What to do and see in Tangier

What to do and see in Tangier

What to do and see in Tangier, Tangier, located in the extreme north of Morocco, is a bustling and cosmopolitan city that is a popular port of entry for tourists. It is steeped in stories, myths, and legends and is believed to have been founded by Antaeus, son of Neptune, who named it after his wife, Tingis. The city has a rich history dating back to the Paleolithic era and was a center of inspiration for artists and politicians during its colonial period.

Facts about Tangier

Throughout its history, Tangier has been the site of numerous invasions and occupations by different powers from both the West and East. It was settled by Carthaginians, Vandals, Romans, Phoenicians, and Arabs, as well as the Spanish, French, English, and Portuguese.

why is tangier so famous

Tangier has long been a city that has inspired and attracted artists, writers, and other notable figures worldwide. Tennessee Williams, Samuel Beckett, Jean Genet, Matisse, and Paul Bowles are just a few famous individuals drawn to Tangier’s streets, hotels, and cafes over the years. The city’s palaces have also hosted extravagant parties for luminaries such as Barbara Hutton and Malcolm Forbes. Visiting Tangier was a unique and enchanting experience for these creative minds and socialites.

Where is Tangier situated?

Tangier is located in the extreme north of Morocco, on the western coast of Africa. It is situated on Gibraltar’s Strait, overlooking the Atlantic and Mediterranean Seas.

Tangier, Morocco

Few cities worldwide have that hypnotizing mixture of African and European cultures. Only 14.5 kilometers separate Tangier from Algeciras, Spain, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a taste of North African culture. Tangier is home to several attractions that will impress visitors, many of which are still undiscovered by the masses but are guaranteed to capture the hearts of those who visit.

Other destinations of interest…

Marrakech
Fes
Meknes

What to see in Tangier

Is there anything to see in Tangier?

Despite being one of the largest populations, it is a city that can easily be traversed by foot and is divided into two distinct parts. The first is the old town or medina, which begins at the harbor and stretches uphill. The other is the Ville Nouvelle, built by Europeans during the 20th century and centered around the Plaza de Francia. There are numerous attractions to discover, with the medina offering an array of markets, shops, and cafes and the Ville Nouvelle boasting beautiful architecture, museums, and parks.

Whether you’re interested in history and culture or simply soaking up the atmosphere of this vibrant city, Tangier is a destination that will leave you captivated.

Tangier medina

Tangier has a vibrant walled medina with an endless network of narrow streets teeming with local shops and bazaars. While it has a similar feel to other medinas in Morocco, Tangier stands out with its unique cosmopolitan character. The medina is full of life and dotted with coffee shops, small inns, and hotels that add to the old city’s charm.

Additionally, the modern Ville Nouvelle, built by Europeans during the 20th century, is centered around the Plaza de Francia. It is easy to explore Tangier on foot, and a visit can be comfortably done in one or two days.

Tangier souk

As places to highlight in a trip to Tangier are the Great Souk or square of April 9, 1947. This large square is located between the medina and the new part of the city and has been recently remodeled. It is a fantastic place to contemplate the lively life of the town.

This square, the traditional marketplace, is now full of coffee shops, while the historic market stalls have been located in the surrounding streets. The Sidi Bou Abid mosque in this square, dating from 1917, has a beautiful minaret of polychrome tiles.

Things Tangier is known for

Very close to this square, in a parallel street, we find the market of slippers and the Anglican Church of St. Andrew, consecrated in 1905 when Hassan I donated some land to the old British community of Tangier. Its interior comprises a fusion of styles, among which the Andalusian style stands out. This church has an annexed cemetery where some personalities rest.

The Mendoubia Gardens

Nearby is the Mendoubia Gardens, which, although at first glance it may seem a simple square, is an excellent place to relax and enjoy this haven of peace after the bustle of the medina and the souks.

It is a beautiful place to enjoy the culture of Tangier and Morocco and appreciate their lifestyle. At the entrance of this park, we find an arch with an inscription in Arabic. This park has many exotic plants and trees, including a banyan tree over 800 years old.

Walking down the street of the Siaghins, which is very lively for its craft shops, we arrived at a Catholic church. By the way, Siaghins means silversmiths and refers to the activity that their merchants used to do. The catholic church, with a facade of apparent Eastern influence, dates from 1880 and is called the Church of the Immaculate Conception.

