Tetouan Travel Guide 2026:
Tips from a Resident
All the information you won’t find online.
The kind you were looking for, and the kind you didn’t even know you needed.
Direct flights from London Gatwick to Tetouan are now available (Royal Air Maroc, from March 2026). If you’ve just discovered this city, you’re in the right place!
Hi!
I’m Laura and I have been living in Tetouan for 12 years now
Why it is that so important?
Well, to summarize it for you, it’s because I know now very well what this city is about and at this point, I know all of the tips and tricks to move around comfortably.
If you are here it is because you are also interested, either because you plan to visit soon (for the first time or not) or because you are moving here as an expat.
First some info about Tetouan
What is Tetouan?
Tetouan is a city of 380,000 people in northern Morocco, 40 km from Ceuta and 60 km from Tangier. It sits at the foot of the Rif mountains, 10 km from the Mediterranean coast. It’s the closest Moroccan city to Spain after the border towns.
What makes it different from Marrakech or Chefchaouen: Tetouan was the capital of the Spanish Protectorate of Morocco from 1912 to 1956. The result is a city where older residents still speak perfect Spanish, where Art Deco colonial architecture sits next to a UNESCO-listed medina, and where you can eat a full lunch for €4. It’s authentic Morocco without the tourist crowds.
The medina of Tetouan has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. It’s smaller than Fez or Marrakech, better preserved, and far less touristy.
Getting to Tetouan from the UK and Europe
As of March 2026, Royal Air Maroc operates direct flights from London Gatwick to Tetouan Sania R’mel Airport (TTU), twice a week (Sundays and Thursdays). This is the first direct air connection between the UK and Tetouan — previously, the only options were flying to Tangier or crossing from Ceuta by ferry and taxi.
Other direct European routes now available from Tetouan airport: Paris CDG, Brussels, Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga — all starting March 27, 2026.
From the airport to the city centre: Tetouan airport is only 5 km from the centre. A taxi costs around 50–80 dirhams (€5–8). There is no public bus from the airport.
Alternative route from Spain: Ferry from Algeciras to Ceuta (1 hour) + shared taxi to Tetouan (45 min, around €2). Many travellers still use this route as it can be cheaper and more flexible.
Top Things to Do in Tetouan
1. Walk the UNESCO Medina
The old medina is the heart of the city. Narrow streets, craft workshops, traditional souks. It’s smaller than Fez so you won’t get lost for hours — but you will get pleasantly lost. Free to enter, no touts, no guided tours pushed on you. Go in the morning for the best light and least foot traffic.
2. Explore the Spanish Ensanche
The colonial neighbourhood built by Spain during the Protectorate. Art Deco buildings, wide boulevards, palm-lined squares. It looks like Andalusia had a baby with Morocco. Many older residents here still speak Spanish. Free, walkable, and genuinely fascinating.
3. Plaza Hassan II
The main square, where the medina meets the Ensanche. Good spot to sit, have tea, and watch the city go about its day. The Royal Palace is here too, though you can only admire it from the outside.
4. The Ethnographic Museum
Inside a beautiful 19th-century palace in the medina. Traditional costumes, instruments, jewellery, and crafts. Entry costs 20 dirhams (€2). Worth an hour of your time.
5. The Cemetery Viewpoint
The old Spanish-Moroccan cemetery on the hill above the medina has the best panoramic views of the city and the Rif mountains. Free, easy 20-minute walk from the centre, almost never mentioned in any guide.
6. The Traditional Souks
The leather souk, the spice souk, the fabric souk — each in its own section of the medina. No fixed prices, negotiation is expected. Good things to buy: leather babouche slippers, argan oil, spices, handwoven fabrics, traditional pottery.
7. Day trip to Martil Beach
Tetouan’s beach town, 10 km away, 20 dirhams by taxi. A proper Mediterranean beach used mainly by locals, not tourists. In summer it fills up with Moroccan families. The rest of the year it’s quiet and easy.
8. Day trip to Chefchaouen
The famous blue city is only 90 minutes away by bus or shared taxi. I’d suggest spending 1–2 nights there rather than a day trip if you can. From Tetouan it’s easier and cheaper to reach than from Tangier or Fez.
Is Tetouan Safe?
Yes. I’m a woman living alone here and have been for 12 years. Tetouan is a normal working city, not a tourist trap. The main things to watch: keep your phone in your pocket in crowded souks, don’t flash cash, and avoid very dark alleys late at night — the same common sense you’d use anywhere.
The biggest “hassle” you’ll encounter is a persistent vendor in the medina. It’s annoying, not threatening. A firm “la shukran” (no thank you) and walking away works every time.
Tetouan is one of the safest cities in Morocco for solo travellers, including solo women.
Practical Information
Language
Darija (Moroccan Arabic) is the main language. But Tetouan is the most Spanish-speaking city in Morocco — a legacy of the Protectorate. Many older residents speak perfect Spanish. Among younger people, French is common, English less so but growing. If you speak Spanish, you’ll manage easily.
Currency
Moroccan Dirham (MAD). Approximate exchange: €1 = 10.5 MAD. Cash is essential for taxis, medina shops, street food. Cards work in hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets. Revolut and Wise work well at ATMs here. Don’t change money at the border — the rate is terrible.
Getting Around
Petit taxis (small, usually beige) cost 7–10 MAD (under €1) per trip within the city. Agree on the price before you get in — almost nobody uses the meter. Grand taxis are shared and go to specific destinations (Martil, Ceuta, Tangier etc.) for fixed prices per person.
