Tourist guide: what to do and see in Tangier
The splendor of a city that still recalls its golden age.
Situated in the north of Morocco, Tangier is a city where you can still feel the vibrant splendor of its past. From the late nineteenth on, and especially during the mid-twentieth century, it was a center of European diplomacy as well as Moroccan commerce, and attracted European and American artists alike thanks, to a great degree, to what Delacroix depicted: a city full of colors, bathed in a very special light. It is also a multicultural melting pot where three religions - Muslim, Jewish and Christian - have left their mark, so that a stroll around this city framed by the sea and the mountains is truly an experience you will never forget.
- Sights
- Shopping
- Leisure
- Dining
- Open air
- Museum
- Sights
- Shopping
- Leisure
- Dining
- Open air
- Museum
Boulevard Pasteur
One of its main streets, with plenty of modern shops and cafés.
Tangier's modern quarter
Along the main thoroughfare of Tangier's newer district, beyond the walls of the medina, the architecture and feel are much different (as it is along the Boulevard Mohammed V and on the Place de France). Out here you'll see luxury shop windows and enjoy a variety of cafés and restaurants (the local tourism office is also here). While you're strolling, also stop into the legendary Hotel Minzah, with its lovely architecture, décor, and gardens, and famous for hosting film stars.
Tangier's City Beach
A day of sun and sea without leaving the city.
Relax on the beach, right in town
For a spot of swimming in and around Tangier, you have several interesting options. The city's wide bay is home to the municipal beach, very popular with local families (west of this one, separated by artificial reefs, Malabata Beach is less crowded). If you like dramatic mountain backdrops, there are a number of coves along the Mediterranean coast out east. If your tastes run more toward long, wide beaches, head west to the Atlantic coast.
Disco 555
Youthful ambiance and great music to dance the night away.
Wrapping up the day
The well known DJ at this famous club with Tangier's hottest and most exclusive young nighttime scene spins the latest in house, dance, R&B, and Latin. Plus every weekend brings theme nights, and if you get peckish, there's a good restaurant. Bring your swimsuit, too - because if things get too hot, there's a pool in which to cool off. It's located right on the waterfront boulevard Avenue Mohamed VI.
Café de Paris
These walls have witnessed major historical events.
A café with history
While on your perambulations around the medina, you'll most likely want a spot of rest and/or refreshment, and an excellent choice is this café on Place de France, which was the first to be built outside the medina walls (in 1920) and became a popular meeting place during the city's 20th-century golden age. Despite being less than a century old, there's a lot of history and lore here - for example, it was a hangout for the likes of Francis Bacon, Samuel Beckett, and Tennessee Williams, as well as plenty of cloak-and-dagger types, as a nest of spies during World War II (shades of Rick's Café from Casablanca). In addition to all this history, you can head to the large back room to sit with a delicious mint tea on the terrace, with magnificent views out over the French consulate and the Strait of Gibraltar.
Visiting Ksar Sghir
A day at the beach and lots to see.
Around Tangier
If you have time, do try to schedule a day trip to this historic fishing town some 40 kilometres (25 miles) east along the Mediterranean coast (reachable by road and train - and halfway, as it happens, to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta). Situated on a small hill with sweeping sea views, Ksar es Seghir has been a strategic object of desire since the first century BC. In the mid 15th century, it was conquered by the Portuguese, who held it for two centuries and left behind a fortress and various Islamic architectural elements they had transformed (incidentally, this was also, according to contemporary accounts, the port which in the 15th century received many of the Moors expelled from Spain after the Christian reconquest). It has a very traditional Moroccan feel, and is surrounded by a wall which for the most part protected it from dangers from land or sea. Other local attractions include the archaeological ruins and a nice beach.
Morocco Palace Disco
For a fun night with great music and ambiance, this is place.
Light up your nights
If you're interested in a lively night hobnobbing with locals in an intensely Moroccan-flavoured ambiance to a Moroccan soundtrack (usually provided by a live band), by all means check this club out. Here you'll also get to see performances by what cognoscenti say are Tangier's best belly dancers, as well as traditional local singers and groups. It's easy to find, located on Avenue du Prince Moulay Abdellah, very near Boulevard Pasteur.
Escape to Chefchaouen
If you have time on your hands, discover charming spots around Tangier such as this.
