On a clear day, the coast of Spain is visible from the terraces of the Tangier kasbah, about fifteen kilometres away across the strait. The city has always lived from this crossing: painters, writers and diplomats passed through it, and today most travellers arriving from Europe by sea still land here. For a group, the north is a region in its own right, greener and more Mediterranean than the south.
How does a group reach the north?
By sea, by air or by rail. The ferry links Tarifa and Algeciras to Tangier in about an hour of crossing, which suits groups travelling through Andalusia. Tangier airport receives direct flights from several European cities. And Al Boraq, the fast train, connects Tangier to Rabat and Casablanca in a little over two hours. A group can then arrive in the north and fly home from Casablanca or Marrakech.
What does a group see in Tangier?
- The kasbah, at the top of the medina, with its museum in the former sultan's palace and the view over the strait.
- The Grand Socco and the medina, lively and compact, to walk down towards the port.
- The American Legation, the first property the United States acquired abroad, now a museum of the city's international history.
- Cape Spartel and the Caves of Hercules, about twenty minutes west, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean.
Asilah or Tetouan?
Both are an hour or less from Tangier, and they complete the city in different ways.
Asilah, about three quarters of an hour south on the Atlantic, is a small white town inside Portuguese ramparts. Its walls are covered with murals painted during a summer arts festival, and its sunsets over the ocean are famous. A calm stop, ideal after the bustle of Tangier.
Tetouan, about an hour east, has a medina listed by UNESCO, built by families from Andalusia. Its craftsmen, its lanes and its white houses tell a less visited story than the imperial cities. It is also on the road to Chefchaouen.
In what order, over three or four days?
Tangier and Asilah first, then Tetouan and Chefchaouen, before going down to Fes. Another option goes down the Atlantic by train or coach towards Rabat and Casablanca. Our transport page explains how coaches and transfers are organised across the country.
