What to See & Do in Tangier
Explore the American Legation, the first American public property outside the United States, which now houses a beautifully curated museum of Tangier’s diplomatic history
Later, head to the Cape Spartel lighthouse to stand at the exact geographical point where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean.
See how Tangier lights the way
The Cap Spartel lighthouse has welcomed arrivals to Morocco’s golden shores for generations
White stone rises above the headland, its steady beam tracing the edge of the Africa's northernmost nation.
Below, palms and terraced gardens follow the slope toward the sea. From this vantage, Europe and Africa sit within sight of each other, connected by tide, trade, and travelers across generations. Ships have read this light since 1858, carrying people, ideas, and goods — a first glimpse of Morocco, framed by the Atlantic horizon.
Enjoy a minty sip of sunshine
From your sun-drenched riad terrace, Tangier’s historic medina stretches out beneath ancient minarets
Steam curls from silver teapots into small glasses, as you begin your day from your riad rooftop.
The city expanse spreads below in layers of white and ochre, punctuated by pointed minarets and shuttered windows. Palms sway gently, catching the light, shadows stretching across tiles and low walls. Every sip slows time, letting the sun trace the contours of the skyline while the medina awakens in the streets below.
Take a late afternoon stroll through the medina
Drift through filtered sunlight beneath canopies of green and pots of every hue in Tangier's shaded alleys
While exploring these cobbled streets, the sweet scent of freshly baked khobz lures you to a vendor stall — warm, fragrant, impossible to resist.
You hear water trickling from a mosaic fountain while, around the next corner, a local artisan bends over a small table, shaping tiny leather shoes with deft fingers. A musician tunes his oud nearby, the notes drifting across colourful walls and colorful shutters. Fountains bubble softly in hidden corners, and the scent of orange blossom drifts from a shaded window. Every step reveals another small treasure — until the sun dips behind the minarets and Tangier leaves its mark on your memory.
Grab a late dinner at Gran Café Central
The city center spills into the streets, where tables and laughter gather under awnings of warm light
Waiters glide between crowded tables, balancing trays of steaming plates and clinking glasses.
Families share tagines, friends lean in over mint tea, and the scent of spices mingles with freshly caught seafood. The chatter rises and falls, punctuated by the evening call to prayer. Lanterns glow above painted shutters and wrought-iron balconies, shadows stretching across cobbled floors. Here, in the heart of Tangier, life carries on effortlessly — full, communal, and unmistakably alive.
Spend the Night in a Traditional Moroccan Riad
Where every detail tells a story and every wall knows a secret
You enter the shaded inner courtyard through carved arches into a world shaped by centuries of craft.
Dappled sunlight spills across tiled interior gardens, tracing patterns beneath hanging lanterns and painted beams. Rooms open onto private terraces or shaded gardens, each corner a reminder of the care and artistry that built the space. The air carries faint scents of citrus, cedar, and spice, and every centimetre — from mosaic floors to carved doors — invites exploration. Staying here is a slow, sensory immersion, a chance to live within Tangier’s history while the city fades to a soft, distant hum beyond the walls.
Listen to Andalusian echoes on the Atlantic
From cliffside paths, Tangier’s beachy houses tumble toward the expansive Atlantic Coast
Narrow lanes open onto tiled terraces and rainbow rooftops, each step revealing another angle on the white sands below — and, across the water, a glimpse of Spain.
Yachts drift in the harbor while waves roll onto the shore, sunlight catching laundry strung between buildings. Minarets rise like punctuation in the cityscape, marking time and tradition. Tangier is alive here — the pull of the sea, the bustle of daily life, quiet corners tucked between white walls.
Browse a riot of colour
Heritage, hand‑loomed and carried through generations
Cardamom, saffron, carnelian, cobalt and gold textiles are stacked and draped over walls, rails and frames.
Each hand-woven carpet carries the mark of its Amazigh artisan: a hand-stitched motif, a secret emblem, a narrative in thread. You pause to trace a geometric design, feel the wool still warm from the loom, and notice the small imperfections that make every piece unique. Shadows catch the folds, dancing across the cobbles. Beyond the textiles, a child runs through an open door, the pulse of daily life continuing beyond the vibrant display.
Take in the vibrant energy of Tangier at Grand Socco
In the heart of the city, contemporary life and heritage converge in plain sight
Mediterranean sun warms the stone underfoot, tracing shadows of palm fronds across the open plaza.
Stalls brim with handwoven textiles, traditional Moroccan glazed ceramics, and rare spices that scent the air with ras el hanout, saffron, and cumin. Spanish guitar harmonies weave through local melodies, carrying across the square where friends linger at café tables, artisans shape their craft, and passerby display a mix of contemporary high-street styles and flowing kaftans.
Laughter threads through conversations, the clatter of trays punctuating the gentle bustle. Bright fabrics flutter from balconies, and the Atlantic breeze carries a faint salt tang across the rooftops. Tangier moves with confidence, vibrant, playful, and rooted in a history you can feel in every gesture, every colour, every sound.
Contemplate art at a world-class museum
Where sun-dappled galleries and garden terraces invite pause and reflection
Take a break from your tour of the American Legation Museum and linger on the shaded patio to enjoy a fragrant cup of Arabic coffee and a sweet, honeyed briouat, freshly made.
Marble floors stretch beneath high arches, and walls are lined with works tracing Morocco’s rich artistic heritage alongside European influences. Pause to inspect intricate ceramics, vibrant textiles, and hand-carved wood panels — details that speak to generations of skill and imagination. The air carries the faint scent of aged paper and varnish, while shifting light through the windows casts geometric patterns across the galleries. A calm interlude before you continue exploring Tangier.
Where Tangier becomes your personal african oasis
Embrace the moment
Leave the streets behind and climb the narrow, tiled staircase to the flower-draped rooftop veranda.
Oversized Moroccan cushions invite you to sink down beside a sun-warmed tray of crescent-shaped cookies.
The distant roar of waves drifts up from coves hidden in the cliffs below. A cool blue swimming pool glimmers nearby, beckoning you to take a refreshing dip before the next adventure. From this perch, Tangier feels like a secret, elevated garden — a place to drink in the horizon, plot your next exploration, or simply bask in this fleeting moment.
