Welcome to Morocco’s far north, where the Mediterranean brushes the Atlantic and Andalusian echoes sing through hillside medinas. The Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region is a crossroads: Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Jews, and Europeans all left threads in its culture. Tangier was once an International Zone, a magnet for writers and artists; Chefchaouen, founded in the 15th century, is now the famed “Blue City” of the Rif Mountains.

In seven days, you’ll stroll Tangier’s kasbah, sip mint tea over ocean cliffs, and wander Chefchaouen’s indigo passages at dawn when the streets are quiet and the paint still glistens from morning rinses. You’ll hike to waterfalls, taste slow-cooked tagines, and shop cooperatives where artisans weave blankets or pound brass by hand. The pace is unhurried but full, pairing headline sights with local-favorite cafés and viewpoints.

Practical notes: ATMs are common in both cities; carry small cash for taxis and market purchases. French, Arabic, and Spanish are widely spoken; English is common in tourism spots. Dress modestly, especially in rural areas and religious sites. If you visit during Ramadan (dates vary by year), restaurants may adjust hours—dinner after sunset can be an atmospheric highlight.

Tangier

Tangier blends Atlantic swagger with Mediterranean ease. In the kasbah, whitewashed lanes lean into sky-blue doors; down by the marina, promenade lights ripple over bobbing yachts. Writers from Paul Bowles to the Beat Generation found a muse here, and it’s easy to see why when you watch the sunset from Café Hafa’s cliffside terraces.

Top sights include the Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures (in the former sultan’s palace), the American Legation (the first U.S. diplomatic property abroad, 1821), Cap Spartel where the seas meet, and the mythic Caves of Hercules. For beach time, Achakkar offers waves and caramel dunes; in the evening, the Grand Socco hums with street life.

• Where to stay: Base in the Kasbah/Medina for character and views, or near the Marina/City Center for modern comforts and easy dining. Explore options on VRBO Tangier and Hotels.com Tangier.
• How to get here: Fly into TNG (Ibn Battuta). Compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. If you’re starting in Europe, you can also check Omio flights to/from Europe.

Day 1: Arrival, the Kasbah, and a Sunset Welcome

Afternoon: Arrive in Tangier and settle in. Start at the Grand Socco (Place du 9 Avril) and climb through Bab al-Assa into the Kasbah. Visit the Kasbah Museum to set the historical scene—Roman mosaics, Andalusian courtyards, and panoramic terraces provide a compact primer.

Evening: Mint tea with a sea breeze at landmark Café Hafa (since 1921), tiered into the cliff with Gibraltar views. For dinner, book El Morocco Club in the Kasbah—Moroccan classics with a refined spin and occasional live piano—or try Le Saveur du Poisson for a fixed pescatarian feast (think roasted fish, almonds, and honeyed fruit), a beloved, no-frills institution.

Day 2: Medina Stories—Legation, Petit Socco, and Hilltop Views

Morning: Espresso at Gran Café de Paris on Place de France, a literary haunt that still buzzes. Walk down to the American Legation Museum for portraits, maps, and Bowles ephemera, then thread lanes to the intimate Petit Socco, once the beating heart of the old city.

Afternoon: Lunch at Restaurant Rif Kebdani near the medina gates—try the chicken pastilla and a market-fresh salad spread. Browse artisan workshops for hand-tooled leather babouches, cedar boxes, and brass trays; prices are friendlier just off the main lanes. Pop into Dar Nour’s rooftop or Le Salon Bleu for a coffee-with-a-view interlude.

Evening: Stroll the marina promenade. For dinner, choose La Table du Marché Marina (Moroccan-meets-Med plates, polished service) or the city-view O’Sky Bar & Lounge at Hilton for drinks before bed.

Day 3: Cap Spartel, Caves of Hercules, and Atlantic Air

Morning: Taxi 20–30 minutes to Cap Spartel Lighthouse, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. Continue to the Caves of Hercules—the famous \"Africa-shaped\" sea opening makes for dramatic photos, especially at low tide.

Afternoon: Beach time at Achakkar or Sidi Kacem. If you’d like a seaside lunch, book L’Océan for grilled dorade and sea views, or keep it rustic with beachside sardines and cumin. Camel rides are often available on the dunes—agree on price first.

Evening: Back in town, browse Cinémathèque de Tanger at Cinema Rif for repertory screenings, then savor modern-Moroccan plates at Lala Mesouda (slow-braised lamb shoulder, zaalouk, and warm hospitality).

Day 4: To Chefchaouen—Blue Alleys and a Mountain Sunset

Morning (travel): Depart Tangier for Chefchaouen. By CTM/Supratours bus it’s about 2–2.5 hours (roughly 70–100 MAD). A private driver takes ~2 hours and costs around $90–130 per car—handy if you have luggage. Arrive by late morning, check in, and lace up for hills.

Afternoon: Begin at Plaza Uta el-Hammam, the town square crowned by the red-brick Kasbah Museum (small but atmospheric gardens and a tower view). Wander the medina’s blue-washed steps; the tone shifts by alley—from powder to ultramarine.

Evening: Walk 20 minutes to the Spanish Mosque for a golden-hour panorama over tiled roofs and minarets (bring a light layer). Descend for a home-style dinner at Bab Ssour—hearty tagines, bissara (split-pea soup), and freshly baked khobz.

