Here at Hasina Morocco Tours, we offer luxurious tours of Morrocco by immersing you in the unique cuisine, customs and history of Morocco, including a desert trip that is like no other. We love nothing more than sharing the real Morocco with our guests, and one of our favourite places to take people is Tangier.
Tangier is a Moroccan port on the Strait of Gibraltar, and is known as the Gateway to Africa. It is really popular with many of our guests due to its many beautiful sights to see and things to experience – we don’t just offer camel riding morocco you know! We have pulled together our top ten things you can do in this stunning town to see if we can tempt you to visit:
Drink some freshly squeezed orange juice
You haven’t tasted orange juice until you’ve tasted a delicious glass of freshly squeezed orange juice made from locally grown oranges in Tangier. After all, the sub-tropical Mediterranean climate makes it ideal orange growing territory. You can find Moroccan orange juice sellers all over Tangier, just be careful to check that their ice is made with bottled water.
Enjoy a mint tea in the Petit Socco
Once home to drug dealers and prostitutes, but now just a harmless (if pretty) square, the Petit Socco is the ideal place to sit back and enjoy sipping on a mint tea as you people watch. The mint tea in Morocco is sublime, as it is usually made with fresh mint leaves and a touch of sugar, making it a very refreshing alternative to your usual cuppa.
Explore the Grand Mosque
The Grand Mosque of Tangier was built on the site of an old Roman Temple, and was originally a Cathedral. Its central location seemed perfect as a place of worship for Muslims and so in the eighth century it was turned into a Mosque. But the story doesn’t stop there! Since then, it has been converted back into a church again, and then finally the Grand Mosque that we know and love today. All of these different uses, however, combine together to make it interesting not only from an architectural point of view, but it serves as a testament to Tangier’s long and varied history as well.
Learn some American history
Go to Tangier to learn American History? Why not! Morocco was the first country in the world to recognise America as an independent state at the end of the revolutionary war. The American Legation Museum has a 1940s vibe, transporting you away from modern day to a different time, and is home to a wide variety of ever-changing exhibitions.
Read a book (or two)
One of the highlights of Tangier is the Libraire des Colonnes which has been a hot spot in Tangier since 1949. The old-fashioned exterior of the building is charming, while the inside is lined with thousands of interesting books. It should come as no surprise then, that it was a favourite spot for some of the 20th centuries greatest writers – including Samuel Beckett, Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote.
Relax at the Grand Socco
The Grand Socco could be described as a crossroads, but in reality, it is so much more than that. On one side is a cinema and on the other is a mosque – nicely bridging the transition from old Morocco to new. There is a central fountain with benches either side where you can rest your feet, after wondering through the traditional market stalls, of course!
Spend some time on the beach
You may not think of beach holidays when you think of Tangier, but a lot of funding has been placed into sustaining the cleanliness of the beaches and shoreline around the whole of Morocco over the past few years – with the beaches of Tangier reaping the benefits. Their golden sand and azure blue waters make them a real retreat from city life – although their location close to the port also means there is always a certain amount of hustle and bustle!
Visit St Andrew’s Church
Keeping with the religious theme, a visit to St Andrew’s Church in Tangier is a real must-do as it is truly mesmerizing. A true reflection of Morocco’s multi-cultural population St Andrew’s Church was actually gifted to Morocco by King Hassan 1, and it is indeed a focal point for Christians in Tangier. Interestingly, though, it also features inscriptions from the Qur’an on its interior and marks the direction of Muslim prayer to Mecca – giving a whole new meaning to the word Interfaith.
Wander through the Kasbah
The Kasbah in Tangier is a beautifully preserved walled fort that overlooks the city, and which also offers sweeping views of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The best way to enjoy all of the stunning scenery is to enter the Kasbah through the Bab Haha gate and just wander around – exploring the cobbled alleyways inside as you do. Be sure to stop off at the 17th Century Palace which you can find just of the Place du Menchoar. This former Sultan’s palace is now a museum aimed at showing you the architecture of the riads (traditional Morocco houses) with central courtyards and fountains, as well as displays showing all sorts of relics from the Stone Age to the present day.
Watch a film
You may wonder why we are suggesting you visit a cinema on your trip to Tangier but believe us, you haven’t watched a film until you have watched a film at The Cinema Rif. This colonial style building is host to a variety of films, both independent and mainstream – and likes to showcase films in both Arabic and French. It really us a true Moroccan experience.
Like what you have read? If you are interested in a Tangier or Marrakesh tour then please get in touch with the Hasina Morocco Tours team so that we can create an unforgettable Moroccan tour for you.
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