A daytrip to the interior
A two-hour drive inland from Tangier, this little town is famous for its blue medina and its winding streets (which are like that due to the two hills it's built upon). There are various choices of cafés at which to sit with a mint tea (and possibly a plate of the delicious local goat cheese) and watch the world go by. Attractions include several museums and the local mosque. And of course there's shopping, with a number of fascinating handicrafts available at various shops, along with a particular local speciality, the typical Moroccan garment known as the djellaba, which actually originated here.
Daytrip to Asilah
A peaceful daytrip exploring the streets of this small town.
A peaceful coastal town
Well worth a day trip (via train, motorcoach, or taxi) out to this picturesque seaside town some 50 kilometres (30 miles) outside Tangier, to stroll its medina and take in its whitewashed architecture, all in a usually (and delightfully) untouristy ambiance. Enjoy its walls, its overlooks, and its overall tranquillity.
Café Panorama
Don't miss a visit to this café on Tangier's bay.
Just for the views… and the cocktails, too
Perfect for drinking in marvellous views of the bay whilst drinking a flavourful juice or typical Moroccan mint tea with a pastry. The sunsets are amazing, and after nightfall, it becomes a hangout for young people, who gather up to the waterfront promenade for a bit before heading out to the area discos. This is also a great spot for breakfast, to gaze out and watch the city come awake.
The Caïds Bar at the Hotel El-Minzah
You will love the décor and ambiance at this artists' hangout.
A legendary place in the city
This legendary hotel on the Rue de la Liberté has been host to many artists over the decades. Even if you don't stay here, it's worth a look for its very special décor and the marvelous city views from its terraces and gardens. And maybe have a drink at its laid-back bar with live piano music - an oasis which, so they say, served as the inspiration for Rick's Café in the film classic Casablanca (writer Paul Bowles also used to conduct his press interviews here). It will all take you back to the years of the 20th century when Tangier was one of the world's luxury meccas and meeting place of international artists, writers, and celebrities.
Fondouk Market
From fresh fruit to typical Moroccan objects, you'll find it all at this market.
The best local fruits and vegetables
This covered market near the famous Rue de la Liberté features a black-floored ground floor devoted to fresh produce, which is certainly great for rubbing shoulders with Moroccans and nabbing some sweet photo ops. But for actual shopping, the upper floor will be more relevant to visitors, featuring as it does a number of stalls offering a variety of local handicrafts, as well as items of Moroccan dress such as djellaba robes and babouche slippers.
Madini Perfumes
A city with characteristic smells had to have a place such as this.
Oils and essences make a fragrant souvenir
Though Tangier is certainly the proverbial feast for all the senses, one of your key memories will definitely be the aromas - the spices of its markets; the mint of the hot teas in its cafés and tearooms; and quite possibly the exotic floral, resin, and wood essences wafting out of this famous parfumerie on Boulevard Pasteur. The venerable shop named for the family which has owned it for 14 (!) generations is famous for its exquisite, secret-recipe perfumes that enthrall locals as much as visitors. And by the way, more than a few of those visitors come to request low-cost copies of their favourite perfumes - and for the most part, Madini delivers, quite precisely, thank you very much.
Crafts Center
A hassle-free opportunity to acquire authentic crafts.
Local handicrafts
Are you made uncomfortable by haggling, or are just not good at it? We feel you - and direct you to the Ensemble Artisanale on Rue Belgique. Owned by the Moroccan government, this handicraft emporium has prices which are fixed but also reasonable and not inflated (unlike in some other fixed-price shops throughout the city). Some great products include metal tea trays and cups, thuya wood boxes and utensils, tobacco pipes, traditional furniture. Or just wander the market for a colourful eyeful and some great photo ops!
Les Colonnes Bookstore
Used and new books in a legendary bookstore.
Booklovers' paradise
The legendary "Columns" bookshop, in business on Boulevard Pasteur since 1949, is well known for its vintage books as well as new editions such as coffee-table tomes about Tangier, Morocco, and the rest of North Africa. During this city's golden age, in the latter half of the 20th century, this establishment was a favourite of literary legends like Paul Bowles, Tennessee Williams, and Truman Capote. Browse its shelves and you'll find not only books and periodicals in French and Arabic but also in English - including some fascinating material you may never have thought of buying but now simply must have.
Herbs & Spices
Strolling among spices you've never seen in all your life.
