Are you looking for a city that combines history, the warmth of the sun, the beauty of the beaches, the rich heritage, and above all, the meeting point between two continents?
If you put a map of the world in front of you, you will find only one city with all these advantages, it's Tangier!
It is one of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean, whose foundation dates back to the fourteenth century BC.
When talking about Morocco, it is first necessary to cross from this city, not because it is the gateway to the Kingdom’s land for those coming from Europe, but also because it is one of the oldest Moroccan cities at all, as many writings indicate that the date of its construction was in the fourteenth century BC by people who wanted to settle near the strait, before it was occupied by the Phoenicians in the tenth century, and nine centuries later it will become the capital of the Tangier Mauritania province of Caesar's rule in Rome.
The arrival of the Arabs to Tangier was at the beginning of the eighth century AD, during the period of the Islamic conquests, and after a long struggle with the Berbers, Tangier became part of the Umayyad state, and the military leader Tariq bin Ziyad became its ruler, and from its shores, he went to Europe to conquer Andalusia, but Tangiers will remain in the centuries that followed this date as part of the successive Moroccan empires, and always remained coveted by Western countries due to its strategic location, which makes it the world’s gateway to Africa, and the city that overlooks the most important commercial sea crossing between Europe and Africa.
A visitor to this city will realize without much trouble that the spirit of Tangier is not only in the unique cultural diversity that derives its legacy from successive civilizations but also from the legend that was and still is one of its historical tributaries. Its name itself is closely related to Greek mythology, as the story says that its founder is Sufax, the grandson of Poseidon, the Greek god of seas and oceans, who gave it the name of his mother Tangis.
Sufax is also the son of Antaeus, the common legend between the Greeks and the Berbers, and one of the giants of mythology, as it is said that he wrestled with Hercules on the land that connected Tangiers with Europe, and with a blow from his fist, the latter separated the two banks, and with the name of Hercules also the most famous and symbolic cave of the city are associated, and it is said he dug it himself to rest in when he was on his way to carry out the task of recovering the golden apples from the keepers of the gardens of the Hesperides so that Zeus, the father of the gods in the ancient Greek belief, would gift them to his wife Hera.
It is therefore a city with a long history, and legends that make Tangiers a city with a vibrant spirit, and a historical identity mixed with many cultural tributaries that enriched this city, which is considered the gateway to Africa, the meeting point of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and it is only 12 kilometers from Europe.
How to reach Tangiers via flights?
A tourist who wants to visit Tangier will not find much trouble to reach it. There are many options.
From outside Morocco, the tourist will find that there are many Moroccan or international airlines that provide direct flights from the most important European capitals to Tangier, at competitive prices.
According to the Moroccan National Airports Office, you can travel to Tangier via Royal Air Maroc from 6 countries: Spain via Barcelona and Malaga airports, France via Paris Orly airport, the Netherlands via Amsterdam airport, Belgium via Brussels airport, and finally the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia via Jeddah airport. Royal Air Maroc has domestic flights between Tangiers and 4 Moroccan cities: Casablanca, Al Hoceima, Nador, and Fez.
But Royal Air Maroc is not the only one that can bring you to Tangier. Tourists can visit Tangier from Madrid via Air Nostrum, and from Barcelona and Paris via Vueling Airlines. Ryanair connects Tangiers to many airports such as Beauvais (Paris), Marseille, Bordeaux, and Toulouse in France, as well as Charleroi Airport in Belgium, Madrid, Seville, and Valencia in Spain, Frankfurt and Dusseldorf in Germany, and Rome and Milan Bergamo in Italy. As for Tui fly, it provides flights to the Dutch airports of Rotterdam, Lille, Brussels, Anvers, and Charleroi in Belgium.
Air Arabia represents one of the strengths of Tangier's air link. In addition to providing two domestic flights to Nador and Agadir, it connects Tangier with flights to London Gatwick Airport, Madrid, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Brussels, Malaga, Valencia, Bilbao, and Lyon. Germanwings offers flights between Tangiers and Cologne. Corendon Airlines provides flights to Amsterdam, while Portugal Airlines operates flights to and from Lisbon.
Access by sea
Tangier's strength in terms of border crossing points is not only in its airport but in its two ports, Tangier Med and Tangier City, which provide tourists with the opportunity to discover the pleasure of traveling across the Mediterranean, making it a favorite for many foreign visitors and also the main gateway for members of the Moroccan community residing in Europe.
