Tangier
Discover Tangier
Tangier (Ar. طنجة, Tanjah, Fr. Tanger) is an important port city in Morocco. The third most populous city in the country, it's a popular entry point to Morocco and Africa as a whole due to its proximity to Spain, and an interesting destination in its own right. Tangier is a fascinating Moroccan city to visit. It has many of the things that travellers love—a sense of exotic mystery, interesting history, beautiful vistas, unspoiled beaches, and friendly people. It is an interesting mix of the cultures of north Africa, Spain, and France and indeed has a very international history, and has traditionally been home to people from several different cultures. At the beginning of the 20th century, for instance, a quarter of the city's population were Europeans and another quarter Jewish.
What to Experience in Tangier
Taste of Tangier...
There are restaurants serving most major cuisines in Tangier. Though while you're here, why not try out the specialties of Maghreb; different types of tagines (stews) and couscous as well as mint tea? In the morning a "locals" cafe will give you a cafe au lait for 5 dirham. (Cafes where tourists congregate will charge you 10 dirham.) Usually there is a bread vendor at the cafe (by the port or the madina) who will serve you bread with cheese and honey for another 5 dirham. It's perfectly okay to buy your bread/breakfast elsewhere and eat it outside at the cafe. If the bread guy is next to the cafe the waiter will often collect. You may quickly bore of tagines and street food is a great option for snacking throughout the day. Fresh orange juice costs about 5 dirham; sandwiches of egg, peppers, and sauce are about 10 dirham. Yogurt mixtures can be particularly creative, such as avocado and almonds, or fruit mixtures. Tiny stalls in the souk sell cooked vegetables like eggplant, with rice, and other tasty treats and a meal there can cost 10 dirham or so. In the early evening you may find squares of chickpea cakes sprinkled with salt and paprika. In the evening, go to the plaza next to CTM bus station. There are several cafes and restaurants facing the plaza. The price and services are good because of the keen competition.
Climate
The northwest of Morocco is the wettest part of the country. Compared to the south of the country, the summers are milder and the winters can be relatively cold. Facing the Atlantic directly, temperatures in Tangier are usually even a couple degrees cooler than at the Spanish side of the strait. Tangier receives flights from the largest cities in Western Europe and Morocco, most of them operated by budget carriers like RyanAir and AirArabia. 35.726917-5.9168891 Tangier-Ibn Battouta Airport (TNG ) (12 km (7.5 mi) from the city). When leaving by plane, beware of long queues at passport controls before flights bound for the Schengen area. Alsa operates an AeroBus shuttle (#AE routes) from the airport to Tangier's Gare Ferroviare (train station), with intermediate stops at Complexe Hassani, Riad Ahlen, Ben Dibane, Riad Tetouan and Nejma. Cost: 40 dirham (as of 2025), tickets are purchased on board using card or cash. Service hours are from approximately 6:00 a.m. to midnight.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsTangier receives flights from the largest cities in Western Europe and Morocco, most of them operated by budget carriers like RyanAir and AirArabia. 35.726917-5.9168891 Tangier-Ibn Battouta Airport (TNG ) (12 km (7.5 mi) from the city). When leaving by plane, beware of long queues at passport controls before flights bound for the Schengen area. Alsa operates an AeroBus shuttle (#AE routes) from the airport to Tangier's Gare Ferroviare (train station), with intermediate stops at Complexe Hassani, Riad Ahlen, Ben Dibane, Riad Tetouan and Nejma. Cost: 40 dirham (as of 2025), tickets are purchased on board using card or cash. Service hours are from approximately 6:00 a.m. to midnight. Expect hourly departures despite Alsa's 10-minute schedule claims. Information desk staff can show where to board this light blue bus at the airport. Grand taxis depart from the arrivals exit, with fixed prices per destination—price for a full taxi (so consider arranging a group to share it beforehand)......