Colors and aromas of the medina
If you're one of those folks who put a lot of stock in home remedies - or you're simply a curious traveller looking to discover new things, check out one or two of the colourful herbal shops that dot the medina. In here you'll find all matter of powders, potions, roots, and leaves purporting to cure almost any physical ill or defect imaginable, from wrinkles to impotence. Visitors find themselves most interested in khol eye makeup or lip protectors; many of these shops also sell spices and teas.
Rue Siaghine
All along this street you'll surely find the perfect souvenir.
Strolling, shopping and tea
Also known as the street of the jewelers, Rue Siaghine can be found where the Grand Zoco meets the medina up until the Petit Zoco. Here you'll find a lot of bars and cafés at which to stop for a drink, but also various shops hawking cheap souvenirs. On this important and very central street, which leads to Rue de la Marine, leading down to the Mediterranean, you'll also find the headquarters of various banking and import/export concerns owned by the city's most important Jewish families. Even so, Siaghine still conserves the golden-age feel of years ago, when it was the stomping ground of locals, celebrities, and tourists.
Fez Market
Fresh local foods is what you'll find here.
An up-to-date ancient market
On Rue de Fès, right in the heart of the 19th-century "new town" outside the medina, you'll find yourself in an old market that might make you feel like you stepped into a time machine (and as chaotic as it may seem, there's an order underneath it all). You can find a hugely colourful selection of foodstuffs (both human and animal feed), produce, meats, spices, prepared foods, and various other merchandise you may not see elsewhere. Another veritable feast for the senses.
9th of April 1947 Square (Great Souk)
Hubbub and haggling is what you'll find in this spice and crafts market.
A street market to savor
Try to arrange to be in town on a Thursday or Sunday, which is when this enormous square - a primary commercial hub of Tangier as well as home to the polychrome-tiled Sidi Bou Abib Mosque - hosts a wonderful farmers' market, when the country folk come in with their typical dress to sell their wares, both edible and not, to a mix of locals and visitors. Top products to look for include spices, saffron, richly coloured fabrics, and babouches (those typically Moroccan, point-toe leather slippers). A feast for the eyes, stomach, and camera! As you go along, you'll also see cafés in which to have a rest and a glass of tea. And watch your wallet!
The Restaurant of the Ville Josephine Hotel
For the most demanding gourmands who want to relax in a unique setting.
A truly exclusive eatery
One of Tangier's classier dining experiences, its tables appointed with fine crystal, its waitstaff crisply uniformed, its dining room traditionally adorned. The menu is a mix of Moroccan and international fare, featuring lobster and seafood but also steaks, foie, cous cous, even cheese boards. The service and quality are outstanding, and of course all of this does not come cheap! Worth every dirham, the restaurant's fans say. Also check out its terrace - a touch less luxurious but no less charming.
Nord-Pinus Restaurant
Not just for the food: visit this restaurant for the views, too.
Enjoy the spectacular terrace
Don't miss a chance to have a meal or at least a drink up on the magnificent terrace of the restaurant in the eponymous hotel. Its Moroccan-style décor, in vivid colours mixed with drawings, engravings, and embroidered fabrics transport you to a luxurious Morocco of yore, something out of Tangier's golden age. Up on the terrace, have a seat on the white chairs with their traditional cushions and dig into its menu, particularly strong in seafood, shellfish, soups, and local vegetables (and don't forget to leave room for the heavenly honey-sweetened desserts!).
Le Nabad
A typical restaurant that will wow all five senses.
Eat with all your senses
Behind Le Nabad's dark-coloured door you'll find excellent local couscous and tagines served amid exquisite minimalist décor, replete with curtains and fascinating interplays of light and shadows, but also kitschy touches in the form of Moroccan columns and arches. Look at the beautiful lamp and enjoy the central courtyard - intimate, comfortable, and laid back. Reservations recommended.
Chez Hamadi
Not just the best regional dishes, there's a great show as well.
Typical Moroccan food
If you're in the mood for an intensely Moroccan experience and authentic local "home cooking", come with me to the kasbah - Rue de la Kasbah, that is. Chez Hamadi is admittedly one of the more touristic restaurants in town, and as such can get crowded and noisy. But it's also fun in its way, and does serve some very good local specialities. At night, furthermore, there's local entertainment by musicians, belly dancers, and tray dancers.