The Tangier-Med port received 1,387,661 tourists in 2016, 1,387,661 tourists in 2017, then 1,371,880 tourists in 2018, and during the last year preceding the coronavirus pandemic, 1,258,640 tourists arrived, according to official figures from the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism.
This port is about 51 kilometers away from the city center, which means a journey within 50 minutes by car, but there is no need to worry, as soon as you exit the passenger hall, you will find large taxis that can take you to your destination. There is also a public transport bus line "ALSA" which bears the code LI13 and connects Tangier Med port and the train station in the city center.
The Mediterranean port is ideal for travel for tourists from Europe, as it is linked to Spain via the port of Algeciras, France via the ports of Marseille and Sete, and Italy via the port of Genoa, but if you want to visit the city through this port, it is better to see the port administration’s tips through the official website tangermed-passagers .com because it informs you in advance of the dates when the traffic density is strong or vice versa, and in general avoid the month of July and the first half of August because it coincides with the arrival of the Moroccan community residing abroad.
In turn, the city's port is also a convenient option for tourists to access Tangiers. In terms of numbers, this port attracted 478,478 tourists throughout 2016, then 594,654 tourists in 2017, and 659,795 tourists in the following year. In 2019, 670,513 tourists crossed it, and it has one external line that connects it to the port of Tarifa in southern Spain through fast ferries that move every hour, and the trip lasts only 35 minutes when the weather is normal.
This port is very ideal for those who want to reach directly to the city center, as it is located next to the marina, near the Marqala Corniche and the Beach Corniche, the latter, which hosts many hotels, restaurants, commercial, tourist, and entertainment spaces, but it is necessary to pay attention to an important matter, is that the trips from and to this port stop when the winds are strong.
The opportunity to experience reaching Tangiers via the fastest train in Africa, Al Buraq
If your arrival is via Mohammed V International Airport, in Casablanca, or through Rabat-Salé Airport in the Moroccan capital, you can reach Tangier via the fastest train in Africa, which is called in Morocco as “Al Buraq”, which is also among the ten fastest trains in the world.
Do not miss the experience of traveling through Al-Buraq, and enjoying its stations in various transit cities, which is one of the most beautiful stations in Africa which give you the opportunity to shop and eat different meals with cafes offering sweets of various forms, so you can live a unique experience.
And through Al-Buraq, you can travel to 3 main cities, the first of which is Kenitra. Thanks to its speed of up to 320 kilometers per hour, you will find yourself in Tangiers within 50 minutes. It will not be difficult if you want to reach it from the capital, Rabat, because the journey will take only 80 minutes of your time, instead of 4 hours via the regular train. As for Casablanca, you need only two hours and 10 minutes to reach it by the same train, and even if you need a comfortable place to work during the travel period, this experience provides you with that and more.
Getting around in Tangier
The experience of moving and getting around in Tangier may be not easy for a first-time visitor, so in the following lines, we will provide you with a set of instructions and tips that will facilitate this task for you, for a safe and smooth movement to the maximum extent possible within the city.
Regarding taxis, you should know that the city has two types of taxis. The first is Petit Taxis (Small Taxis). In Tangier, there is the lowest starting price at the national level at only 5 dirhams, which is the minimum price for the trip, and it rises by 30 cents for every 120 meters or for every minute of parking. In all Petit taxis there is a counter that starts calculating the fare from one dirham and 60 cents.
When you need a petit taxi in the early morning or late at night, you will often not find any problem, but in peak periods such as midday and after six in the evening, and also in the summer day and night, you will often have to wait for the taxi for some time. So you have to take precautions when it comes to an important date.
On the other hand, there are also alternative solutions in exchange for adding some money, and it is related to transportation applications, one of which is the Careem application for taxis, through which you can communicate with the driver who will reach your destination. In the same principle, the In Driver application works, but it does not only provide transportation by taxi, but also by private cars, for the lowest price you want.
Tourists in Tangiers can travel by Grand Taxis (Big taxis), which are useful and economical for faraway places. This type of taxi does not usually roam in the middle of the streets, but you have to go to its fixed stations, and it can be easily identified by asking any driver who picks you up or the drivers present at any of the stations. Also, hotel staff is often familiar with their locations.
In Tangiers, there is also a bus transportation network, provided by Alsa company, which literally covers all residential communities in the city and reaches the neighboring communities that petit taxis do not reach, at a low price ranging between 3 and a half and 7 dirhams, depending on the length of the distance.