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Tangier is very easy to navigate around; the two main roads are Boulevard Mohammed V which runs from near the Medina through the ville nouvelle and Boulevard Mohammed VI (formerly Ave des FAR) which runs along from the beachfront from the port to Malabata. The exception is the Medina (old town), a complex array of alleyways some of which can only be accessed on foot. Mohammed V has a whole range of clothes shops, pharmacies and cafes as well as Hotel Flandria, Hotel Rembrandt. Hotel El Minzah lies just off this road. Mohammed VI runs along the beach front where you will find numerous hotels (Rif, Ramada, Sherezade, Solazure, Tariq, Movenpick), bars, discos, restaurants and cafes. Most hostels are on the roads heading uphill near the port area and in the Medina. Walking is perhaps the best way to see the relatively compact Tangier. In the old town it's also the only way to get around, although you will occasionally encounter locals speeding on scooters along the narrow and bumpy alleys.
Where to Stay
There are plenty of hotels to choose from in all categories. Rates may vary depending on the season. Many riads (traditional Moroccan mansions) nowadays function as hotels, with nightly rates around 300–500 D. These can be found mostly in the medina. There is an enormous number of small hotels and hostels in or near the medina, nightly rates are 50 - 300 dirham. At these establishments, showers and toilets are communal and hot water costs extra. There are also a lot of small hotels at the port, which is walking distance to both the medina and the new city. To find these little hotels you exit the port of Tangiers and in about 100 m you'll see the Hotel Biarritz (white with hand-lettering in blue). Turn right up the rutted, dirty little alleyway next to it (yes, this is a street) and wind your way uphill to find several small hotels off the main drag on the unmarked Avenue Magellan.
Money & Budget
The medina is full of small shops, though beware that some of them are tourist traps and salesmen are seemingly outright desperate to get you to buy stuff in which you are not interested. Much of the brasswork is made in other towns but is available here. Leather goods are also available. Stay away from the tourist traps and you may find the price quite agreeable. Colourful leather slippers, men's and women's clothing can be reasonable priced. When shopping here, bargaining is essential as there are no fixed prices. It is advisable to negotiate prices in dirham rather than euros. There are other markets notably the souk in the medina (mainly vegetables, clothes and tourist items) and in Ben Mekada (vegetables).
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Generally, central Tangier is a very safe city compared with many places in Europe though this does not necessarily apply to the suburbs. The only trouble you may encounter are the persistent touts whom you should ignore, or the con-men ready to fleece you (by trying to chat up to you then sometimes offer to smoke hashish), and you will encounter these almost exclusively in the medina. There are policemen everywhere and you will probably feel safer than at home. Tangier is generally safe for lone women. Dressing like a local will help you blend in and get good reception from merchants, who will often quote you actual prices instead of inflated tourist prices. There are lots of expats in this city that speak Spanish first, then English and then French. A polite no thank you and then simply ignoring touts does get rid of them. This is not the case if you are visiting Tangier as part of a tour (e.g. a day tour from Costa del Sol or a cruise excursion).
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Tangier
Views of the Medina from the phoenician tombs
Cape Spartel is an attractive spot because of its lighthouse– a landmark of highly interesting historical nature. 157 years ago, precisely on 15 October 1864, the Lighthouse, a brand new building, was illuminated for the first time. Its inauguration was the culmination of four years of hard work and negotiations among representatives of nine European powers, USA and the Moroccan government. -- https://writingthemaghreb.wordpress.com/2014/10/25/cape-spartel-lighthouse-150-years-of-service/
areal view of white and blue houses
Cape Spartel, Morocco - todorandonov.com
Medina, Tánger
Phare Cap Spartel in Tanger. Morocco 2018
Shot after the rain in the beautiful city of Chefchaouen, Morocco.
Buildings on Avenue Mohammed VI in Tangier
Caves of Hercules.
cars on road near sea during daytime
Views of the Medina from the phoenician tombs
Cape Spartel is an attractive spot because of its lighthouse– a landmark of highly interesting historical nature. 157 years ago, precisely on 15 October 1864, the Lighthouse, a brand new building, was illuminated for the first time. Its inauguration was the culmination of four years of hard work and negotiations among representatives of nine European powers, USA and the Moroccan government. -- https://writingthemaghreb.wordpress.com/2014/10/25/cape-spartel-lighthouse-150-years-of-service/
areal view of white and blue houses