Destination guide Morocco

Tangier

Sea caves at Cap Spartel, on the Atlantic coast west of the city.

Cap Spartel, near Tangier

In the city

Caves on the Atlantic.

The Caves of Hercules open onto the sea at Cap Spartel, about 14 km west of Tangier. Walk through the rock chambers to the opening that frames the ocean.

Explore Caves of Hercules

Timed entry

Cave admission

Rock chambers and a sea opening at Cap Spartel.

€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

Visitor guide

Know before you go.

Practical information for a visit to Tangier and the Caves of Hercules, from getting around to staying safe and finding somewhere to eat.

Checked 7 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: April to June and September to October, when the weather is mild. Winters can be wet.

About Tangier

Tangier began as a Phoenician trading post; as Tingis it later became a Roman provincial capital.
From 1923 the city was an international zone, a status that ended after Moroccan independence in 1956.
The traveller Ibn Battuta was born in Tangier in 1304.
The American Legation, given to the United States in 1821, is now a museum in the medina.

Getting around

Taxis

Light-blue petit taxis carry up to three passengers within the city: ask for the meter or agree the fare first. Grand taxis are shared cars for longer trips out of the city.

Ride apps

Uber has operated in Tangier since July 2026, using licensed drivers. inDrive is also used, but its drivers usually lack a passenger transport licence.

From the airport

Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport (TNG) is south-west of the city. Grand taxis wait outside the terminal day and night, at government-set fares. An airport bus to Tanger Ville station was introduced in 2024; check whether it is running when you land.

Public transport

City buses have been run by CTM-Transdev since December 2025.

Staying safe

The UK government’s advice for Morocco applies in Tangier too: a threat of terrorism in busy tourist places, and pickpocketing, unofficial guides and card fraud in tourist areas. It has no separate warnings for the city.

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 currents can be strong.
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.

Restaurant Kebdani Medina · Traditional Moroccan €€
Le Saveur de Poisson Medina, near the Grand Socco · Seafood set menu €€
El Morocco Club Kasbah, near Place du Tabor · Moroccan and international €€€
Le Salon Bleu Kasbah · Moroccan dishes and mint tea (no alcohol) €€
Chez Hassan Upper medina, by the Kasbah gate · Moroccan grill €
Anna e Paolo City centre · Italian €€

Sources for this guide

Photography credits

Outside the caves of Hercules, Morocco by Pierre Nordström, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Cuevas de Hércules, Cabo Espartel, Marruecos, 2015-12-11, DD 07-09 HDR by Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Majorelle Garden pond by Elgaard, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images have been resized and cropped for this guide.

Tangier