What to do in Tangier? 20 ideas to make the most of the city
What to do in Tangier? Climb up to the Kasbah, wander the medina, drink a tea facing the strait, see the Atlantic at Cape Spartel: here are 20 ideas to plan your stay, sorted by what you feel like doing.
- The Kasbah, the medina and Café Hafa can be done on foot in one day.
- Cape Spartel and the Caves of Hercules require a taxi or a car.
- Two days are enough for the essentials, three with a day trip.
Tangier's must-sees
1. Climb up to the Kasbah, the fortified quarter at the top of the medina, and leave through Bab Bhar for the view over the strait.
2. Visit the Kasbah Museum, housed in the former sultan's palace.
3. Cross the medina from the Grand Socco to the Petit Socco along Rue Siaghine.
4. Have a mint tea at Café Hafa, on its tiered terraces facing the sea.
5. See the Cape Spartel lighthouse, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean.
6. Go into the Caves of Hercules and see their opening shaped like a map of Africa.
Culture and history
7. Visit the American Legation, the first public property of the United States abroad.
8. Browse the books at the Librairie des Colonnes, opened in 1949 on Boulevard Pasteur.
9. See a film or have a coffee at the Cinémathèque de Tanger, in the former Rif cinema.
10. Discover the façade of the Gran Teatro Cervantes, inaugurated in 1913.
11. Look for traces of Tangier's international period, between 1923 and 1956.
Sea, nature and sunsets
12. Walk along the corniche and the municipal beach at the end of the day.
13. Sit on the Phoenician tombs, carved into the rock facing the strait.
14. Stroll in the shade of the pines in Perdicaris Park.
15. Spend the afternoon on the long Achakar beach, on the Atlantic side.
16. Watch the sun set from the Terrasse des Paresseux or Cape Spartel.
Eating like a local
17. Try kalinté, the chickpea flan sold by the slice in the street.
18. Start the day with a bowl of bissara, the broad-bean soup of the North.
19. Eat grilled fish near the port.
Going on a day trip
20. Spend a day in Chefchaouen, Tetouan or Asilah, or cross the strait to Tarifa by ferry. All these trips leave from Tangier.
Days and opening hours to know before you go
American Legation: Monday to Friday, 10 am–1 pm and 3 pm–5 pm, according to the Contact page of legation.org (consulted on 16 October 2026); another page on the same site mentions weekend opening. Entry 20 DH, guided tour 50 DH.
Kasbah Museum: 10 am–6 pm; the official page states both opening 7 days a week and closure on Tuesdays (fnm.ma, 16 October 2026). Entry 30 DH for an adult.
Caves of Hercules: 9 am–7 pm daily, hours may vary by season; 80 DH for a foreign adult, 30 DH for a resident (herculescaves.com, ticketing site of TangerLocal's founder, 16 October 2026).
Cape Spartel lighthouse: a museum opened there in June 2021 (le360.ma); hours and prices not documented.
Café Hafa, Cinémathèque, Librairie des Colonnes: hours and prices not documented to date.
Everything else on the list (squares, viewpoints, corniche, Phoenician tombs, walking around the Kasbah) is free to access.
How many days to plan?
With one day, focus on the medina, the Kasbah and Café Hafa. With two days, add the Atlantic coast: Cape Spartel, the Caves of Hercules and Achakar beach. With three days or more, go on a day trip. Our itineraries detail each day, with walking and travel times.
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Tangier in one day?
The medina, the Kasbah, the American Legation and then Café Hafa at sunset, all on foot.
What to do in Tangier in the evening?
A stroll along the corniche, dinner in the medina or the new town, then one of the historic hotel bars or a club in the new town.
What to do in Tangier when it rains?
The American Legation (Monday to Friday according to legation.org), the Kasbah Museum (watch out for Tuesdays), the Cinémathèque and the Librairie des Colonnes are under cover. Check opening hours before you go.