View Mediterranean on the mapThe maze-like Medina and Kasbah fortress spread across the hills, with a European-style 20th-century city below. Writers and artists gathered here in the mid-20th century, and the strong café culture remains. Because touts and unsolicited guides are common, agree on prices in advance.

Tangier

Tangier · Morocco · 35.79, -5.80

A port city in northern Morocco on the Strait of Gibraltar, positioned where the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean meet Europe and Africa. Its history as an internationally administered city gave it a distinctive blend of cultures.

Port highlights

A regional hub city of about 1.1 million people

Population

A Mediterranean climate, with dry, hot summers and mild, humid winters. Rain is concentrated from November to March, and winds from the strait blow strongly throughout the year. It is more comfortable than a Japanese summer.

Climate

Arabic (Moroccan dialect) and Berber. French is widely understood, while Spanish and English are also used in tourist areas.

Language

Moroccan dirham (MAD). The currency has restrictions on being taken out of the country, cash is the main payment method in the city, and exchange is done at official exchange offices at the port or in the city.

Currency

April to June and September to October. These months avoid both the heat and the rain, and suit walking around the city.

Best time to visit

Local food

Tagine, couscous, harira (bean soup), and grilled sardines and shrimp caught in the strait. Mint tea is drunk all day long.

Sights

Kasbah Museum and the old town medinaGrand Socco and Petit Socco squares and marketsCaves of Hercules and Cape SpartelView of the strait from Café HafaDay trip to Chefchaouen (the Blue City)

Monthly average high / low temperatures

17°

8°Jan

17°

8°Feb

19°

10°Mar

21°

11°Apr

24°

14°May

27°

17°Jun

29°

19°Jul

30°

20°Aug

28°

18°Sep

25°

16°Oct

20°

12°Nov

18°

10°Dec

Unit: °C · Calculated from NOAA GHCN-Daily station observations · Period: 1991–2020 · Station: TANGIER CITY · about 1.9 km from port · elevation difference about 81 m · Last checked: Oct 3, 2026 · A guide for choosing your travel month.

Local prices for travelers

Cheaper than Tokyo

Compared with Tokyo, Japan (median of items)70 (Tokyo = 100)

Compared with Tokyo, water, coffee and meals are somewhat cheaper; beer and a Big Mac are much more expensive.

MAD 2.80

Water 500 ml

MAD 19.00

Coffee

MAD 36.60

Inexpensive meal

MAD 70.00

Local beer