Where to stay · Tangier · Morocco
Where to stay in Tangier
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: RACHID BAYA, CC0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Medina. Whitewashed lanes, the Petit Socco and riad guesthouses between the port and the kasbah. Best alternatives — families: Corniche and Tanja Marina Bay; nightlife: Ville Nouvelle.
Key facts
- First visit
- Medina
- Families
- Corniche and Tanja Marina Bay
- Budget
- Medina
- Nightlife
- Ville Nouvelle
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Medina | Whitewashed lanes, the Petit Socco and riad guesthouses between the port and the kasbah |
| Families | Corniche and Tanja Marina Bay | Seafront promenade, city beach and the new marina below the medina |
| Couples | Medina | Whitewashed lanes, the Petit Socco and riad guesthouses between the port and the kasbah |
| Budget | Medina | Whitewashed lanes, the Petit Socco and riad guesthouses between the port and the kasbah |
| Luxury | Kasbah | The quiet hilltop citadel with a palace museum and terraces over the Strait |
| Nightlife | Ville Nouvelle | The 20th-century city of boulevards, cafés and hotels around Place de France |
| Solo travellers | Ville Nouvelle | The 20th-century city of boulevards, cafés and hotels around Place de France |
| Shopping | Ville Nouvelle | The 20th-century city of boulevards, cafés and hotels around Place de France |
| Quiet stays | Kasbah | The quiet hilltop citadel with a palace museum and terraces over the Strait |
| Beach | Corniche and Tanja Marina Bay | Seafront promenade, city beach and the new marina below the medina |
Tangier neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, culture, couples and budget
Medina
Tangier's old walled town climbs from the port towards the kasbah through narrow stepped lanes, with the Petit Socco square and its old cafés at the centre and the Grand Socco at its western gate. Small riads and guesthouses here have roof terraces with harbour views, and the main sights are all on foot.
- Good
- Sights on the doorstep; Characterful riads with views; Cafés and street food
- Watch out
- Steep lanes and steps; Hard to reach by car with luggage; Unofficial guides at the entrances
- Nearby
- Petit Socco, Grand Socco, American Legation, Kasbah
$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, quiet stays and culture
Kasbah
The kasbah crowns the medina's hill around the former sultan's palace, Dar el Makhzen, now the Kasbah Museum. Its quiet lanes hold some of the city's most stylish guesthouses and boutique riads, and the gate of Bab el Bahr opens onto a terrace facing Spain.
- Good
- Quieter than the lower medina; Views across the Strait; Boutique riads
- Watch out
- Steep climb from the port; Few restaurants
- Nearby
- Kasbah Museum, Bab el Bahr, Medina
$$ · Best for first-timers, solo travellers, nightlife and shopping
Ville Nouvelle
Built largely during the International Zone era, the Ville Nouvelle centres on Place de France, the Café de Paris and Boulevard Pasteur, with its Terrasse des Paresseux viewpoint. It has most of the mid-range hotels, banks, restaurants and bars, and is a 10-minute walk downhill to the Grand Socco.
- Good
- Central and practical; Good restaurants and cafés; Easy taxi access
- Watch out
- Less atmospheric than the medina; Busy traffic
- Nearby
- Place de France, Boulevard Pasteur, Terrasse des Paresseux, Grand Socco
$$ · Best for quiet stays and couples
Marshan
West of the kasbah, the plateau of Marshan is a calm residential district of old villas, a football stadium and the Phoenician rock tombs cut into the cliff. Café Hafa's terraces step down the slope towards the sea, and a few guesthouses and villas take in the views.
- Good
- Peaceful; Sea views; Walkable to the kasbah
- Watch out
- Few hotels and restaurants; Uphill walk back from the medina
- Nearby
- Café Hafa, Phoenician tombs, Kasbah
$$ · Best for families, beach and first-timers
Corniche and Tanja Marina Bay
The Corniche runs along the city beach east of the port, lined with hotels, cafés and a wide promenade where families stroll in the evening. At its western end, the redeveloped port area of Tanja Marina Bay has yachts, restaurants and views up to the medina walls.
- Good
- Seafront walks; Large modern hotels; Close to the train station
- Watch out
- Busy road along the seafront; City beach water quality varies
- Nearby
- Tanja Marina Bay, City beach, Tanger Ville station
$$$ · Best for families, beach and quiet stays
Malabata
East of the centre, Malabata is a strip of larger resort hotels and apartments along the bay, with a quieter beach and views back towards the medina and the port. It suits families and drivers, with the centre about 10–15 minutes away by taxi.
- Good
- Quieter beach; Resort hotels with pools; City views
- Watch out
- Taxi needed for the medina; Little character
- Nearby
- Malabata beach, Corniche
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and luxury
Cap Spartel and Rmilat
The wooded hills of Rmilat and the Montagne to the west of the city hold grand villas, royal residences and Perdicaris Park, with the road continuing to the Cap Spartel lighthouse and Atlantic beaches. A few hotels and guesthouses here offer space and sea air, but you need a car or taxi for everything.
- Good
- Peaceful, green setting; Close to the Atlantic beaches; Sunset views
- Watch out
- Car or taxi essential; Far from the medina's restaurants
- Nearby
- Perdicaris Park, Cap Spartel, Caves of Hercules, Achakar beach
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Medina | $$ | Petit Socco, Grand Socco, American Legation, Kasbah |
| Kasbah | $$$ | Kasbah Museum, Bab el Bahr, Medina |
| Ville Nouvelle | $$ | Place de France, Boulevard Pasteur, Terrasse des Paresseux, Grand Socco |
| Marshan | $$ | Café Hafa, Phoenician tombs, Kasbah |
| Corniche and Tanja Marina Bay | $$ | Tanja Marina Bay, City beach, Tanger Ville station |
| Malabata | $$$ | Malabata beach, Corniche |
| Cap Spartel and Rmilat | $$$ | Perdicaris Park, Cap Spartel, Caves of Hercules, Achakar beach |
Getting to your hotel
Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport is about 15 km south-west of the centre. Taxis take about 20–25 minutes to the Ville Nouvelle or the edge of the medina; agree the fare before departure.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Tangier for first-time visitors?
Medina. Tangier's old walled town climbs from the port towards the kasbah through narrow stepped lanes, with the Petit Socco square and its old cafés at the centre and the Grand Socco at its western gate.
+Where should families stay in Tangier?
Corniche and Tanja Marina Bay: Seafront walks.
+Which area of Tangier is best for a budget stay?
Medina ($$): Whitewashed lanes, the Petit Socco and riad guesthouses between the port and the kasbah.