Day trips from Tangier
Chefchaouen, Tetouan and Asilah in the north
Tetouan is 63.1 km from Tangier by road, 1 h 18 by car, and Chefchaouen 112.3 km, 2 h 14 by car or about 2 h 30 on the CTM coach. Asilah lies about 40 km southwest of Tangier on the Atlantic coast, inside walls of Islamic and Portuguese origin. Closer to the city are the Caves of Hercules and the Perdicaris villa.
On this page
Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen is the longest of the day trips on this page: 112.3 km from Tangier by road, about 2 h 14 by car. CTM coaches cover the 112 km in about 2 h 30 on average, with more than four departures a day; the first leaves Tangier at 08:15 and the last at 20:15. You can book the coach online or at a CTM agency in Tangier. With two and a half hours each way, plan for a long day or an overnight stay.
The town's Qasba was built in 1471 under Emir Ali Ben Rached as a military stronghold that was also his residence. A mudbrick wall with thirteen towers encloses it, and inside are a small mosque, a large Andalusian garden and a former prison. Tickets for the Qasba are sold online.
Tetouan
Tetouan is the closest of the three towns: 63.1 km from Tangier by road, about 1 h 18 by car, so you can spend most of the day there.
Two sites in Tetouan sell tickets through the same ministry of culture portal as the Caves of Hercules: the archaeological site of Tamuda and the National School of Arts and Crafts.
Asilah
Asilah lies on the Atlantic coast, about 40 km southwest of Tangier. From the 14th century its port traded with merchants from Majorca, Catalonia and Genoa. The Portuguese took the town on 24 August 1471 and built a stronghold with a keep and a large circuit of walls.
Today the medina covers 7 hectares inside fortifications of Islamic and Portuguese origin, with walls, bastions and gates such as Bab al Homar, Bab al Bhar and Bab al Kasba. The fortification is listed as national heritage, and over the past three decades the medina has been restored and rehabilitated.
Close to the city
You do not have to go far for a half-day outing. The Caves of Hercules lie 14 km from Tangier in the Cap Spartel massif, carved into the limestone along the Atlantic coast, with an opening to the ocean that looks out over the Strait of Gibraltar. More on Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules.
The Perdicaris villa stands 6 km from the centre in the Rmilat forest, on a hill overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. Ion Perdicaris built it in 1878, mixing the Queen Anne style with classical and medieval elements. Since April 2022 it has housed a heritage interpretation centre on Perdicaris and the biodiversity of the region; tickets are sold online.
By car or taxi
Without a car, the CTM coach is the simplest way to Chefchaouen; trains and coaches from Tangier are covered under travel tips. Rabat, 249.9 km away by road and about 2 h 45 by car, makes a long round trip for one day.
With a UK driving licence, you need both the 1968 international driving permit and your licence with you in the car. If you bring your own car, you also need a green card from your insurer. Any alcohol in your system when driving can lead to a fine and possible imprisonment. Poor lighting makes driving at night dangerous, and secondary routes and mountain roads can be especially hazardous in bad weather.
If you hire a taxi for the day, agree the fare in advance. Petit and grand taxi drivers sometimes speed and do not follow other driving rules. More on the safety page.