La Terrasse
An unusual modern restaurant that's très chic.
Enter a whole other world without leaving Tangier
In this chic restaurant on Rue de Teheran, you'll find yourself in another world - one without Maghrebi décor and Moroccan music. Here the vibe is upmarket elegant with an Asian flair (hello, Buddha!). Ambiance aside, the excellent fare comes at very affordable prices, and the waitstaff is charming, going out of their way to make your visit as enjoyable as possible. You might also want to get there early, as the place fills up fast!
Le Saveur du Poisson
A small bar that will win you over with its cooking. Make sure to try it!
Fish on the menu!
You may have to search for it just a bit - it's unlikely you'll just casually happen to stumble across Le Saveur du Poisson - but it's worth the effort to enjoy its excellent selection of fish. Right after the Hotel El-Minzah, take the nearby stairs down, and you'll find yourself in a somewhat pubbish establishment redolent of baking fish and freshly cooked veggies. They'll even let you into the kitchen, where you can see firsthand the cleanliness and hard work of the chef. The prix-fixe menu focussed like a laser on the bounty of the sea is on the expensive side for Tangier, but worth every dirham.
Small Bars of the Waterfront Promenade
Bar-hopping was never so delicious. Seafood is a specialty!
Tapas and light fare on the water
Happen to be around the waterfront Boulevard Mohammed VI, near downtown, and a bit peckish? Pop into the small bars over here for a variety of fish fresh off the boat, enjoyed at sidewalk tables with views of the waves and locals going to and fro on the boulevard. They're cosy establishments with a tavernlike feel, small tables and tasty small plates.
Anna & Paolo
Typical Italian fare, expertly executed.
Excellent Italian food
Check out this cosy eatery on Rue de Prince Héritier for some of Tangier's tastiest pizzas and other Italian specialities - where upon entering you'll feel like you're in Rome, both décor-wise and grazie to the enticing aromas wafting out of the kitchen. More than a restaurant, you could say this is a family spot where the lasagnas are on the plates of the locals and visitors who come here. Don't miss the chance to come try its dishes at more than reasonable prices.
La Española Bakery
A perfect place to sample typical Moroccan sweets with a good cup of tea.
Pastries and tea, anyone?
Though you might not suspect it from this tea room's name - "The Spanish Lady" - quite a few Tangier locals love coming here not only because it's very conveniently and centrally located on Rue de la Liberté but also because of the tasty pastries which throng its display cases, either served at the establishment's small wooden tables or as take-away. Accompany your sweet treat with a typically Moroccan hot mint tea and enjoy the local scene around you.
Le Marquis de l'Orient
A restaurant where you'll surely find what you're looking for.
Great food and décor
Elegant with its mirrors and gold-accented white walls, this exquisite French restaurant on Rue Boughtour is especially notable for its delicious selection of fish daily, as well as something else quite unusual in this city: it's open till midnight!
Le Mirage
Unforgettable flavors and fine preparation define this hotel restaurant.
Fresh fish overlooking the sea
For possibly the best oven-baked fish of your life, hie thee out to Cape Spartel, a bit west of Tangier, where the pretty hotel restaurant Le Mirage de Tanger also throws in impressive sea views and live piano music in the bar to which to savour your appéritif. The fresh-off-the-boat fish that comes out of this kitchen varies depending on what the fishermen bring in that morning. Also on the menu are some wonderful Moroccan dishes. It's all good, as they say - but perhaps best to let the waitstaff recommend what's good that day.
San Remo
This Italian restaurant tucked away out of sight is a great place for a meal.
Italy in Tangier
In addition to North African cuisine, restaurants in Tangier also do a quite creditable job of European cookery. A good example is this petite, laid-back Italian spot on Rue Ahmed Chaouki, popular with foreigners and some of the posher locals (it's a bit pricey by local but not by European standards). The menu has an outstanding selection of pastas and fish such as bass and monkfish, as well as tasty vegetables of the day.
Idlers' Terrace
Get another view on life from this lookout point dedicated to idlers… for good reason.
A place to tarry and watch life go by
The whimsical moniker of the Terrasse des Paresseux comes from the propensity of locals to laze about here for hours on end admiring the port, the bay, and the Strait of Gibraltar with its boats, cargo ships, and ferries powering through the waves. Have a seat here amid the trees and join them for a while. You'll be entranced, as well.
