Tangier and Asilah in three days: a practical itinerary

Three days is a comfortable amount of time for Tangier and Asilah. Spend the first day in Tangier's kasbah and medina, with the Grand Socco and the American Legation, and finish at the marina. On the second, head west to Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules, then come back for the seafront. On the third, take the train or a shared taxi down the coast to Asilah for its ramparts, murals and beaches. Tangier is easy to reach, with fast ferries from Spain, Al Boraq high-speed trains from Rabat and Casablanca, and an airport close to town. One thing to check before you book a ferry: which of Tangier's two ports it uses. One is beside the medina, the other about 40 km away.

Day 1: the kasbah, the medina and the Grand Socco

Morning: up to the kasbah

Start at the top and work your way down. The kasbah sits on the highest point of the old town, and the Kasbah Museum fills the former sultan's palace. Wikivoyage lists entry at 20 MAD in 2026. Opening hours change between summer and winter, so check at the door. Afterwards, walk out to the terrace on the kasbah's north side for the view over the port and the Strait.

Midday: down through the medina

From the kasbah, let the lanes carry you downhill. The medina is compact, and going down always brings you out near the port. Stop at the Petit Socco, the small square at the historic heart of the old town. Its cafés now mostly serve visitors, but it's still the classic place to sit and watch the lanes go by.

Tip: If you lose your bearings in the medina, head downhill. You'll come out by the port.

Afternoon: the American Legation and the Grand Socco

The Tangier American Legation was a gift from the Sultan of Morocco to the young United States in 1821. Today it's a museum, research centre and cultural centre, and the only US National Historic Landmark outside the country. Its website gives opening hours of 10 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 3 pm at weekends. Wikivoyage lists a 20 MAD ticket.

Then climb to the Grand Socco, the lively square where the medina meets the newer town. On Thursday and Sunday mornings, women from the Rif mountains hold a market here.

Evening: the marina

End the day at Tanja Marina Bay, the leisure port built when the old Tanger Ville harbour beside the medina was redeveloped. It was inaugurated around 2018 and makes a pleasant evening walk. Fishing boats still land their catch in the port next door.

Day 2: Cap Spartel, the Caves of Hercules and the coast

Cap Spartel, the headland west of the city, is about 10 km from downtown, and the Caves of Hercules are about 14 km out. There's no train, so go by petit taxi or grand taxi, and agree the fare, including any waiting time, before you set off. Wikivoyage lists entry to the caves at 10 MAD and says you don't need a guide.

The coast here has wide beaches, but take the official warnings seriously. The UK government notes that many Moroccan beaches have little or no lifeguard cover, and that strong currents and unexpected waves can occur. Swim where others are swimming, never alone, and avoid isolated stretches.

Back in town, spend the late afternoon on the seafront along Avenue Mohammed VI, which is lined with hotels, cafés and restaurants. Early risers can head the other way, to Cap Malabata about 15 km east, a good spot for sunrise.

Day 3: Asilah

Getting there

Asilah is a small walled town on the Atlantic coast, south of Tangier. In ONCF's autumn 2026 timetable, four direct Al Atlas trains a day run each way between Tanger Ville and Asilah, taking 35 to 45 minutes. The first leaves Tangier at 07:40, and the last train back leaves Asilah at 22:07. Asilah station is about 2 km north-east of town along the beach, and a petit taxi into town cost about 10 MAD in 2020. Shared grand taxis from Tangier take about an hour, and Wikivoyage lists a seat at about 20 MAD.

The medina, the ramparts and the murals

Cars aren't allowed in Asilah's medina, so you'll walk in through one of its two main gates, Bab al-Homar or Bab al-Kasbah. Inside, the lanes are small, tidy and whitewashed, and the old walls run right along the sea. What sets Asilah apart is its painted walls: murals by artists from Morocco and abroad, renewed over the years.

The summer arts festival

The murals come from the Assilah International Cultural Moussem, run by the Forum d'Assilah Foundation. In 2026, its 47th edition held a summer session from 28 June to 5 July, devoted to the visual arts. Fifteen artists from Morocco, Spain, Syria and Belgium painted new murals in the medina, working alongside local children and teenagers, and a group exhibition stayed open until 31 August. The dates change from year to year (older listings put the festival in August), so check before you plan a trip around it.

