These Tangier travel tips come from the people who meet travellers at the port, the airport and the hotel every day. Tangier is easy, friendly and very close to Europe, but a few habits make a trip smoother: how to pay, how to take a taxi, what to wear, how to say no politely and what to check before you land.
The advice is grouped by theme, so you can jump to what you need. It covers passports and entry, safety, money, getting around, phones and internet, dress and etiquette, shopping and bargaining. Read these Tangier travel tips with our guides to the best time to visit Tangier and one day in Tangier, and always check the official advice of your own government before you travel.
Contents
Tangier travel tips before you go
1. Check your passport and visa
You need a passport valid for the length of your stay, and many nationalities, including most EU, UK and US citizens, can enter without a visa for short visits. The rules change, so check your own government’s page: UK, US, France or Spain.
2. Get travel insurance
Insurance that covers medical costs and cancellations is cheap and avoids problems. Keep your policy number on your phone.
3. Plan your arrival
Decide how you reach your hotel before you land: a pre-booked transfer avoids haggling at the airport or the port. See our transfers from the airport and the port and train station.
Tangier travel tips for first-time visitors, families and solo travellers
First-time visitors
Spend your first morning in the medina with a guide or a good offline map, and the afternoon on the coast. Start early, drink water often and do not try to see everything. Our Tangier City Tour is built for this.
Families with children
Cape Spartel, the beaches and the Caves of Hercules are easy with children. Bring snacks and water, plan a nap and avoid the hottest hours in summer. A private vehicle gives you control of the stops.
Solo travellers and women
Choose a central hotel, share your plans with someone, stay on lit streets in the evening and consider a guided day trip, which is also a good way to meet people.
Tangier travel tips for visitors coming from Spain
These Tangier travel tips matter most on a day trip from Tarifa. Carry your passport, because a Spanish ID card is not enough to enter Morocco. Keep a little euro cash, but change some money for taxis and tea. EU mobile roaming does not apply in Morocco, so check your plan or use wifi. Spanish is widely understood in Tangier and the north, which makes the day easier.
Our guide to a Tangier day trip from Spain has the timetable and the ferry advice, and the city tour lets you spend the day without worrying about the return.
Is Tangier safe? Safety tips for visitors
Is Tangier safe? It is a large city used to visitors, and most trips pass without problems. Like any port city, it has pickpockets and persistent touts, and the same common sense applies as elsewhere.
- Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket or a zipped bag.
- Do not accept offers from strangers who claim the road is closed or that a place is closed: they are often a way to lead you to a shop.
- Use official guides: they carry a badge, and a local company can arrange one.
- Walk with confidence at night on the main streets, and take a taxi for long distances.
- Women travelling alone may receive attention: a polite no, firm tone and no engagement is the best answer.
The question of whether Tangier is safe also depends on the season and the news, so read the latest advice from your embassy.
Money in Tangier: cash, cards and tipping
Money in Tangier is simple once you know the habits. The currency is the Moroccan dirham, which you cannot normally buy in advance outside Morocco. Use an ATM when you arrive, or change money at banks and official exchange offices, and keep your receipts.
- Carry small notes and coins for taxis, tea and tips.
- Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants but not in small shops, so keep cash.
- Tip about ten per cent in restaurants if service is not included, a few dirhams for porters and small services.
- Prices in tourist shops are open to bargaining. Prices in restaurants and for taxis with a meter are not.
For more about shopping, read our guide on what to buy in Morocco.
Taxis in Tangier and getting around
Among the Tangier travel tips, the meter rule is the most useful. Taxis in Tangier come in two kinds. Petit taxis are small city taxis with a meter that carry up to three passengers inside the city. Grands taxis are larger cars on fixed routes that carry up to six passengers between cities.
- Ask the driver to use the meter before you set off in a petit taxi.
- Keep small change to pay the fare, because drivers do not always carry it.
- At night, a small supplement is normal.
- For a longer journey or a day trip, book a private driver in advance.
Phones, internet and electricity
Most hotels and cafés have wifi. For mobile data, a local SIM card or an eSIM is the cheapest option; ask your operator about roaming costs first, because they vary. Morocco uses 220 volts and European two-pin plugs, so bring an adapter if you come from the UK or the US.
Dress, etiquette and photography
One of the simplest Tangier travel tips is to dress for comfort and respect. Morocco is a Muslim country and Tangier is cosmopolitan, so there is no strict dress code for visitors, but modest clothes are respectful. Light clothes that cover shoulders and knees are comfortable in the medina and in religious or rural areas. Our article on Moroccan culture and etiquette explains more customs.
Ask before photographing people, especially women and children, and never photograph police or military buildings. A smile and a word of thanks go a long way.
Shopping and bargaining in Tangier
Tangier travel tips for shopping come down to patience. In the medina, the first price is not the final price. Take your time, compare two or three shops, offer about half and settle somewhere between. Be polite, and walk away if you are not happy; there is no obligation to buy after drinking tea.
Typical purchases are leather goods, rugs, lamps, ceramics, spices and argan oil. If you want a quiet introduction, start with a guided visit: our Tangier City Tour passes the best craft areas.
Food, water and health: Tangier travel tips for a healthy trip
- Drink bottled water, and avoid ice if you have a sensitive stomach.
- Eat where locals eat and choose food cooked in front of you.
- Carry basic medicines and sun protection.
- Check with your doctor or a travel clinic about vaccines before you travel.
For a delicious start, read what to eat in Tangier in our guide on what to eat in Tangier.
Frequently asked questions about Tangier travel tips
Is Tangier safe for tourists?
Yes, Tangier receives many visitors and most trips are trouble-free. Take normal precautions against pickpockets, and be firm and polite with touts.
Do I need a visa for Tangier?
Many nationalities, including most EU, UK and US citizens, can enter Morocco without a visa for short stays. Rules change, so check your government’s official advice.
What currency is used in Tangier?
The Moroccan dirham. Withdraw it at an ATM or change money at a bank or an official exchange office after you arrive.
Are taxis in Tangier expensive?
Petit taxis with a meter are inexpensive for city trips. For longer trips, agree on a price in advance or book a private driver.
Can I use euros in Tangier?
Some shops accept euros, but the exchange rate is poor. Pay in dirhams whenever you can.
What should I wear in Tangier?
Light, comfortable clothes that cover shoulders and knees, and comfortable shoes. Bring a jacket for cool evenings and for the mountains.
With these Tangier travel tips, you can arrive prepared and enjoy the city with confidence. Keep your plan flexible, your cash small and your curiosity big, and ask your hosts when in doubt.
Arrive in Tangier without stress
Book a driver for the airport, the port or a day trip, and enjoy a smooth start to your trip.
Photos: cat_collector / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 · Mhobl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
