Tetouan Guide
Tetouan is located in the north of the country, in the middle of the Strait of Gibraltar and is listed as one of the cultural cities of Morocco.
The ancient medina, a Unesco World Heritage site, looks like it has not changed in several centuries. The Spanish protectorate left an important cultural and architectural legacy that is very visible in the modern center.
The city is surrounded by coastal towns bathed by the Mediterranean Sea, to enjoy the beach or long walks.
Tetouan Guide
Free Map of Tetouan
Download the free map of the Medina of Tetouan.
And also get the Definitive Guide for not getting lost in the Medina of Tetouan.
Tetouan Guide
Planning a Trip
Flight to Tetouan
Tetouan has a small international airport with weekly flights to Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Alicante, Brussels and Marseille.
The airport is just 5 minutes from the city center.
Tangier airport has other direct connections with the most important European cities. Tangier airport is located approximately 1.15h from the city of Tetouan.
Ferrys
Although Tetouan does not have direct ferries to the city, the ports of Ceuta or Tangier are nearby.
Ferries to both cities depart from Cadiz ( Spain), from the towns of Algeciras and Tarifa and take about 1 hour to arrive.
Remember that if you travel to the port of Ceuta you must cross the border to enter Morocco.
Tetouan Guide
What is a Riad?
The word «riad» means «garden» in Arabic and although it is now closely related to tourist accommodation, it actually only refers to a traditional Arab house with an interior patio around which the different halls and rooms are organized.
Originally this patios used to be open spaces, often full of plants and a fountain in the center, thus symbolizing the Muslim «paradise».
The different medinas of Morocco are full of houses with this configuration (central patios surrounded by halls and rooms on the upper floor) and some of them have become small charming hotels.
Tetouan Guide
Beach & Coast
Tetouan is surrounded by golden sand beaches to swim in summer or take a walk in winter.
In towns like Martil or Rincon you will find restaurants to taste the Tetuani cuisine or cafes to enjoy the sunset.
Hotels & Riads
Prices and Locations
TETOUAN GUIDE
What to do in Tetouan
In Tetuan the activities are mainly diurnal. So fill your day with cultural visits or walks and at night go to a cafe or have dinner in a restaurant. If you don’t have a plan yet, here you have some ideas.
The Old Medina
If this is your first visit, you should take a long walk through the old Medina, it’s full of life, and apart from learning history and Tetuan culture, you can buy genuine local crafts.
The Tetouan Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage place and it’s well worth it!
Remember to download the Map and Guide of the Medina!
Museums
Tetouan has several museums dedicated to both modern and traditional art
Visit Chefchaouen
One of the most famous towns surrounding Tetouan is Chefchaouen, the blue town. It is a small town with a lot of charm, perfect to spend the day or night.
It is located approximately 1 hour from Tetouan and if you don’t have your own car you can easily get there by taxi or bus.
TETOUAN GUIDE
Tours around Tetouan
Taxis
Getting around Tetuan and surroundings when we don’t have a car is easy and cheap using the 24 hours a day taxi service.
Yellow Taxis
The yellow taxis or «petit taxis» are the urban ones and are used to move within the city. Remember that these taxis only have 3 seats.
Blue Taxis
The blue taxis travel longer distances and connect Tetouan with nearby towns and cities such as Tangier, Chefchaouen, Martil, Rincon, Ceuta…
TETOUAN GUIDE
More about Tetouan
Gastronomy
The tetuani gastronomy is delicious and varied, dishes are prepared with all types of meats, fish, vegetables and legumes.
Taste one of the many tajines, brochettes, fried fish and of course the typical Moroccan cous cous.
Street food and sandwiches are also a good way to discover Tetouan gastronomy
Enjoy the restaurants and also shopping in the local markets, they are quite an experience!
Travel during Muslim Holidays
During the religious festivals, Ramadan and Feast of the Lamb, the activity of the cities and towns changes a lot.
If you are planning to travel to Tetuan, check beforehand the celebration of these festivities.
Remember that the Muslim calendar is lunar so these celebrations change every year.
TETOUAN GUIDE
Tips for traveling to Morocco
Do not use your regular credit card, instead:
Travel safe
Wise, multi-currency card
Avoid fees when using an ATM or making payments can save you a lot of money!
With this free multi-currency card you can withdraw money in any currency, in every country and without fees.
Discover all the possibilities that this card also has for your everyday life and your business.
Revolut, a must
This other multi-currency card is perfect not only for use at ATMs abroad but for your day-to-day life.
Send money instantly in any currency, pay anywhere and forget about the fees.
This card is also free!
Travel Insurance
Don’t forget to hire your medical insurance before traveling to Morocco.
With Mondo you have assistance throughout the country (also for covid-19), without having to pay anything in advance and also just for being a reader from Tetuania you have a 5% discount.
SPEAKING
Arabic Basics
Greetings
- Hello: Slaam Alikum
- Goodbye: Bsalama
- Good Morning: Sbah elkhir
- Good Nignt: Tsbah ala khir
- How are you?: Kif ntina? / Labas? / Mizyan? / Bekher?
- Fine!: Alhamdulilah / Hamdullah / Kulshi mizien
Expresions
- Thank you: Shukran
- Thank you very much: Shukran Bizzef
- You’re welcome: La shukran
- Excuse me: Smahli
- Ok: Wakha
- Enough: Safi
- Nice to meet you: Msharfin
- May God bless you: Baraka allahu fik
- Here you go!: Hak!
- Wait: Bellati
- Come here: Ayi
- Congratulations/Enjoy/Cheers: Bsaha
- Go on: Zid
Numbers
- One: uahed
- Two: yuy
- Three: tleta
- Four: arba
- Five: hamsa
- Six: Sta
- Seven: sebaa
- Eight: tsmenya
- Nine: to-od
- Ten: ashra
Food and Drink
- Water: El ma
- Coffee: Qahwa
- Milk: Halib
- Sugar: Sukkar
- Butter: Zebda
- Salt: Mellah
- Oil: Zit
- Chicken: Djej
- Fish: El hud
- Meat: el ham
- Salad: Shalada
- Tea: Atay
- English tea: Atay negro
- Apple: Tuffah
- Orangev: Litchin
- Strawberry: Fresav
- Banana: Banan
- Lemon: Leimon
- Pear: Linga
- Eggs: Baitat
- Bread: El hobz