Tangier One-Day Private Tour

Despite being many people’s first port of call in Morocco, Tangier isn’t a destination that demands a lot of your time. Rather than being a city full of unmissable attractions, Tangier is the perfect place to acclimate to what Morocco is like. With one day there you shouldn’t have trouble covering all the best things to do in Tangier and come away with some great memories.

1. Tangier Medina : The natural place to start your visit is with the Medina of Tangier. If this is your first time visiting a medina in Morocco, it will give you an idea of what the walled historic center of Moroccan cities is like. A maze of narrow streets which lead up from the harbor to the Grand Socco market place, there’s a high chance that you’ll get lost many times as you explore this part of the city.
2. The Kasbah Museum : For tourists, the undisputed main attraction near the Medina is the Kasbah Museum inside the old sultan’s palace of Dar El Makhzen. Though most of the information inside is in French and Arabic, you get to see this restored palace in all its glory. The museum’s collection of detailed maps is a big hit, as are the beautiful courtyards and tiles throughout the palace.
3. The American Legation Museum : Likely not the kind of museum that you’d expect to find in Morocco, the American Legation Museum focuses on the fact that Morocco was the first country to recognize an independent America in 1821. As America’s first diplomatic mission, the building was the first American property outside of the United States and now has exhibits on the relations between the two countries. American visitors will likely get the most out of this museum, but there are aspects of the museum, like the art and colonial architecture,which will interest everyone.
4. Tangier Corniche : As a port city, there’s no way you can skip exploring Tangier’s waterfront. While you may expect harbor docks, the sight of the city beach and Tangier Corniche behind it is probably more unexpected. Escaping the confines of the medina, you’ll feel like you can catch your breath again as you stroll along the Corniche. With Ville Nouvelle, the new part of Tangier, on one side, and the city beach on the other, it’s a refreshing look at what Tangier is like. While you can lounge out on the sand, it’s also possible to go for camel rides along the beach, which is a great option if you can’t make it to the Sahara.
5. Cap Spartel : Watching over the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar and the northwest corner of Africa, Cap Spartel is a popular attraction for tourists outside of Tangier. Just a short drive from the city, it’s hard to resist the incredible ocean views you get from this spot. The coastal scenery only gets better when you include the Phare Cap Spartel lighthouse and its Arabic design in the view. If you feel the need to get away from the bustle of Tangier, this is the place to escape to.
6. Caves of Hercules : A little way down the coast from Cap Spartel, lying between two beaches, is the area’s other popular spot, the Caves of Hercules. According to legend, the famous hero Hercules slept in the caves enroute to steal apples from the Garden of the Hesperides, one of the 12 labors of Hercules. Open to the public, you can actually walk down into the caves and see the fascinating rock formations inside. It’s said that the opening that faces the sea was carved by the Phoenicians and strongly resembles the shape of the African continent thus being nicknamed the “Map of Africa”.
7. Phoenician Tombs for Sunset : To finish out your day in Tangier, there’s really no better spot than the hilltop Phoenician Tombs from where you can watch the sun set. Labeled on maps in French as Tombeaux Phéniciens, the tombs are located near Café Hafa and overlook the city’s north coast. Tangier was founded by the Phoenicians, and here you’ll see countless graves carved into the rocks which were exhumed about a century ago. Despite the historical significance of the rocks, you’ll see people walking and climbing all over them. This is because the spot is a popular place for locals to watch the sunset, from young couples to families. It’s a great spot with a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, something you probably won’t have experienced in the city so far.
8. Lunch Recommandation : Enjoy it in one of the best fresh fish restaurants of the city like Saveur de Poisson, El Morocco Club, and El Tangerino and more, get ready to experience the best flavors around Tangier.