Please sign in to post.

DAY TRIP to Tangier?

Posted by (new york) on

I've read the many posts here from people comparing Tangier to Tijuana. But many of those posters visited years ago and had poor experiences, calling the city dirty, run-down, dangerous, with "nothing to see" etc etc

But I've also read positive posts from Lane, Amy and others, along with articles like these, which present a different picture. Tanger seems to have re-invented itself in recent years and is now, once again, an outpost for many creative types, with lovely looking boutique hotels, good restaurants, etc.

Here are a few recent articles about the blossoming city. that present a very different picture:

https://www.cntraveller.com/article/tangier-guide
https://cabanamagazine.com/blogs/travel/a-weekend-in-tangier?srsltid=AfmBOoqPfUUxZuP1cTqAsuJaxXef2k_1Cs4Shr4QLRiULuCfWNL2OYJF
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-creatives-are-telling-the-story-of-contemporary-tangier
https://www.cntravellerme.com/story/exploring-tangiers-underground-jazz-scene
https://www.reddit.com/r/Morocco/comments/1k86t03/tangier_is_so_worth_the_hype/
https://www.elle.com/culture/travel-food/a61755774/tangier-morocco-travel-review/

So once again, I am playing around with the idea of taking a day trip from Tarifa.

Some relevant information:

I have taken several trips to Morocco and have seen many of the places of tourist interest. I've even been thinking of a future trip to the desert....

But right now, Tangier is the only Moroccan destination that would be even slightly doable for me as a day trip.

I have a rental car and am now staying about an hour from Tarifa, linked by good roads. (Just outside the "white town" of Vejer de la Frontera)

I could either drive to Tarifa myself and park (have heard unsettling comments about parking, which is usually an anxiety producing endeavor for me in most of Europe); how difficult would ir be to find parking on a weekday morning? How do you pay the meters???

OR:

I could hire a local driver to bring me to the ferry.
For the return, if the same driver is not allowed to collect passengers in Tarifa, I could find a taxi driver in Tarifa who would drive me to my current "home."

Next question is whether to go on my own and just walk and take taxis around, OR hire a private guide.
I do not want a group tour and I do not want a guide to schlep me around to various rug shops in the Medina--I can do all that on my own.

I'd like to see a few of the spots mentioned in the articles I've linked, and to have a very good lunch.
A few restaurants caught my eye but I'm really interested in hearing about places you all liked a lot...

Just found these two articles:

https://www.vogue.com/article/how-hamish-bowles-spent-one-glorious-midsummer-weekend-in-tangier
https://www.cntravellerme.com/story/best-places-to-eat-in-tangier

Posted by
1342 posts

My post was too long so had to cut it into two--here is the rest:

Have any of you taken the ferry and hired taxis to go around?
I think I'd prefer having a guide, but how to find one, or even a driver who speaks Spanish or English....I could write down a few places I'd like to see and we could tour around and I'd have lunch.......
NO interest in a camel ride!

But how to know an approximate price for hiring a driver for a few hours???
And where to find one...at the port???

I know that Tangier does not present the best face of Morocco, but I have seen a lot of the country before.

I am pretty secure about wandering around alone in a new place and of course, take precautions to safeguard my wallet, etc.... Example: There are furious warnings all over the internet about the dangers of Las Ramblas and El Raval in Barcelona....as usual, I found these warnings to be highly exaggerated and I wandered around with no fear....... Something bad can happen anywhere but the security factor is not a concern for

I've got about two weeks to play with in this part of Andalucia, so I'm just looking for an interesting day trip and Tangier has sparked my interest for.a long time.. I will not have to eliminate another destination in order to visit Tangier, as I've got two weeks free for exploring...

A million thanks!!

Posted by
5951 posts

If you're interested enough then go. I visited relatively recently, a few years ago and I really didn't like it. All the bad reviews resonated with me and some more. It was dirty, it was noisy, it was chaotic, relentless begging, very poor attitude towards women and an even worse attitude towards animals. The food was mediocre and I generally found nothing of interest despite our guide taking us to all the "highlights".

We took the ferry from Tarifa. Missed the original one because it was so difficult to find a parking space. The small car park at the port fills up quickly and early and the only place we could find was on a sketchy side street (I can't recall the cost). Our guide was arranged prior to the trip and he met us at the ferry port. He was fine but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend him to anyone (not that I can recall his name).

Sure, there are people who like it just as there are those who hate it...each to their own but if you have an itch to visit then just go and see for yourself.

Posted by
1342 posts

George, as I wrote,I have been to Morocco several times and visited both Fez and Marrakech.
The only Moroccan city I can reach easily this month is Tangier, so I am deciding whether or not to go....wht's the worst that could happen? I find it noisy an chaotic, as many do, and I won't return....

The limited parking at the pier is making me anxious; I am going to ask around here about having a taxi take me.
Question is: Cann I find a taxi to bring me back?? (There is a bus but the times are to good and I'd have to leave my car at the bus stop here......). so it's drive myself or take a taxi to and from Tarifa.

I'll have to do some phoning around to see about the prices of the taxi....

My worst nightmare would be to have to drive round and round looking for parking in Tarifa while the minutes were ticking away before the ferry departure!!

I think I would take the 11am ferry, which arrives Tangier at 11am.

Leave Tangier on the 4pm ferry which gets into Tarifa at 6pm--its light enough then for me to drive back if I decide not to go the taxi route..

But about a guide? I imagine I would not need one.....it must be easy to hail a taxi on the street if I get tired walking around.....(???). I guess I have to bargain...

Should I change euros to dirhams, or are euros widely accepted???

Posted by
1342 posts

Still thinking about heading across to Tangier for the day.

Eid falls this Thursday evening, or the following day---waiting for confirmation on that....

I'm only an hour from Tarifa, so I'm likening this jaunt to a slightly more exotic version of the Staten Island ferry crossing from Manhattan..., but with a passport needed..and more interesting adventures awaiting on the other side...

Take ferry, walk around a few hours, find some interesting snacks or lunch, and return on the 4pm ferry......

I'm just wondering what da of the week might be best to go--weekdays? Days before Eid? (Things are closed during the two days of Eid, alter this week...)

Do I need to get MAD, or just use euro?

I know this is an odd question there, but if anyone can offer advice, especially on what days to go and how Eid would affect my trip, please do let me know. Many thanks to you all..

Add Reply

Please do not reply to violations of our Community Guidelines.