What to do in Tangier

1. What to do in the city

**The medina and the kasbah.** The old city runs downhill towards the sea, through narrow lanes. Climbing up, you pass the Grand Socco, the square linking the medina to the modern town, then the Petit Socco, at the heart of the medina. At the top stands the kasbah, with its museum set in the former sultan's palace, Dar el-Makhzen, and its views over the Strait of Gibraltar.

**The American Legation.** In the medina, near Bab Merican, the American Legation is a museum of art and history set in a large house. Guides present it as the first American public property outside the United States.

**Café Hafa.** Clinging to the cliff above the sea, this terraced café has served mint tea since 1921. It is a simple stopping place, between the medina and the west coast, visited for the view over the strait.

**The corniche and the bay.** The seafront promenade runs along Tangier Bay, from the port towards the city beaches. People walk there, watch the ferries come and go, and sit in cafés. Tangier beach, in town, is a sandy beach facing the bay.

**Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules.** West of the city, Cap Spartel is the headland where the Atlantic and the Mediterranean meet, marked by a lighthouse. Near the cape, the Caves of Hercules are sea caves whose opening towards the ocean has the shape of the map of Africa, according to the guides. Legend ties them to Hercules resting after one of his labours.

**Perdicaris Park.** Between the city and Cap Spartel, this wooded park offers paths and viewpoints over the strait. It is a walk away from the streets of the centre.

**Achakar Beach.** Near the Caves of Hercules, to the west, Achakar Beach is an Atlantic beach, with cliffs and strong surf. People go there for walking and for the coast, not for calm swimming.

2. Seasonal notes

Tangier is a seaside city all year, but not every outing suits every season. The medina, the kasbah, and the museums are visited in any season, on foot, in the relative shelter of the lanes and the interiors.

The beaches and the open-air outings — Cap Spartel, the Caves of Hercules, Perdicaris Park, Achakar Beach — suit the warm months, when people walk outside and stay outside for a long time. In the cold and rainy months, the Atlantic coast is more exposed to wind and surf, and coastal outings need more care.

No season date, festival, or event is given here, because none was checked against a source at the time of writing.

3. Practical notes

• **Start with the medina on foot.** The lanes are narrow and steep: good shoes, water, and no car in the old city.
• **Keep the two ports in mind.** For a day trip to Spain, the departure port depends on the destination: Tarifa leaves from Port Tanger-Ville, in the centre; other ports leave from Tanger Med, in the east.
• **Arrange transport for the west.** Cap Spartel, the caves, and Achakar Beach are outside the centre: a taxi, a coach, or a car is needed to reach them.
• **Mind the surf at Achakar.** It is an exposed Atlantic beach, not a sheltered bay: do not swim without taking account of the state of the sea.
• **Check hours and prices on the spot.** This page gives no opening hour and no entry price, because none was checked against an official source at the time of writing. For a museum or a cave, check before leaving.