Medina and Kasbah on foot, then Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules
The route
8 stops
1
Start day one at the Grand Socco (Place du 9 Avril 1947) and step next door into Mendoubia Gardens for the old banyan and ficus trees — early morning.
2
Walk into the Tangier Medina from the Grand Socco, dropping through Petit Socco and the covered lanes towards the port side — mid-morning, when the shops are open.
3
Tangier American Legation Museum on Rue d'Amérique, inside the medina: late morning, an hour or so for the diplomatic rooms and the Paul Bowles wing.
4
Lunch at Le Salon Bleu, 71 Rue Amrah on the Kasbah square — rooftop terraces above the ramparts, cash only.
5
Kasbah of Tangier & Kasbah Museum in the Dar el Makhzen palace: early afternoon for the collections and courtyards, then the sea-facing ramparts.
6
Sunset drinks at Nord-Pinus Tanger Bar and Terraces, 11 Riad Sultan at the top of the Kasbah — the bar opens around 5pm and it is worth phoning ahead.
7
Day two, morning: taxi about 14 km west to the Caves of Hercules for the sea-facing opening shaped like a map of Africa — bring cash for the gate.
8
Lunch at Le Mirage, on the cliff a couple of minutes from the caves, then Cap Spartel on the way back — lighthouse headland where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, best in late afternoon.
This two-day route through Tangier keeps day one on foot in the old city and day two on the Atlantic headlands west of town. Day one runs from the Grand Socco up through the medina to the Kasbah, with the Tangier American Legation Museum and the Kasbah Museum on the way. Day two is a short taxi ride to the Caves of Hercules, a clifftop lunch and Cap Spartel, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean.
Overview
Tangier in two days splits cleanly: day one on foot in the old city, day two by taxi along the Cap Spartel coast.
Day one covers the Grand Socco, the medina lanes, the Tangier American Legation Museum and the Kasbah, ending on a sunset terrace.
Day two leaves town for the Caves of Hercules, a clifftop lunch and Cap Spartel, back in the city by evening.
Best time
April to June and September to October give warm days without the midsummer crowds on the Cap Spartel road.
Walk the medina early: the lanes are at their quietest before 11am.
Keep the western headlands for the second half of day two — Cap Spartel faces the Atlantic and takes the late light.
Practical tips
Day one needs no transport: Grand Socco, medina and Kasbah are all walkable, though the climb is steep and cobbled.
Day two needs a taxi or car for the 14 km to the Caves of Hercules and Cap Spartel — agree the fare and the waiting time before you set off.
The Kasbah Museum is usually closed on Tuesdays and the Tangier American Legation Museum keeps shorter hours at weekends, so check both before fixing which day is which.
Carry cash: the Caves of Hercules ticket booth and several medina addresses, Le Salon Bleu included, do not take cards.
How to combine
Add Perdicaris Park (Rmilat Forest) on the way back from Cap Spartel for a shaded walk above the coast.
Swap the second afternoon for a swim at Le Mirage Beach Club, below the same cliff as the Caves of Hercules.
With a third day, head east to Cap Malabata for the view back across the bay to the Kasbah.
FAQs
Two days cover Tangier's main sights: one day on foot for the medina, the Kasbah and the Tangier American Legation Museum, and one day by taxi for Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules, about 14 km west of the city.
Yes. Both sit on the same road about 14 km west of Tangier, so one taxi trip covers the Caves of Hercules, a clifftop lunch and Cap Spartel. Agree the fare and the waiting time with the driver before setting off.
Yes. The medina climbs from the Grand Socco to the Kasbah in roughly one kilometre, and the main stops — Petit Socco, the Tangier American Legation Museum and the Kasbah Museum — all sit within that walk. The lanes are steep and cobbled, so flat shoes help.
