Things to Do in Tangier, Morocco: Ideas, Day Plans and Tips

15 things to doFrom an hour to a full day
Licensed guidesMinistry-certified
Always privateYour group only
20 to 30 minutesFrom the medina to the coast
A plan in 2 hours (8am to 10pm)On WhatsApp or by email

In short

The best things to do in Tangier

The best things to do in Tangier, Morocco, are a walk through the Medina and the Kasbah, the Caves of Hercules and Cap Spartel where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, a camel ride on Achakkar Beach at sunset, mint tea at Café Hafa above the Strait, and a food tour or a cooking class in the old town. With more time, add a yacht trip in the bay, a hammam, the Kasbah Museum and the American Legation, or a day trip to Chefchaouen. For the sights themselves, read our guide to the top Tangier attractions.

Tangier sits on the Strait of Gibraltar, about 25 minutes' drive from Cap Spartel, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. That geography is why the city's experiences are so varied: beach and ocean on one side, the walled Kasbah and a working Medina on the other, and the cafés of the Grand Socco in between.

Every idea on this page can be done on its own or folded into a private tour with a licensed guide, and most combine easily in one day. Pick your favourites below, add them to your day, and we reply with a plan and a price.

Medina and KasbahThe old town on foot
Cap SpartelWhere the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean
Food tour or cooking classThe tastes of the old town
About 25 minutesFrom the city to Cap Spartel

Pick and mix

15 ways to spend your time in Tangier

Filter by what you feel like, then add your favourites to your day. We turn them into one plan, with one guide and one car.

Adventure
30 min to 1 hBest at sunset
Camel ride on the Atlantic
A traditional camel ride along Achakkar Beach near Cap Spartel, with the Atlantic rolling in beside you. Short rides for families, longer sunset rides for couples, and the photos take care of themselves. For a day by the sea, see our guide to the best beaches near Tangier.
Often added to the Tangier day tour
Adventure
1 to 2 hAfternoon
Quad biking in the countryside
Off-road trails through the coastal countryside and the Rif foothills outside Tangier. Guided, geared up and genuinely thrilling, with no experience needed. Tell us your children's ages: minimum ages apply.
Ask us to add it to any day
Relax
About 2 hBest at sunset
Yacht trip in Tangier Bay
Set out across Tangier Bay on a private boat, with Spain on the horizon across the Strait on clear days. Sunset departures are the ones people remember.
Plan a yacht afternoon
Culture
About 1.5 hMidday
Caves of Hercules and Cap Spartel
The mythical Caves of Hercules, where the sea opening is shaped like Africa, and the Cap Spartel lighthouse, where two seas meet. Tangier's most famous photo stops, 25 minutes from the centre.
Part of the Full-Day Tour
CultureFrom $25
2 to 3 hBest in the morning
The Medina and the Kasbah on foot
Whitewashed lanes, the Petit Socco, the Kasbah and its viewpoint over the Strait of Gibraltar. With a licensed guide you find your way through the lanes and hear the stories behind them.
The Tangier walking tour
Relax
1 to 2 hAfternoon
Grand Socco, Petit Socco and Café Hafa
The living heart of the city: the bustle of the Grand Socco, the café tables of the Petit Socco, and a mint tea on the clifftop terraces of Café Hafa, open since 1921. This is where Tangier slows you down.
Walk it with a guide
FoodFrom $45
3 to 4 hBest in the morning
Tangier food tour
Six to eight tasting stops through the medina with a local who knows exactly where to eat: breakfast stalls, market samples, bread from a community oven, a traditional main dish and mint tea to finish.
The Tangier food tour
FoodFrom $95
About 6 h with a city tourMorning to lunch
Moroccan cooking class
Shop the Medina market with a Berber chef, then cook a full Moroccan meal by hand: tagine, fresh salads, bread and mint tea. You make it, you eat it, and you leave with the recipes.
The cooking class
Relax
1.5 to 2 hEvening
Traditional hammam and spa
A steam room, black soap and a kessa scrub, then an argan-oil massage. The hammam has been part of daily life in Tangier for centuries, and it is a good way to end a day in the Medina.
Ask us to arrange it
Culture
About 2 hMorning
Kasbah Museum and the American Legation
The Kasbah Museum in the old Sultan's palace, Dar el Makhzen, and the American Legation, the first American public property outside the United States, tucked deep in the medina. An hour in each changes what you think you know about Tangier.
See the Full-Day Tour
CultureFrom $120
4 to 6 hGolden hour
Photo walk with a professional photographer
A guide, a working photographer and the best light in the Kasbah, the medina and on the coast. You go home with an edited gallery and a short film of your trip.
The photography excursion
Relax
1 to 2 hMorning
Perdicaris Park and the pine forest
Pine woods on the hills above the Strait at Rmilat, with sea views, picnic spots and the old villa of Ion Perdicaris, the American whose kidnapping in 1904 made headlines around the world.
Add it to a coast drive
Culture
About 2 hAfternoon
Literary and artistic Tangier
Follow Matisse, Paul Bowles and the Beat writers: the Librairie des Colonnes bookshop, the Gran Café de Paris on the Place de France and the streets of the old International Zone. Ask your guide to theme the walk.
Theme your walk
Culture
About 2 hMorning
Jewish Tangier
Centuries of Jewish life in the medina: the restored Nahon Synagogue, now a museum, the old Jewish cemetery above the port, and the stories of the families who shaped the city.
Jewish heritage tours
Day tripsFrom $100
A full dayLeave in the morning
Day trip to Chefchaouen, Asilah or Tetouan
Three of Morocco's most beautiful towns are within a day's reach: Chefchaouen, the blue city in the Rif Mountains; Asilah, a day trip from Tangier to the white art town on the Atlantic; and Tetouan, the UNESCO Andalusian medina. Going on your own? Here is how to get from Tangier to Chefchaouen.
All day trips