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen’s blues are not one note—the hues ripple with the sun. Founded in 1471 by Moorish and Andalusian refugees, the town layers Andalusi tilework, cedar lintels, and flower-boxed windows on steep, cobbled lanes. The vibe is village-calm: shop cats napping on stoops, fountains gurgling at Ras El-Maa, mountains pressing in like sentries.

Beyond the medina lies Talassemtane National Park, a limestone world of rivers and cedar forests. The Akchour cascades are a favorite: a day out among stone bridges and clear pools, followed by riverside tagines that burble as they cook over coals.

• Where to stay: Choose a riad inside the medina for character and rooftop breakfasts, or just outside the gates for easier taxi access. Browse VRBO Chefchaouen and Hotels.com Chefchaouen.

Day 5: Akchour Waterfalls and Rif Mountain Scenery

Morning: Early taxi (45–60 minutes) to Akchour. Hike the easy, well-marked trail along the river to the Small and then Big Waterfall (allow 3–4 hours round trip with photo stops). Wear good shoes; summer brings swimmers, spring is lush, autumn crisp.

Afternoon: Lunch riverside—many simple cafés grill kefta and tagines in clay pots. Order mint tea and seasonal salad; dip toes in the cold stream while you eat. Return to town mid-afternoon and reward yourself with a hammam: Lina Ryad & Spa offers excellent traditional scrubs and a heated pool.

Evening: Dinner at Café Clock Chefchaouen (creative takes like goat-cheese briouats and camel—or veggie—burgers; rooftop views and occasional music) or at Tissemlal (Casa Hassan) for a classic harira starter and apricot-laced chicken tagine.

Day 6: Blue City Slow Day—Workshops, Ras El-Maa, and Rooftops

Morning: Sunrise photowalk while shutters are still closed and streets are quiet. Grab breakfast at Chez Aziz (fresh juices, msemen, stuffed sandwiches) and browse a cooperative for handwoven blankets—ask about the regional jellaba stripes and natural dyes.

Afternoon: Amble to Ras El-Maa, the riverside washing stones where locals launder and chat. Snack on warm sfenj (Moroccan doughnuts) dusted with sugar, then visit a small woodcarver’s or metalworker’s atelier to see chisels and hammers in rhythm. If you prefer another nature fix, hire a short taxi to the Bridge of God (Akchour’s natural arch) for a shorter hike.

Evening: Reserve a table at Aladdin Restaurant for a candlelit rooftop with twinkling town views—order lamb with prunes and almonds, and a citrusy salade marocaine. Nightcap mint tea back at the square as the call to prayer rolls across the ridges.

Day 7: Last Sips of Blue and Departure

Morning: Final shopping—ceramic bowls, painted doors on mini-canvases, goat cheese wrapped in palm leaves (ask your host about transport). Brunch at Casa Aladdin or a return to Bab Ssour for that one last tagine.

Afternoon (travel): Transfer to Tangier for your flight (allow ~2.5–3 hours by car from Chefchaouen to TNG). Check Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com for late-day departures; if flying to Europe, you can also price-check on Omio flights.

Getting Between Cities (Recap)

• Tangier → Chefchaouen (Day 4 morning): Bus 2–2.5 hours (~70–100 MAD). Private transfer ~2 hours (~$90–130 per vehicle). Depart early to maximize your first afternoon in Chefchaouen.
• Chefchaouen → Tangier Airport (Day 7): Private transfer ~2.5–3 hours (factor mountain roads and traffic). Build in buffer time.

Where to Eat & Drink (Quick Picks)

• Tangier Breakfast/Coffee: Gran Café de Paris (people-watching), Le Salon Bleu (Kasbah views). Lunch: Rif Kebdani (pastilla), Dar Lidam (medina terrace). Dinner: El Morocco Club (refined), Lala Mesouda (home-style, reservations help), Le Saveur du Poisson (fixed seafood menu).
• Chefchaouen Breakfast/Coffee: Chez Aziz (juices, msemen). Lunch: Bab Ssour (traditional plates), Café Clock (creative, rooftop). Dinner: Tissemlal/Casa Hassan (classic Moroccan), Aladdin Restaurant (romantic terrace).

Optional Morocco Add‑Ons (Before or After Your Northern Week)

If you’re extending beyond Tangier and Chefchaouen, consider these highly rated experiences in southern Morocco.

• Visit to the Ksar of Aït Ben Haddou

  

  Walk the mud-brick lanes of this UNESCO-listed ksar—movie lore and caravan routes in one photogenic package.

• Merzouga Desert – Camel Ride & Overnight in the Camp

  

  Ride into Erg Chebbi at sunset, dine under stars, and wake to dunes glowing at dawn—classic Sahara magic.

• Merzouga Sunset Adventure: Camel, Quad, Buggy or 4WD

  

  Pick your ride and chase the light across rolling sand—ideal for photographers and thrill-seekers.

In a week, you’ll have tasted the north’s essentials: Tangier’s layered history and sea air, Chefchaouen’s blue serenity and mountain trails, and flavors that follow you home. Keep your mornings early, your shoes steady, and your evenings slow—you’ll leave with memory cards full and a mint-tea habit that’s hard to break.