Tétouan, Morocco’s Hidden Gem to Discover Before Marrakech

With much of its architecture more European than African, its artistic heritage, its archaeological museum, its ethnographic museum, as well as the Museum of Modern Art of Tétouan, built in a former Spanish-style train station, its Grand Mosque, and its proximity to the mountains, Tétouan has everything to attract tourists. Yet it remains one of Morocco’s lesser-known destinations, unlike Marrakech and Agadir, which welcome many British tourists each year, especially during the summer season. Its main medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with some original elements from the 17th century still present.

According to tourists, Tétouan is a much cheaper destination for finding souvenirs compared to Marrakech. “We bought souvenirs in the Medina at half the price of Marrakech – the vendors are polite,” one of them told The SUN newspaper. “It was a real surprise for us; we found ourselves in a city that looked like Europe.” Another tourist said: “This medina has an old-world charm, without tourism. You discover Morocco the way it must have been years ago.”

Tourists can stay at Tamuda Bay, located near the beach, which recently opened a new Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay (the resort’s first five-star hotel), or at Club Med Yasmina Village, not far from the city, or at the Blanco Riad hotel located in the heart of Tétouan. Blanco Riad, the city’s most popular restaurant, offers traditional Moroccan dishes such as tagine, according to Tripadvisor.

To get to Tétouan, British tourists need to fly to Tangier – less than three hours from the UK. Ryanair operates flights between the two cities. From there, they can reach Tétouan by car in about 1 hour and 15 minutes. But it might soon become easier to get to Tétouan, with a new train line from Tangier in the works, as well as a new highway.