What to Wear
Morocco is a Muslim country but Tetouan is not conservative by North African standards. Long trousers or skirts, t-shirts and normal summer clothes are fine. Avoid very short shorts, revealing tops or beach wear outside the beach. A light scarf is useful if you plan to visit mosques (non-Muslims can’t enter most, but it’s useful in markets too).
How Many Days Do You Need?
1 day: the essentials (medina, Ensanche, Plaza Hassan II). 2 days: comfortable, with time for the cemetery viewpoint, museums and a proper lunch without rushing. 3–4 days: ideal if you want to use Tetouan as a base for Chefchaouen and the coast.
I mentioned that I’ve been living in Tetouan for over a decade, you’ll see why that matters now.
I have been meeting many tourists and new residents for years, who came to Tetouan from different places and for different reasons, the reality is that they were all plagued by the same doubts.
Surely many of these questions have come to mind, right?
Not having the answers can make you feel a little insecure, it’s normal, we all like having the best information beforehand and getting everything right during our trip.
Making the most of your time, choosing where to eat or sleep or even the best date to travel can make a huge difference during your trip.
For the other things in life, I don’t have the solution, but for all of this, I do.
Don’t expect a typical “traveller’s guide”, it’s not.
In it, you will find a lot of super useful information, not only what you are looking for, but what you didn’t even know you needed!
How do I know this?
Because this guide is the result of years of answering questions and queries from tourists who have passed through the city and here, in tetuania.com, a blog that I founded in 2015.
It’s been almost a decade of messages, emails and WhatsApps, which have helped me know what interests travellers the most or what worries those who set foot in Tetouan for the first time, or second, or third…
You will discover in it all the information, tips and tricks that only a Tetouani can give you and which will help you have the best stay, whether it is for one day, several or months.
After reading it you will know Tetouan so well that you will move through it like a fish moving through water, I promise!
Furthermore, it’s written bluntly, in clear language and no filler texts or photos, just essential content!
By the way, it has more than 300 pages.
And if you’re thinking: that’s too much! Not at all, I don’t want you to read The Lord of the Rings trilogy again, so I’ll explain:
One of the top qualities of this guide is that it is very easy to read, I have designed it exclusively this way, with a good font size and perfect for reading from a mobile phone, which is also why it has so many pages.
In addition, it is interactive, so you can move between its sections quickly and in order, no need to scroll around looking for just one topic.
Just with one click, you will be able to access it easily.
I could tell you that it’s better than other guides
But turns out it’s the only one!
You won’t find information like this anywhere else. I dare you to look for it!
As if that was not enough, this guide also includes an extra perk, just for you.
At the end of it, you will find an email address through which you can communicate with me exclusively. Is there something very specific that is not talked about in the guide? Ask me! I will be more than happy to answer you.
Tetouan Travelers Guide
Is Tetouan worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you want authentic Morocco without the crowds. It has a UNESCO medina, fascinating Spanish colonial architecture, good food at local prices, and friendly people. It’s not as photogenic as Chefchaouen but it’s a real city, not a tourist set. If you’ve already done Marrakech or Fez, Tetouan will feel like a genuinely different side of Morocco.
How far is Tetouan from the airport?
Tetouan Sania R’mel Airport (TTU) is 5 km from the city centre — about 10 minutes by taxi (50–80 MAD, around €5–8). There is no public bus service from the airport.
Do they speak English in Tetouan?
Not widely, but it’s improving among younger people. The city’s historical language of influence is Spanish, not English, so if you speak Spanish you’ll have a much easier time. In hotels and tourist-facing businesses you’ll usually find someone with basic English. Download Google Translate with offline Moroccan Arabic before you go.
Is Tetouan better than Chefchaouen?
They’re different. Chefchaouen is small, photogenic and built for tourists. Tetouan is a real city with a UNESCO medina, a Spanish colonial quarter and a fraction of the tourist numbers. If you’re choosing between the two: Chefchaouen for atmosphere and photos, Tetouan for authenticity. Ideally, visit both — they’re 90 minutes apart.
Can I visit Tetouan as a day trip from Ceuta?
Yes. The border crossing at Fnideq is 30 minutes from Tetouan by shared taxi. Many people cross from Ceuta for the day. Just make sure you carry your passport (not just your ID), give yourself at least 2–3 hours in the city, and return before late afternoon when the border gets busier.
Is it safe to walk alone in Tetouan?
Yes. I’ve walked this city alone every day for 12 years. Normal precautions apply: keep valuables out of sight, be aware in crowded markets, and stick to lit streets after dark. Solo female travel here is common and manageable.
What currency should I bring to Tetouan?
Moroccan Dirhams (MAD). You can withdraw them at ATMs in the city centre. Don’t exchange money at the border — the rate is poor. Revolut and Wise work well at local ATMs. Approximate rate: €1 = 10.5 MAD, £1 = 12.5 MAD.
Are there direct flights from London to Tetouan?
Yes, from March 2026. Royal Air Maroc operates direct flights from London Gatwick to Tetouan Sania R’mel Airport (TTU) twice a week, on Sundays and Thursdays. Flight time is approximately 3 hours.
Do I need a visa to visit Morocco from the UK?
No. British passport holders can enter Morocco without a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. Spanish nationals can also enter with a national ID card.
What should I not miss in Tetouan?
The UNESCO medina (especially early morning), the Spanish Ensanche colonial quarter, Plaza Hassan II, the cemetery viewpoint for panoramic views, and the traditional souks. If you have two days, add a trip to Martil beach and the Ethnographic Museum. Full details and maps are in the guide.