Tangier and Tetouan

Tangier sits on the northern tip of Africa, on the Strait of Gibraltar. The Atlantic is on one side, the Mediterranean on the other, and on a clear day you can see Spain. About 60 kilometers (37 miles) east is Tetouan, a white city at the foot of the Rif Mountains whose medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the Atlantic coast just south of Tangier is the small town of Asilah. Together they make up the north of Morocco, which feels different from Marrakesh: you see the Spanish influence in the streets, and the sea is never far away.

What to do there

In Tangier you start at the Grand Socco, the square just outside the old city walls. From there you walk into the medina, down to the Petit Socco, the small square at the heart of the old town. At the top of the hill is the kasbah, the old citadel. The palace where the governors once lived now houses the Museum of Mediterranean Cultures. From the kasbah walls you look out over the harbor and the sea.

West of the city is Cape Spartel, where the Strait of Gibraltar begins. A lighthouse from the 1860s stands on the cape. A little further on are the Caves of Hercules, a sea cave whose opening, seen from the water, has the shape of Africa. The two make a good afternoon together.

From 1913 to 1956 Tetouan was the capital of the Spanish protectorate in northern Morocco. You can see that in the new town, the Ensanche, with its white Spanish-style buildings. Behind it lies the medina. Refugees from Granada rebuilt it, and the houses, gates and crafts still carry that Andalusian style. UNESCO calls it an exceptionally well-preserved and complete example of this kind of historic town. A licensed guide shows you the alleys and workshops you would not find on your own.

Asilah is about 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Tangier, on the ocean. Its walls date from the Portuguese occupation in the 15th and 16th centuries and are still fully intact. Inside them the houses are white, with the odd blue or green door. Every August the town holds a cultural festival with music and art, and houses in the medina get new murals.

If you head further east along the Mediterranean, you reach Al Hoceima. Outside the town is a national park with about 50 kilometers (31 miles) of wild coastline and high limestone cliffs. It is a long drive, so it only fits into a longer trip through the north.

Tangier and Tetouan as a woman

Tangier is a big port city, with the bustle that comes with it. If someone approaches you offering directions or trying to sell you something, a friendly "no, thank you" and walking on is enough. For more on handling attention in the street, see safety for women.

In the medinas, wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. That goes for Tangier, Tetouan and Asilah as much as for Fes.

The medina of Tangier climbs a hill, with the kasbah at the top. You will walk uphill a lot, so bring shoes with a good grip.

Travel time and best months

Tangier is about 565 kilometers (350 miles) from Marrakesh, roughly six hours on the highway. By train it also takes about six hours. For the last stretch, from Kenitra, you ride the Al Boraq high-speed train. From Tangier to Rabat that train takes about an hour and twenty minutes, and to Casablanca a little over two hours.

Tetouan is about 60 kilometers from Tangier, and Chefchaouen is about another 60 kilometers beyond that. That makes the three easy to link together.

The north has a Mediterranean climate. In July and August daytime highs are around 28 to 30 °C (82 to 86 °F) and it hardly rains. Winters are mild, around 16 to 17 °C (61 to 63 °F) during the day, but wet: most of the rain falls in the winter months. Spring and early fall are the most pleasant. For the rest of the country, see the best time to visit.

Tangier and Tetouan with Soukayna

On the imperial cities tour you can end your trip in the north. Soukayna then drives you from Chefchaouen to Tangier in about two hours, and you fly home from there. Want to see more of the north, with Tetouan, Asilah or a night in Tangier? Then she drives you there on a tailor-made trip. For the medina of Tetouan she arranges a licensed guide. Tell us in the chat what you would like to see, and you will get a proposal.