5 days in Tangier

Day by day

1. Day 1: Tangier medina and Petit Socco

   Tangier medina, Petit Socco and Grand Socco, then Terrasse des Paresseux in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Tangier medina

      Use the kasbah at the top and the Grand Socco at the bottom as your landmarks; walking uphill always leads to the kasbah. (Half a day, free).

   2. Late morning

      Petit Socco

      Take a mint tea on a café terrace and watch medina life pass through the square. (30–60 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bissara

      Small cafés in the medina in the morning, and at Café Hafa.

   4. Afternoon

      Grand Socco

      Have a coffee at the Cinémathèque's café and check its programme of art-house and classic films. (30–60 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Terrasse des Paresseux

      Stop here during an evening stroll along Boulevard Pasteur, then take a drink at the Café de Paris.

2. Day 2: Caves of Hercules and Cap Spartel

   Caves of Hercules, Cap Spartel and Perdicaris Park, then Corniche and Tanja Marina Bay in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Caves of Hercules

      Visit in the late afternoon and stay for sunset over the Atlantic at Achakar beach next door. (1 hour, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Cap Spartel

      Go on a clear day and combine it with the Caves of Hercules, about 10 minutes further south. (1 hour, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kalinte

      Street carts and bakeries in the medina and around the Grand Socco, served hot.

   4. Afternoon

      Perdicaris Park

      Visit on the way to Cap Spartel for a short forest walk with views over the Strait. (1–2 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Corniche and Tanja Marina Bay

      Walk the Corniche in the early evening, when Tangier's families come out and the sea breeze cools the city.

3. Day 3: Kasbah Museum (Dar el Makhzen) and Mendoubia Gardens

   Kasbah Museum (Dar el Makhzen), Mendoubia Gardens and Tangier American Legation Museum, then Ville Nouvelle in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Kasbah Museum (Dar el Makhzen)

      Combine the museum with the terrace at Bab el Bahr on a clear day, when the Spanish coast looks close enough to touch. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Mendoubia Gardens

      Sit under the huge banyan tree on a hot afternoon; it is one of the coolest spots in the city centre. (30 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Harira

      Cafés and simple restaurants across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Tangier American Legation Museum

      Look out for the room of paintings of old Tangier and the Paul Bowles wing with his books and recordings. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Ville Nouvelle

      Hotel bars, lounges and restaurants with drinks around Boulevard Pasteur and Place de France.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Asilah

   About 45 minutes by train or car each way. Getting there: Train from Tanger Ville, or grand taxi.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Asilah

      About 45 minutes by train or car (Train from Tanger Ville, or grand taxi); about 45 km.

   2. Day

      Asilah

      A small walled Atlantic town with a whitewashed medina decorated with murals, Portuguese ramparts over the ocean and good fish restaurants. Best for couples, culture and quiet stays.

   3. Evening

      Back in Tangier

      Dinner: try Tagine.

5. Day 5: Café Hafa and Phoenician tombs

   Café Hafa, Phoenician tombs and St Andrew's Church, then Corniche and Tanja Marina Bay in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Café Hafa

      Order mint tea and bissara and stay for sunset; it is at its liveliest at weekends. (1 hour, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Phoenician tombs

      Combine them with Café Hafa on a walk west from the kasbah. (30 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tagine

      Restaurants in the medina and the Ville Nouvelle.

   4. Afternoon

      St Andrew's Church

      The caretaker usually shows visitors around; a small donation is appreciated. (30–45 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Corniche and Tanja Marina Bay

      Seafront cafés, restaurants and the marina's terraces, busy on summer nights.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Medina keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Kasbah ($$$) suits couples, luxury, quiet stays and culture. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–18 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.7 hours in December to 14.6 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Tangier
• 2 days in Tangier
• 3 days in Tangier

Questions travellers ask