Tangier walking tour & city guide
Where Africa meets Europe across the strait.
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Tangier sits on the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic and Spain is visible across the water. For decades it was an international zone that attracted writers, artists and spies, and today it is a revitalized city with a lively medina, a kasbah and a beautiful bay.
The medina and the kasbah
The Grand Socco, a busy square at the edge of the medina, leads into a maze of whitewashed lanes. The Petit Socco, a small square in the heart of the medina, was once the center of Tangier's bohemian café life. The Tangier American Legation is the first property the United States owned abroad, now a museum.
At the top of the medina, the kasbah has the Dar el-Makhzen palace, now a museum, and terraces with views across the strait to Spain. Writers like Paul Bowles and the Beat Generation authors lived and worked in Tangier.
The bay and the coast
The Ville Nouvelle has wide boulevards, the famous Café Hafa terraces overlooking the sea and the Terrasse des Paresseux viewpoint. The new marina and seafront promenade line the bay.
West of the city, Cap Spartel marks the point where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, and the nearby Caves of Hercules have an opening shaped like a map of Africa.
Visiting tips
Ferries cross from Tarifa and Algeciras in Spain in about an hour. Al Boraq, Africa's first high-speed train, links Tangier with Rabat and Casablanca. Chefchaouen and Asilah are easy day trips.
Top sights in Tangier
- 1
Kasbah Museum
A palace with views to Spain.
- 2
Grand Socco
The gateway to the medina.
- 3
Petit Socco
A small square with historic cafés.
- 4
American Legation
A historic museum in the medina.
- 5
Cap Spartel
Where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean.
- 6
Caves of Hercules
Sea caves with a famous opening.
Food markets & where to eat in Tangier
Grand Socco market
Fresh produce sold by Rif mountain women.
Medina food stalls
Snacks and grilled sardines.
Marshan district
Cliffside tea terraces over the sea.
Fish market
Fresh catch near the port.
Food to try in Tangier
Bissara
A warm fava bean soup, a northern favorite.
Kalinté
A chickpea flour tart with Spanish roots.
Grilled sardines
Fresh from the strait.
Mint tea
Sipped on a terrace with sea views.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Tangier
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in TangierCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Tangier.
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