Tangier Ferry Port seen from the Kasbah

Ferries from Tarifa/Algeciras

The fastest way to get to Tangier is to cross the Gibraltar Strait directly from the tiny ferry port of Spain's southernmost town, Tarifa.

The Ferry takes approximately 45 minutes. Further east, there is the humongeous port of Algeciras, in the same bay as Gibraltar.

Algeciras Ferries take between 1,5 and 2,5 hours. Rates for a return ticket are between 70 and 80€, depending on your port of departure and the ferry of choice (Fast or Big).


What to bring from Spain?

A pen! We always forget that one. Keep it handy for the entry form you are asked to fill out on the airplane or ferry that brings you to Morocco.

Small Euro notes can avoid that you have money problems before you have found an ATM machine.

Most taxis, shops and train stations accept Euros, but bringing big notes might mean some trouble finding the right change, if you want this change to be in Euros again.

Culture and Tradition

If you are coming from outside the Arabic world, than know that you are in a different culture. Modesty in dress is highly appreciated.

Hey, you are in the country of the movie Casablanca. Far from expecting you to dress as a Bergman or Bogart, it can still be rather annoying to see tourists treating the whole country as a adventure theme park where you have to run through in mountain boots.

Even the most poor person having just one white shirt will make sure that shirt is always clean, if he has got the resources to do so.

Another custom is, when eating, offer to share with your travel companions.

Arabic

Arab people are very proud of their language. Often being fluent in 2, 3, 4 or more languages and easily picking up the basis of a new language where ever they go, it is highly appreciated if a tourist in Morocco does the same.

It's just a matter of courtesy to at least know some expressions, such as choukran (thank you) or smechli (sorry).

If you really want to impress, say: "I am sorry, I do not speak Arabic" or:

Smehli, ma kan arafsh Arabia.

A true door opener.

Amazigh

Even if an estimated 42% of the population of Morocco is of Amazigh - or Berber - descent, it is still hard to find books to learn Amazigh, or any book on the subject whatsoever.

Up to far in the 1990's TV anchors could announce "now the hour for the Moroccan dialects".

The Amazigh are more closely related to Italians and Egyptians than for example to Saudi Arabians. Often blonde and blue eyed, the Amazigh of the north of Morocco look more western European than, say, the southern Spaniards.

 

 

Traveling to Tangier

Travelling to and from Tangier is very easy, especially now all infrastructure has been modernised and optimized.

Tangier has its own international airport which is at a 15 minute drive from the city centre - halfway Tangier and the small town of Asilah.

From anywhere in Morocco you can reach Tangier within a matter of 3,5 (Meknes) or 4 hours (Fes, Rabat, Casablanca) and some 7 hours from Marrakech.

The easiest and nicest way to travel is by train. From the busy Costa del Sol in southern Spain the combination of car / bus / train and ferry does not have to take longer than 1 to 3 hours, depending on your point of departure.

Clothing?

Clothing for a windy Mediterranean location. Bring what you would bring for any holiday to the Mediterranean, with two exceptions : Tangier is located at the Atlantic Ocean, making it more windy than any other Mediterranean City, and as a matter of courtesy for an other culture, modest or stylish dress is always appreciated.

Tangier is not the Costa del Sol, nor a holiday resort. Summers can be very warm, and your washed clothes will be dry within a matter of hours - if not 5 minutes.

If you are travelling in the summer, you might prefer to bring rather too little than too much. Nothing as annoying as having to sweat because of the dry desert wind or sun, with a far too heavy suitcase.

Visa list

On November 21st 2007 the list of nationals not needing an entry visa to the Kingdom of Morocco was as follows:

Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Côte Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus (except Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela.

We do not accept responsibility for confusion or problems at Moroccan customs based on this list dating from 2007.


Dangerous?

The saying goes:

Tanger, Danger
Marrakech, Aranakesch
Agadir, rien à dire
Safi ça suffit
Essaouira ça ira!

Must be someone from Essaouira that came up with that. Tangier is a lot safer than many a far smaller city in Europe.

 

info@tangierdreamer.com

Travel Links

> ONCF
The website of the national rialroads to check train schedules.

Trains are very punctual.

> FRS
The website for the fast ferries to and from Tarifa. A total killer for romantics (the Strait flashes by without any possibility to recognize any historical spot) but... quick.

Currency

The currency in Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham. Both MAD and Dhs are used.

Currency Exchange

You do not need to bring MAD's with you - you can change currencies in any bank once in Tangier.

However, since most banks are located in the New Town only, which might be a long way from your starting point, it is advised to bring small Euro notes, which you can change in jewellery shops with the sign Money Exchange, you can find especially in the main street of the souk.

More and more shops and other businesses as well as taxi drivers accept EUR as well.

As it is not an official currency, it is advised to bring small notes only, to avoid problems with return in restaurants or shops.

About Visa

Citizens of EU, USA, Australia and New Zealand do not need a visa to enter Morocco; a passport that is valid up to 6 months after leaving Morocco is sufficient.

Other nationals are advised to contact the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in their home country or check the list of countries on the left.


The Train

Why is everybody always going about not renting a car in Morocco but to take busses and trains?

Well, for a start, trains in Morocco are just oh so cosy. Divided into compartments, sharing hours, perhaps a full day, with a maximum of 8 people, you'll find yourself sharing tea or cake soon and leave the train with a number of new friends.

OK, that tradition has been disappearing over the past 3 years... but it can still happen.

Then there is the landscape... Especially the views from your train from Casa to Marrakech are simply stunning.

Thirdly, the train tickets still come quite cheap, and the trains are very punctual - shockingly punctual if you happen to come from Spain.