Tangier referred to as “The Bride of the North” has long been a romantic haven frequented by artists, Beat poets, and writers who have arrived at its busy shores seeking adventure. Tangier is the gateway to Africa for many travellers. Cruise ships often dock there on their way from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, and travellers in Europe find it easy to take a quick ferry from Spain to the port of Tangier.
Although most visitors to Tangier come for a day, there are some lovely boutique hotels to stay at, and once you figure out how to avoid some of the hustle, you’ll appreciate Tangier a lot more by spending a few days here. Outside of Tangier, the coastline is dotted with picture-perfect seaside villages that make you want to break out your watercolour palette. Tangier is a great base for exploring this part of Morocco. Plan your trip with our list of the top attractions in Morocco.

NOT TO BE MISSED OUT ON:

Medina:

The maze-like Medina of the White City spills down the slope from the Kasbah in the north, granting brief glimpses of the Bay of Tangier through its gorge-like alleys.
Market stalls in the Medina are laden with leather goods, carpets, spices, fruit, vegetables, fish and handmade copper and brass jewellery.
It is in this old city, previously a no-go for tourists, that you’ll also sense the changing mood in Tangier. Vendors and young restaurant touts tend to be enthusiastic without becoming pushy, and you’ll always have plenty of tourists for the company on the alleys leading up to the Kasbah. The days of the International Zone are recalled at Petit Socco, with its cosmopolitan architecture at cafe terraces.

Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures:

This recently refurbished museum is housed in the former sultan’s palace of Dar El Makhzen. The focus is on the history of the area from prehistoric times to the 19th century. Exhibits are well-presented the museum brings together an amazing number of exhibits tracing Morocco’s tumultuous and complicated history. The Antiquities Collection brings together finds from the country’s prime ancient Roman sites such as Lixus and Volubilis and includes a life-size model of a Carthaginian tomb.
There are also displays explaining Tangier’s history and a large section devoted to Moroccan arts. The Fes Room is particularly interesting, containing silks and illustrated manuscripts, as well as centuries-old ceramics decorated from golden yellow to the famous Fes-blue.

The American Legation Museum:

Unknown to many people is that Morocco was the first country to recognize the USA as an independent state after the revolutionary war. Located within the hustle of the Medina, this museum adds a somewhat foreign feel to the city. With an unusual 1940s vibe, this museum transports you to a different time and has an array of engaging exhibitions, including one on Paul Bowles. A must-see is the locally famous painting often termed the ‘Moroccan Mona Lisa’.

Parc Perdicaris (Parc Rmilat):

On the road to Cap Spartel, you’ll pass along the southern edge of this blissful coastal forest, on the western edge of the city.
Parc Perdicaris adds up to almost 70 hectares and is named after the Greek-American consul and playboy Ion Perdicaris (1840-1925) whose estate was on this land.
When Perdicaris was kidnapped in 1904 it triggered an international crisis, and the response to the “Perdicaris Affair” by Theodore Roosevelt is thought to have helped him win the election that year.
Perdicaris planted the exotic eucalyptus trees in the park alongside the native palms, oaks, laurel trees, pines, acacias and walnut trees in the 1880s for the health of his wife who was suffering from tuberculosis.
There’s detailed info about the park’s abundant flora, and you can picnic on the steep slopes, casting your gaze on the ocean.
As of 2019, Perdicaris’ romantic hilltop villa is currently being restored after decades of decline.

Gran Teatro Cervantes:

A decaying Spanish artefact, the 1,400-capacity Gran Teatro Cervantes was constructed in 1913, and in its day was one of the most important stages in North Africa. Some of Europe’s leading performers like the Italian tenor Enrico Caruso trod these boards in the early 20th century.
Fair to say that the now empty theatre a short walk south of the American Legation has seen better days, as you’ll tell from its crumbling Art Nouveau facade. But in 2019 the property was officially handed by Spain to the Moroccan government, which has committed to restoring and reopening the venue as a theatre and cultural centre.