Beaches and lunch

There are beaches both north and south of town. For lunch, the seafood restaurants along Avenue Mohamed el Hassani, with terraces by the medina's south-east wall, are the easy choice. Some serve beer or wine, so ask if that matters to you.

Getting there and getting around

By ferry from Spain: which port?

Fast ferries from Tarifa dock at Tanger Ville, in the city itself. Wikivoyage listed foot-passenger fares at around €40 one way in June 2023, and some tickets sold in Algeciras include a shuttle bus to Tarifa. Most sailings from Algeciras go to Tanger Med instead. DFDS, one of the operators, lists departures about every three hours, day and night, and asks drivers to reach the port 90 minutes before departure. From Tanger Med, Alsa bus I-3 runs roughly hourly to Tanger Ville train station (8 MAD in April 2026), or you can take a grand taxi.

Tip: At the port, people may offer to help with arrival forms or steer you to their taxi. Wave them on politely, and buy ferry tickets at the company desks or from an agency, not from someone at the gate.

By train from Casablanca or Rabat

Al Boraq, Morocco's high-speed train, runs to Tangier from Casablanca via Rabat and Kenitra. In the timetable valid from 14 September 2026, trains leave Casa Voyageurs roughly every hour from 06:00 to 21:00 and reach Tanger Ville in 2 hours 17 minutes. From Rabat Agdal it takes about 1 hour 20. ONCF published this timetable alongside notices of engineering works, so check it before you travel. Tanger Ville station is about 2 km east of the medina, and a taxi costs about 15 MAD. Fares and booking tips are in our train guide, under all guides.

By plane

Tangier Ibn Battouta airport is about 12 km from the city. The Alsa AeroBus runs roughly hourly to Tanger Ville station (40 MAD in 2025, card or cash on board). Grand taxis charge fixed fares: in 2025, 100 MAD to the centre by day and 150 MAD at night, and 200 MAD by day to Asilah.

Getting around

Walking is the best way to see the medina and the centre. Blue petit taxis are usually metered, and the medina to the train station costs under 20 MAD. Cream grand taxis are shared, leave when full and are what you need for trips out of town. The UK government warns that cars booked through ride-hailing apps may be unlicensed and not insured for passengers, and advises agreeing the fare first or checking that the meter is running.

Where to stay: pick an area

• Medina and kasbah: riads and small guesthouses in the old town, close to the sights. Wikivoyage lists kasbah riads at around 300–500 MAD a night. Expect steps and lanes that cars can't reach.
• Ville Nouvelle: the newer centre around Boulevard Pasteur and Avenue Mohammed V, with banks and cafés and easy access to taxis.
• Seafront: the larger hotels along Avenue Mohammed VI, close to the beach and the marina.
• Asilah: stay in or near the medina so you can walk the ramparts in the evening. Rooms cost more in summer.

Browse stays in Tangier and stays in Asilah.

Staying safe: port touts, fake guides and the sea

Travellers generally describe Tangier as safe, including for women on their own, and most of the hassle comes from persistent touts. The official advice is practical:

• Petty theft: the UK government says pickpocketing and bag snatching are common in tourist areas, medinas and on beaches. Avoid quiet areas after dark and don't carry large amounts of cash.
• Fake guides: people posing as official guides approach tourists in medinas. An official guide carries a badge, so ask to see it, or simply say no thanks and keep walking.
• Offers of hashish: decline and move on.
• Photos: ask before photographing people, especially children. Photographing sensitive political or military sites is illegal.
• The sea: swim only where it's supervised or busy (see Day 2).

Emergency numbers (checked on GOV.UK and France Diplomatie, October 2026): police 190 (or 19), ambulance and fire 150 (or 15), gendarmerie 177 outside towns.

Costs at a glance

Prices change often, so treat these as a guide and confirm locally.

Three-day checklist and what to book

• Check which port your ferry uses: Tanger Ville or Tanger Med
• Book your Al Boraq train ahead, especially at weekends
• Carry cash in dirhams for taxis, museums and cafés
• Agree the taxi fare for Cap Spartel before you leave, waiting time included
• Note the last train back from Asilah
• Spend or change your dirhams before you leave Morocco

Start with a base in the city: browse stays in Tangier, then add a night by the sea with stays in Asilah. Going on east to Tetouan? See stays in Tetouan, or read all our guides.