2026-06-01
Discover the Best Things To Do and visit in Tetouan, Morocco!
Tetouan, Tetuán (in Spanish), or Tétouan (in French), is a UNESCO World Heritage city located in Northern Morocco. In fact, its proximity to Tarifa, Spain, makes it very easy to visit on a day tour.
That’s what I did, but I regretted it because the city is amazing, and I wish I had more time to explore it.
I realized, for example, that Tetouan’s many similarities with Andalusia are due to the fact that, after the Christian reconquest, it was Andalusian men who rebuilt the city.
Therefore, in this article, I have gathered suggestions on what to do in Tetouan in a day and share my experience.
Best things to do and visit in Tetouan, Morocco
Exploring the Tetouan Medina
Did you know that “medina” in Arabic means walled city? Well, the Medina of Tetouan is the area of the old city that is within the walls.
And the Medina of Tétouan (formerly Titawin) is truly beautiful; it is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The traditional houses are white, low, and with rooftops. The ground floor is usually dedicated to commerce, meaning it’s a shop, and the upper floor is where the family lives.
There are many artisans who display their work, such as weavers, jewelers, or furriers.
In fact, if you appreciate jewelry, the best place to choose small treasures is in the Jewish quarter of Mellah.
Buying Moroccan carpets
Even if you don’t end up buying, the experience of stepping into a Moroccan carpet shop is unforgettable!
It usually goes something like this: the shop owner invites visitors to sit down and offers them sweet hot mint tea.
Then they start unrolling the carpets in front of you, one after another, and share interesting facts about the colors, designs, artisans, creating a spectacle complete with courtesies that eventually lead to the inevitable sales pitch.
They ask which one you liked the most, state the price, and negotiation ensues from there. It’s customary to negotiate the price, with the buyer typically offering less than half of what they initially asked for.
Exploring Moroccan cuisine
I love the flavors of Moroccan cuisine!
I find the design of tagines brilliant, as they allow the food juices to drip back onto the ingredients, enhancing their flavor. Also, the combination of spices completely transforms the neutral taste of couscous. I just love it!
Since I was only in Tetouan for a day, I don’t have restaurant recommendations to give you, but I got the impression that prices are reasonable and they can prepare less spicy food upon request.
I was with my family, and they arranged a grilled skewer with French fries for my young son.
My experience in Tetouan
Whenever possible, we combine destinations to spread out the cost of travel. So, we took advantage of being in southern Spain to make a quick visit to Morocco.
We left Tarifa early in the morning, crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, and disembarked in Ceuta.
In the port of Ceuta, Mr. Hassan, a Moroccan guide hired by a company in Tarifa, was waiting for us to accompany us for the day.
After going through the legal procedures to cross the border, we traveled to Tetuan.
In Tetuan, we visited the Medina, climbed to the rooftop of a carpet shop, and had lunch at a local restaurant.
The Souk is similar to others we visited in other Maghreb countries: narrow and bustling streets, shops’ stalls filled with everything imaginable, friendly vendors trying to sell their products.
In the carpet shop, they offered us tea and showed us the carpets. However, despite not feeling pressured to buy, we returned home with two carpets in our luggage!
The couscous lunch with chicken and vegetables was accompanied by live traditional music, enriching the Moroccan experience.
Before concluding, I must say I’m eager to return to Morocco, but this time for a longer stay.
Everything you need to know before traveling to Tetouan (to avoid making the same mistakes I did!)
How many days to visit Tetouan in Northern Morocco?
I visited Tetouan in one day, and although it’s possible to see the main tourist attractions in this time, I recommend staying for 2-3 days in the city.
For that, you’ll need to look for accommodation in the city. My recommendation is to stay in a riad, small traditional hotels run by a family, which usually offer good conditions.
Not far from the medina, you can choose between Riad Dari or Riad & Café culturel BAB EL FAN.
However, if you prefer to stay in a hotel, I recommend checking out Prestige Hotel & Spa (3 stars) or Hotel Blanco Riad (4 stars).
Do they speak English in the Tetouan Medina?
The official languages in Morocco are Arabic and Amazigh, with secondary languages being Moroccan Arabic, Hassani Arabic, Spanish, French, and Berber languages.
So, in general, it’s easier to communicate in Spanish and French in Morocco than in English. Additionally, based on conversations I had with the guide who accompanied the group, English communication isn’t always straightforward, even in the most touristy areas.
Therefore, it might be a good idea to have your phone with plenty of battery and rely on automatic translators like Google Translate.
The Revolut card works in Morocco?
Based on my experience, the Revolut works in Morocco, but it’s not always reliably.
So, when trying to withdraw cash from ATMs, I went to two, and only managed to do so on the second attempt. I’m not sure if the issue was with the card or the ATM, but consider this a heads-up.
Additionally, in shops, cash payment was often preferred. In fact, they usually preferred to receive payments in EUR rather than dirhams, given the exchange rate advantage for them, of course.
Since my time in Morocco was short, I didn’t need to withdraw more money.
Is Tetouan safe?
I visited the city on a guided tour and felt that Tetouan is safe. In fact, from my experience and talking to other travelers, I gathered that there are usually no safety issues for the average tourist.
However, the same cannot be said for those who do not respect the local culture or are seeking narcotics.
Being an Arab country with a Muslim majority, it’s important to dress modestly and be mindful of alcohol consumption.
Additionally, the Rif Mountains are a popular destination for hashish consumers, as it’s where the plant is cultivated. According to current statistics, Morocco is the world’s largest exporter of this product, and the route to Europe passes through Tetouan.
Do you need travel insurance to travel to Morocco?
While travel insurance is not mandatory for trips to Morocco, I strongly recommend always traveling with travel insurance.
Especially for African destinations, it’s always a good idea to have reliable travel insurance.
I personally use and recommend IATI Insurance, which not only offers good coverage but also has very affordable prices.
Check out how much travel insurance for Morocco costs.
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I travel with my family, but not only. I look for real experiences, sustainable choices, smart decisions on the ground, and well-chosen comfort, because traveling well also means knowing where to sleep, eat, and spend time. On passaportenobolso.com, I share practical guides and honest tips about destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, created for those who want to travel with more intention and less improvisation. I’ve visited more than 40 countries and I’m still looking for the next ones. Sometimes with my family, sometimes solo, but always with curiosity and a critical eye. Follow along on YouTube / Instagram / Facebook / TikTok / X / Pinterest.
