Agadir

Agadir (Arabic: أكادير or أڭادير, romanized: ʾagādīr, pronounced [ʔaɡaːdiːr]; Tachelhit: ⴰⴳⴰⴷⵉⵔ) is a major city in Morocco, on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean near the foot of the Atlas Mountains, just north of the point where the Souss River flows into the ocean, and 509 kilometres (316 mi) south of Casablanca. Agadir is the capital of the Souss-Massa region and the seat of Agadir-Ida Ou Tanane Prefecture.

Agadir is one of the major urban centres of Morocco. The commune of Agadir recorded a population of 501,797 in the 2024 Moroccan census. According to the 2004 census, there were 346,106 inhabitants in that year and the population of the Prefecture of Agadir-Ida Outanane was 487,954 inhabitants. Agadir is known for being the capital of Berber culture in Morocco. A majority of 58.3% of the population of Agadir speak Arabic as their native language, while a sizable minority of 40.7% natively speak Berber languages, including the native variety of Tachelhit. Agadir is also a place for many festivals related to Berber culture, such as Yennayer and Bujlood, as well as being the birthplace of many of the pillars of Shilha music, such as Izenzaren and Oudaden.

It was the site of the 1911 Agadir Crisis that exposed tensions between France and Germany, foreshadowing World War I. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1960; it has been completely rebuilt with mandatory seismic standards. It is now the largest seaside resort in Morocco, where foreign tourists and many residents are attracted by an unusually mild year-round climate. Since 2010 it has been well served by low-cost flights and a motorway from Tangier.

The mild winter climate (January average midday temperature 20.5 °C/69 °F) and good beaches have made it a major "winter sun" destination for northern Europeans.