection of photographs and newspaper clippings that illustrate the beauty of Agadir in the early 20th century, before the cityscape was forever altered.
The exhibits are arranged chronologically and complemented by the insights of a welcoming guide. He will explain the characteristics of the Amazigh architecture that once lined the streets, giving Agadir such a unique atmosphere. It’s confronting to see the aftermath of the earthquake that reduced much of the city to rubble and reflect on everything that was lost while listening to the testimonies of those who lived through it.
After your visit, you can meditate on what you have just seen while strolling through Jardin de Olhão, which is studded with shady date palms and wooden bridges. It’s a wonderful spot to relax while planning where you’re heading to next. Just two blocks away is the Mohamed V Mosque, an architectural highlight of modern Agadir.
Opening hours of the Memoire d’Agadir: 9:30 am to 5 pm (closed Mondays)
Entrance fee for the Memoire d’Agadir: 20 dh
Best museums in Agadir
University Museum of Meteorites
Housed within the City of Innovation Souss-Massa at the University of Ibn Zohr, this fascinating museum serves as a hub for the preservation and study of celestial treasures. It’s operated by the university's astronomy club and offers visitors a chance to see a diverse collection of meteorites, tektites and other impactites that 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 rich geological heritage and its 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 and educators how to identify various types of meteoritic material.
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, which was only recently discovered by researchers from the University of Ibn Zohr.
Top tip: If you’ve found what you think might be a meteorite, you can bring it to the museum to have it expertly assessed by the team.
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
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About the author
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 majestic landscapes, storied cities and the incredibly warm hospitality of its people. As the owner and content creator of Malika in Morocco, I share my years of experience exploring the country, from north to south and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Sahara Desert. I am passionate about helping others plan their Moroccan travel adventures to ensure they get the most out of their North African experience.