Where it all is

Tangier, between two seas

The old town sits on the Strait of Gibraltar. The Atlantic coast, the caves and the beaches are 20 to 30 minutes to the west.

Schematic map, not to scale.

The Medina and the Kasbah
The old town
Lanes, the Petit Socco, the Kasbah Museum and the viewpoint over the Strait.
See it
The Grand Socco
At the edge of the medina
The square where the new town meets the old, next to the Mendoubia Gardens.
See it
Café Hafa and the Marshan
10 minutes' walk from the Kasbah
Tea terraces on the cliff and the rock-cut Phoenician tombs nearby.
See it
The marina and the bay
Below the medina
Where the boat trips leave, with the port and the beach promenade.
See it
Perdicaris Park
About 15 minutes by car
Pine woods on the hills above the Strait.
See it
Cap Spartel
About 25 minutes by car
The lighthouse where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean.
See it
Caves of Hercules and Achakkar Beach
About 25 minutes by car
The sea cave shaped like Africa, and the beach for camel rides.
See it
Countryside trails
Outside the city, transfer included
Where the quad rides run, among farms and the first hills of the Rif.
See it

Sample days

Four ways to spend a day in Tangier

The classic Tangier day

The best of the city and the coast in one comfortable day.

Morning
The Medina and the Kasbah
A guided walk from the Kasbah and its viewpoint over the Strait down through the old town. The Kasbah Museum visit is optional.
The Tangier walking tour
Midday
Lunch in the medina
Fish, a tagine or a sandwich from a medina stall, then mint tea at the Petit Socco.
Afternoon
Cap Spartel and the caves
The lighthouse where two seas meet, then the sea cave shaped like Africa.
Sunset
Camel ride on Achakkar Beach
A short ride on the beach below the caves as the sun goes down.
Evening
Mint tea at Café Hafa
Back in town for tea on the terraces above the Strait.

A day for the whole family

Short walks, open space and something new every couple of hours.

Morning
Perdicaris Park
Paths under the pines, sea views and room to run.
Midday
The Caves of Hercules
The cave children remember, with its window onto the ocean.
Afternoon
Camels and the beach
A short camel ride on Achakkar Beach, then sand and waves.
Evening
The Grand Socco
An easy stroll, a fresh juice and the lights of the square.

Eat your way through Tangier

Breakfast stalls, spices, steam and a sunset tea.

Morning
The food tour
Six to eight tasting stops through the medina, best started at 9 or 10.
The food tour
Afternoon
The spice stalls and a hammam
Browse the spice sellers, then an hour of steam, black soap and a massage.
Sunset
Mint tea at Café Hafa
The classic Tangier ending, above the Strait.
Evening
Dinner in the old town
Grilled fish or a riad dinner: your guide tells you where to book.

A slow day with the best views

Light, sea and time to sit.

Morning
Photo walk in the Kasbah
The soft morning light on white walls and blue doors, with a photographer.
The photography excursion
Midday
Lunch and the Grand Socco
A long lunch, then the gardens beside the square.
Afternoon
Hammam and spa
Steam, scrub and an argan-oil massage.
Sunset
Yacht trip in the bay
Out on the water as the city lights come on.

