Laâyoune
Gateway city of the south
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Laâyoune is the largest city of the southern provinces and the administrative capital of the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region. Its name means “the springs” in Arabic. The city sits on the edge of the dry valley of the Saguia el-Hamra, a short drive inland from the Atlantic, and most journeys through the south pass through it.
Why visit Laâyoune
The modern town was founded as a Spanish garrison in 1938 and became the capital of the Spanish Sahara in 1958. Traces of that period survive in the lower town south of the riverbed, including the Catholic Cathedral of St Francis of Assisi, which still holds services. Since the 1970s the city has grown far beyond it, with wide avenues, public squares and a large central mosque.
Laâyoune works best as a base. The lagoon and dunes on the city’s edge are good for an evening walk, the beach at Foum El Oued is a short drive away, and the coast road leads north to Tarfaya and south to Boujdour. Smara lies inland to the east.
Getting there
Laâyoune Hassan I Airport (EUN) is a few minutes from the centre, with regular Royal Air Maroc flights from Casablanca and seasonal links to the Canary Islands. By road, Laâyoune is on the N1 and the new Tiznit–Dakhla expressway. Long-distance coaches run by CTM and Supratours connect it with Agadir, Marrakech and Dakhla. See travel planning for the practical details.
Getting around
Petits taxis are the easiest way around town. For Foum El Oued, Tarfaya or the desert, hire a car or arrange a driver through your hotel.
Where to stay
Most hotels are in the centre, close to the main avenues and the administrative quarter, with a mix of business hotels and simpler family-run places. Book ahead around public holidays and major events, when rooms fill with official visitors.
Good to know
- Friday is the quietest day in the centre; many shops close over the midday prayer.
- Carry your passport when travelling outside the city: police checkpoints on the main roads ask for it.
- Evenings can be cool and windy all year, even when days are warm.
