Last Updated on 24 January, 2024
Read More:ย The Ultimate 2 Week Morocco Itinerary
Getting There
Good news! There are more ways to get to Tangier than any other Moroccan city.
By boat –ย Algeciras (Spain) to Tangier is the most popular route to Morocco. High-speed ferries travel almost every hour, year-round and take around 30 minutes to cross. There are also slower ferries that are a little cheaper. A roundtrip ticket for a foot passenger, on a high-speed ferry, costs 37 Euros. Roll off the ferry and youโre immediately in the heart of Tangier.
Tarifa (Spain) to Tangier –ย ย high-speed ferries leave every 2 hours from Spain’s windsurfing capital, Tarifa, and take 35 minutes to get to Tangier. FRS offers good service on this route, a round-trip adult ticket sets you back around 37 Euros.
By planeย –ย an international Tangier-Ibn Batouta Airport is around 11km from the city to which you get to directly from Spain, France, The Netherlands or Belgium. It also directly connects Tangier and other Moroccan cities – Nador, Agadir, Casablanca, and Marrakech. To find your flight check Skyscanner.ย
By bus –ย the main long-distance bus station, CTM, is right outside the ferry port terminal about 5km from Tangier city centre. You can catch buses to all the major towns and cities in Morocco. Check CTM website to find out if there are buses to your chosen city and the timetable.ย
By train – the Tangier train stationย (Tanger Ville) is about 4km southeast of the ferry port and bus station. You can take a petit taxi to and from the station (just make sure the meter is on), or check with your accommodation who might be able to arrange a transfer you. Check ONCF website to find out if there are trains to your chosen city and the timetable.
Read More:ย Overnight Train From Marrakech to Tangier
Where To Stay
Staying in Tangier is easy thanks to the wide range of accommodation available. There is a great range of small hotels, hostels and riads to choose from, especially near the medina
[columns size=”1/2″ last=”false”]
[/columns]
[columns size=”1/2″ last=”true”]
[/columns]
Hilton Tanger City Center Hotel & Residencesย (luxury) – not your traditional Moroccan dar or riad, but very beautiful and luxurious hotel located about 10min away from the Medina. It’s close to the beach, has a rooftop terrace with stunning views, and screams comfort!
Things To Do
Buy a bus ticket from the bus station if you’re travelling somewhere else after Tangier
Stroll The Beach Promenade
The townโs main beach is a large sweep of sand thatโs extremely popular with locals who use it for swimming, sunbathing and soccer. Along the promenade, there are cafรฉs, restaurants and beach clubs for you to enjoy.
Caves of Hercules
ย Located about 30min drive from the Medina, this part natural and part man-made cave is worth getting out of your local neighbourhood and checking out. It was believed that the cave is one end of a subterranean ley tunnel over 24 km long which passes under the Strait of Gibraltar and emerges at St. Michael’s Cave in Gibraltar. Legend has it that the Barbary macaques entered the Rock of Gibraltar from Morocco this way.ย Mythological tradition also holds that the Roman god Hercules stayed and slept in this cave before doing his 11th labour.
Cap Spartel
About 13min drive from Caves of Hercules, Cap Spartel is the promontory at the entrance of Strait of Gibraltar. ย It rises to a height of 326m above sea level and is the most North Western point of mainland Africa. Worth visiting for its stunning natural beauty and the views all the way to the Spanish coast.
Achakar Beach
Located between Caves of Hercules and Cap Spartle, Achakar beach is a lovely beach with a vast expanse of sand. The beach is known for being very clean with the purest seawater.
Parc Perdicaris (Parc Rmilat)
This blissful coastal park is located on the way to Cap Spartel.ย It adds up to almost 70 hectares and is a perfect place to have a picnic or a stroll. The park was an old property of a US diplomat but now it belongs to the Moroccan State, which is in charge of its maintenance and preservation.
Explore Kasbah neighbourhood
[columns size=”1/2″ last=”false”]
[/columns]
[columns size=”1/2″ last=”true”]
[/columns]
Visit Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures
The former sultanโs palace of Dar El Makhzen. The focus is on the history of the area from prehistoric times to the 19th century. However, the exhibits are presented in French and Arabic only. Work your way anticlockwise around the first courtyard before heading inside to the rest of the displays, followed by a walk in the charming Andalusian garden.
[columns size=”1/2″ last=”false”]
[/columns]
[columns size=”1/2″ last=”true”]
[/columns]
Visit The American Legation Museum
The first property acquired abroad by the United States, this museum spanning over five floors is an elegant mansion that is a must see. There you will find some unusual displays such as an 1839 letter from a hapless US consul who had been given two lions as a diplomatic gift as well asย an impressive display of paintings. There is also a small bookshop and a wing dedicated to American author Paul Bowles.
Enjoy a Mint Tea in Petit Soccoย
Once known for drugs and prostitution, Petit Socco akaย the “Souq Dakhli” located in the Medina is nothing else now but a square with cafรฉs perfect for an afternoon mint tea and people watching.
ย Relax at The Grand Socco
What used to be a place for a major market is now a large, palm-ringed cobblestone plaza perfect for sitting on a bench to take a moment and relax. If you climb the steps to the highest point of the circle, you will find a cafรฉ where locals playย parchรญs –ย a very popular Spanish board game.ย
See The Grand Mosque of Tangier
The largest Mosque in Tangier located in the Medina is a beautiful sight to check out from outside as non-muslims aren’t allowed inside. Snap a picture of the stunning entrance and don’t forget to look up for the minaret.
Explore the Medinaย
I couldnโt help but think of Alchemist by Paulo Coelho when wandering through the Medina of Tangier, and that made it extra magical. I loved the streets with orange trees which were picture perfect as well as more beautiful doors. The markets werenโt as great as in Marrakech or Essaouira, but it was still interesting to wander around.
[columns size=”1/2″ last=”false”]
[/columns]
[columns size=”1/2″ last=”true”]
[/columns]
Visit Cap Malabata
Located about 25min drive from the Medina, there is a lighthouse and castle built on top of the cliffs in the early 20th century. Come here for the cafรฉ and the breathtaking views as the sun goes down.
Where To Eat
[columns size=”1/2″ last=”false”]
[/columns]
[columns size=”1/2″ last=”true”]
[/columns]
โ Daily 11.30am-9.45pm
[columns size=”1/2″ last=”false”]
[/columns]
[columns size=”1/2″ last=”true”]
[/columns]
โ Daily 12.30pm-11.30pm
โ Mon-Wed & Sat-Sun 11am-5pm; 7pm-10.30pm
How To Get Around
The best way to get around Tangier is by foot which will allow you to explore the city better, stop for pictures and take it all in. You can also get around using petit taxi just make sure the driver has the meter on. Grand taxis are much more expensive and you have to negotiate the rate in advance.ย
When To Go
The best time to visit Tangier is from September to November and March to May when the weather is perfect – not too hot, but also not too cold. I have visited in late December and the evenings were rather chilly but days were still comfortable enough to explore it by foot.
Leave a Reply