Menu
One of the aspirations of every traveler is to find surprisingly beautiful cities still unexplored by mass tourism. And that is, to a large extent, what Tetouan offers: it is relatively small, it is not always part of the great circuits but its beauty is accredited with an unmistakable distinctive: that of Unesco World Heritage. Here we tell you everything you need to know about this northern destination, which will not disappoint you.
Tetouan is located in the north of Morocco, in the region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima. It is not a coastal city, but it is not far from the Mediterranean Sea: it is only about 10 km away from the coastline, so its climate is typical of a seaside destination: with abundant relative humidity in the environment and temperatures warmer than in other areas of the country, although with very hot summers.
If you are planning to travel to Tetouan from other cities in Morocco, these are the distances that separate it from other important destinations:
To get directly to Tetouan, the most common is to do it by land, since some of the surrounding cities do represent important gateways to Moroccan territory. This is the case of:
In any case, you should know that Tetouan also has its own airport: Tetouan-Sania Ramel Airport. It is small, with a limited flow of passengers per year and a reduced list of airlines and international routes, but they can be useful in certain cases. Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Brussels or Amsterdam are some of the cities directly connected by this route, with companies such as Royal Air Maroc or Ryanair.
On the other hand, Tetouan is not part of the Moroccan railroad network, so you will not be able to come by train to this city. It is true that it has a historic and beautiful station, which was a stop on the Ceuta-Tetuan line, operating during the time of the Spanish Protectorate. But today it is ‘just’ a large museum and art center.
The history of Tetouan is not as old as that of other cities in Morocco. However, it is essential to know it in order to understand what Tetouan is like today. And when we review it, we realize that it has always been closely linked to Spain, either by the dominion that country exercised over it, by the territorial disputes or by the emigration that took place centuries ago.
Tetouan emerged as a city at the beginning of the 14th century, in times of the Merinid sultanate of Abu Thabit, who conceived it as a stronghold to attack Ceuta. Shortly thereafter it ended up being a nest of Mediterranean pirates, which caused the King of Castile Henry III to raze it around 1400.
After almost a century of abandonment, since 1492 it began to receive Jewish emigrants from Granada and the Iberian Peninsula, as well as Moors expelled some time later. This led to a significant increase in its population, which was also enriched by the Andalusian cultural refinement brought by the migrants. These were times of commercial blockade, promoted by the Spanish King Philip II, which was eventually overcome, especially later during the rule of Sultan Moulay Ismail from the end of the 17th century.
In the turbulent 19th century, Tetouan was involved in the war against Spain in 1859-60, passing briefly to Spanish rule but returned to Morocco two years later. A domain that ended up being effective at the beginning of the 20th century, in times of European colonialist fever, this time in the form of Spanish Protectorate since 1913: it was a key period for the configuration of modern Tetouan, being the capital of that political entity.
Since 1956, Tetouan became part of the independent Kingdom of Morocco, and in fact the Royal Palace of the city remains a summer residence of the Alaouite monarch.
If you need reasons that convince you to travel to Tetouan, here are some of them:
In Tetouan there are two clearly differentiated areas: its medina and its new city. And each of them has its own character, with monuments of interest from different points of view. The following is an overview of them.
The medina of Tetouan is the area that inspires the popular name of this city: the White Dove, in reference to the predominant color of its hamlet, which spreads over a hill and, like a dove, seems to want to fly away. But this poetic and peaceful name has little to do with the real atmosphere inside the walls of the medina: a flutter of people moving through its narrow streets, souks and establishments, forming a very popular and genuine Tetouanese atmosphere.
Listed below are the main historical monuments and places of interest in the medina:
In the image and likeness of what happened in many Spanish cities since the second half of the 19th century, an Ensanche was developed in Tetuan. In other words, a new area based on orderly and wide streets, which helped to decongest the historic center. It extends to the west of the medina and the Place du Mechouar. This is the list of the most interesting places:
Tetouan may not appear among Morocco’s top premium destinations, but it has amenities and sites worthy of the most illustrious visitors. And proof of this is its main vacationer: King Mohammed VI, who usually spends time at the Caliph’s Palace or Royal Palace. Therefore, if you are traveling to Tetouan with the intention of enjoying exclusive and high quality services, you can take note of the following ideas:
The province of Tetouan, especially along the coast of Tamuda Bay, is known for hosting some of Morocco’s most luxurious resorts and properties. Some examples are:
For options in the city of Tetouan itself, you may have to consider luxury riads or boutique-hotels that offer a more authentic experience but with all the modern conveniences. Although the city of Tetouan is not as well known for ultra-luxury as other Moroccan cities, there are definitely hidden gems that offer high-end accommodations.
However, if you are looking for personalized advice and a tailor-made service, we recommend you to contact Chic Morocco: our staff will be able to provide you with the right information and organize a tailor-made travel experience, so that your stay in Tetouan lives up to your expectations.
Fill out the form below to receive a free, no-obligation, tailor-made quote from an agency specialized in Morocco.
Travel agency and DMC specialized in private and tailor-made trips to Morocco.
Mandala Tours, S.L, NIF: B51037471
License: C.I.AN-187782-3
