Tangier

If you spend a day in Tangier, you have two good options. The first: stay in the city, wander the medina, climb up to the kasbah for the view over the strait and have a drink by the sea. It is relaxed and fits into half a day. The second, and the most memorable: head to Chefchaouen, the blue city, on a day trip with pickup at your hotel or the port and a return at the time of your choice. For anyone who sets foot in Morocco only once, this second option turns the day into the memory of the trip.

The medina and the kasbah: smaller and quieter than those of Fez or Marrakech, easy to explore on foot. From the top of the kasbah you can see Spain on clear days. Café Hafa: a tiered terrace over the sea, open since 1921, famous for its views of the strait. Grand Socco: the square that opens onto the medina, with its market and local atmosphere. The corniche: the seaside promenade, ideal for watching the ferries from Spain come and go. In half a day you can see the essentials without rushing.

With a full day you can venture to the outskirts. Cap Spartel: the northwestern tip of Africa, where the Mediterranean and the Atlantic meet, with its 1864 lighthouse. Caves of Hercules: a few kilometers away, their opening to the sea forms the shape of the African continent. These are short visits that combine on a single route. But if you only have one day and want a strong experience, the trip to Chefchaouen remains the best use of your time.

Tangier is a seaside city, so fish reigns. Grilled fish and seafood: sardines, sea bream, squid, in the restaurants by the port or the central market. Fish tagine: the coastal version, sometimes with olives and preserved lemon. Coffee with a view: the Tangier tradition is to have a coffee or mint tea on a terrace facing the strait. If your stopover is short, a quick fish lunch near the port is the tastiest and most practical option.

It is worth distinguishing two ports. The port of Tangier Ville, in the city center, is the passenger one: this is where cruise ships and fast ferries from Tarifa dock, and you are right at the foot of the medina. The Tangier Med port, farther away (40 km), is mainly for cargo and freight ferries. If you arrive by cruise or on the fast ferry from Spain, you will most likely disembark at Tangier Ville, perfectly located to start your visit or board the excursion without wasting time on transfers.

Check the ship schedule: note the boarding deadline and leave a margin; an organized tour takes care of bringing you back on time. Fake guides at the port: they are persistent, decline politely and use only official taxis (blue, metered). Currency: change little at the port, there are ATMs all over the city. Language: in Tangier many people speak Spanish, as well as French. Comfortable shoes for the medina, cobbled and sloping. Safety: the port area and the medina are calm and watched over.