Private shore excursion · Tetouan
Tetouan Shore Excursion: The UNESCO White Medina
Tetouan, Morocco's most Andalusian city, an hour from your ship: a UNESCO World Heritage medina, the Royal Palace square and the Spanish quarter, with a licensed local guide.
From $75 per person
- Private group
- 5 to 6 hours
- About an hour from the port
Ship times from the published Tangier port schedule. We confirm yours when you book.
- Licensed local guidesMinistry-certified
- 60-min safety bufferBack before all-aboard
- UNESCO medinaWorld Heritage site
- About 60 kmRoughly an hour's drive
- No prepaymentDeposit only for larger groups
Why Tetouan
The Morocco that most cruise passengers never see
Most shore excursions take you to the famous names. Tetouan is something else: a Moroccan city that still belongs entirely to the people who live in it.
Its old medina earned UNESCO World Heritage status because it is one of the most complete and untouched in Morocco. It was built from the late 15th century by Andalusian refugees, Muslims and Jews expelled from Spain, and that heritage is everywhere: in the whitewashed walls, the wrought-iron windows, the Spanish spoken in the streets, the pastries in the bakeries.
Tetouan sits about 60 km from the Tangier cruise port, roughly an hour by road. That makes it the right choice for cruise passengers who want a genuine Moroccan city within a relaxed, on-time day.
This is the excursion for travellers who like to come home with the story no one else on the ship has.
- 5 to 6 hoursThe full half-day
- UNESCOWorld Heritage medina
- About 60 kmRoughly an hour's drive
- PrivateYour group only
Your day in Tetouan
A relaxed half-day, timed around your ship
Example times for a 10:00 docking. Your guide sets the real ones with you, from your ship's arrival and all-aboard.
- Port pickup
- The scenic drive
- Royal Palace square
- The UNESCO medina
- Crafts and Spanish quarter
- Back at your ship
- 60-minute buffer
- All-aboard
Pick your ship at the top of the page and every time here moves to its arrival.
Morning
Port pickup
We meet you at the cruise terminal, Tangier Med or Tangier City Port, with a name sign, and set off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
About 1 hour
The scenic drive
A short, easy drive south along the coast and into the foothills of the Rif Mountains. Tetouan appears, white against the green hillside.
Late morning
Place Hassan II and the Royal Palace
We start at the grand square in front of the Royal Palace, the meeting point of the modern town and the old medina.
Midday
The UNESCO medina
A guided walk through the white medina: covered souks, craft workshops, the tanneries, hidden squares. Optional lunch at a traditional restaurant.
Afternoon
Crafts and the Spanish quarter
A visit to Dar Sanaa, the Royal Artisan School, then a stroll through the Ensanche, the elegant Spanish-built quarter with its Art Deco facades.
Return
Back to your ship
An easy drive back, with a comfortable buffer. You are at the terminal well before all-aboard.
What you'll see
Six places that define Tetouan
Place Hassan II
The ceremonial heart of the city: a bright open square framing the Royal Palace, where old and new Tetouan meet.
Bab Okla
The grand gateway into the old medina, and the start of the UNESCO-listed labyrinth.
The UNESCO Medina
White-walled lanes, covered souks and working workshops: one of the most authentic and best-preserved medinas in all of Morocco.
Dar Sanaa, the Royal Artisan School
Where the next generation learns zellige tilework, carved cedar, leather and embroidery. A living museum of Moroccan craft.
The Archaeological Museum
A compact, rewarding museum of Roman mosaics and artefacts from the ancient sites of northern Morocco.
The Ensanche, the Spanish quarter
Wide boulevards and Art Deco buildings from the Spanish protectorate era: a striking contrast to the medina, and pure Tetouan.
Good to know
Before you book, for cruise passengers
Time in port
7 hours or more
The excursion takes 5 to 6 hours and we keep an hour before all-aboard.
Ports
Tangier Med or City Port
We meet you at either terminal with a name sign. No taxi needed.
Walking
About 2 to 3 km
Cobbled, gently hilly streets at a relaxed pace. Comfortable shoes recommended. Tell us in advance about any mobility needs.
Lunch
Optional, not included
At a traditional restaurant in the medina. We recommend a good local spot.
Museums
Small, optional fees
Paid on the spot, only if you choose to go in.
Late ship
Covered
We track your ship's real schedule and plan the day around its all-aboard time.
Languages
English, French, Spanish, Arabic
Your licensed guide speaks the language you choose at booking.
Group
Private
Your group only, with your own guide and vehicle. No big bus, no strangers, no waiting.
Payment
Pay on the day
Cash (USD, EUR, GBP or MAD), PayPal or bank transfer. No prepayment; larger groups leave a small deposit. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before.