To distinguish between the types of lines, pay attention to the fact that the buses that will take you to a place within the urban area bear the letter L before the line number, such as L1 that connects the Bani Makada area with Bukhalef, or the L16 that connects the Castia neighborhood with the Al-Manar area, while those that reach places outside the urban area carry a letter LI before the number, such as LI12, which connects the train station to the neighboring city of Ksar Sghir. In general, you can find out about all lines and trips time via the following link alsa.ma/tanger/lignes.
Where do you spend your night?
There are many options for accommodation in Tangier, from classified hotels to guest houses and unclassified hotels. The city also provides its visitors with the possibility of renting furnished apartments, which are multiple options in the city.
A tourist, whatever his budget, can find a place to stay in Tangier, between three-star hotels that start at 500 dirhams (equivalent to $50) per night, to four-star hotels that start at 900 dirhams (equivalent to $90). ), and the five-star, which starts from 1,300 dirhams (equivalent to $130) in most months of the year, except in the height of the summer season, when these prices rise according to supply and demand.
The tourist has many other options including unclassified hotels, although it is not recommended for families, but for individuals with limited budgets, it is acceptable. There are also many furnished apartments in Tangier, noting that there is an option of hotels that are in the form of guesthouses, which are popular with foreign tourists because they represent a historical attraction with their Andalusian architecture or those that date back to the colonial style, which makes them masterpieces that represent the first choice for the tourist looking for a stay that has a spirit of culture and history in the place.
Tangiers Historic Sites: The Cave of Hercules
Talking about Tangier is not complete without invoking the Cave of Hercules, the place that combines the magic of nature - for being a unique geological marvel - and the mystery of legend, due to its close connection with Greek mythology, which formed an essential part of the city's identity. So if you are going to visit Tangier and pass the coastal road that crosses the picturesque Atlantic beach of Achakkar, don't forget to go there.
The cave was first discovered in 1906 and in 1920 it opened its doors to visitors, and in 2014 it went under a vast restoration process that made it a tourist site worth visiting, where you can enter it for only 10 dirhams, and discover the deepest caves in Africa, which extend 30 meters into the ground. It is also possible to stand in front of its gate overlooking the Atlantic, which resembles the map of Africa to an impressive degree.
Cap Spartel:
If you hold in your hands a Moroccan banknote of 200 dirhams, know that you have a miniature map of the city of Tangier: the blue of the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean port, and the "Cap Spartel" lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in Morocco, which was inaugurated in 1864 by order of Sultan Muhammad IV so that the tragedy of the sinking of the Brazilian ship "Dona Isabel", during which 250 sailors died, would not be repeated.
The place is not only a lighthouse but a coastal tourist and entertainment site worth visiting. The 25-meter-long building, located on a 315-meter-high cliff, is a unique marine museum. In 2021, it was restored and the surrounding area was also restored, which now includes cafes and parks overlooking the seashore, with stunning spaces for photography enthusiasts.
Cervantes Theatre:
In addition to its political and diplomatic weight, Tangier was the city that experienced a great cultural renaissance at the beginning of the twentieth century. Among those who contributed to it were the Spanish citizens whose country wanted to monopolize this strategic region. During this period, the first theater in Morocco, the Cervantes Theater, was built in 1913 by the Spanish trio Antonio Galego and the couple Manuel Peña and Esperanza Orellana.
The 1,400-seat theater lived through long golden periods for decades, during which it was the largest and most prominent in North Africa. Its era ended in the seventies of the last century when it closed its doors and was condemned to oblivion and neglect for several decades before life began to return to it again starting in October of the year 2021 through a restoration project that is expected to end by opening its doors soon. Therefore, visitors to the city should put this theater on their list of interests in the near future.
Plaza de Toros:
There is an area in Tangier, on the national road leading to Tetouan, called Plaza de Toros or Bulls Square. When you get there, know that you are actually standing in front of a part of Spanish history in Tangier during the international era. It is actually the only bullring in Africa, and one of the very rare sites outside Spain, where it was an arena for bullfighting matches attended by hundreds of spectators.
The arena was built in 1950, and its golden age did not last long. In the year 1957 the international era of Tangiers ended, and with its end, the foreign presence, especially the Spanish, began to shrink gradually. The arena was turned into an administrative facility before it fell into oblivion for several decades.
