Tangier

Why visit Tangier

Tangier is having a moment. The kasbah is restored, new museums have opened, the medina is cleaner than it's been in decades. Still raffish, still smaller than Casablanca, with the bonus of being a ferry ride from Tarifa, Spain. Worth 1–2 days, especially if you're connecting between Morocco and Europe.

Who it's for

• Spain crossover
• History buffs
• Café-sitters
• Beach lovers

Neighborhoods

• Kasbah

  Hilltop old quarter overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. The best part of the city.

• Medina

  Compact, less labyrinthine than Fes. Easy to walk.

• Marshan / Boulevard Pasteur

  Modern district. Cafés, restaurants, the famous Café Hafa.

Top experiences

• Café Hafa

  1921 clifftop café where Bowles, Burroughs, and Kerouac drank mint tea. Same view, same tea, same patrons (probably). 20 MAD.

• Kasbah Museum

  Restored sultan's palace, history of Tangier. 70 MAD.

• Caves of Hercules

  15 km west. Sea cave with an opening shaped like Africa. Touristy but pretty.

• Cap Spartel

  The northwest tip of Africa, where the Mediterranean and Atlantic meet. Drive 30 min.

• Day-trip to Tarifa (Spain)

  Hourly fast ferries to Spain (35 min, ~€40). For a passport stamp + tapas lunch + paella.

Know before you go

• ★ Quieter and easier than Casablanca, more interesting than people expect.
• ★ Ferry to Spain runs from Tangier-Med port (40 km east), not the city ferry terminal, different schedules.
• ★ Connected by Al Boraq high-speed train to Casablanca and Rabat.
• ★ Cooler in summer than the south, Mediterranean breeze.