The Fishing Port
Discover daily life at the port, fish everywhere and seagulls looking to make off with a snack.
A spectacle of organized chaos
It may seem chaotic, but this is the true engine of the city, with its boats and fishermen and people coming and going at all times. It's also notable for its play of colored lights, casting their magic over the people of Tangier strolling through and the seagulls flying overhead. It's a real pleasure for the visitor to breathe in the aroma of the sea, while watching the boats swaying and the fishing nets piled up on the dock awaiting repair. Walk along the waterfront promenade to the beach at Malabata, where there are plenty of modern cafés, restaurants, hotels and clubs. You are in fact in one of the most beautiful parts of the city.
Get Lost in the Medina
Strolling is the best way to experience this charming part of the city.
Picturesque alleys wait you
Undoubtedly, you can't leave Tangier without once (or more) getting lost in the winding streets of the medina. Enjoy your stroll as you marvel at the architecture of the arabesque houses with their interesting doors and windows, as well as the lookout points with their stunning views. The area remains unchanged over the years, maintaining its essence and charm. As you lose yourself in this maze (you're going to get lost whether you like it or not!), you'll come across lots of small shops and stalls where you can find unimaginable objects. It's a relatively quiet area where you will see plenty of other equally lost tourists, as well as many locals offering to be your tour guide. If you're not interested, simply reject the offers politely.
Moulay Hafid Palace
Beautiful gardens, interesting events make a winning combination.
Cultural activities galore
It's currently possible to visit the Palace of Italian Institutions, built in the twentieth century by Sultan Moulay Hafid, and marvel at this splendid venue with its concerts and theatrical performances. It is also the home of cultural events such as the International Book Fair, the Tanjazz Festival and the Mediterranean Festival, among others. Apart from all this, you'll enjoy its lovely garden and patio with their great variety of trees and fragrant plants.
Marshan Quarter
Outside the city wall, enjoy a good Moroccan tea in these little streets full of flowers.
A colorful and pleasant neighborhood
Leaving the kasbah and the city wall behind, you'll find the Marsahn neighborhood with its striking houses and mansions displaying a greater Western influence than those in the medina, but still worthy of attention. Stroll through its streets, discover its gardens and visit the Phoenician necropolis, where you will see the remains of tombs carved on the rocks as you admire from this curious 'balcony' the huge bay that surrounds Tangier. Afterward, take a break at the Café Hafa for a mint tea on its wonderful stepped terrace on the cliff overlooking the Strait and the coast of Spain across the water. A real treat!
Cape Spartel
A quiet walk with unbeatable views and a visit to a lighthouse to wrap up the day.
Where two seas meet
Take a bus and then a long quiet stroll on the beaches that lead up to Cape Spartel, where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. Don't miss the small nineteenth-century lighthouse that rises majestically above it all. If you're in luck, the lighthouse keeper may let you inside (for a small tip perhaps). You'll find pictures of lighthouses all over the world. Enjoy the amazing views of sea and cliffs and, if you're hungry or thirsty, grab a drink and a snack on the terrace while watching the sunset.
Caves of Hercules and Cape Espartel
Find the time to get to know this gorgeous area surrounded by the sea.
A work of nature
Just 12 miles from Tangier, these beautiful natural caves produced by the action of the waves and tides are mightly popular with tourists and local families on weekends, so it's easy to catch a bus. It's well set up for visitors, with souvenir stalls and plenty of places to rest. Once you arrive at the caves, take note: they're shaped like the African continent! Stay here to watch the sunset over the sea; you'll see lights and colors that will make you feel you're in paradise.
Mendoubia Park
A place to take a break and watch people go by.
A tranquil oasis in the city
Leaving behind the hubbub of the Grand Souk and entering this haven of peace and quiet is a surprise for all tourists visiting the city. It's not just the radical change of environment: here you'll see the real people of Tangier resting or strolling, with women in their colorful dresses on the way to market amidst huge and ancient trees and seventeenth-century bronze cannons. Do like the locals: take a stroll and find a bench away from the bustle of the medina, then take a deep breath and enjoy the surroundings.
The Small Souk
Getting lost is the best way to discover Tangier's most charming nooks and crannies.
