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Two nights in Tangier or?

This fall we were doing a Rick Steves tour of Spain. After the tour ends, we’re thinking about going to Morocco. Should we go to Tangier or another city for two or three nights? Any hotels or Tour Guide recommendations would be appreciated!

Posted by
5382 posts

As my husband just said, “Ain’t nobody need to go to Tangier.” It is a total crap city. Go somewhere beautiful, please.

Posted by
27107 posts

There are many good choices, Tangier not being one of them. Your destination also should not be Casablanca.
Despite our memories of the movie of that name, the city is now a modern one; it's not what you're going to Morocco to see.

I'd suggest Fes (slightly less touristy) or Marrakech. But see what you can find in terms of flights from the endpoint of your tour, or near it. I use Skyscanner to look up schedules for intra-European flights and would also use it for a flight from Spain to Morocco. You don't have much time, so I'd be looking for a non-stop flight from an airport I could reach easily. And try to get a multi-city transatlantic ticket (into Spain, out of Morocco) so you don't have to double-back to Spain for the flight home. I have no recent experience, but decades ago I flew Air Maroc from Washington to Casablanca, and the flight was fine. Alternatively, perhaps you can find a good fare with a return from Fes or Marrakech with a change of planes somewhere in Europe.

Trying to visit a worthwhile destination in Morocco via a ferry from Spain would subject you to too much travel time.

Posted by
585 posts

I would pick Rabat. It’s the capital of Morocco and is a lovely city full of interesting sights and is in the coast. There is an airport (as it is the Capital) at nearby Sale, so should be easy to fly there from Spain. Sorry can’t help with hotels. Fez is also stunning. Stay outside the Medina and hire a guide for a Medina tourwhich will easily take a day to do. Marrakech is a great mix of colonial France, old Morocco and European sophistication and deserves more than a couple of days.

I think having been to Spain and seen the Moroccan influences there, you will enjoy Rabat more.

Posted by
60 posts

Thanks. Interesting that I just watched a RS video saying Tangier had been cleaned up. Probably will try to fly direct from Barcelona or Madrid? Try some other city.

Posted by
2311 posts

Is this the tour that ends in Seville? If so, fly out of Seville. There’s a direct flight to Marrakech in the evening. Then fly out of Marrakech home.

Posted by
292 posts

My most recent time in Tangier was in 2019; it struck me as much, much nicer than basically everyone on this forum says. If you do go there, I would highly highly recommend La Tangerina hotel - its terrace was a highlight I still think back on. With two or three nights, you could add a trip to Asilah, which is lovely and covered with interesting murals.

That said, if you're ending in Seville, the previous suggestion of flying to Marrakech would also be an option. It's very tourist-oriented, and you'll have lots of activities to choose from. It's my least favorite of the major tourist destinations in Morocco, but I understand why it's popular!

Posted by
60 posts

Interesting. I am having a hard time finding a direct flight from Seville to Marrakech.

Posted by
292 posts

Hmmmm - I guess it wouldn't be surprising if there had been some changes in schedules and availability. I thought EasyJet used to do that route but it looks like not any more. Poking around I saw that there are some Ryanair options 2-3 times a week. It looks like there are also Ryanair flights from Seville to Fez, which would give you another option.