But good news broke out in the year 2021 when the project to revive the place was announced, and works were launched aimed at restoring Plaza de Toros and preserving its distinctive circular shape and its terraces, while transforming it into a space for concerts and plays, with the capacity to accommodate 7000 people under the open air, with facilities Commercial, service and cultural.
April 9 Square:
There is no place in Tangier where the ancient history of the city meets its modern history, as in the case of April 9 Square, which is the square that was in the past a market located outside the walls of old Tangier, and the residents of the neighboring villages used to come to offer their products, before this square and its surroundings, today turned into the modern city of Tangier.
In this square, there is Bab al-Fahs (Fahs gate), which is the entrance door to the old city through its forked paths to reach the famous Kasbah.
In the center of Avril 9 square exists the city's largest fountains, made of marble and adorned with colored lights at night, is also a symbol of Tangier's involvement in the demands for the independence and unity of Morocco. It took its name from the date of the arrival of King Mohammed V to the city in 1947, when he delivered his famous speech near this square, and there is a tripartite monument commemorating the text of the royal speech.
The excursion in the City of the Strait
Villa Harris:
When you arrive at the famous coastal region of Malabata, enjoy your time on the beautiful beach and dine in the restaurants and cafes of the place overlooking the shores of the Strait of Gibraltar, which gave Tangier its nickname the City of the Strait, but do not forget to walk a little towards the Grand Theater of Tangier. On the other side of the street, you will find a wonderful space that combines nature and history, it is the site of Villa Harris.
This place is worth a visit, not only because it is associated with one of the well-known names in the history of Tangier, the British journalist Walter Harris, who was a reporter for The Times newspaper, and who chose to settle in the city at the end of the 19th century, but also because his elegant residence with a building that combines European and Moroccan architecture turned into a museum For contemporary art, and its vast gardens, turned into an open space for lovers of picnics and sports with sites for children's games.
Perdicaris:
Tangier is not only a city with tall buildings and crowded streets day and night, but Tangier is also a city for those who want to calm down and enjoy the magic of nature, and here there is nothing better than the Rmilat Forest and Perdicaris Park, an area that was also associated with the political history of the city because it earned its name from the American diplomat Ion Perdicaris who lived there between 1898 to 1905 in his villa. In this place the famous kidnapping of Perdicaris' wife by Ahmed Raisuni took place, and US President Theodore Roosevelt was forced to move his army towards the coast of Tangier.
Rmilat and Perdicaris are originally one forest space, which was divided into a park and a nature reserve, and in addition to being the place that guarantees its visitors the pleasure of wandering among the oak and pine trees that exceeded hundreds of years of age and the animals and birds that inhabited the area and still live there, it is also a charming mixture between Greenery, mountain, and sea. If you get there, don't forget to visit the restaurants specializing in local meals, such as pea soup, grilled meats, and cups of sweet herbal tea.
Marshan:
A visit to Tangier is not complete without reaching the Marshan area, which is almost the most famous space in the city. In Marshan, there is the Royal Palace, which bears the name of the same neighborhood, and there was also the Marshan Stadium, one of the oldest historical sports spaces in Morocco, which today turned into two small stadiums after the demolition of the stands and the fence, and its surroundings became an open space for a picnic.
In this place, there is the famous popular Café called Hanfta, and every Friday evening, music lovers can enjoy free concerts. When you're done sipping a cup of tea or a cup of coffee, cross the opposite street and visit the Ghanam Rock, where Roman tombs are located. There, enjoy a charming view of the port and the Markala Corniche, then head to the famous Hafa cafe overlooking the blue of the Mediterranean, and if you are lucky on a sunny morning with few clouds, Spain will be visible to you from there.
The Medina (old city) and the Kasbah:
In addition to the modern part of Tangier, the Median or the old city is also considered a space in which a visit to Tangier is not complete without visiting it because we are talking about one of the most colorful and diverse areas among all the ancient cities of Morocco. There you can visit the Great Mosque, which was first built in the 17th century and rebuilt in the 19th century, which was originally a Roman temple and then a Portuguese church.
When you reach the Medina, do not forget to turn around the Kasbah, the most important military site of the old city of Tangier, and the area that is one of the historical gates, which is called Bab al-Bahr (Sea Gate) overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
After that, you can head to the Kasbah Museum, which became the Museum of Mediterranean Civilizations, which was originally called “Dar Al Makhzen” or the House of authority. Its construction dates back to the 17th century.