A labyrinth of streets
Visiting Tangier is all about wandering through its streets and discovering the heart of the medina. Step into the Small Souk, just a few yards from the April 9, 1947 Square, and lose yourself in its narrow streets filled with cafes, hotels and, of course, tourists. Soon enough you will come upon this interesting square at the confluence of several streets, right in the heart of the medina, an excellent place to sit at one of the sidewalk cafés (Tingis, Fuentes or Central) or restaurants with a typical mint tea and just watch the locals go by. Until recently, it was not hard to find many artists and writers sitting on this mythical square, doing the same while looking for inspiration.
The Kasbah
A stroll that brings you in contact with real local life.
The upper town
If there is a place the enemy could not enter in Tangier, it was the Kasbah: the high part of the city, fortified and isolated from the medina by a protective fortress wall. You, however, can enter via the Rue de la Kasbah to admire its ancient palaces and residences. You can also get here from the Small Souk through the Bab Haha or the Bab al-Assa. Strolling around its streets, you will discover a different atmosphere from the rest of the medina, as those who live here still keep their traditions alive, away from the tourism of the rest of the city. Check out the art galleries, bazaars and small shops where it seems that time has stood still. In the Place de la Kasbah, where you will have a fabulous view of the bay, you will also find the Bit El-Mal mosque, with its iconic octagonal tower.
The City Wall
A must-see monument that's a key part of Tangier's history.
Defending the city
It was from here that years ago the bay was monitored. Due to the strategic position of the city in the north of Morocco facing the Strait of Gibraltar, the fortress wall was built to prevent enemy attacks and keep the kasbah and medina, where political power were concentrated, safe. In the north you will see the gates of Bab Haha and Bab al-Assa (where 'sinners' were once punished in public), that link the kasbah to the medina, while in the south the Bab Fahs gate links the medina with the rest of the city. Stroll through the medina to the port and out the Bab el Bahr (Gate of the Sea) that opens majestically against the vast bay with its forts, the Borj el Hadjoui and Borj el Mosra with their guns aimed at the enemy. For great views, continue north to Borj el-Baroud for its beautiful panorama of the harbor.
Cape Malabata
Great views, fun and relaxation. What more could you ask for?
A day of sun & fun
Just six miles east of Tangier along the coast, you'll encounter this curious area which seems far removed from the urban scene. Here people and noise disappear, replaced by the sound of the sea and the light of the sun. You'll discover quiet coves and beautiful beaches where you can swim quietly and enjoy the water under the sun (or moon). Continue until you reach the lighthouse, where you'll be amazed by the views of the straits and the city. If you continue a bit farther along the coast, you'll come upon a small port town that hosts a traditional souk on weekends, away from the tourists in Tangier.
Dar es-Shorfa Museum
Its exhibitions will help you better understand the culture and history of this fascinating country.
A museum to learn the history of the country
In the museum of Moroccan art, on the Kasbah Square, you will find this section of the palace which features important archaeological pieces from various nearby Roman settlements such as Volubilis, Uxus, Banasa and Cotta. Don't miss the striking mosaic of the goddess Venus as well as the Roman sarcophagi and other ancient pieces from prehistory to Phoenician times. You'll learn the history of the city as you wander around its exhibits - and above all do not leave here without visiting its picturesque Andalusian garden, a haven of peace and quiet in the heart of the city.
Kasbah Museum
An impressive building with many treasures inside. Don't miss it!
All types of objects to understand the country better
You'll be struck by the architecture of Dar-el-Makhzen (Governor's House), a beautiful palace built around two colonnaded courtyards where the light takes on that special color only seen in Morocco. Built in the late seventeenth century, it was one of the places where the sultan of the country stayed periodically, hence the beauty and magnificence of its architecture and decoration. Make sure to check out the beautiful ceilings and the dome that crowns the main hall! It was not until 1922 that it opened as a museum of Moroccan art to allow both locals and tourists to discover and learn about the country's art and history. Among its facilities you will find jewelry, weapons, skins, old bindings, instruments, textiles, manuscripts and all sorts of ancient artifacts found in and around Tangier. Like a challenge? Try to figure out how to open the big iron safe where the Sultan's valuables were kept.
Nahon Synagogue
A fascinating collection of objects from various synagogues.
