From the northern Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts to the Rif Mountains, you’ll find quiet beaches, national parks, bustling medinas, and places steeped in history.
A melting pot of cultures, with echoes of the Spanish protectorate, Roman ruins, and the indomitable calm of the Berbers.
The main tourist attractions in northern Morocco are found in the bohemian, coastal town of Asilah; the city of Tetouan, with its Moorish and modernist flair; Chefchaouen, with its blue-painted streets and facades; the Roman ruins of Volubilis for lovers of ancient history; and the resort city of Saidia, where travelers can enjoy endless beaches of fine sand, which in recent years has become a top summer destination boasting more than 300 days of sunshine a year.
Explore every hidden gem in northern Morocco to discover stunning photos, facts, and intimate travel stories.
A crossroads between Europe and Africa
Colonial
A crossroads between Europe and Africa, this legendary city is currently undergoing a major economic boom. Yet, Tangier stands as a living example of a modern city that has successfully preserved and maintained its unique identity.
In a way, Tangier is reviving its past as a hub for commercial and diplomatic relations—a sanctuary for artists and poets that continues to hold onto the cosmopolitan footprint left by the great travelers of the 19th century.
The city of two seas, blending the blue of both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, has always been a haven for writers and creators.
The beauty of its location and its slightly bluish light have made it a source of inspiration for generations of some of the world’s greatest artists. Its streets, hotels, and cafes welcomed the likes of Tennessee Williams, Eugène Delacroix, Samuel Beckett, and Jean Genet. Its palaces hosted the glamorous, worldly parties of Barbara Hutton and Malcolm Forbes. Its light inspired Henri Matisse, while its mystery captivated Paul Bowles; the “White City” has always known exactly how to charm creative geniuses.
The narrow, winding streets of the Tangier medina, the painted houses with their arabesque doors, the local residents, and the artisanal shops you will discover along the way make this northern Moroccan city truly worth a visit.
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Portuguese sailors called it “Casa Branca”
The City of Culture and the Arts
Asilah is a coastal city located south of Tangier in northern Morocco—tranquil and serene to some, majestic and magical to others.
The city was founded by the Phoenicians, but it has also seen the passage of Carthaginians, Arabs, Portuguese, and Spaniards. Asilah arguably owes most to the era of Portuguese rule, when it was transformed into a commercial hub along the Saharan gold route in the 15th century.
Additionally, Asilah preserves several buildings from the protectorate era as well as the mausoleum of Sidi Ahmed el-Mansur, the Saadian who reconquered the city after the Battle of the Three Kings.
The Medina features three gates: Bab el-Kasbah (The Fortress Gate), Bab el-Bahr (The Sea Gate), and Bab el-Homar (The Land Gate).
The fishing port, which supplies Asilah’s bars, restaurants, and stalls, is famous for its catches of tuna and seafood caught not far from the shore using ancient, traditional fishing methods.
Whether in the morning or at sunset, the meeting point for Asilah’s youth is the “Karakia,” a viewpoint on the Portuguese ramparts from which you can observe the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean and enjoy the contrast of the crystal-clear sea against the brilliant sun.
Asilah is the cultural hub par excellence of northern Morocco, meaning its Medina streets are never short of art workshops and galleries. Moreover, many artists, thinkers, and intellectuals—both Moroccan and international—have chosen Asilah as their residence, creating a cultural atmosphere felt in every single corner.
Each year during the cultural and artistic Moussem, the streets of Asilah transform into a true open-air museum. The highlight of cultural tourism takes place in August, when the city hosts the famous Asilah Cultural Festival, an international event filled with art.
The colorful murals painted by artists who use the Medina walls as canvases to unleash their imagination—with images packed with emotion and energy—are the legacy this festival leaves behind year after year. Art remains alive all year round in the streets of the Asilah medina.
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The Mediterranean's treasure of fine sand
Saidia boasts the most extensive beaches in the country and stands as one of the most important tourist resorts in North Africa.
Today, this coastal town located near the Algerian border has transformed into a highly sought-after vacation destination in recent years.
The city’s main attractions are its more than 14 kilometers (8.5 miles) of white-sand beaches, its medina, kasbah, corniche, and marina. It also features the Mediterrania-Saidia tourist resort, which includes three golf courses, luxury hotels, a shopping center, and a modern medina packed with numerous shops, restaurants, and cafes.
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More than 300 days of sunshine a year
Marina and golf courses
The gateway to the majestic Rif Mountains
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The indigo idyll suspended in the mountains
With very little car traffic, the air is clean and fresh, inviting you to stay and discover the beauty of the place and its surroundings.
Chefchaouen is a charming small town of about 40,000 inhabitants located around 100km (62 miles) from Ceuta, nestled on the slopes of Mount Tisouka (2050m) and Mount Megou (1616m) in the Rif Mountain range. These peaks rise above the town like two horns, giving the city its name (Chefchaouen in Berber means “look at the horns”).
Sitting at an altitude of about 660m (2,165 feet) with very little car traffic, the town offers clean, fresh air that invites visitors to stay and discover the beauty of the area and its surroundings.
Its Medina is peaceful and compact. If you enter through any of its five gates and let your senses take over, you will find yourself fully immersed in a wealth of new sensations—like the scent of freshly baked bread from a wood-fired oven or a tagine ready to be enjoyed.
The wide array of colors from the different products in the shops and bazaars contrasts beautifully with the dazzling, bluish-white facades of the houses. The blend of unfamiliar voices and sounds will guide you through the winding alleys until you inevitably reach the main gathering and resting spot, Outa el-Hammam Square.
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The legendary Uta el-Hammam Square
Berber: ‘Look at the horns’
The imperial legacy of Rome carved in stone
Ancient Roman City
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Morocco’s best-preserved archaeological sites
Forum, Basilica, and Temple of Jupiter
Beautifully carved mosaics
