In Morocco, the mysteries of Tangier unfold in a city long home to smugglers and poets seeking adventure. Today, as Africa and the Mediterranean’s leading port, Tangier has managed to keep its village spirit alive, driven by youthful energy and creativity.
In this blog post, uncover the secrets and hidden gems in Tangier that you won’t want to miss!
Table of Contents
Tangier’s Rooftops
To truly know a city, you must climb to its rooftops. Picture a high kasbah overlooking a medina encircled by two kilometers of walls with eleven gates closing at sunset. Imagine where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic, with Spain’s southern coasts and Tarifa seeming just within reach.
Tangier’s beginning
Legend says the giant Antaeus, son of Poseidon and Gaia, founded Tangier. A trading post for Phoenicians and Carthaginians, a Byzantine port, Tangier has always connected East and West. In 711, the Arabs set out from Tangier to conquer Spain, lured by El Dorado, just 14 kilometers away. Over the centuries, the Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French came and went. Tangier became a free port in 1925 with international administration and financial autonomy to end disputes. While reintegrated into Morocco in 1956, it still holds on to its thirst for independence.
Tangier’s Inspiration
You don’t need to have set foot in Tangier to feel its pull. Tangier has inspired many writers, including Jean Genet and Burroughs, who both spent time here. Few places are so profoundly intertwined with history and the fates of people.
However, reducing Tangier to the genius minds it has inspired would miss what makes it mysterious: its incredible ability to adapt through time. The old echoes of wild times are now framed in museums, like the American Legation, or cafes like Café Baba, famous in the medina. But today, Tangier pulses with the vitality of its youth and King Mohammed VI’s urban ambitions.
Tangier’s transformation
Hassan II distrusted the north, especially this international city that resisted his control. Some Tangier residents even participated in an assassination attempt against him. But when King Mohammed VI ascended in 1999, he began transforming Tangier into a model city, critical between Europe and Africa. Until the 2000s, Tangier was left to invent a pirate economy, but now it’s Africa’s largest port, thanks to the massive Tangier Med complex. Its population has surged from 300,000 to 2 million in just twenty years.
Tangier’s appeal
The medina, fully renovated during COVID-19, now shines, and the TGV connects Tangier to Rabat in just over two hours, with Marrakech soon within reach. Tangier also has a seaside appeal, with seven kilometers of beaches. The city’s once sleepy image has been shattered. The medina’s restoration ensured its residents weren’t displaced.
Tangier’s hidden bookstore
Les Insolites bookstore has been the voice of Moroccan and African artists since 2007. With over a hundred exhibitions since its opening, the bookstore returns focus to the printed words. Artists in Tangier have an intensely personal relationship with the city.
Tangier’s unique identity
The essence of Tangier carries a unique identity. Young creative minds are reclaiming the city’s future, like photographer Seif Kousmate, who made a series on Moroccan oases, or his wife Lamiae, a jewelry designer. Art has taken root everywhere, from the Kasbah Museum to the city’s walls, where international Moroccan pop/street artist Mouad Aboulhana painted a tribute to photographer Leila Alaoui, saved in time by the local governor.
Tangier’s Timeless Residences
Tangier is still home to timeless residences, like the Villa Léon l’Africain, the best example of French colonial architecture in Morocco. Surrounded by lush gardens, it offers an urban oasis of calm. Owned by the Fondation Jardin Majorelle and rented year-round to director Rob Ashford, Villa Léon hosted Kenneth Branagh in 2013 for rehearsals of Macbeth. Tangier still thrives with an energy that transcends time.
Best Addresses To Discover Hidden Gems in Tangier
SELECTION OF BEST ACCOMMODATION
For Privacy:
- La Maison de Tanger : A peaceful green oasis with a singing fountain, originally home to Canadian rocker Alex Henry Foster, lead singer of the Long Shadows. Along with bassist Jeff Beaulieu, they created this sanctuary between the sky and sea. Double room from €114.