A synagogue in the Tangier medina
Incredible but true, this synagogue right in the heart of the medina of the city still stands proud after more than 100 years. Located on Rue Cheikh El Harrak, between the Great and Small Souk, today it's a museum housing objects of worship from other area synagogues. Inside, you'll notice the large number of lamps hanging from the ceiling and an architectural style that mixes Moorish with Spanish baroque and Islamic elements. Don't miss the Jewish cemetery, with its stunning views of the harbor and chaotic array of ancient Hebrew gravestones - though you will easily recognize the oldest, as they are virtually buried under the ground and partly covered by many other newer granite stones.
Cervantes Institute
The best-known Spanish cultural center's Tangier outpost is a place to visit and enjoy its exhibitions.
The local branch of the Cervantes Institute
On Rue de Belgique in the newer part of town near the Mohamed V mosque, the Cervantes Institute's large hall hosts exhibits of all types. If you want to get the full program of courses, lectures and exhibitions, check out the headquarters just a few steps away on Avenue Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah. You can also visit the wonderful research library with more than 100,000 tomes of Spanish and Latin American literature, perfect for practicing your Spanish.
Lorin Foundation
A permanent photography exhibition to learn about the city first-hand.
The history of Tangier in photographs
Near the Grand Souk, in a former synagogue on Rue Touahine, this museum created by Philippe Lorin is dedicated to the world of photography, designed in such a way that visitors will "visit" the places shown in each of the snapshots. Want to know what life was like in old Tangier? Take a stroll through its halls and you'll discover its heyday years, a time when it was not unusual to find great artists such as the writer Paul Bowles on the streets and in the cafés. In addition to photo exhibits, courses, conferences and lectures for both children and adults are also offered.
Delacroix Gallery
Birthplace of many artists, this gallery is a great place to discover the latest trends.
Small and charming art exhibitions
In the French Institute, located on Rue de la Liberté, you'll find this art gallery with free admission and temporary exhibitions that vary throughout the year and are intended to show the strong connection between France and the Moroccan city. It serves as a showcase for both local and French artists who participate in exhibitions and lectures. During its 40 year history, it has been a meeting point for writers, painters and artists from all fields seeking a place not only to show their work, but to explain it to the world.
Museum of the American Legation (TALIM)
A bit of the United States right in the middle of the medina.
In recognition of friendly relations
In the medina, near the Grand Souk, you'll find a clear sign of the great friendship between the United States and Morocco. Visited by locals and tourists from around the world, this beautiful building which houses the United States Legation today is a museum where you leave behind the hubbub of the medina and enter a much more European environment with modern furniture and important engravings and old photographs. There's also a wonderful courtyard that evokes the history of this place, which was a gift from the city to the United States in 1821. In addition, among its rooms, you will also find a library, a conference room and a language center. More information: http://www.legation.org/.
Ville de France Hotel
Even if it's not open yet, it's worth a stop due to its art-heavy history.
An iconic place in Tangier
Although restored, this hotel has been closed for years. Still, don't miss the chance to see it for yourself, as this legendary place is where Delacroix and Matisse used to stay whenever they visited the city. The latter, in fact, regarded Tangier as his paradise, as its special light and characteristic blue sky were ideal for his work. One of his most famous paintings, 'Paysage Vu d'une Fenêtre' was painted from one of the rooms of this beautiful and historic hotel. Stroll around and enjoy the views and imagine what life was like in this luxurious place in a bygone era when it was a real center of art and world culture.
Sidi Buarrakia Mausoleum and Mosque
A small mosque defined by its beauty and tranquillity.
Tribute to the patron of the city
On Rue Hassan II, this small mosque with a white minaret surrounded by a cemetery will capture your attention. It's a sanctuary and mausoleum dedicated to Sidi Mohammed el Hadj Buarrakia, patron of Tangier, and thus a pilgrimage center for both locals and tourists, especially on the anniversary of his death. There is a small chapel under the minaret, as well as the tomb of this historical figure who fought against the British occupation of the city. Through a door you gain access to the cemetery, remarkable as an oasis of tranquility away from the hustle and bustle of the street.
Perdicaris Castle
A medieval castle in the midst of Tangier's prime green space.
