Tangier Travel Forum

My family and I (husband, two older teens, me) will be visiting Spain and we are wondering if it is possible to visit Tangier (via Tarifa) on our own without an organized tour or guide. An organized tour seems to have nothing of value for us - we don't like tour buses, don't want to do the camel ride, hate to shop, don't need a new rug, hate being held captive by organized activities. We just want to set out on our own with a map of the town and a guidebook, take the petit taxis to wherever we want to go, visit the Kasbah, a couple of museums, eat lunch, walk around town. Yes, we realize that we'll be hassled by street vendors, but from what I've read that happens whether or not you are on a tour or with a guide. Has anyone done Tangier on their own, and are we crazy to even think of doing this?

Karen

We travelled through all Morocco without a tour or guide. There is no problem at all, it is a safe country. just go for it :-)

I've traveled around Morocco too, 4 girls alone, and we all returned in one piece!
Can't say specifically for Tangier indeed (we were advised not to loose much time there, not for safety reasons, but because there were nicer places to see and our time was limited). As well, we were told (by Moroccan friends) than Tangier can be very rough at night, but it should be OK for a daytrip.

Or you can go to Assilah nearby, a beautiful coastal town (even it will be flooded by Spaniards, is very popular for short trips).

We've been to Morocco many times and never used a tour guide. We have been in Tangier a couple of times. As an introduction to Morocco it is a bit strong and you WILL be hassled but if you are determined not to be detracted and can firmly handle it with humour and politeness you will have little trouble. It is a small enough city to wander both the town and kasbah. As mentioned elsewhere it's probably best to avoid wandering in the old town at night.

I'd agree with all the above, especially the warning that Tangier (especially disembarking the ferry) can be a bit full-on. You certainly don't need an organsed guide. On the other hand sometimes accepting the offer of one informal guide can make life easier since you won'thave to beat off anybody else. All yo have to do is to make sure that you rather than any informal guide sets the agenda....

as a native son of Morocco ; you are welcome andf be sure that you will miss many nice and safe places as vt freinds mentioned to you above , assliah , meknes and fes and down morocco is full of many things to see without a tour or a guide , you are welcome again and enjoy your trip

I have often been to Morocco and never had a guide except one hired at the tourist office in Fes. I agree with all what has been said.
- A guide is not necessary at all unles you want to do a very detailed visit. If this is the case, hire a guide in the tourist office and nowhere else.
- Tanger is by far not the best place to visit in Morocco but I suppose you have limited time. That will give you a glimpse of Morocco and I am sure that you will want to come another time, specifically for Morocco and to visit other cities such as Fes, Meknes, Rabat, Casablanca, Essaouira and Marrakech!

Without a tour guide in Tangier, you may lose out on finding Mick Jagger's house there.
(I actually only posted because I saw LongTone above, and it's been awhile)

Be carefull we went three years ago and stayed for ten days,
My wife who is a blonde in her fiftys still good looking the frist night we were their men tryed to pull her into a door way they touch her hair and shout ( Bellur )? Next day we got a head shawl as soon as she wore that treated with respect, one more thing in cafe's Bars etc they always serve me frist lol.
But we did wittess Men & Boys spit on women from behind who were not coverd appropriate to them, the port area must be out of bounds of women you will not rid yourselves of unwanted attention,
Tell them they not repecting you that helps, they most likely move on hope your husband is big that helps.

You are exagerating my friend. In Morocco, we do have some of the most beautifull girls and women. Who do you think we are. we have a diferent culture of course but the moroccan are respectfull and hospitable

Tangier had been a and still is a dwelling paradise for important people (the best) of all the world, and not of the lowly ignorant foreigners who judge it after some paragraphs of critics written in cheap medias by cheap people lacking of common sense. Tangier is not made for the taste of anybody but for those who really use their senses to experience its mystical atmosphere as did de la Croix, Ernest Hemmingway, Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Humphrey Bogart, Bob Hope, Ingrid Bergman, The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Etc…

Tangier should be experienced with all the five senses, because the city do not need any presentation or introduction, and is not the post card you look at. Tangier is THE TANGIER.

Kandiman a real Tangierian

All the best