Car rental in Tangier

Tangier - the place where civilizations meet

If the purpose of arriving in Tangier is to get acquainted with the peculiarities of the life and culture of Morocco, the tourist will be disappointed. In this port city, overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar, there is little to indicate the political division of the region. A section of the coast has long been an independent zone, in fact ruled by the seafaring communities of France, Great Britain and Spain. The color was added by the Arabs, Romans and Portuguese. As a result, when the territory was officially given to Morocco in the middle of the 20th century, the city represented an amazing mixture of times, cultures, traditions. It remains so to this day.

Introducing the city most often starts from the airport Tangier airport (TNG), named after the traveler and discoverer Ibn Battuta. There are few flights to Tangier itself. The easiest way to buy a ticket with a transfer in Spain. Such a ticket will even cost much cheaper. There is only one airport in the city, although the nearest one is Sania Ramel only 55 km away. The city center is only 13 km from the terminal, so you can get there both by public transport and by taxi or rented car. There are many taxis, but you should not trust completely local drivers for used cars from all over the world. Few of them know the city well enough, so you still have to use the navigator. They'll charge at least $25 to get to the city center and there won't be any receipts, so renting really makes sense.

Tangier is worth dividing into four parts devoting each day to a particular of the four districts of the city. They are so different that they deserve special attention:

• Medina or the old city is the same fortress that, even during the confrontation between the Arab tribes, protected the population, the most ancient and fairly well-preserved architectural objects;
• The New City is a cultural and entertainment center for tourists with beaches and night bars, where vacationing foreigners usually go;
• Malabanta or the provincial mainland, where it is worth driving a car to be able to enter small shops for inexpensive purchases from local workshops;
• Montagne and Spartal - the administrative center where the most expensive real estate and apartments owned by the royal family of Morocco.
• Comers from other Moroccan cities arrive at a small bus station next to the Suriya Mosque. For 50 cents, the bus will take you to any part of the city.

What to see in Tangier

Like any port city, Tangier is full of streets, markets, coffee houses and endless souvenir shops. This atmosphere has been preserved to this day, now for tourists. Magicians, snake charmers, acrobats perform right on the streets according to Arab traditions, while being relatively unobtrusive. You can calmly admire and pass by without waiting for a pull and demand for payment. Worth a visit:

1. Dar El Makzen Palace (Dar el Makhzen) - a luxurious Arab building of the 17th century, turned into a museum. There are several thematic exhibitions on the territory, so you can safely allocate the whole day for visiting. A detailed description will help to make plans.
2. Kasbah Fortress - the 18th century building is interesting both in itself and the fact that the stones at its base are the foundations of the fortress from the times of the Roman Empire. The protective structure is located at the highest point of the city, so you can see not only Gibraltar from it, but also the heights of Spain.
3. The Museum of Ancient History and Antiques, which occupies the ancient palace of the Sultan, in practice is a whole complex of museums. The galleries preserve weapons, carpets, jewelry and the very atmosphere of the Sultanate.

When traveling around the city, one should not forget about safety. Small forays with an attempt to remove the bag are considered local color and an ineradicable component. On the other hand, Muslim traditions can be ignored - tourists with uncovered heads are treated condescendingly, although they will not be allowed into exclusively male establishments.

Where to go near Tangier

It is better to travel around the suburbs of Tangier in a rented car. This will allow you not to sacrifice good shots, in a hurry to remove natural beauty from the crowd of tourists. And the region, which was really considered the end of the land for some time, will provide a large number of spectacular panoramas. Must visit:

• Pillars of Hercules - natural sheer heights framing Gibraltar. According to legend, Hercules struck with his hand, and water poured into the crevice over the edge of the Earth. The second rock on the opposite bank belongs to Great Britain.
• Azilaja Beach is the historical center of 15th century Portuguese culture. Swimming here will not work, but panoramas open up on one of the oldest fortresses in the region. During the tourist season, festivals of national culture and fairs are held in this place.
• Grand Socco Squarelocated in the medina. It will not be enough to go around the entire territory of the day - this is a typical oriental bazaar, which starts working in the afternoon. Merchants easily drop the price, but for successful bargaining, you need to take a lot of small things with you - when trying to ask for change, sellers abruptly forget all languages, although they usually speak French and Spanish fluently.

After sunset, it is worth moving around in a rented car, especially for women. At this time of day, the locals are already sitting at home, so excess attention is guaranteed.

The best restaurants in Tangier

Tangier's cuisine is as diverse as the city itself. Tropical and Mediterranean flavors are necessarily woven into Arabic, European, African cuisine. Worth a visit:

• Ch'Hiwat L'Couple - a restaurant with an emphasis on national cuisine. Especially appreciated branded Tajine (beef with prunes) and local sweets. The price tag is moderate. Address: Avenue Hassan I. Phone: +212 670-107963.
• Riad Al Andalous - a restaurant with great interiors in Arabic style and an emphasis on seafood. There is a vegetarian menu. Address: Rue de la Kasbah No 12 Riad Al Andalous. Phone: +212 623-010392.
• Gourmet restaurant at the Hotel Club Le Mirage with tables on the balconies with great views. Cuisine Moroccan, Mediterranean, European. Address: Les Grottes d’Hercule, B.P.. Phone: +212 5393-33332.

Small shops with fast food can also be found on the tourist streets. It is worth treating with caution, as seafood quickly deteriorates. You can safely buy sweets.

Where to park in Tangier

Renting a car is considered the best way for tourists to get around. The railway covers only the north of the city, and the bus logistics leaves much to be desired. The taxi fleet has long been outdated, the grand taxi (7 places in the pool) are cramped. Free parking is available on any street except the most popular with tourists. But it is worth leaving the car at hotels where there is at least symbolic security.

Good to know

How the price changes depending on the month

Most popular car models in Tangier

Fiat 500

Fiat 500

4x

2x

€13 / Day

Citroen C1

Citroen C1

4x

2x

€14 / Day

Ford Fiesta

Ford Fiesta

4x

2x

€18 / Day

Ford Focus

Ford Focus

5x

3x

€23 / Day

Opel Astra Estate

Opel Astra Estate

5x

4x

€28 / Day

Audi A4

Audi A4

5x

3x

€32 / Day

BMW X1

BMW X1

4x

3x

€33 / Day

Ford Foxus Estate

Ford Foxus Estate

5x

4x

€33 / Day

Mercedes C Class

Mercedes C Class

5x

3x

€43 / Day

BMW 5 series

BMW 5 series

4x

3x

€45 / Day

Ford Tourneo

Ford Tourneo

8x

4x

€55 / Day

BMW 4 Cabrio

BMW 4 Cabrio

4x

2x

€65 / Day

Audi A6

Audi A6

5x

3x

€70 / Day

Audi A5 Cabrio

Audi A5 Cabrio

4x

3x

€75 / Day

Mercedes Vito

Mercedes Vito

9x

4x

€80 / Day

Estimated prices for 1 day rental:

List of required documents

Driving license

Credit card

Voucher

Passport

Car rental tips in Tangier