South of Spain and Gibraltar lies timeless Tangier, Morocco. Where the waters of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic mix. Where Europe and Africa almost touch. A haunt of writers, artists, and expatriates. Magnet to celebrities and eccentric millionaires. Home to narrow streets, busy markets, and café’s serving mint tea with sugar in a haze of incense smoke. Nearby beaches and resorts glitter, while the historic city holds an air of mystery.
Tangier has passed through many hands. It has been controlled by the Berbers, Romans, Arabs, French, and Spanish, and has long been one of the gateways wanderers pass through when coming from Europe to Africa. Travelers today looking to add some spice to their European journeys may do well to consider a visit to this city – a crossroads of the world where Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and immigrant communities have rubbed shoulders for centuries.
RealTraveler Karen Watkins writes of this singular city:
“Tangier is the most western extremity of the Muslim and Arab world. The place is overwhelming at every turn in the overcrowded, narrow, scent-filled lanes. No wonder it’s said to be the place of sex, drugs and rock-and-roll as it certainly shocks all of the senses with its strange smells, colourful images and variety of the exotic… Crossing the Straits of Gibraltar after travelling through France and Spain, the laid back feel of Morocco is sublime… we soon found Tangier to be a unique, likeable, lively place with a special character.” (…read more)
Mythologized more recently by writers such as Paul Bowles, William Burroughs, and Tennessee Williams - and rockers the Rolling Stones - Tangier first acquired its bohemian reputation after receiving attention from French painters Delacroix and Matisse. The visual beauty of the city and its stimulating street life inspired them, as well a reputed aura of decadence.
Tourism is one of the city’s main industries, and Tangier Hotels can be found near the beach or in the city center. Markets sell artisan-crafted wares, and the beaches offer everything from windsurfing to camel rides. Restaurants tempt with traditional Moroccan, French, and Spanish flavors. Visitors have long been seduced by this enchanting and enigmatic city.
To plan your trip to Morocco, visit:
Tangier Hotels
Magical Marrakesh