Tangier in pictures

A few more reasons to come

The port and the bay of Tangier seen from the Kasbah viewpoint

Palm trees, lawns and passers-by on the Grand Socco square in Tangier

The courtyard entrance of the American Legation in Tangier, with the US seal above the door

A basket of dried flowers, roots and spices in the Tangier medina

The Gran Café de Paris on the Place de France in Tangier

A chicken tagine, salads and mint tea on a tiled table after a cooking class

Several finished tagines and salads on a table after a Moroccan cooking class

A city of writers and painters

Tangier's story in eight dates

Walk it with a guide and these names turn into doorways, cafés and street corners.

1821
The American Legation
The Sultan gives the United States a building in the medina, today the Tangier American Legation museum.
1832
Delacroix arrives
Eugène Delacroix comes with a French mission and fills his notebooks with the city and its people.
1912
Matisse at the Villa de France
Henri Matisse paints the view from his hotel window, and comes back the following winter.
1920
The Gran Café de Paris
The café on the Place de France opens and becomes a meeting place for diplomats, writers and travellers.
1921
Café Hafa
Tea terraces open on the cliff of the Marshan, looking across the Strait to Spain.
1923
The International Zone
Tangier becomes an international zone governed by several countries, until it rejoins Morocco in 1956.
1947
Paul Bowles settles here
The American writer makes Tangier his home until his death in 1999, and the Beat writers follow.
1949
Librairie des Colonnes
The bookshop on Boulevard Pasteur opens and becomes the city's literary living room.

Want the story on foot? See the literary walk.

When to come

Tangier through the year

Mild all year, with a sea breeze in summer. Here is what each season is best for.

March to May
Spring
18 to 22°C by day
Green hills, wildflowers along the coast and easy walking weather. Evenings are cool.
Best for Medina walks · Perdicaris Park · Day trips
June to August
Summer
25 to 29°C by day
Warm and sunny, cooled by the wind off the Strait. August is the busiest month, with Moroccan families on holiday.
Best for Yacht trips · Beaches · Evenings at Café Hafa
September to November
Autumn
20 to 27°C by day
Often the best time of year: the sea is still warm and the light is soft. The rain comes back in November.
Best for Camel rides at sunset · Photo walks · Nearly everything
December to February
Winter
16 to 17°C by day
Mild days and cool nights, with some rain. The city is quiet and the hammams are at their best.
Best for Food tour · Cooking class · Hammam

Temperatures are typical daytime highs.

Local know-how

Good to know before you go

Money
Dirhams and cash
Cash is easiest in the medina. Cash machines are easy to find in the new town, and bigger restaurants and hotels take cards.
Getting around
On foot or by taxi
The medina is on foot. Small city taxis use the meter inside town; for Cap Spartel and the caves, a private car saves the waiting.
What to wear
Comfortable, as at home
Wear what you would wear in a European or American city. Good shoes for the cobbled lanes and a layer for the evening wind.
Fridays
Midday prayer
Around the Friday midday prayer some medina shops close for a couple of hours. Everything else runs as usual.
Bargaining
In the souks
Expected in the souks, and not done in shops with marked prices or in cafés. Keep it friendly.
Tipping
Appreciated
Around 10 percent in restaurants, and small change for musicians, porters and parking attendants.
Language
Darija, French, Spanish
Moroccan Arabic and French everywhere, Spanish widely spoken in the north, and more and more English.
Photos
Ask first
Ask before photographing people, especially in the markets. A smile and a question usually get a yes.
Ramadan
The city after dark
During Ramadan many cafés close by day and the streets come alive after sunset. Most activities still run, at adjusted times.

Practical

Getting to Tangier, and more places to visit

Getting to Tangier and getting around the city

From Spain, the fast ferry from Tarifa reaches Tangier City Port (Tanger Ville), next to the medina, in about an hour; ferries from Algeciras dock at Tanger Med, about 40 km east of the city. Our day trip to Tangier from Spain guide has the crossing and a plan for each starting city.

By train, the Al Boraq high-speed line links Tangier with Rabat and Casablanca, and trains arrive at Tanger Ville station in the new town. Flights land at Tangier Ibn Battuta Airport, outside the city, named after the traveller Ibn Battuta, who was born in Tangier in 1304.

In the city, the medina and the Kasbah are best on foot. Small city taxis use the meter, and grand taxis and buses cover longer trips.

More places to visit in Tangier

The Phoenician tombs, cut into the rock on the Marshan cliffs above the Strait. St Andrew's Church, an Anglican church built in Moorish style, with a quiet garden cemetery. Cinema Rif on the Grand Socco, home of the Cinémathèque de Tanger. And the Corniche, the seafront promenade along the bay, with fish restaurants near the port.

In the old city, the Grand Mosque is closed to non-Muslims, like most mosques in Morocco, and you see it from the lanes around it.

