Tangier surprised us in the best possible way — a coastal city where ancient medina lanes meet a modern waterfront and the Strait of Gibraltar glimmers in the distance. We arrived on a quick flight from London and spent our time wandering from the Phoenician Tombs to the Kasbah, sipping mint tea in Petit Socco, and ending the evening along the marina promenade.

With everything within walking distance, Tangier is ideal for a short stay or a base for exploring northern Morocco, especially Chefchaouen. This guide covers the essential sights, where to eat, how to get around, and everything you need for an easy, memorable visit.

Overview

Tangier is one of those cities that instantly feels familiar yet wonderfully different. As a true melting pot with a blend of African, European, and Middle Eastern influences, it offers an easy and energetic introduction to northern Morocco.

Tangier is also well connected to the rest of Morocco by rail and coach, and if you’re coming from Spain, the ferry is a scenic and popular option — we’ll cover more of that shortly.

Public transport isn’t integrated with Google Maps, so understanding bus routes felt like guesswork. Taxis became our go-to, usually around 25 MAD for journeys between the train station and the medina.

Travel to and Around Tangier

Travelling to Tangier

For anyone planning a trip from the UK, flying is one of the easiest ways of getting to Tangier. Several airlines to Tangier operate from London, but Ryanair offered the most attractive prices when we booked. The flight time makes Tangier convenient even for a long weekend.

You can also arrive from Spain. The Spain to Tangier ferry is one of the most popular cross-border connections, giving travellers a picturesque crossing of the Gibraltar Strait. If you’re researching how to get from Spain to Tangier, you’ll find regular ferries from Tarifa and Algeciras, taking between 1–2 hours depending on your route.

For domestic travellers, the high-speed Al Boraq train line connects Tangier with Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakesh. Coaches are reliable and modern too, particularly CTM, which we used for our day trip to Chefchaouen.

We flew London – Tangier with Ryanair from Stansted to Tangier, and the fare set the tone for the trip — exceptionally affordable at under £50 return.

Landing at Tangier Airport reminded us of Pisa in Italy. It’s compact and efficient: passport control takes a minute, and before you know it, you’re outside. One thing worth flagging early is that, on departure, you can’t retrieve your boarding passes via your airline app. Even with hand luggage only, you must queue at the check-in desk. We suspect it’s their way of enforcing luggage rules, so build that into your timing.

If you are looking for suitable flight options, make sure to check out the article below with top tips on how to find cheap flights.

From the airport into the city you can take a public bus, but taxis are by far the easiest option. We used inDrive throughout our stay — a ride-hailing app where you propose a fare and drivers accept or counter.

Careem also works well, although fares are roughly 40% more expensive. The benefit is the ability to pay by card. Our journey from the airport to the waterfront was around 55 MAD.

Given the language barrier between visitors and taxi drivers, apps make life significantly easier. We even added multiple stops, which would have been difficult to explain otherwise.

Travelling Around Tangier

Tangier is fairly walkable, especially the medina and waterfront areas. Attractions tend to cluster together, and even the furthest spot we visited within the medina was only a 30-minute walk.

Since buses aren’t mapped online, taxis remain your easiest option. Journeys within the city centre rarely exceed 25 MAD, making them practical and inexpensive.

Currency in Morocco– What You Need to Know

Cash is king in Morocco. Although some higher-end restaurants accept cards, 90% of everyday places do not — including state museums. We noticed it was difficult to exchange Moroccan dirhams outside the country, so try not to bring too much back home.

During our November 2025 trip, we exchanged 1 GBP for 8.8 MAD in London before travelling. The real market rate in Morocco was 11.8 MAD. The best rate we found was near Grand Socco at 11.9 MAD. To avoid over-exchanging, we adopted a simple method: exchange only what you need for 1–2 days and monitor rates as you go.

Where to Stay in Tangier?

Tangier offers a range of accommodation options, from modern hotels to cosy guesthouses. Unlike Marrakech or Fes, Tangier isn’t known for riads in Tangier, though a few do exist. Riads are traditional Moroccan homes built around a central courtyard, often beautifully restored, but here they’re not as common.

