A Photo Tour of the Colorful Tetouan Medina in Morocco
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Cones of orange- and gold-colored spices.
Squawking chickens.
Mounds of aubergine and tomatoes and lemons.
And uh oh, what’s that over there? Sheep and goat heads!
It’s market day in Tetouan, and we’re strolling the get-lost labyrinth of narrow alleys and streets in the Tetouan Medina (also known as the Antigua Medina).
Touring the Tetouan Medina
We’ve been cruising the Canary Islands and Morocco on the deluxe Seabourn Odyssey.
Today our ship has docked in Tangier about an hour’s drive away.
When we looked at what to do in Tangier on a shore excursion, we picked this Tangier day trip to Tetouan.
Tetouan is one of the oldest cities in Morocco, found at the base of the Rif Mountains.
The Medina of Tetouan (medina means the old part of a city) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Most Arabic medinas are surrounded by a wall; the Tetouan Medina is encircled by a thick stone wall accessed through seven gates.
Originally settled by the Romans way back when, Tetouan was resettled by Andalusian refugees around 1492, and has been continuously lived in ever since.
Today, Tetouan is home to about 321,000 inhabitants from a melange of races and religions – Spanish, Jewish, Arabic.
What makes this medina special is that unlike, say, Marrakesh (where honeymooners lounge by deluxe riad pools before strolling its medina at night with its snake charmers and souvenirs), Tetouan sees very few international visitors.
As we gawk and gape, we don’t notice any other Western faces among the Moroccan people. (How rare is that when you travel now!)
The Tetouan Medina feels very authentic and real – a place where locals live and mingle and bargain, not a contrived attraction trying to look exotic for tourists.
An authentic Morocco souk
Stuffed with some 40,000 shops (so our guide tells us), the Tetouan Medina is one of the oldest souks in the world.
As it’s market day, workers from nearby farms are in town.
Berber women wear big hats, like Mexican sombreros, decorated with flowers and pom-poms.
Pro tip
Because the souk is geared more to locals, if you want to do any souvenir or personal shopping in Morocco, you’re probably better off to do that in Marrakech.
We’re instructed by our guide to follow each other, one after the other in a single file, so we don’t get lost.
Then we squeeze through jostling shoppers, past a scrolling filmstrip of traditional scenes – carpet sellers, a cobbler hammering a shoe, stalls with leather bags and ladies’ long dresses, weavers, sardines and other silvery fish displayed on ice, spice merchants…
Cats slink around our feet.
A woman tries to sell us blankets.
A butcher shouts at us for trying to take his picture, but a tailor calls out “Welcome! Welcome!”
Alleys, arches and surprising angles
Every which way we turn, the crumbling white buildings of the medina yield a different Instagram-worthy view – an alley here, an archway there.
There doesn’t seem to be any prescribed “route.”
It’s all about soaking up the atmosphere.
Dar Sana: The school of arts and crafts
Outside the medina, we visit Dar Sana.
It’s the area’s renowned school of arts and crafts, which teaches and preserves the traditional Moorish arts of wood carving, painting, copper work, embroidery, etc.
Exploring this Morocco souk and medina (with a side-visit to Dar Sana) is definitely one of the best things to do in Tetouan – and perhaps our favorite experience in Morocco.
Admittedly, our Morocco visit is short (two days) – but we’re grateful we get a “taste” of Morocco on our cruise!
What’s it like to have unlimited champagne and caviar on a Seabourn cruise? Find out in our review of Seabourn Cruises!
Tetouan hotels: Blanco Riad
If your Tetouan visit is longer than ours, and you’re researching Tetouan hotels, check out the Blanco Riad.
It’s a small, 18th century riad (house with a garden courtyard in the middle) with eight clean and attractive rooms – we know because we peeked into some of them!
(We suspect Blanco Riad is the best Tetouan hotel; it’s rated the best Tetouan accommodation on TripAdvisor.)
Our shore excursion group ate a delightful lunch here, starting with an array of healthy salads, then lamb tagine with apricots and couscous, followed by traditional sweet pastries and Moroccan mint tea.
And the proprietor was very friendly and welcoming.
Blanco Riad: Check rates and availability here
Are you planning a Morocco trip?
Will you visit Tetouan? Let us know in the Comments section below!
Pin this Tetouan travel guide to Pinterest!
More fascinating UNESCO sites
Curious about some other “old city” UNESCO World Heritage Sites we’ve written about around the world? Dive into these stories…
Mexico: Check out these 7 authentic things to do in Morelia.
Croatia: Explore Diocletian’s Palace: It’s a walled wonder!
Jordan: Gaze up in awe at the monuments in the ancient rose-red city of Petra.
Portugal: Is Porto worth visiting? (How can you avoid the crowds?)
Puerto Rico: From exploring old forts to enjoying colorful umbrella art, there are many great things to do in Old San Juan.
Our top travel tips and resources
General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, offering loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.
Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – often at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. We especially like Booking’s flexible cancellation policy! (You may prefer Expedia for booking hotels in the U.S. or Mexico.)
Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
Flights: For the cheapest flights, search on Google Flights or Expedia. (Just be aware Expedia tickets are often non-refundable. If you want more flexibility, it’s usually worth booking directly with the airline, even if it costs a bit more.)
Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
Car rental: Renting a car is often a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the lowest rates.
eSIMS: Stay connected affordably with Airalo eSIMS covering 200+ countries and trusted by 10 million+ users, including us! (No more huge roaming bills!)
Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.
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Photo credits: © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase.
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