Tetouan

Overview of Tetouan

The city is renowned for its medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Mediterranean beaches and the Rif Mountains are also nearby.

Key Facts

• Type of place: large city.

• Tourist interest: ★★ (worth seeing).

• Location: at the northern tip of Morocco, not far from Tangier.

• Distances: Chefchaouen (60 km to the south), Larache (110 km to the southwest), Tangier (60 km to the northwest).

• Local time: Heure : Tetouan.

• Population: 380,787 inhabitants (2014).

• Area:

• Altitude:

• Website: http://tetouan.fr

History of Tetouan

What to See and Do in Tetouan

The City

Tetouan, with its whitewashed houses on the slopes of the Rif overlooking the Mediterranean, owes much of its charm to Andalusian influence. Though its history dates back over 2,000 years, the city truly came to life at the end of the 15th century when Muslims and Jews, expelled during the Spanish Reconquest, settled here. They brought Andalusian expertise in architecture, art, and craftsmanship.

Medina of Tétouan ★★
Though one of Morocco’s smallest medinas, it is also the most complete and the one where most buildings have remained free from outside influences. Refined Andalusian decor, with wrought-iron balconies and colorful azulejos, makes it the prototype of the Moorish medina.

• El Ensanche: Located west of the medina, the El Ensanche district showcases the typical architectural style of the Spanish protectorate in the region.

• Hassan II Square: The paving of this monumental esplanade, lined with palm trees and crenellated towers shaped like minarets, features intertwined geometric patterns. The restored royal palace occupies one side of this modern interpretation of the traditional Moroccan square.

Museums

Tetouan has two museums:

• The archaeological museum, which houses mosaics from the Roman site of Lixus near Larache.

• The Museum of Moroccan Arts, showcasing local traditions with exhibitions of clothing, musical instruments, and carpets.

Beaches

Tetouan is about twelve kilometers from the sea. The quieter beaches are mostly to the south, while the north features several small, touristy seaside resorts like Martil or M'diq. It’s also on the northern coast of Tetouan, in Smir, that you’ll find one of Morocco’s rare diving sites.

In the Surroundings

Asilah ★★ (80 km)
The tourist appeal of this seaside resort south of Tangier lies, beyond its beaches, in its stunning all-white medina. Moreover, the city has become increasingly popular in summer.

Cape Spartel and the Caves of Hercules ★★ (70 km)
Just a few kilometres from Tangier, Cape Spartel is a rocky promontory at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, towering over 300 metres above the sea. Below it, waves have carved out caves known as the Caves of Hercules.

Ceuta ★★ (40 km)
The city is a Spanish enclave in Moroccan territory. It's a rather pleasant city with its waterfront and duty-free products.

Chefchaouen ★★★ (60 km)
This holy city in the Rif region, near Tangier, is popular with tourists. Its craftsmanship, the blue color of its houses, and the proximity to the mountains and nature activities make it a great base camp for exploring the region.

Talassemtane National Park ★★ (95 km)
A few kilometres from Chefchaouen, this forested site offers stunning landscapes perfect for hiking. It is also one of the places in Morocco to observe Barbary macaques.

Rif Mountains ★★
This mountain range and plains stretch along the Mediterranean coast from Tangier to the Algerian border. It is increasingly popular for tourism, thanks to its towns and villages and especially the opportunities for trekking and other outdoor sports.

Tangier ★★ (60 km)
A city with a rich history stretching from the Phoenician era to its unique status as an international zone in the 1920s–1950s.

Climate and Weather in Tetouan

Transportation

Getting There

Getting Around

Accommodation

Food

Useful Addresses

Additional Information