If you’re wondering how many days in Tangier, one night is more than enough. You can comfortably see the top things to do in Tangier in one morning. For many travellers, Tangier is the gateway to northern Morocco, particularly Chefchaouen and the Rif region.

If you prefer to stay in a hotel, we would recommend booking your accommodation through an aggregator such as Booking.com or Trip.com to get the best rates. During this trip, we found Trip was cheaper than Booking. Use the widget below to find the best accommodation in Tangier for your specific dates.

We stayed at Ibis Tanger City Center, which was ideal for our trip. It’s close to the promenade and the train station — especially convenient since we planned a trip to Chefchaouen. Most key sights, such as the medina and Kasbah, are centred around the waterfront, so staying nearby makes sightseeing effortless.

Best Time to Visit Tangier

Tangier is a year-round destination. Summers are warm without being overwhelmingly hot, and winters remain mild for European travellers. Whether you’re planning one day in Tangier or a longer stay, the climate rarely gets in the way.

Our Top Things to do in Tangier

Below is a curated list of places to go in Tangier, ideal for building your itinerary. We noticed that museums and attractions typically open at 10:00 and close at 18:00, and some close on Tuesdays. Also be aware that foreign visitors often pay 50–100% more for entry compared to locals.

Most places are walking distance from each other, making the city easy to explore — perfect if you only have one day in Tangier.

Alternatively, if you are short on time, you can join a half day Tangier city tour to cover the main attractions.

1. Start Your Morning at the Phoenician Tombs

The Phoenician Tombs are one of the most atmospheric things to see in Tangier, especially early in the day. Carved into the cliffside by ancient seafarers, they offer sweeping views over the Gibraltar Strait.

On a clear day you might spot Spain in the distance. For us, it was the ideal start to the morning, peaceful and panoramic.

2. Wander Through the Historic Kasbah

The Kasbah is the crown jewel of Tangier’s old town and one of the historical monuments in Tangier worth experiencing. Within its walls you’ll find winding lanes, handicraft shops, and heritage buildings.

Inside the Kasbah, you’ll also find the Ibn Battouta Museum, dedicated to the legendary Moroccan explorer. The exhibition is more tailored to locals familiar with his work, so we chose to skip it.

Instead, we soaked up the charm of the streets and tried a selection of local pastries — just 2 MAD each and surprisingly rich in flavour.

2.1 Capture the Beauty of Bab Kasbah

Bab Kasbah is the main gate and an unmistakable photo stop. Its architecture sets the tone for the rest of the medina — timeless and characterful.

2.2 Admire Morning Views at Bab Al Bahr

A short walk downhill leads to Bab Al Bahr. From here, the views are wonderful: the marina, the sea, and the striking green-tiled roof of Lalla Aabla Mosque. We stood on the balcony with a morning coffee, watching the city slowly wake up. It felt quietly magical.

3. Pause at the Grand Mosque of Tangier

The Grande Mosquée is a beautiful sight, particularly from afar, with its vibrant green tiles. Non-Muslims cannot enter, but it’s still a worthwhile photo stop and one of the places to see in Tangier as you wander.

4. Take a Break at Grand Socco

Grand Socco is one of Tangier’s two main squares and a natural meeting point for locals. Historically it served as the gateway between the old town and the Ville Nouvelle. Today, it’s lively, colourful, and perfect for people-watching after browsing the souks.

5. Sip Mint Tea at Petit Socco

The Petit Socco is the second main square and sits at the heart of the medina. With its cafés and shaded corners, it’s an ideal place to slow down.

We chose Café Tingis for two Moroccan mint teas (25 MAD each). Mint tea — often called “Moroccan whisky” — is made by brewing green tea with generous handfuls of fresh mint and plenty of sugar. The result is warm, fragrant, and strangely refreshing.

Prices here are higher than elsewhere, but the view and atmosphere make it worth it.

