What if one city could feel like Europe and Africa at once?
If you’ve ever travelled to either, Tangier will feel familiar and yet still confuse you – in the best possible way.
Tangier as a city is gritty, poetic, mysterious. But also loud, chaotic, and not for everyone.
Before visiting, I’d heard very mixed reviews of Tangier from the (many!) people I asked.
Assuming I wouldn’t find much there – after all, it’s a HUGE city and I’m totally not a city girl! – I decided to only spend one night there.
After my exciting Morocco travels to date, I expected to feel indifferent about Tangier.
When I arrived, however, I was pleasantly surprised. Something about the city caught my attention… but is visiting Tangier worth it?
Here’s what to know if you’re considering it for your own Morocco itinerary!
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reasons to visit the city of Tangier
Whether you choose to visit Tangier or not will probably depend on logistics – i.e. whether you will be arriving/departing Morocco at the international airport of ferry there.
How long you choose to spend in Tangier will depend on what you’re looking for in your Morocco trip.
If you just need to spend a night, you may choose to check in to a hotel and use it to recharge.
TIP | Check in to Kasbah House for a truly unforgettable stay in Tangier.
It’s a true work of art in the perfect location, topped off with exceptional service and hospitality.
Click here to check availability or click here to read my full review.
If, however, you hope to gain more from your visit, you’ll want spend at least 24 hours in this city and perhaps even a few days.
Here are some of the reasons why you might want to include, or extend, a stay in Tangier.
1 – Tangier is an easy entry point
If you’re planning to visit Morocco for the first time, Tangier is possibly the easiest place to start.
Not only is it the closest point to Europe geographically, but it will feel the most familiar to Europeans culturally, too.
Unlike other Moroccan cities, which can be quite a culture shock to first-time visitors, Tangier is a true melange of people, cultures and lifestyles.
If you want to ease into your Morocco travels, it’s a great starting point.
TIP | If you prefer to throw yourself into the more chaotic side of things, head directly to Marrakech instead!
2 – Tangier is great for history and culture buffs
If you love history and architecture, you’ll find no shortage of things to explore in Tangier.
The medina – i.e. the old town – is well-preserved and home to the city’s Kasbah, which is worth a visit even if you’re not into history.
TIP | If you have a half a day free, and especially if it’s your first time visiting Tangier or Morocco, joining this tour is a great way to see everything, pick up some tips and learn about this must-visit area.
3 – It’s a great base for day trips
If you want to see different places in Morocco while staying in one base, Tangier is a great starting point.
From here, you can take many easy day trips, including:
- the “blue city” of Chefchaouen. It’s a 2-hour drive from Tangier and easy to see in one day if booking a round-trip tour. BOOK HERE
- Akchour waterfalls. Possibly the MOST underrated waterfalls in all of Morocco, it’s possible to combine a visit with a day trip to Chefchaouen. BOOK HERE
- the white-washed town of Asilah. This pretty little town is becoming more popular, and only need a few hours to enjoy. If visiting on a tour, choos one that includes Cap Spartel also. BOOK HERE
4 – You can visit on a day trip
While you’re unlikely to visit Tangier on a day trip from another Moroccan city, there is another place from which it makes a great day trip… Tarifa, Spain!
The passenger ferry takes just one hour and costs around €40 for a return ticket. On the other side, the medina is a short and easy walk from the ferry port.
If booking yourself, use a site like FerryHopper to guarantee the best rates.
Alternatively, book an all-inclusive tour to maximise your time and enjoy have lunch, ferries and a full tour included.
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5 – The restaurant scene is unrivalled
Given how cosmopolitan (and populated!) the city is, it probably goes without saying that foodies will love Tangier.
If you’re craving some cous-cous, tagine or other Moroccan delicacies, you won’t have to wander far to find many great options in Tangier.
Something I loved about Tangier was that you can also find a range of international cuisine – something that was very welcome after two weeks of same-y options for vegetarians.
A personal highlight was Abou Tayssir, an authentic Syrian restaurant where most of the menu can be vegan (or already is!).
It’s also the only place where I found specialty coffee, at Omeza Coffee Gallery.
6 – It’s great for shopping, too!
After exploring the souks of Marrakech, Fes and Chefchaouen, among others, I didn’t expect to find myself shopping in Tangier.
And yet, there I was, picking up some last-minute supplies of argan oil products – which, to my surprise, were around the same price as elsewhere.
I (wrongly) expected Tangier to be on the pricier side but it seems prices are fairly consistent. If anything, the souks in Marrakech are the ones where you’ll need the best bartering skills!
reasons to skip Tangier
1 – You don’t have much time
If you only have a short time in Morocco, visiting Tangier might not be worth it.
With less than one week, it’s probably best to choose between mostly basing in Tangier and going on day trips, then heading somewhere like Marrakech or Essaouira by train, or skipping it altogether.
Anything else will involve too much travel and leave little time to actually see anything.
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HolaFly is my eSIM of choice because it offers unlimited data and incredible connection across the country (even in the desert and mountains where other eSIMs don’t work!).
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2 – Tangier only scratches the surface
On the one hand, Tangier is a true mix of cultures and has a little bit of everything. On the other, that means it doesn’t really give an immersive experience of anything.
It’s the classic specialist vs generalist dilemma, and Tangier is about as generalist as it gets in Morocco.
That can make it a great introduction to Morocco or day trip from Spain – but it’s not going to give the deep travel experiences you can find elsewhere.
3 – There’s SO much more to Morocco
In a similar vein, I just feel that other parts of Morocco are more exciting.
As much as I liked Tangier, it doesn’t entirely feel like Morocco to me – at least, not the Morocco that I absolutely adore.
For me, Morocco is mountains, deserts and surfing on beautiful coastline.
Tangier is a great stopping point on the way – or after visiting – those places, but not really a replacement.
Not if you want to see the Moroccan wilderness at its very best.
TIP – GETTING AROUND | The most common ride hailing app in Morocco is InDrive. Rides are on a barter basis – make whatever offer you like! – and are paid in cash. Download the app before you arrive.
So, is Tangier worth visiting?
Before I went there… I would have said probably not.
Having visited Tangier, though, I find it to be a surprisingly charming city with lots to offers and plenty of reasons to add it to a Morocco itinerary.
Whether you visit will largely depend on how much time you have, what your priorities are and what kind of Morocco trip you want to have.
One thing is for sure – it’s impossible to see all of Morocco unless you have at least(!) two fulls weeks to explore.
Tips for visiting Tangier
If you do decide to visit Tangier, here are some quick tips to help you make the most of it:
- In some places, it’s hard to get by without Arabic or, more likely, French – more-so than in any other part of Morocco I have visited (and I’ve been everywhere!)
- The city felt very safe to me, but make sure you take all the usual precautions. I walked around, as a solo female traveller, with my camera in plain sight, but I would always exercise caution anywhere.
- As with anywhere in Morocco, there is no shortage of scammers. Be smart and avoid accepting any unsolicited “help” from strangers.
- Get an eSIM so you always have access to the internet if needed – it will come in handy.
- If you are flying out of Tangier airport – or any Moroccan airport – you will need a physical boarding pass. Digital boarding passes are not accepted in Morocco and some airlines will charge a fee to print them. It’s best to visit a local print shop or, if you can, ask your hotel to help (Kasbah House kindly printed mine!).
- Tangier is relatively liberal compared with the rest of Morocco (there are even casinos!) but I still prefer to dress conservatively and keep my legs and shoulders travelled there to avoid drawing attention to myself.
