Region
Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma
طنجة تطوان الحسيمةⵟⴰⵏⵊⴰ-ⵜⵉⵟⵡⴰⵏ-ⵍⵃⵓⵙⵉⵎⴰ
Blue and white north, Mediterranean teal
At a glance
- Recommended stay
- 4 to 6 days
- Best season
- April to June and September to October
- Population
- 4,030,222 (2024)
- Best for
- Blue mountain medinas · Strait of Gibraltar views · Rif waterfalls & Mediterranean coves
- Key landmarks
- Tangier Kasbah and Dar el Makhzen museumCap Spartel and the Caves of HerculesTétouan medina (UNESCO World Heritage)Chefchaouen's blue medina and Ras el Maa springAkchour waterfalls and God's BridgeAsilah's ramparts and muralsAl Hoceima National Park and Quemado beach
The Mediterranean north: Tangier's port-city energy, Chefchaouen's blue lanes and hikes in the Rif.
Getting there
Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport (TNG), Al Boraq high-speed rail, and CTM coaches into the Rif
Crossroads of Continents and Seas
Commanding the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic, the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma region bridges Africa and Europe. Tangier has captivated international writers and artists for centuries with its cosmopolitan bay, Grand Socco cafés, and whitewashed kasbah battlements overlooking Spain just fourteen kilometers across the water.
Andalusian Heritage and the Rif Mountains
Inland, the scenic Rif mountain chain cradles the indigo-washed alleyways of Chefchaouen and the UNESCO-listed Hispano-Moorish architecture of Tétouan. Along the rugged Mediterranean coastline, pristine national parks and secluded turquoise coves around Al Hoceïma offer some of the most serene seaside scenery in North Africa.
Weather and climate
Climate by month
Average low and highRainy days
| Month | Average low and high | Rainy days | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8°C – 17°C47°F – 62°F | 10 | — |
| Feb | 9°C – 17°C48°F – 63°F | 10 | — |
| Mar | 10°C – 19°C51°F – 66°F | 9 | — |
| Apr | 12°C – 21°C53°F – 69°F | 9 | — |
| May | 14°C – 24°C57°F – 75°F | 7 | — |
| Jun | 17°C – 27°C63°F – 80°F | 3 | — |
| Jul | 19°C – 29°C67°F – 85°F | 1 | — |
| Aug | 20°C – 30°C68°F – 85°F | 1 | — |
| Sep | 19°C – 27°C65°F – 81°F | 4 | — |
| Oct | 16°C – 25°C61°F – 76°F | 9 | — |
| Nov | 12°C – 20°C54°F – 68°F | 10 | — |
| Dec | 10°C – 18°C50°F – 64°F | 11 | — |
Source: Direction de la Météorologie Nationale, 1991-2020 normals for Tangier (regional capital), via WMO. Updated November 7, 2026. worldweather.wmo.int
Suggested itinerary
Checked by Morocco Insider Tips on November 7, 2026
Day 1 Tangier, the city on the Strait
- Morning
- Start at the Grand Socco and walk up through the medina to the Kasbah and the Dar el Makhzen museum, with views across the Strait to Spain.
- Afternoon
- Take a grand taxi west to Cap Spartel, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, then down to the Caves of Hercules.
- Evening
- Mint tea on the terraces of Café Hafa at sunset, then dinner back near the Petit Socco.
Day 2 Tétouan, the white dove
- Morning
- Bus or grand taxi to Tétouan (about an hour). Enter the UNESCO-listed medina by Bab Okla and wander the artisans' quarters.
- Afternoon
- Visit the School of Traditional Arts and Crafts (Dar Sanaa) opposite Bab Okla, then the Spanish-era Ensanche around Place Hassan II.
- Evening
- Continue by CTM bus or grand taxi to Chefchaouen (about 1.5 to 2 hours) and sleep inside the medina.
Day 3 Chefchaouen and the Rif
- Morning
- Explore the blue lanes early, before day-trippers arrive, from Plaza Uta el-Hammam to the Kasbah garden.
- Afternoon
- Shared grand taxi to Akchour (about 45 minutes) and hike up the river to the waterfalls or God's Bridge.
- Evening
- Back in town, climb past Ras el Maa to the Spanish Mosque for the sunset view over the medina.
Day 4 East along the Rif to Al Hoceïma
- Morning
- Morning bus from Chefchaouen to Al Hoceïma through the Rif mountains; allow most of the day for the winding road.
- Afternoon
- Swim at Quemado beach below the town, or take a taxi to a quieter cove in season.
- Evening
- Grilled fish near the port and a walk on the cliff-top Place du Rif.
Tips
- Travellers on r/Morocco often suggest at least two nights in Chefchaouen: the medina is calm once day-tour buses leave in the late afternoon.
- Around the Rif you will be offered cannabis (kif). Decline firmly; recreational use is illegal and police do stop tourists.
- July and August are the busiest months on the Mediterranean coast, with many Moroccan and diaspora families on holiday. Book Al Hoceïma rooms early.
- Wear proper shoes for Akchour: the trail crosses the river and rocks are slippery, especially after spring rain.
Getting around
- Al Boraq high-speed trains link Casablanca and Rabat with Tangier Ville station; Casablanca to Tangier takes a little over two hours.
- CTM and private buses connect Tangier, Tétouan, Chefchaouen and Al Hoceïma. Book CTM seats a day ahead in summer and at holidays.
- Grand taxis (shared, six seats) run Tangier to Tétouan and Tétouan to Chefchaouen from fixed stands; you can buy the empty seats to leave sooner.
- Ferries cross the Strait from Tanger Ville port and Tanger Med to Tarifa and Algeciras in about an hour.
Etiquette
- The Rif is conservative: dress modestly away from the beach, with shoulders and knees covered in towns and villages.
- Ask before photographing people in Chefchaouen. Residents live in the blue lanes, so keep doorways clear and voices low.
- Spanish is widely spoken in the north alongside Darija and French; a few words of Darija ('salam', 'shukran') are always appreciated.