Tangier may have been scrubbed up since their day with the bohemian cafes and louche bars long gone, but you can still catch a whiff of the decadent days gone by.
Once a glittering and debauched destination for the 1960s literary and artistic set, Tangier holds an evocative tinge of this racy past, even though it may no longer be the haunt of famed authors and painters. The Medina area is the place to roam and try to catch some of this atmosphere. The winding lanes here are the city's prime tourist attraction.
Outside of Tangier, the coastline is dotted with picture-perfect seaside villages that make you want to break out your watercolour palette. Tangier is a great base for exploring this part of Morocco.
Tangier's Medina (Old City) tumbles down the cliff towards the ocean in a labyrinth of narrow alleyways. The central vortex of Medina life is the square known as the Petit Socco, where old men sit for hours drinking tea and playing backgammon. During its fast-paced past, the Medina was a playground for author Paul Bowles and America's legendary Beatnik literary figures such as Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs. Wandering around this area is a must for Tangier visitors.
Just west of the Petit Socco on Rue Siaghine is The Church of the Immaculate Conception, built by the Spanish in 1880. East of the square is the Grand Mosque. In the southeast corner of the Old City is the Old American Legation, once the US consulate building and the oldest American diplomatic post.
The museum inside traces the history of the relationship between the US and Morocco: as Morocco was one of the first countries to recognise American independence, the US established its legation in Tangier in 1821. The interesting exhibits inside include George Washington's famous letter to Mouilay Abdullah.
El Minzah Hotel
Enjoying convenient public transport links from its neighbouring train station, seaport and airport, the extravagant 5-star El Minzah Hotel enjoys an ideal location in the heart of Tangier nearby the city’s beautiful beach.
Exhibiting a Spanish-Moorish themed décor, this sophisticated hotel successfully blends premier services and luxuries with exclusive facilities to provide a relaxing retreat in this charming Moroccan city.
Hotel El Minzah overlooks the Straits of Gibraltar, Rif Mountains and the Bay of Tangier and features lush, neatly landscaped gardens of palm, eucalyptus, rose and geraniums among other exotic vegetation.