Clear terms
What's included and what's not
Included
- Pickup and drop-off at the cruise terminal (Tangier Med or Tangier City Port)
- Private air-conditioned vehicle for the full excursion
- Licensed Ministry-certified local guide (English, French, Spanish, Arabic)
- Guided walking tour of the UNESCO medina
- All driving, fuel, parking and tolls
- Bottled water
- A relaxed itinerary built around your ship's schedule
Not included
- Lunch and drinks (we recommend a great local spot)
- Museum entrance fees (small, optional)
- Personal shopping in the souks
- Tips for guide and driver (appreciated, never expected)
Why this excursion
Why this excursion stands out
A UNESCO World Heritage medina
One of the best-preserved and most authentic medinas in Morocco, and far less touristy than Fes or Marrakech.
The Andalusian connection
Built by Muslims and Jews who left Granada in the 15th century. The architecture, the food and the craftsmanship all carry that Spanish-Moorish heritage.
Short drive, real city
Just an hour from the port. A complete, authentic Moroccan city without the long road trip, ideal for a comfortable cruise-day schedule.
A living craft tradition
Tetouan is famous for its artisans. We visit the Royal Artisan School, where young Moroccans still learn zellige, woodcarving and embroidery by hand.
Compare
Tetouan, Asilah or Chefchaouen?
Three day trips from the port, side by side.
| Tetouan | Asilah and Cap Spartel | Chefchaouen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 5 to 6 hours | 5 to 6 hours | 8 to 9 hours |
| Distance | About 60 km, about an hour | 46 km, about 45 minutes | About 110 km, about 2 hours |
| The day | UNESCO medina, Royal Palace square, Spanish quarter | Cap Spartel, ramparts, painted medina, Atlantic beach | The blue medina in the Rif Mountains |
| Lunch | Optional, not included | Your choice, not included | Your choice, not included |
| From Tangier Med | Yes | Allow 1 h 15 each way | Yes |
| Price | From $75 | From $120 | From $120 |
| You are here | See Asilah | See Chefchaouen |
Guest reviews
What our guests say
Rated 4.9 from 85 reviews on Google.
★★★★★
Thank you, Fadi, for a wonderful day in Tangier. Your tour guide was friendly, very interesting, and entertaining. Highly recommended, Fadi's tour.
Claudio LupiLocal Guide · Level 5
★★★★★
Communication w the company was excellent prior to our tour. Our guide Nedi was excellent, met us promptly at the designated place and the tour was fantastic. Pace was perfect and it was customized to meet our interests…
Barbara RSLocal Guide · Level 5
★★★★★
Fadi was very helpful with the tour and welcoming us to Morocco!!
Garry LaquinteLocal Guide · Level 7
Ready to explore Tetouan
See the real Morocco
Send your ship name, date and group size. We confirm availability and a precise plan within 12 hours, with no prepayment and free cancellation up to 48 hours before.
Good to know
Tetouan shore excursion FAQ
What cruise passengers ask us before they book.
How far is Tetouan from the Tangier cruise port?
About 60 km, roughly a one-hour drive. It is one of the easiest cruise excursions to fit comfortably into a port day, with plenty of time to explore.
Will I get back to my ship on time?
Yes. We plan the day around your ship's all-aboard time, keep a safety buffer, and track your ship's real schedule. We have never returned a guest late.
What makes Tetouan different from other Moroccan cities?
Tetouan was built by Andalusian refugees from Granada, so it has a distinct Spanish-Moorish character. Its medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains one of the most authentic and least touristy in Morocco.
Is this a private excursion?
Yes: your group only, with your own guide and vehicle. No big bus, no strangers, no waiting.
How much walking is involved?
The medina is explored on foot over cobbled, gently hilly streets, around 2 to 3 km at a relaxed pace. Comfortable shoes recommended. Tell us in advance about any mobility needs.
How do we pay?
You pay your guide on the day, in cash (USD, EUR, GBP or MAD), by PayPal or by bank transfer. Most bookings need no prepayment; for larger groups we ask for a small deposit to hold the date. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before.
More shore excursions
Other ways to spend your day in port
Asilah and Cap SpartelCap Spartel's lighthouse, then the coastal drive south to Asilah's Portuguese ramparts, whitewashed medina and Atlantic beach. Quiet, photogenic, unhurried.See the excursion
ChefchaouenThe drive through the Rif Mountains to Morocco's blue medina. Lunch in Chaouen, time for the photographs that earn the journey.See the excursion
Tangier Full-DayAll Tangier highlights, a traditional Moroccan lunch, and an optional camel ride on Achakkar Beach. The complete day.See the excursion