When you finish your tour of the museum, go ahead and you will find, on the opposite side of its main gate, an entrance to the old city. This point is the beginning of the road to what looks like a maze, where you can wander among the narrow and forked paths, but what you should not miss, is to follow the marked path that will lead you to a very unique place, it is the tomb of Ibn Battuta, the traveler who started and ended his journey in Tangier.
Beach destinations
1 - Marina and City Beach
The city's beach is the closest coastal destination for those who do not want to move away from Tangier. It is one of the most famous waterfronts in Morocco and has the most recreational spaces and service facilities. In addition to the fact that all means of transportation are available to this destination, you can also go to it on foot if you are in The Place des Nations square, the administrative district, the train station, or even the old city. Car owners will find a series of underground parking available in front of them there.
When you visit the beach, you can head to the many restaurants, cafes, and nightclubs in the area. You can also head west towards the Markala Corniche, where you can enjoy running or walking. But on the way there, it would be great to try a tour of the marina filled with recreational facilities including the oldest royal boat club in Morocco dating back to 1925, as well as the small marina dedicated to mooring boats and yachts with 1,400 berths.
2 - Ba Kacem Beach:
It is obvious that visitors to Tangier look for beautiful beaches with golden sand in order to enjoy swimming and the heat of the sun, and here the Atlantic coastal strip must be Achakkar on your list of interests, but make it your priority to go to Ba Kacem Beach specifically because you will be in one of the cleanest beaches in the Kingdom. This year, this beach received the Blue Flag assigned to the cleanest beaches for the tenth year in a row, an unprecedented record for any other Moroccan beach.
Ba Kacem Beach and the adjacent Achakkar Beach are among the ideal places to spend a fun time away from the hassle, after the successful experience of taking care of them by two companies, Amendis and Maroc Telecom, which provided all the necessary facilities that enable vacationers to spend a comfortable time with their children. The two beaches highly respect safety and security standards.
3 - Dalia Beach:
From the Atlantic side of Tangier, we will head this time east, on the Mediterranean front, and we will go to the Dalia beach, which is close to the Tangier Med port. It is free of waves and easy to swim in during the summer.
Dalia Beach is among the typical beaches in Morocco, it contains all the necessary facilities to ensure an enjoyable trip with family members and friends, and embraces many recreational activities, especially in the summer. It also provides a library for lovers of reading, so when you arrive at this place you will need only swimming clothes so that you can enjoy your time in a beautiful space with all amenities.
Your visit to Tangier will also give you an opportunity to enjoy shopping, as the city contains a group of large commercial spaces, which embrace the most famous international brands, in addition to being sites for entertainment and relaxation, and therefore we suggest 3 of them for you:
Shopping in Tangier
Socco Alto:
This mall is located in an area called Boubana, near the nature parks and the horse club, in the vicinity of the California neighborhood, where the atmosphere is quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is an ideal destination for those who want to spend an integrated day in which the pleasure of shopping is mixed with entertainment, as it is related to a commercial and entertainment complex with an area of 55,000 square meters.
City Center Mall:
This mall provides an integrated shopping experience. The 3-story space allows you to buy what you want from clothes, shoes, perfumes, and cosmetics, as it contains many well-known brands.
The beauty of this space is also that the entire upper floor is devoted to restaurants and entertainment, where you will find famous restaurants, and places for Asian and Middle Eastern meals that you can eat in a panoramic space overlooking the express train station, in addition to spaces for children's games, but if you want to watch movies, you are in the right place, because this floor also hosts cinema halls.
Ibn Battuta Mall:
This mall is characterized by many things, including its proximity to the city center, where you can go to it on foot, and it is close to the Marina, but most importantly, it is an important destination for lovers of clothing and cosmetics brands, because it is the place where there are many shops of well-known brands.
The mall, which has an area of 14,000 square meters, is also a suitable place for those looking for furniture or home and office decorations. It also includes the Carrefour shopping space, and for those wishing to rest, there is also a cafe and restaurant of Tendy's, overlooking the gardens of Place de Nations square, which is generally a suitable space for lovers of luxury and those looking for pleasure of shopping.
Visiting Tangier is not an ordinary experience, but rather a long path of history and civilization, and manifestations of modern urbanization, pleasure, and luxury, so when you want to visit Tangier, be sure that you will find many things that will fascinate you, and you will discover sites and experiences that will remain stuck in your memory.