The castle on the hill
About twenty minutes from the Grand Souk, you'll find a most unusual medieval castle on Sidi Masmoudi Street. Though unfortunately it's closed to the public today, it's well worth a visit for the chance to stroll through the gardens and admire the beautiful architecture of this building dating back to 1872. There's an interesting story, too: the original owner, Greek-American magnate Ion Perdicaris, had amassed a sizeable fortune in New York real estate. This proved too tempting, and so one summer while visiting with his son, Ion was kidnapped in one of the most famous such crimes of the twentieth century. It's truly special to find a castle like this with its Roman towers surrounded by mountain vegetation in a city like Tangier. Definitely a must-not-miss.
Sidi Hosni Palace and Tomb
The antics of the world's richest woman once played out in this palace.
A palace full of colorful history
The summer home of Barbara Hutton, one of the richest women in the world in the twentieth century, is up from the Small Souk on Rue des Almohades. With its fabulously decorated doors and windows, its walls once harbored some of the most outrageous stories in the city. Hutton, who was married to Hollywood actor Cary Grant, was known not just for her seven marriages, but also for her eccentricities and wild, luxurious parties at the height of the hippie era. Although this palace is no longer in use, you can just picture the nights of endless champagne and caviar (not to mention hashish-filled dates). Barbara Hutton, they say, went so far as to buy a title of king from an Indonesian monarch for one of her husbands. Ah, the life.
St. Andrew's Anglican Church
Whether you're Anglican or not, it's well worth a visit for its architectural style.
A great mix of religions in the city
Dating from the early twentieth century, this church was built on land that King Hassan I donated to the Anglican community in the late nineteenth century. The original church had to expand, as the community of British people living in Tangier kept growing and the venue was just too small. They thus decided to build St. Andrews Church, with its white walls and a tower resembling a minaret so as not to clash with the other buildings in the city; it keeps the Arab style, although the cross on the door serves as a sign that the Islamic faith is not practiced here. Around the church, don't miss the Anglican cemetery and the tombs of the important British people who once lived here.
The Cathedral of Tangier
A part of Tangier for more than 50 years.
The Spanish cathedral
Although construction began in 1956, it was not until 1961 that work on this very modern building was completed. Popularly known to locals as the Spanish Cathedral, the white building became a symbol of the Spanish presence and of the Franciscan order in Morocco. Built right in front of one of Tangier's main mosques, that of Mohammed V, it features large stained glass windows behind the altar that act as a source of beautiful natural light. Interestingly, for years the cathedral's tower was the highest point in the city, so to change this fact the Great Mosque was built.
A tour of the mosques
The designs and colors of Tangier's mosques will wow you.
The charms of Tangier
Although if you're not Muslim, you won't be able to enter the mosques in the city, they're certainly worth visiting for the chance to admire and photograph their fantastic façades and minarets. For insight into Islamic culture, there is nothing like watching the faithful entering to pray (currently loudspeakers issue the call to prayer). When you're in the Grand Souk in one of the corners of 9 April 1947 Square, you'll see the Sidi Bou Abid mosque with its high ceramic minaret. As you approach the Small Souk, towards the port, you'll find Tangier's Grand Mosque (Rue de la Marine), which is striking not only for its size but also because it was a place of worship of various civilizations for years. At one point it was even a cathedral! Over on Kouait Square, check out the Mohammed V mosque, and on Jamia El Arbia Square the Souriyine Mosque, also known as the Syrian mosque.
The old bullfighting ring
An old inactive ring, but there are plans to revive it.
Proof of Spanish influence
There's no doubt that Tangier is a city heavily influenced by Spanish culture. Whether you're into bullfighting or not, you may find this bullring dating from 1950 rather interesting. Before ceasing operations in 1970, it could seat up to 13,000 people who came to see top Spanish and local bullfighters do their thing. Curiously, it is one of only three arenas that exist in Africa. Although it's currently closed while it's converted into an events facility, you can still admire its façade and enjoy what, in its day, was the center of bullfighting in the country.
The remains of the Cervantes Theater
Barely the shadow of its former self, but you can still sense the glamor and excitement that once was.
Memories of a splendid past
Although it's a shame to see it in ruins, this wonderful building still maintains an aura of glories past as a place where so much of the city's dramatic and artistic life took place once upon a time. Although you can't enter the building, and the sight of the debris frankly saddens, you can still admire its impressive façade of yellow tiles... and imagine what life was like here when it was in full swing, when its 1,400 seats were filled to capacity for the top cultural events of the city. Impressive and lovely since its opening in 1913, great plays and performances by Spanish artists such as Lola Flores and Carmen Sevilla took place on its stage.
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