C
Things to do Cape Spartel
Cape and caves on the Atlantic coast
Things to do in Tangier
Old town, museums and sights on the coast
The walls of the medina and the Great Mosque have been listed as heritage since 1940. In the kasbah, the Museum of Mediterranean Cultures and a contemporary art space in a former 17th-century prison stand on Place de la Kasbah. Beyond the old town lie the Caves of Hercules in the Cape Spartel massif and the Perdicaris villa in the Rmilat forest.
Medina, kasbah and Cape Spartel
On this page
Museums in Tangier
On Place de la Kasbah stand the Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures and the Espace d'art contemporain. The art space is housed in a former prison from the 17th century that was in use until the 1970s. The kasbah itself is covered under kasbah.
Dar Niaba, at 41 Rue Siaghine, is a building that Sultan Moulay Slimane handed to France in 1816. Today it is a museum, and its collection goes back to a donation of about 350 works and objects. Morocco registered Dar Niaba as national heritage in 2016.
The Tangier American Legation is open to visitors. It has been on the US National Register of Historic Places since 1981 and is the only National Historic Landmark in Morocco. Morocco registered it as national heritage in 2016, in the same year as Dar Niaba.
Villa Harris, on Boulevard Mohammed VI, is a museum as well. Dar Niaba, the two museums on Place de la Kasbah and Villa Harris are all run by the Fondation Nationale des Musées.
Buildings and squares
The walls of the medina and the Great Mosque were listed as heritage in 1940, and Place de la Kasbah followed in 1947. The Mendoubia was registered as heritage in 2016, and the Mendoubia Gardens carry its name.
Teatro Cervantes was built in 1913. In the Socco, the Anglican church of St Andrew's stands at 50 Rue d'Angleterre.
On the outskirts and along the coast
The Caves of Hercules lie in the limestone of the Cape Spartel massif and have an opening to the ocean. They have been a protected site since 1950. On the cape stands the Cape Spartel lighthouse, registered as heritage in 2016. Both are described under Cape Spartel and the Caves of Hercules.
The Perdicaris villa was built in 1878 on a hill above the strait, in the Rmilat forest 6 km from the centre. Since April 2022 it has housed a heritage interpretation centre. Tickets for the caves and for the villa are sold online on the ticket portal of the culture ministry.
Cape Spartel Beach, Dalia Beach and Cap Malabata are covered under beaches. Chefchaouen, Tétouan and Asilah follow under day trips.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Tangier? +
The walled medina with the Great Mosque, the kasbah with its museum, Dar Niaba and the American Legation. On the coast, the Caves of Hercules lie in the massif of Cape Spartel.
What museums are there in Tangier? +
The Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures and the Espace d'art contemporain on Place de la Kasbah, Dar Niaba on Rue Siaghine and Villa Harris on Boulevard Mohammed VI. The American Legation is open to visitors too.
Which sights are outside the old town? +
The Caves of Hercules lie in the Cape Spartel massif, and the cape also has a lighthouse registered as heritage in 2016. The Perdicaris villa stands in the Rmilat forest, 6 km from the centre, on a hill above the strait.
Can I buy tickets online in advance? +
For the Caves of Hercules and the Perdicaris villa, yes. Both have online tickets on the ticket portal of the culture ministry.