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Destination guide Morocco

Larache

Phoenician and Roman ruins on a hill above the Loukkos estuary.

See Lixus tickets
Ruins at Lixus above the meanders of the Loukkos river
Lixus, near Larache

In the city

Ruins above the Loukkos.

Lixus stands on a hill on the right bank of the Loukkos, about 4 km from its mouth, just outside Larache. Climb past the fish-salting works and the amphitheatre for views over the estuary.

Explore Lixus
Timed entry

Site admission

Phoenician and Roman ruins on a hill above the Loukkos estuary.
€25per adult
The lily pond and palms of Jardin Majorelle

Also in Morocco

Marrakech

From the blue of Jardin Majorelle to the courtyards of the medina’s palaces and tombs.

Read the Marrakech guide
The rocky Atlantic coast outside the Caves of Hercules

Also in Morocco

Tangier

Sea caves at Cap Spartel and a villa in the forest above the Strait of Gibraltar.

Read the Tangier guide
Chefchaouen’s blue medina and the mountains, seen from the kasbah tower

Also in Morocco

Chefchaouen

A kasbah and its garden on the main square of the blue town.

Read the Chefchaouen guide
A restored Roman gate at Tamuda, with Tétouan behind

Also in Morocco

Tétouan

A school of traditional crafts by the medina, and Roman gates outside the city.

Read the Tétouan guide
The tiled courtyard and fountain of the Marinid Madrasa in Salé

Also in Morocco

Salé

A Marinid madrasa in the old town across the river from Rabat.

Read the Salé guide
The ruins of Volubilis below the Zerhoun hills

Also in Morocco

Meknes

Roman ruins in the farmland north of Meknes, below the Zerhoun hills.

Read the Meknes guide
Blue fishing boats below the Skala du Port in Essaouira

Also in Morocco

Essaouira

Ramparts, cannons and blue boats on the Atlantic harbour.

Read the Essaouira guide
Beni Mellal and the plain below, seen from the hills above the city

Also in Morocco

Beni Mellal

A heritage centre by the gardens of a mountain spring.

Read the Beni Mellal guide

Visitor guide

Know before you go.

Practical information for a visit to Larache and the ruins of Lixus, from getting around to staying safe and finding somewhere to eat.

Checked 8 November 2026. Prices, apps and advice change; check the sources before you travel.

Quick facts

Currency
Moroccan dirham (MAD).
Language
Moroccan Arabic (Darija) day to day; French is widely used, and Spanish is often understood in the north.
Time
GMT (UTC+0) all year.
Plugs
Type C and E (European two-pin), 230 V.
Best time to visit
May to September is the driest time, with summer highs in the high 20s °C. Winters are cool and wet, with most rain from November to January.

About Larache

  • Larache lies where the Loukkos river meets the Atlantic.
  • Phoenicians settled at Lixus, beside the Loukkos, in the 8th or 7th century BC; around AD 50 the emperor Claudius made it a Roman colony.
  • Ancient myths placed the Garden of the Hesperides, with its golden apples, at Lixus. The site has been on UNESCO’s tentative list since 1995.
  • Spain held Larache from 1610 to 1689 and again from 1911 to 1956. The writer Jean Genet is buried in its Spanish cemetery.

Getting around

Taxis

The town centre is easy to walk. Petit taxis cover the outskirts: ask for the meter or agree the fare first.

To Lixus

Lixus lies a few kilometres north-east of the town, off the road to Asilah. If you take a taxi, agree the fare, including waiting time and the return, before you set off.

Coaches and grand taxis

The bus station is about 4 km south of the centre, and many coaches between Tangier and Rabat stop at Larache. Grand taxis leave from in front of it for Asilah (about 45 minutes) and Ksar el-Kebir (about 40 minutes).

By train

The nearest railway station is at Ksar el-Kebir, about 35 km east, with ONCF trains towards Fès; the Al Boraq high-speed trains do not stop there.

From the airport

The nearest major airport is Tangier Ibn Battouta (TNG), to the north.

Staying safe

The UK government’s advice for Morocco applies in Larache too: a threat of terrorism in busy tourist places, and petty theft in medinas and on beaches. It has no separate warnings for the town or Lixus.

  • Official guides carry a badge; ask to see it if someone offers to show you around.
  • Keep your card in sight when paying, and check goods before you leave a shop.
  • Avoid quiet streets and empty beaches after dark.
  • Many beaches have few or no lifeguards, and safety signs may be minimal. Swimming in rivers can also be dangerous.
  • Moroccan sources also give 19 for police and 15 for fire and rescue.

Emergency numbers

Police
190
Ambulance and fire
150
Gendarmerie (outside cities)
177

Places to eat nearby

Well-known restaurants near the sights, listed for convenience. Apollonaut has no connection with them and takes no bookings. Price levels (€ to €€€) are a rough guide; check opening times before you go.

  • Casa Manolo Avenue Zellaka, near the Balcón Atlántico · Spanish and seafood €€
  • Darna Avenue du Caire, south of Place de la Libération · Moroccan and Spanish, tapas and fish €€
  • Centrale Café & Restaurant Place de la Libération · Café: breakfast and light meals €
  • Restaurant Loukous Port · Seafood with harbour views €€
  • Restaurant Khay Ahmed Avenue Salah Eddine Al Ayoubi, south-east of the medina · Fried and grilled fish €
Sources for this guide
Photography credits

Images have been resized and cropped for this guide.

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