Why visit
- For Tétouan visitors, Martil is the quickest way to put your feet in the Mediterranean. It is the city's summer release valve — close enough for a lunch run and cheerful enough for an afternoon.
Martil Beach
Tetouan
Martil is the beach town of Tétouan, 10 km east on the Mediterranean coast. A long sand beach stretches north from the fishing harbour toward Cabo Negro, backed by a pedestrianised corniche of cafés, ice-cream parlours, and seafood restaurants. In summer Martil is the coast for tetuanis — full from early July to late August — and much quieter out of season. The fishing port delivers the day's catch to the restaurants that line the esplanade.
What to expect
- A 5 km sand beach stretching north from the fishing port, a pedestrianised corniche lined with cafés and seafood restaurants, and a modest town centre a block inland. Lifeguards cover the central section in summer; the northern stretches near Cabo Negro get quieter.
Best time
- Weekday afternoons in June or September for the best balance of warmth and calm. Summer weekends are lively but crowded; winter days are great for walks without the swim. Evenings on the corniche are particularly pleasant year-round.
How to combine
- Pair with M'diq (15 minutes north) for a fishing-port lunch and a quieter beach, or with Cabo Negro if you want to add the cliffs. From Tétouan it's a 20-minute taxi — a natural afternoon after a museum-heavy morning.
Price range
- Free: Martil is a public beach. Under Moroccan law the shore is maritime public domain and free access to it is guaranteed, so nobody may charge you to walk on the sand, swim, or use the pedestrian corniche.
- Only services are legitimately paid for: a parasol or lounger rented from a licensed operator, parking, and what you order at the seafront cafés and fish restaurants.
- Morocco's municipalities restated this before the 2026 summer season — an operator may not fence off a stretch of sand or charge for a place on it. If someone asks for money simply to sit down, that is not a legal fee.
Location
Tetouan
FAQs
Mid-July through late August Martil is full — parking is hard, the beach is packed, and restaurants slow down service. June and September are the sweet spot. Spring and autumn are peaceful, though the sea is cooler.
Yes — lifeguards patrol the central stretch in summer, and the slope is gentle. Flags are posted daily. Avoid swimming near the harbour mouth and the river outflow at the south end.
The seafront restaurants near the port are the classic choice — pick one with the day's catch on ice at the entrance. Grilled sardines, sole, and fried squid are the standards; skip the tourist menus and order from the fish display.
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