- Villa Augustine: Interior designer Willem Smit created this bright, intimate guesthouse with 4 suites, glass walls, and two terraces overlooking the sea and Spain. Double room from €295.
- Saba’s House : Roya Lamine invites you to her luxurious boutique riad in the heart of the kasbah, serving the best breakfast in Tangier. Double room from €209.
For Luxury:
- Fairmont Tazi Palace : Once the palace of Mendoub Tazi, now a luxury haven. Featuring 130 rooms, 3 penthouses, 3 restaurants, a huge pool, and a 2,500 m² spa, all on 3.6 hectares. Australian chef Chris Blake crafts exquisite meals using Moroccan ingredients. Double room from €294, with restaurant prices around €40-50 per person.
For the Myth:
- El Minzah Hotel : Built in 1930, this iconic hotel has hosted the likes of Churchill and Coppola. The classic, old-world charm remains unchanged. Double rooms from €217.
- Hotel Continental : Formerly the British Navy’s headquarters and Tangier’s first hotel. The sunlit patio is perfect for those seeking a bohemian escape. Double rooms from €108, and request a room with a balcony and sea view.
SELECTION OF THE BEST PLACES TO EAT
For Lunch:
- Alma Kitchen & Coffee : Seif and Lamiae created a fresh, healthy menu including dishes like dahl, Levantine eggplant, and squash risotto. Around €15 per dish.
- Restaurants and bars in Fairmont Tazi : Whether you crave wood-fired pizzas, Persian dishes at Parisa, or a cocktail at Origin Bar, Fairmont adapts to your desires. Dishes from €30.
- San Remo : Known for its fish baked in a salt crust. Around €45 for dinner.
- Côté Sud : Seafood lovers can savor Mediterranean dishes at Cap Spartel. Count on €25 per dish.
For Dinner and a Drink:
- Osky’s: Senegalese-born Oscar charms with his stories, live music, and tapas. Around €50 for dinner.
- El Morocco Club : Vincent Coppée stopped in Tangier during a planned cross-African trip and never left. Three distinct atmospheres, with breakfast from €10, lunch €35, and dinner €60.
Have a Tea
- Enjoy a mint tea or café au lait at the terraces of Palais Zahia, Dar Nour, Le Salon Bleu, Café Hafa, or Aux trois portes. Expect to pay €5-7 for mint tea.
- Nostalgic souls can sip English tea and enjoy orange cake at the elegant Villa Joséphine for €30.
BEST PLACES TO VISIT
Museums:
- Don’t miss the Kasbah Museum (€3 entry), American Legation (€5), Museum Ibn Batouta (€2), and Villa Harris (€2).
- Visit KIOSK for a creative urban experience.
The Bookstores:
- At bookstore Les Insolites, Stéphanie Daou offers a book-lover’s balcony overlooking Tangier.
- Don’t miss the legendary Librairie des Colonnes, established in 1949.
The Art:
- Volubilis Art Gallery ,showcases artists like ParTan, Ali Maimoun, and Ouarzaz. Expect paintings priced between €1,500 and €8,000.
- Check out New Tangier for Kenza Bennani’s traditional Moroccan-inspired designs. Also, see painter Najoua El Hitmi’s works starting at €900.
BEST PLACES FOR SHOPPING
Shopping:
- Majid Boutique : Majid, a beloved figure in Tangier’s medina, sells everything from jewelry to djellabas. Prices negotiable.
- Las Chicas: A decade-old concept store selling jewelry and crafts. Expect to pay around €40 for a designer necklace.
READ, LISTEN, WATCH
- Naked Bread by Mohamed Choukri: A raw, powerful testimony about Tangier’s darker side, with themes of drugs and violence.
- Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka: Recorded in 1968, an album by the Stones’ founder in the Moroccan mountains.
- Tangerine by Christophe: An ode to the nights of Tangier.
- Only Lovers Left Alive (2013): A Jim Jarmusch film paying tribute to Tangier’s mysterious, nocturnal beauty.
