Morocco’s crafts are beautiful and carefully made; you can see the centuries of traditional artisan techniques in the chiseled wood, stained glassware, and each knot on the hand-pulled rugs. While Marrakech gets the majority of the traveling shoppers’ dirhams, Tangier has always felt more special. The bohemian port city on the coast, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic, is smaller than Marrakech and Fez, meaning it’s easier to navigate. Being off the main shoppers’ circuit means less commercial knock-offs to wade through before finding the real deal.
Here's where to find the best shopping experiences in Tangier:
Navigating the Markets
Like most Moroccan cities, exploring the medina tops the list of the best things to do in Tangier. Filled with white washed buildings covered in exotic flowers and crisp greenery, the old city boasts ocean views and plenty of small streets to get lost in. The entire area is enclosed with towering 15th century ramparts on every side, with city gates giving access to different parts of the medina. Shop for local handicrafts from the abundant artisans, have a coffee in one of the many squares or find a rooftop to soak in the sights.
The Grand Socco is pretty much Tangier’s Times Square - it’s a massive gathering place for locals with heaps of cafes, restaurants, and the famous Cinema Rif. It’s also known as 9 April 1947 Square (the date Mohammed V reunified the Kingdom of Morocco), and this is where you want to head to catch a taxi from the Medina. The Grand Socco is a wonderful place to have lunch. Grab roast chicken and fries from one of the vendors, and people watch to your heart’s content.
The bustling Grand Socco, a central meeting point in Tangier.
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Main Market Tangier
To access the market, take Rue Semarine (which turns into Rue Siaghine) from the Grand Socco and then take your first right. Or, search for ‘Main Market Tangier’ on Google Maps, and it will appear. This will plop you in the city’s central marketplace, surrounded by mountains of olives and spices, fresh fish, butchers, and every fruit and vegetable you can imagine. A stroll through the area is one of the best places to visit in Tangier to experience local life, especially off the beaten tourist track.
A vibrant display of goods at the main market.
The market worth dedicating your whole morning to
Without question, it’s Fondouk Chejra, the weavers’ market. It’s located outside the medina, directly across from the seafood market (worth a walk through for those with a strong stomach), and accessed through a literal hole in the wall. Compared to other winding markets in Morocco, this one is small. Just 37 small shops and studios line U-shaped market floor, with a small prayer room down one end that workers visit throughout the day. In most of the shops, men work creaky, wooden looms that have been here since the early 1900s, weaving raw wool into the rugs, bathrobes, and scarves that are then stacked in colorful heaps on shelves and across the floor. Many have sons or grandsons weaving besides them.
Observing a centuries-old art form right in front of you is a privilege. Being able to then take the item that's being created home is mind blowing.
Inside the Fondouk Chejra, the weavers’ market.
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Souvenir Hotspots
The store to splash out in
Galerie Tindouf, an exhibition space and antiques dealership, specializes in Moroccan and European pieces, some that go back as far as the Roman Empire, including ancient coins, pottery, and furniture. There’s a good chance you’ll walk out of there with a few embroidered cushion covers from the Atlas Mountains that you never knew you needed. The Galerie Tindouf owners also run the Bazar Tindouf next door, which is crammed with finds from all over Morocco like ceramic tea sets, brass bracelets, and ornamental horses, if you want even more shopping.
The oversized buy worth shipping
In Morocco, that has to be a hand-woven Berber rug. The place to buy one in Tangier is Bleu de Fès, a multi-level emporium in the thick of the medina. The rugs are certified originals, crafted by Berber women and dyed all sorts of inky blues, greens, and reds (though I still think nothing beats the classic white with black motifs). Rug shopping in Morocco is one of the few times I’ve been grateful for the tiny floor space of my New York one-bedroom; though this place sells smaller rugs for around $500, gigantic pieces cut the size of carpets go deep into the five-digits. No matter the rug you end up with, they’ll take care of the logistics to get it back home to you.
Moroccan Souks - How to Negotiate Prices and Deals
A selection of beautiful Berber rugs.
The trinket to pick up for your friends
One of the coolest stalls in the medina is Madini, a petite parfumerie seemingly carved into the walls, owned by a family that's been crafting fragrances for 14 generations. You can smell the musk and vanilla while meandering up toward the shop, as you get deeper into the old town. Pick up small bottles of custom blends for friends back home; the littlest bottles pass the TSA restrictions for carry-ons.
The last-minute item to buy at the airport
If you shop Tangier right, you won’t have many loose dirham in your wallet by the time you reach the airport for your departure flight. If you have a handful left to spare, though, use them up on a local version of a familiar snack-chips and beer. Here that means the "Cheese and Spice" Doritos (a Moroccan flavor that's like the usual nacho cheese chips, but with a kick) and Casablanca lager, brewed locally and named for the country’s biggest city.
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Other activities
As the gateway to Morocco from Europe, there is no shortage of things to do in Tangier, a stunning coastal city and my favorite place in the country.
- Cafe Hafa: Cafe Hafa is one of the city’s mainstays, and one of the best places to visit in Tangier. It sits on a cliff overlooking the sea, a ten minute walk from Bab Kasbah, with sprawling views and plenty of places to kick back and chill out.
- The Phoenician Tombs: The Phoenician Tombs are one of the best places to soak in magnificent ocean views from Tangier and learn the rich history of the first people who settled in the area: the Phoenicians. The tombs are located just next to Cafe Hafa, or a ten minute walk from Bab Kasbah on top of the Medina. The Phoenician Tombs are one of my favorite places to people watch in Tangier.
- The Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures: The Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures should not be missed for a dose of culture if you’re looking for things to see in Tangier. It’s found its home in an old sultan’s palace in the medina and showcases historic treasures, incredible maps, and sprawling courtyards and gardens.
- American Legation Museum: Learn the deep history of US-Moroccon relations at the American Legation Museum. A visit here is one of the best things to do in Tangier on a rainy day, or if you’re keen on exploring documents like books and maps, along with artwork, photographs, and other artifacts that tell the story of the partnership between the two countries.
Dining Suggestions
If a spot has been graced by the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Rick Stein, you know it’s worth the visit - and Le Saveur de Poisson holds that distinction. Freshly caught fish is served until it runs out - and then the restaurant closes.
Here are a few other restaurants to consider:
- Le Saveur de Poisson: Freshly caught fish is served until it runs out - and then the restaurant closes.
- Casa de Italia: You’ll also have a pleasant dinner at Casa de Italia, which is set in a beautiful building that once belonged to a Sultan and is now owned by the Italian government.
After dinner, take a stroll down the beach promenade, now Avenue Mohammed VI. More or less in front of the Marina Bay, you will find a van that sells snail soup. Seasoned with garlic and thyme, served in ceramic bowls, the little snails are delicious and dispel hangovers.
Safety in Tangier
It’s very safe to walk around Tangier. In fact, it’s the city in Morocco that I always felt the safest as a woman alone. People don’t bother you in Tangier the way they might in Marrakech. Locals are far less aggressive and are generally very helpful without expecting anything in return. Of course, like with anywhere, keep your wits about you.
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tags: #Morocco