Pair it with a tour

Every activity fits into a private tour

One guide, one plan and no logistics for you.

From $25 per person (group of 4)
Private tours
City, walking and day trips across northern Morocco, with a licensed guide and your group only.
See the private tours
Timed to your ship
Shore excursions
Private excursions from the cruise port, back at your ship 60 minutes before all-aboard.
See the shore excursions
2 to 21 days
Multi-day tours
A night in Chefchaouen, Fes, the Sahara and Marrakech, starting in Tangier.
See the multi-day tours
From $45 per person
Tangier food tour
Six to eight tasting stops through the medina with a local guide.
See the food tour

Why book with us

Why explore Tangier with us

Licensed local guides
Ministry-certified guides who speak English, French, Spanish and Arabic, with every trip planned by Fadi.
Always private
Your group only, at your pace and around your interests. Travelling alone? You join a tour already planned on your date if its group agrees, or we suggest a date when one runs.
One plan for the day
We fit your favourites into one day with one guide and one car, so no time is lost between stops.
Book direct, no fees
Clear per-person pricing, no agency commission, and a real person who always replies.

Good to know

Things to do in Tangier FAQ

What travellers ask before they plan their days.

Still deciding?Ask a guide directly on WhatsApp. Replies within 2 hours (8am to 10pm).

What are the best things to do in Tangier?

Walk the Medina and the Kasbah, see the Caves of Hercules and Cap Spartel, ride a camel on Achakkar Beach, drink mint tea at Café Hafa and eat your way through the old town on a food tour. With more time, add a yacht trip, a hammam, the Kasbah Museum and the American Legation, or a day trip to Chefchaouen.

What are the best things to do in Tangier in one day?

With a single day: the Kasbah and Medina in the morning, the Caves of Hercules and Cap Spartel around midday, a camel ride on Achakkar Beach, and mint tea at Café Hafa before dinner. A private guide makes it all fit comfortably. The sample days above show four ways to plan it.

How do I get to Tangier from Spain?

Take the fast ferry from Tarifa to Tanger Ville, beside the medina, in about an hour, or a ferry from Algeciras to Tanger Med, about 40 km east of the city. You book the ferry yourself and your guide meets you at the port, with an extra fee for pick-up at Tanger Med. A day trip from Spain fits the medina, the Kasbah and Cap Spartel.

When is the best time to visit Tangier?

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable, with warm days and soft light, and September and October are hard to beat. Summer is warm and busiest in August; winter is mild with some rain.

Is Tangier safe for tourists?

Yes, Tangier is safe for tourists. It is a busy port city used to cruise passengers and day visitors from Spain, and the usual city care applies: watch your bag in crowded souks and agree taxi fares before you ride. The main nuisance is unofficial guides in the medina, and walking with a licensed guide keeps them away.

How much do activities in Tangier cost?

Private tours start at $25 per person for a group of 4, the food tour at $45 and the cooking class at $95. The yacht trip, quad biking and the hammam are quoted on request, and you get a clear per-person price before you book. Most groups pay nothing before the day. Groups of 11 or more pay a deposit of 40% of the agreed price to hold the date (the cooking class needs none), and anything we book ahead for you, such as the boat or the hammam, needs a deposit.

Camel ride on the Atlantic

Quad biking in the countryside

Yacht trip in Tangier Bay

Caves of Hercules and Cap Spartel

The Medina and the Kasbah on foot

Grand Socco, Petit Socco and Café Hafa

Tangier food tour

Moroccan cooking class

Traditional hammam and spa

Kasbah Museum and the American Legation

Photo walk with a professional photographer

Perdicaris Park and the pine forest

Literary and artistic Tangier

Jewish Tangier

Day trip to Chefchaouen, Asilah or Tetouan

The classic Tangier day

The Medina and the Kasbah

Lunch in the medina

Cap Spartel and the caves

Camel ride on Achakkar Beach

Mint tea at Café Hafa

A day for the whole family

Perdicaris Park

The Caves of Hercules

Camels and the beach

The Grand Socco

Eat your way through Tangier

The food tour

The spice stalls and a hammam

Mint tea at Café Hafa

Dinner in the old town

A slow day with the best views

Photo walk in the Kasbah

Lunch and the Grand Socco

Hammam and spa

Yacht trip in the bay

The American Legation

Delacroix arrives

Matisse at the Villa de France

The Gran Café de Paris

Café Hafa

The International Zone

Paul Bowles settles here

Librairie des Colonnes

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Getting to Tangier and getting around the city

More places to visit in Tangier

Private tours

Shore excursions

Multi-day tours

Tangier food tour

Licensed local guides

Always private

One plan for the day

Book direct, no fees