27-05-2025
Peaceful African city right by the sea that feels ‘more like Europe' – but tourists always miss it
AN overlooked city dubbed the 'white city of Morocco' is a holiday destination where you won't find many crowds this summer.
Tetouan in Morocco is often overlooked as a holiday destination with most Brits heading to Marrakech or Agadir.
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However, it was once the capital of Spanish Morocco, nicknamed the "daughter of Granada" meaning a lot of the architecture feels more European than African.
And due to the lack of tourism, it also means it remains a more authentic side of Morocco with mainly locals visiting on holiday.
The main medina in town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some of the original 17th century features remaining.
Tourists have raved about it being a much cheaper place to find souvenirs compared to Marrakech.
One said: "We bought souvenirs in Medina at half the price from Marrakech - the sellers are polite.
"It was a real surprise for us, we found ourselves in a city that looked like Europe."
Another said: "This medina has a old world charm with no tourism. Experiencing Morocco as it must have been years ago."
There is also the The Archaeological Museum, which shows the origins of the city before it was founded in the 15th century.
The city is known for its artistic heritage as well, so the Ethnography Museum is worth a visit as well as the Tetouan Museum of Modern Art, built within a former Spanish-style train station.
Embrace the crazy city full of warmth and culture
And while tourists aren't allowed to go inside the Grand Mosque, it is worth a visit just for the exterior.
Otherwise it's proximity to the mountains means its attracts adventure sports fans too, with trekking and mountain biking popular as well.
If you really want a beach break then there is the nearby Tamuda Bay, which recently opened a new Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay (the first five star for the resort).
But for stays nearer the city, one of the most popular is the all-inclusive Club Med Village Yasmina, while the Blanco Riad Hotel is in the middle of the Tetouan.
And according to Tripadvisor, Blanco Riad Restaurant is the most popular restaurant in town, with traditional Moroccan dishes such as tagine.
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It could be easier to get to Tetouan soon, with a new train line from Tangier being proposed as well as a new motorway.
Until then, Brits will need to fly to Tangier which takes less than three hours from the UK, when flying with Ryanair.
Tetouan is then around 1hr15 by car.
Otherwise The Sun's Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey recently visited Agadir.
And here is an African country set to be the "next Morocco".
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