Tangier event weekends: what to do between sessions
Africa's gateway on the Strait of Gibraltar: a hilltop kasbah, a rebuilt marina, and Spain visible across the water.
Events we cover in Tangier
Arriving
Tangier Ibn Battouta (TNG) is 15 km southwest, 20 minutes by taxi for about 150 to 200 dirhams. The Al Boraq high-speed train reaches Tangier Ville from Rabat in 1 hour 20 minutes and from Casablanca in about 2 hours 10 minutes.
Where to stay
| Budget | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Medina and Kasbah guesthouses | Riads with terraces facing the strait. |
| Mid-range | Ville Nouvelle and the bay | Modern hotels on the beach boulevard near the marina. |
| Splurge | Malabata and the Mountain (Rmilat) | Resort hotels on the coast and old villas on the cliffs. |
Three hotels we would book
- Budget: Dar Nour
- Mid-range: Hilton Garden Inn Tanger City Center
- Splurge: Royal Tulip City Center Tangier
Tours
Half day · Family · Low walking
Tangier city tour with Hercules caves
Kasbah, Cape Spartel lighthouse, the caves of Hercules and a camel ride.
Where to eat
With kids
- Caves of Hercules and camel rides at Robinson Beach.
- Perdicaris park forest for picnics.
- Beaches at Achakar.
Rainy-day backups
- Kasbah Museum in the Sultan's palace.
- Tangier American Legation Museum.
- Ibn Battouta Mall.
Free things to do
- Kasbah ramparts and the view across to Spain.
- Walk the new marina and the Corniche.
- Cape Spartel, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean.
Getting around
- Ferries from Tanger Ville port to Tarifa take about an hour.
- Petit taxis run inside each city on the meter: ask the driver to switch it on, or agree the fare before you get in. Grand taxis are shared and run fixed routes between towns.
- Careem and inDrive work in Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier and Agadir. Expect to pay in cash in dirhams in most places.
- Al Boraq high-speed trains link Tangier, Kenitra, Rabat and Casablanca. Classic ONCF trains continue to Marrakech and Fez. Book on the ONCF app; first class is cheap and worth it on busy days.
- Fridays around midday prayers and the evenings during Ramadan change opening hours and traffic.