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Tangier’s white buildings and the curve of the bay seen from above

Things to see

Things to see and do in Tangier

Tangier packs a medina, a Kasbah, a sweeping bay and a wild Atlantic coast into one compact city. Here is what to see, and how to fit it into your days.

The medina and the Kasbah

Tangier’s whitewashed old town climbs from the port to the Kasbah at the top of the hill.

The ochre walls and towers of Tangier’s Kasbah above the city and the sea Old town

The Kasbah

The fortress at the top of the medina

The walled citadel above the medina, with the Kasbah Museum in the former sultan’s palace and views across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain.

A souk shop hung with colourful scarves in Tangier’s medina Souks

The Medina

Lanes, souks and the Petit Socco

A maze of whitewashed lanes, small squares and markets between the Grand Socco and the port. The Petit Socco café square is its heart.

A terrace and pine trees at the American Legation in Tangier, in a black and white photograph Museum

American Legation Museum

The first US property abroad

A Moorish-style building in the medina given to the United States in 1821, now a museum of art, maps and Tangier’s international history.

The terraces of Café Hafa looking out over the Strait of Gibraltar Café

Café Hafa

Mint tea above the strait

A cliffside café that has served mint tea on its stepped terraces since 1921, with views over the water towards Spain.

The city and the seafront

The Grand Socco, the new town and the long curve of Tangier Bay.

Palm trees around the open square of the Grand Socco Square

Grand Socco

Where the medina meets the new town

Tangier’s main square, officially Place du 9 Avril 1947, beside the Mendoubia Gardens and the gate into the medina.

The white tower and green tiled roofs of St Andrew’s Church Church

St Andrew’s Church

An Anglican church in Moorish style

A 19th-century Anglican church built in Moorish style, with a peaceful garden cemetery a short walk from the Grand Socco.

The tiled Art Nouveau façade of the Gran Teatro Cervantes Architecture

Gran Teatro Cervantes

An Art Nouveau theatre from 1913

A theatre opened in 1913, with a colourful tiled façade. Admire it from the street, and check locally whether it is open for visits.

Tangier’s white buildings and the curve of the bay seen from above Seafront

Tangier Bay and the Marina

A promenade along the bay

A long seafront promenade and beach curving east from the port, with the modern marina, cafés and hotels along the way.

The coast and beyond

Where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, and the towns within a day’s reach.

Cap Spartel lighthouse above the cliffs and the ocean Viewpoint

Cap Spartel

Where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean

A headland west of Tangier with a 19th-century lighthouse, pine woods and views over the meeting of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

The scalloped rock walls inside the Caves of Hercules Caves

Caves of Hercules

The cave that frames Africa

Sea caves on the Atlantic coast near Cap Spartel, famous for an opening to the ocean said to look like a map of Africa.

A blue-painted street in Chefchaouen Day trip

Chefchaouen

The blue city of the Rif

A mountain town of blue-washed lanes, about two and a half to three hours from Tangier by road.

A whitewashed street in Asilah decorated with murals Day trip

Asilah

Murals on the Atlantic

A small walled town on the coast south of Tangier, known for the murals painted on its whitewashed walls.

Planning your days

Tangier is compact, and most of the old town is best explored on foot. Petit taxis are cheap and easy for the coast and the new town.

One day

  1. Start at the Grand Socco and walk into the medina along the jewellers’ street.
  2. Stop for coffee at the Petit Socco, then explore the souks.
  3. Climb to the Kasbah and visit the Kasbah Museum.
  4. Walk to Café Hafa for mint tea and sunset over the strait.

Two days

Add the American Legation Museum, St Andrew’s Church and the façade of the Gran Teatro Cervantes in the morning. In the afternoon, take a taxi or tour to Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules, and end with dinner by the bay.

Three days or more

Spend a day in blue Chefchaouen, or combine Tetouan and Asilah. With more time, take the high-speed train to Rabat.

Good to know

Most mosques are open only to Muslims. Some shops and sights close around Friday midday prayers, and opening hours change during Ramadan.

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Make the most of your time in Tangier

Explore the medina and Kasbah with a local guide, watch the sunset at Cap Spartel or take a day trip to blue Chefchaouen. Compare tours and book in a couple of taps.

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