Tangier — Gateway from Europe
About Tangier — Gateway from Europe
Tangier has been Africa's front door to Europe for centuries. Phoenicians, Romans, Portuguese, British and an international administration have all left their mark, and in the 20th century the city drew writers and artists from around the world. Today it combines a lively old medina and kasbah with a modern seafront, and it is where most travellers arriving by ferry from Spain first set foot in Morocco.
Why start your tour in Tangier
If you’re coming from Spain, Tangier saves you a flight. Ferries cross the Strait of Gibraltar from Tarifa and Algeciras, and from Tangier the whole country opens up to the south. The route to the Sahara passes through the best of northern Morocco: the blue streets of Chefchaouen, the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the medieval medina of Fes. You then cross the Middle Atlas to the dunes of Erg Chebbi and finish in Marrakech.
Arriving in Tangier
- By ferry: boats from Tarifa arrive at Tanger Ville port in the city centre. Boats from Algeciras usually arrive at Tanger Med, about 45 km east.
- By air: Tangier Ibn Battuta Airport is about 15 km from the centre.
- By train: the high-speed Al Boraq line links Tangier with Rabat and Casablanca.
We can meet you at either port, at the airport or at your hotel.
What to see
- The Kasbah and medina: the old sultan’s palace (now the Kasbah Museum), the Grand Socco and the Petit Socco.
- Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules: a lighthouse on the northwestern tip of Africa, and sea caves steeped in legend.
- The seafront: the corniche, the marina and the cafés of the new town.
Good to know
Tangier to Chefchaouen is roughly a 2.5–3 hour drive through the Rif Mountains, so most of our Tangier tours spend the first night there. With 5 days you can reach the Sahara and Marrakech; with 7 or 8 you have time for full days in Fes and Marrakech.
Tours Visiting Tangier
5-Day Tangier to Marrakech Desert Tour
Step off the ferry or plane in Tangier and cross Morocco to Marrakech in five days: an evening in Chefchaouen, a guided afternoon in the Fes medina, a sunset camel trek and a luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi, the Todra and Dades gorges, and Ait Ben Haddou.
6-Day Tangier to Marrakech Tour: Chefchaouen, Fes & the Sahara
Six days from Tangier to Marrakech: Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules, Chefchaouen, the Roman ruins of Volubilis and imperial Meknes, a full guided day in Fes, a night in the Sahara, and the gorges and kasbahs of the south.
7-Day Desert Tour from Tangier to Marrakech
The ultimate North-to-South crossing. Explore Tangier, wander Chefchaouen's blue streets, visit Fes medina, ride camels in Erg Chebbi, and end in Marrakech.
8-Day Tangier to Marrakech Tour with Two Desert Nights
The complete journey from Tangier to Marrakech: Cap Spartel, Chefchaouen, Volubilis and Meknes, a full guided day in Fes, two nights around Erg Chebbi with a full desert day, the Todra and Dades gorges, Ait Ben Haddou and a guided day in Marrakech.