Things to do in Tangier

It can be difficult to separate fiction from fact in colorful Tangier. There are so many stories – both famous and infamous – about the place that a visit always comes with the spice of genuine adventure. A significant modernizing push in recent years means that you can now enjoy the benefits of an aspiring Morocco while still appreciating all of its historical and cultural wonders.

There’s plenty to do. Enter the cobbled maze of the Kasbah via the Bab Haha gate and get lost among the traditional architecture. Or visit the Grand Mosque, which was a Roman temple and a Portuguese cathedral before it converted to Islam in the eighth century. The beaches are also quite stunning, and the Grand Socco is a wonderful shopping locale for buying traditional kaftans, nuts and fresh fruit. Treat yourself to a mint tea!

Literature fans will want to make a pilgrimage to Rue Magellan, whose hotels accommodated Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs. Nowadays, it’s where the town’s hipsters hang out. Fans of Paul Bowles’ “The Sheltering Sky” will want to visit the museum of the Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies, whose rooms exhibit treasures related to the author.

A great day trip from Tangier is Asilah, one of Morocco’s most beautiful and well-preserved old cities. Walk its Portuguese ramparts, see the El-Kamra tower and visit the Palais de Raissouli, where a notable pirate once lived. With its own summer arts festival, Asilah is definitely a cultural center worth visiting at any time of the year.