Then, at number 41 of the street, there is the Dar Niaba, a former Renaissance-style palace that was the seat of the French legation and also served as the office of the Naib (representative of the Sultan), the old French consulate.

Next, the Souk Chico (Petit Socco), also called souk Dakhil, is the heart of the medina and one of the city’s most attractive and characteristic places. It is a Spanish-style square with wrought iron balconies and bars, surrounded by travel cafes and hotels.

Nearby is the old legation of the United States, from 1821, stayed there for more than a century. Now it contains antique furniture, documents, photographs, maps and various objects from the city’s golden age.

You can visit Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm. If you are interested in museums, nearby we find the Museum of the Lori Foundation, dedicated to Marisha Lorin (1943-1993), a lover of the arts, Tangier and Morocco.

This museum is located on Tuahin Street, inside a synagogue of architectural style, which contains an extensive collection of photographs, scores, cartoons, and documents from the first half of the 20th century in the city of Tangier. This museum can be visited from 11 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm.

Another monument that must be seen in Tangier:  The Great Mosque, founded by Moulay Ismail in 1684. It was occupied by numerous civilizations, among them the Romans, since the remains of the capital have been found in its interior. It also became the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit with the Portuguese occupation. In front of the Great Mosque is an old Madrasa rebuilt in the 18th century. Going down a little, we found a nice viewpoint with beautiful harbor views.

Continuing towards Bab el Bahr (Puerta del Mar) we find the legendary Hotel Continental, the oldest in Tangier and Morocco. In their rooms, they stayed nothing more and nothing less than personalities like Winston Churchill or Ava Gardner, among others.

It is one of the places that have become fashionable thanks to the TV series ‘The time between seams ‘, since in its several interior scenes of the series were recorded. Among them stand out of Ramiro is smoking in the traditional kifi pipe, and some beautiful Arab salons are shown.

Another place to stand out on a trip to Tangier is the Plaza de los Aisauas, located to the left of the souk chico. Near the Oued Ahardan square, on Sbou street, we find the famous Madini perfumery, which is renowned for its faithful reproductions of perfumes and colognes at an affordable price.

This perfumery is run by the family that has given the establishment its name. From Ben Raisul, we will access the Kasbah through its main gate, Bab el Assa (Gate of the Sentinels), where former prisoners were tortured and executed.

Entering through this square, we arrive at the square of the Kasbah, where is the Dar el Majzen, Museum of the Kasbah. Your visit is free on Tuesdays from 1 pm to 4 pm, Fridays from 9 am to 12 pm, and from 1 pm to 4 pm. It is the former palace of the Sultan, founded by Moulay Ismail in the seventeenth century.

The building is distributed around two patios porticoed by marble columns and arches lined with tiles that give way to various rooms and the throne room. This palace is famous in Tangier and Morocco for its beautiful cedar roofs and stucco walls. Inside is the museum, which contains pieces of Moroccan art and antiques. It also includes an archaeological section. It is also worth seeing the street of the synagogues (Cheikh el harrak), among which the temple of Massaat Nahom stands out as the most important.

What to see in Tangier: the new city

To start the tour of this beautiful part of the city, nothing better than its main street: district Pasteu r. In its beginning, we find the Plaza de Faro, plaza de los perezosos, where several cannons of Portuguese origin exist. This square has beautiful views. Near this is the Gran Teatro Cervantes. Modernist Art Deco building, built in 1913 by Diego Jiménez. Vestige of the Spaniards in the city.

It is in its main street where you can appreciate all the peculiarities of Tangier and Morocco: its people, women covered with veils, other travelers, the balconies, and the various buildings. One walk, and you will gradually learn what it is about being here. Another of the legendary places in Tangier is the Café de Paris, located in Plaza Francia. Legend has it that the spies of the Second World War met there.

In the Plaza de la Alcazaba, the wonderful thing is that from it, you have a total view of the bay and the port area. Must see the sunset from it. The Marshan Quarter stands out for its picturesque streets and facades, where most of the city’s attractions are located.

In this part of the city, the Punic necropolis stands out, which is made up of 98 tombs. More than 50 are carved in the rock on the edge of a cliff with beautiful views of the Strait. Here we have found tools of Punic and Neopunic traditions and Roman objects from different eras. The last phase of the occupation of the cemetery dates back to the end of the fourth century AD. Located on a cliff with beautiful views of the Strait. At the entrance, you can see some Roman columns. Near this cemetery, we find the famous Café Hafa.