St Andrew’s Church:

St Andrew’s Church is one of Tangier’s most mesmerizing sites. Completed in 1905 as a gift from King Hassan I of Morocco, this popular tourist site is a fusion of different architectures and styles, reflecting Morocco’s multicultural population. The church is a focal point for Christians in Tangier. It also exhibits Quranic inscriptions on its Moorish interior and marks the direction of Muslim prayer to Mecca. A visit to this religious holy site gives a new meaning to the interfaith experience.

Achakar Beach:

Between the Caves of Hercules and Cap Spartel is a glorious public beach awarded consecutive Blue Flags in recent years for hygiene, water quality, facilities and lifeguard provision.
But the headliner is the sheer natural wonder of this long and wide beach, facing west and backed by sloping, gravelly cliffs for breathtaking views of the sunset. This is the open Atlantic so the surf will be too strong for kids, but the waves break a long way out, and there is a large shallow area where wee ones can paddle safely with supervision. As with most Moroccan tourist beaches, camel rides are on offer at Achakar Beach.

Caves of Hercules:

This cave, part natural and part man-made are steeped in legend and set on a headland between two epic Atlantic beaches.
The story goes that Hercules stayed here while preparing for his 11th labour. This was to steal the golden apples from the Garden of the Hesperides. Some ancient Greek writers placed the garden a little way down the Atlantic coast at the ancient city of Lixus.
On his way to the cave, Hercules had to contend with the Atlas mountain, and instead of crossing it he smashed through it, and so creating the Strait of Gibraltar. There’s less far-fetched human history in the cave system, going back to the Neolithic period: The cave’s spectacular ocean-side opening is thought to have been cut by the Phoenicians and bears a remarkable resemblance to the African continent. It’s also not hard to discern the many grooves in the walls left by the Berbers who quarried millstones from the walls over many centuries.

Visit Asilah:

The little town of Asilah, about 40 kilometres from Tangier on the northwest tip of Morocco’s Atlantic coast, has a history that stretches back to the Roman era. More recently, it has been under the control of both Spain and Portugal. But the town’s imposing ramparts, with surviving bastions and towers, now offer a setting for delightful seaside walks.
The Portuguese fortifications enclose an old town of pretty white-and-blue-washed houses with a distinctively Mediterranean feel. The town is also famous for fried seafood dishes. Restaurants line the shore, making a great place to put your feet up while you sample some fish.

Larache:

The seaside town of Larache, 88 kilometres south of Tangier, is the closest settlement to the Lixus archaeological site, where Greek legend tells that Hercules gathered the golden apples. The site was a trading centre for first the Phoenicians, then the Carthaginians, and finally the Romans, but its history is thought to be much older than these conquerors. The ruins include a temple, theatre, acropolis, and baths, and although the site is overgrown, it’s highly atmospheric.
Back in the town itself, Larache’s Archaeological Museum is housed in the Chateau de la Cigogne. The museum contains a collection of finds unearthed from Lixus, including an interesting display of perfume bottles and jewellery.

Ceuta:

Spain’s little piece of Morocco, this oddity of a town, 79 kilometres east of Tangier, is a major transport hub with ferries across the sea to Algeciras. The old fortifications (built by the Portuguese) around the San Felipe Moat are the town’s main sight, but the Ceuta Museum is also worth a look for its well-displayed collection of Punic and Roman finds.
Those with an interest in religious art and architecture should also visit Ceuta’s main square, home to the interesting Cathedral Museum and the 15th-century Church of Our Lady of Africa.

Melilla

Melilla’s fortified medina is the main focus of most of the town’s sightseeing. Along with Ceuta, Melilla is a Spanish enclave on Moroccan soil, the last remaining bits of land that Spain refused to give back to Morocco after independence.
The museum here is worth a look for its interesting archaeological section. There is a 17th-century cathedral here as well. At nearby Three Fork’s Cape, gaze out over the perfect turquoise waters. From the lighthouse, you can see many small beaches and great blocks of anthracite rising out of the waters.