Tangier Kasbah and Medina
3 hEveryone
A walk of about 3 h uphill from the Grand Socco to the Petit Socco and the kasbah, with its museum (30 DH) and viewpoints over the Strait.
From Tarifa1 h by ferry
From Algeciras1 h 30 to Tangier Med
To Asilah45 min
Best timeMay · Jun · Sep · Oct
Minimum time1 night
What to do
What to do in Tangier and Asilah
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Cape Spartel and the Caves of Hercules
3 hFamilies
The 1864 lighthouse above the Strait, 14 km from Tangier, and the Caves of Hercules with their Africa-shaped mouth. Half a day by car or taxi.
Asilah Medina and Its Murals
2 hEveryone, with a pushchair
A white walled medina on the Atlantic, 40 km from Tangier, with murals renewed every summer at the Moussem. About 2 h on foot.
Plan the trip
Tangier and Asilah, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Tangier and Asilah
From May to October. July and August are mild, but they coincide with Operation Crossing the Strait and the ferries are full: book. In winter it rains quite a lot and the levante blows.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Where to stay
Where to stay in Tangier and Asilah
El Minzah
Why we like it: Tangier's great classic hotel, a step from the Grand Socco. Ask for a courtyard room if street noise bothers you.
Dar Nour
Why we like it: A labyrinthine guesthouse in the kasbah, with terraces looking towards Spain.
Hotel
Hotel Zelis
Why we like it: A simple hotel by the sea, a few minutes' walk from the Asilah medina.
Where to eat
Where to eat in Tangier and Asilah
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Café Hafa
What to order: mint tea looking over the Strait.
Open since 1921 · stepped terraces above the cliff
Gran Café de Paris
What to order: a black coffee or tea on the terrace.
A historic café in the new town, opposite the French consulate
Casa García
What to order: fried fish or a grilled-fish platter of the day.
Spanish-style fish cooking · by the port · more than 35 years
Nearby
Near Tangier and Asilah
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Cross on the Tarifa ferry
You arrive in the centre of Tangier, not the outer port. For a trip without a car it is much more comfortable.
- 2Don't accept the first person waiting at the port
Those who offer you a hotel or a guide as you step off the ferry charge commission. Go on foot or by petit taxi.
- 3Have a tea at the Café Hafa
Stepped terraces above the Strait, with Spain opposite on clear days.
How do you cross from Spain?
From Tarifa, Baleària and Africa Morocco Link go to Tangier Ville, the port in the centre, in about an hour. You get off the ferry and you are ten minutes' walk from the medina. From Algeciras, the ferries go to Tangier Med, about 45 km from the city, in an hour and a half or a little more: that is the option if you have a car. In summer, with Operation Crossing the Strait, book and arrive in good time.
You need a passport valid for more than six months; the national ID card is not valid (checked in November 2026). If you cross with your car, carry the vehicle documents and the green card for the insurance.
How do I get to Asilah?
Asilah is about 45 km south of Tangier. By train it takes about 45 minutes from Tangier Ville station; by grand taxi or car, a little less. You can see it in half a day, but you will want to sleep: at night the medina falls silent.
From Tangier the Al Boraq reaches Casablanca in a little over two hours, and there are trains to Fez in about four. Chefchaouen is about two hours by car or bus.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can you go to Tangier for the day from Tarifa?
Yes: an hour by ferry each way and the medina can be seen in a few hours. Carry your passport and come back with a margin for the last ferry.
Is Spanish spoken?
A lot, especially among older people and in shops. Tangier was under international status and the Spanish presence was large.
What is better for sleeping, Tangier or Asilah?
Tangier for getting around by train and having more restaurants; Asilah for resting with the sea and a quiet medina.
Are there beaches?
In Tangier, those of the bay and those on the Atlantic towards Cape Spartel. In Asilah, the town beach and, further south, Paradise Beach, about ten minutes by car.