6. Get Lost Shopping in Tangier’s Souks & Boutiques

Shopping in Tangier is less about aggressive bargaining and more about slow discovery. Compared to cities like Marrakech or Fes, the experience here felt calmer and more approachable, especially for first-time visitors to Morocco.

Most shopping happens inside the medina, particularly around Petit Socco and the lanes leading up towards the Kasbah. You’ll find a mix of traditional souks selling spices, leather goods, lamps, ceramics, and textiles, alongside smaller artisan workshops and souvenir shops.

Prices felt fair overall, though as foreigners we did notice that initial prices were often higher than those shown to locals. A bit of polite negotiation usually brought things down.

A small tip: many shops only accept cash, so keep smaller notes handy. It makes transactions smoother and avoids awkward moments when change isn’t available.

7. Enjoy a Walk Along the Promenáda

As the evening settled in, we walked along the promenade and found it surprisingly lively. At around 18°C in November, the weather felt perfect. The waterfront is illuminated softly, with views of the marina and high-rise hotels in the background.

If you’re looking for fun things to do in Tangier or even things to do in Tangier at night, this relaxed evening stroll is a lovely, easy option.

8. Explore the Murailles Historiques

This stretch of fortification offers a nostalgic window into Tangier’s layered past. From here you can admire the marina below and the city’s old defensive walls.

At the top is Hotel Continental — a historic landmark where Winston Churchill once stayed. It’s a wonderful vantage point for photographs and a moment of quiet reflection.

9. Visit the Caves of Hercules

A short journey outside the city brings you to the Caves of Hercules, one of Tangier’s most well-known natural attractions. The cave is famous for its entrance facing the Atlantic, shaped like the African continent. Inside, you’ll find chambers filled with texture and history, blending myth with geology.

I went to the caves during a previous trip to Morocco. If you are interested in visiting them, perhaps this organised tour is suitable:

10. Take a Day Trip to Chefchaouen

Tangier is the perfect base for visiting Chefchaouen, the postcard-blue town of Morocco. We travelled by CTM coach, leaving at 07:45 and arriving around 10:00.

The town was every bit as captivating as expected — cobalt walls, quiet alleys, and endless photo spots. We watched sunset from the Spanish Mosque, wrapped in my new Berber-style coat, and it became the highlight of our northern Morocco trip.

If you don’t want to organise this yourself, you can join an organised trip from Tangier to Chefchauen, there are many affordable options, suggestions below:

Staying Connected in Tangier with Morocco eSIM

One thing that made travelling around Tangier noticeably easier was having reliable mobile data from the moment we landed. For this trip, we used Saily eSIM for Morocco, and it worked seamlessly throughout the city and beyond.

The setup is straightforward — everything is done directly through the app before you travel, with no need to swap physical SIM cards. Once we landed, we had instant connectivity, which was invaluable for ordering taxis via Indrive, navigating the medina, checking opening times, and booking onward transport.

We were also impressed by the coverage. Even when travelling further afield, including towards the Sahara later in the trip, we maintained a stable signal. If you’re planning to move around Morocco or rely on your phone for navigation and bookings, Saily is a practical and stress-free option to consider.

Where We Ate in Tangier

Dada Restaurant

We only managed one restaurant during our stay, but it was a memorable introduction to places to eat in Tangier. Dada Restaurant offered a brilliant starter selection for two — aubergine, Moroccan salad, carrot salad, and olives dressed with lemon for a zesty kick.

For mains, we tried the beef tagine with dried plums and the chicken tagine. Both were cooked tenderly, filled with warmth and spice. Desserts were mixed: I had crème caramel topped with peanuts — an unusual texture pairing — while Hristina had Moroccan pastries, which were indulgent and satisfying.

This was also our first encounter of high pouring Moroccan tea 🙂

Final Thoughts

Tangier is a modern yet soulful city, effortlessly blending old and new. With compact distances, pedestrian-friendly streets, and a vibrant seaside atmosphere, it’s perfect if you’ve only got one day in Tangier before exploring the Rif region.

Whether you’re here for culture, food, views of the strait, or simply as a gateway to Chefchaouen, Tangier offers just enough charm to make your visit worthwhile.

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