Another exciting place to see in the new Tangier is the luxurious Hotel Minzah, built by the English aristocrat Lord Bute in 1930. Along with the Hotel Continental is one of the most historic establishments in the city.

It was during a time of refuge of spies and personalities from all over the world. This hotel is built with beautiful Arabic and Hispanic decorative elements, with a terrace with stunning views and fabulous gardens. Like the Hotel Continental, Minzah has recorded scenes from the TV series ‘The Time Between Seams ‘, highlighting the meeting between Marcus and Sira in the fourth chapter.

Cape Espartel is a beautiful place to visit, 12 km northwest of Tangier, Morocco, where you can enjoy the view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea’s colors. The famous lighthouse built in 1865 and the nearby Grottos de Hercules are must-sees. The area is covered with lush vegetation, including cistus and cork oak. The coastal route between Tangier and Ceuta offers breathtaking views of the Strait, hidden beaches, and small coves..

Cape Malabata, in addition to the views of Tangier Bay and the Strait of Gibraltar, allows you to admire a curious medieval-looking building: the castle of Malabata, built at the beginning of the century. The small Roman town of Cotta, with its farms and factories of canned fish and garum, speaks to the curious traveler of the ways of life of the first centuries of our era.

How to get to Tangier from Morocco and Spain

The city is just five hours by train from Rabat. If you do not come to Tangier from Morocco and do it from Spain, you can easily reach the city by ferry.

By plane: Tangier airport is the country’s fourth air traffic and is well-connected with international flights (Royal Air Morocco, Iberia, and Air France).

By boat: if flying does not suit you or you are interested in making the trip to Tangier by car, train, or bus … in the end, you will need to take a ferry. The cheapest solution is to get to Algeciras, located on the southern tip of Spain, and then cross the Strait of Gibraltar by boat. From Algeciras, you must go to Tangier, Morocco, or to Ceuta, Spain, and then cross the border.

Note: You can also take ferries from Sete (France), with a trip duration of 36 hours. There is also a line from Almeria (Spain) to Nador and Melilla.

Where to eat during your trip to Tangier

As in the rest of Morocco, you can eat economically and well in Tangier. Many small places serve sandwiches and mixed dishes, which are the most used by the locals. Apart from these are:

Anna & Paolo Restaurant, Avenue Lafayette Angle Prince Héritier: small Italian restaurant with a family atmosphere (between 16 and 27 euros per person).

Le Saveur du Poisson, Escalier Waller 2: restaurant with typical decoration, a very attentive and friendly owner, and a wholly closed menu (about 20 euros per person).

Dall’Italiano, Avenue Mohamed VI N. 42 Route of Malabata: authentic Italian food on the seafront of Tangier because they have an excellent chef who comes straight from Italy.

Restaurant L’Ocean, Plage Sidi Kacem: 20 minutes from the center of Tangier, on the Atlantic beach, with good fish cuisine but an extraordinary atmosphere between bohemian and chic.

El Tangerino, 186 Boulevard Mohamed VI: Highly recommended place to eat fish of good quality. While it is indeed more expensive than other restaurants in the area, it has a reasonable price for the quality of the product.

À L’anglaise, 37 Rue de la Kasbah: high-quality food and fresh produce at a reasonable price. They prepare some delicious natural juices. The decoration is very achieved and original. But best of all is the attention and kindness of the owners, who make you feel at home.

The Morocco Club, Rue Kachla, Place du Tabor: the proper attention. Delicious dishes and decorated, little quantity and high price but very good, beautiful, original recipes. Among the cafes and bars, we can highlight Cafe Le Detroit and Awtar Cafe Restaurant and the legendary Cafe Hafa.
Moroccan food restaurants and shows with belly dancing: Marhaba and Damascus in the Alcazaba.

Trips to Morocco from Tangier

If you plan to visit Tangier and want to start your Morocco route here, we offer you numerous circuits departing from the city of Tangier. We organize tours that include the main towns and the fascinating tourist destinations in the country: such as the Imperial Cities, the most beautiful cities on the Atlantic coast, charming villages, the Sahara desert, arid passages, fortifications, and Berber villages, dunes and the most barren lands.

Find the best Morocco trips and book the circuit that suits your needs. And if the circuit is not adapted to your interests or tastes, ask us for your customized trip, request information, and enjoy a personalized trip you will never forget.