Saidia Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Saïdia (Arabic: السعيدية, romanized: Al-sa'idiyya; Berber languages: ⴰⵊⵔⵓⴷ, Ajrud), known as the "Blue Pearl", is a coastal town in northeastern Morocco. It is located in the Berkane Province in the north of Beni Znassen region, lying in the adjacent metropolitan area of Berkane itself, along the Mediterranean Sea to the north and Moroccan-Algerian border to the east. Its 14 km (9 mile) coastline is one of the longest beaches of Morocco and is characterized by its golden sand and Mediterranean climate, making it a popular international tourist destination. It hosts numerous resorts and attractions, including private beach resorts, shopping malls, golf courses, and other sports centers.

• Old town. Its narrow streets, the doors of houses, the squares and terraces, the shops and cafés create the atmosphere of a traditional medina. It is an ideal place for strolling and shopping.
• The Corniche of Saidia (La Corniche). Boulevard Mohamed V. Promenade. Meeting point and area for strolling, at dusk, for holidaymakers and locals. The Medina Centre, whose doors, narrow streets, squares and terraces, shops and cafés, has the atmosphere of a traditional medina. This unique space is ideal for strolling and shopping.
• Alcazaba (Casbah). Boulevard Moulay Rachid. 19th century fortress, built by order of Sultan Hassan I. A 15,600 m² adobe construction built on the left bank of the mouth of the Wadi Kiss, with the aim of monitoring the border with Algeria and controlling the movement of people to and from Algeria, which was at that time under French sovereignty.
• Méditerrania-Saïdia or “Med-Saïdia” is a tourist complex about 2 km from the village of Saidia and along about 6 km of beach and covering an area of 7 hectares. The locals call it Fadesa, the name of the Spanish company that started the tourist project. It has several luxury hotels, golf courses, a La Medina shopping centre with dozens of shops and a significant number of bars and restaurants.

• Beaches. Extensive golden sand beaches stretching from the mouth of the Wadi Kiss to the mouth of the Moulouya River, over 11 km long, urbanised in the town and in the Méditerrania-Saïdia area and wild and semi-deserted on the rest of the coast.
• La Marina Marina. A marina that is part of the Méditerrania-Saïdia complex, with 850 berths, sailing, diving and water-skiing schools.

• The Souk. A street market held on Sundays in the open air, between the citadel and the market.

Like food, you will only find alcohol easily in the coastal hotels, but it will not be of the best quality. Morocco is a Muslim country where alcohol is very rare and expensive. In this small town you will hardly find any places that serve it, and if they do, it will be of poor quality and very expensive. In Nador you may have better luck, but it is better to head to Melilla to be on the safe side.

• Melilla