Far from the crowds of tourists that descend on Marrakech and Fez, El Jadida sits on the Atlantic coast between Casablanca and the popular tourist town of Essaouira, very much off-the-beaten-track. Boasting delectable seafood, Renaissance churches sitting alongside medieval mosques, pristine public parks like Parc Spini blooming in abundant sunshine, and only a short walk away from clean and deserted beaches perfect for sunbathing and surfing, the town makes for a wonderful seaside holiday. Of course, one the predominate reasons that people - in particular, Moroccans - love El Jadida, is because north of the town lies the popular tourist resort of Mazagan, with its gorgeous stretch of beach, golf course, casino and spa. There's also the surfer's paradise of Sidi Bouzid, and nearby Oualidia, a large lagoon where egrets and flamingos makes their home. But history-buffs will enjoy the UNESCO-listed Cite Portugaise, complete with crenulated ramparts, tours of the haunting 16th century vaulted underground cistern, and the Fortress of Mazagan - arguably one of the best-preserved coastal fortresses in the country. For a unique and history stay complete with sand, sunbathing and seafood, the best places to stay in El Jadida include a boutique hotel set in a historic townhouse right in the heart of the town.