Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra · Morocco
Laayoune travel guide
Laayoune is a city in Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, Morocco, home to about 263,000 people.
- Best months
- October to May
- Nearest airport
- EUN3 km · Laayoune Hassan I International Airport
- Currency
- MADMoroccan dirham
- Time zone
- Africa/Casablanca
- Language
- Arabic, Standard Moroccan Tamazight
About
About Laayoune
Laayoune or El Aaiún is the largest city of the disputed territory of Western Sahara, with a population of 262,791 in 2024. The city is the de jure capital of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, though it is under de facto Moroccan administration as occupied territory.
Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Laayoune
See
The main roads are lined by shops selling non-descript Moroccan goods, the bird park seems to be permanently closed and the adjoining tourism office is very well staffed but doesn't seem to have any ideas on how to spend your time. You can view old Spanish outposts and some of the last remnants of their empire in El Aaiún. A small handful of Spanish expatriates still live there. The lagoon is beautiful, with lots of birds. When entering the town from the north, about 1 km after the checkpoint, the road goes down a hill. Just before going up again, turn right onto the parking lot. The beach is popular with locals.
- St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral
- Al-Zawiya Mosque
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Laayoune to stay in
With the UN still having a relatively large presence, there are lots of hotels but they are all fairly expensive compared to the rest of Morocco. There are much cheaper hotels, also preferred by Moroccans, along the road due south, south of the airport (about US$15-20 for a single room per night). Hotel Parador on Rue Okba Ibn Nafia seems to have reopened after being used as an army base for years. Hotel Larkaoune is mainly occupied by UN troops, the atmosphere is gloomy and the staff try to avoid being helpful. Hotel Rimal Sahara, across from the bus station, has rooms for 150 Dh per night (120 dirham if you negotiate) as of 2023.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Laayoune
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Laayoune are October to May. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; December is the wettest, with about 9 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Laayoune: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Laayoune Hassan I International Airport (EUN), about 2.6 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting in
Bus services connect El Aaiún to major transport hubs in southern Morocco, particularly Inezgane; CTM and Supratours offer direct connections from, Casablanca, Marrakech and Agadir to the north and Dakhla to the south.
Getting around
El Aaiún's central sights can easily be explored on foot. Public transport is virtually non-existent with the exception of petit taxis that go anywhere in town (about 5-6 dirhams for a short hop, sometimes it is helpful to guide the driver using your smartphone map). Grand taxi services connect to El Aaiún port, El Aaiún plage and places further afield.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
EUN · Laayoune Hassan I International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Laayoune
Eat
Moroccan standard fare at most places, and nothing particularly noteworthy. Wonderfully beefy camel meat available at butchers around town, dates of excellent quality in the markets. Barbecue, fruit and bread are popular.
Drink
About the only place serving alcohol to the public is Hotel Al Massira, which is a large hotel on Boulevard de la Mecque. They serve local beer, a limited selection of Moroccan wine and a few spirits.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Laayoune: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Laayoune?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Laayoune are October to May. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; December is the wettest, with about 9 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Laayoune?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Laayoune Hassan I International Airport (EUN), about 2.6 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Laayoune?
Moroccan dirham (MAD).
Nearby
Destinations near Laayoune
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.