This historic Moroccan city has white-walled buildings and Spanish-influenced architecture from the 1400s. Its medina is a UNESCO site with active leather tanneries and artisan workshops.
Tétouan rises between the Mediterranean Sea and Rif Mountains in northern Morocco. In the white-walled medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, you'll find craftsmen setting precious stones in silver, pressing intricate patterns into leather, and weaving colorful textiles. Visit the Archaeological Museum to see 2nd-century Roman mosaics, walk past art deco buildings in the Spanish Quarter, or swim at Martil Beach, where local families gather on summer evenings.
Walking Through Tétouan's Medina
Seven ornate gates pierce the medina's five-kilometer wall, leading into narrow streets lined with white-painted houses and workshops. Watch jewelers setting stones, leather workers treating hides in stone vats, and weavers creating patterns on traditional looms. The medina follows its original 15th-century layout, with distinct quarters for different trades.
Traditional Crafts and Markets
Each market in the medina has its specialty. At El Hot Market, artisans sell silver jewelry set with local stones and hand-painted ceramics. The scent of fresh bread and mint tea fills El Fouki Market from morning until evening. In Guersa El Kebira, you'll find hand-woven textiles and traditional clothing. Many craftsmen invite you into their workshops to see their work in progress.
Museums and Cultural Spaces
The Archaeological Museum's collection includes detailed Roman floor mosaics, bronze agricultural tools, and coins from the 2nd century BCE. The Centro de Arte Moderno occupies a restored railway station, where you can see 200 works by contemporary Moroccan artists. Inside a 19th-century fortress, the Ethnographic Museum exhibits Tétouan's domestic life through the centuries, from kitchen utensils to wedding costumes.
Mediterranean Coast and Beaches
A 20-minute drive takes you to the beaches of Tamuda Bay. Martil Beach stretches for three kilometers, with calm waters and beachfront cafes serving grilled fish. At Cabo Negro, you'll find quiet beaches and a golf course. In M'diq, fishermen bring their catch directly to the waterfront restaurants.
Local Food and Specialties
Tétouan's location shapes its kitchen. Try fish tagine cooked with preserved lemons and local olives, or Jben, a fresh white cheese wrapped in palm leaves. The Spanish influence appears in pastries like kaab el ghazal (gazelle horns) filled with almond paste. Small family-run restaurants in the medina serve these dishes at communal tables.
Art Festivals and Cultural Events
The Mediterranean Film Festival in March screens independent films from North Africa and Southern Europe. During July's International Lute Festival, musicians perform in the medina's courtyards. The Women's Voice Festival in September brings together female Arabic singers for concerts in the Spanish Theater.
Day Trips from Tétouan
Walk through cedar and pine forests on marked trails in Talassemtane National Park, an hour from the city. Visit Chefchaouen, where buildings painted in different shades of blue line steep mountain streets. Regular buses run to Ceuta, 40 kilometers north, where you can see Spanish modernist architecture and 16th-century fortifications.
