Day Trip from Spain to Morocco

A journey between continents to explore a land of colorful culture and flavorful foods in an Old Town marketplace of northwestern Africa   . . . 

An Adventure to the Medina of Tetouan

I awoke early in Malaga, Spain to catch a bus to the port city of Algeciras. To handle the logistics of complex border crossings and language barriers, I made this journey with the help of a team of professional guides. 

Take a look at the inside of this ferry. It was a pretty sweet ride, and only about an hour long as we sail on past the Strait of Gibraltar for the nine mile journey.

Ferry across Strait of Gibraltar

The ferry would soon be docking in the port town of Ceuta, which is a Spanish colony in the tip of northwestern Africa. Here we would board another bus and make our way through town with views of historic sites along the way. The drive to Tetouan is is only about 40km (25mi), but the traffic at the boarder crossing is a bit intense. Luckily, tour busses take priority and go straight to the front. This is just one of the reasons why an organized tour makes this trip a bit more relaxed.

Arriving in Tetouan

The bus dropped us off in a centrally located town circle called Place Moulay El Mehdi. Here you will find the Iglecia Nuestra Senora de las Victorias, the Spanish Consulate, and some of your first real Moroccan vibes all about. 

You may not expect to see that kind of photogenic Catholic Church in a country that is almost entirely Muslim, but in Tetouan there are small communities of Christians and Jews as well. As we will learn, from Berbers to Bedouins, with a bit of Andalusian influence, Morocco is culturally complex.

​The Medina is what some would simply call the old town. It is a sprawling marketplace environment where people both live and work which is surrounded by large city walls with several entrances. We are goin to proceed through the entrance known as Bab Tut or the Gate of Tangier. 

Bab Tut (Gate of Tangier)

Located inside these city walls you will find vendors of all kinds just waiting to make a deal. Prices are not fixed, and this culture is all about bargaining. It can seem a bit overwhelming, but in a really fun kind of way. From produce to fresh meats, you are sure to find it here.

Following these labyrinthian passageways could lead you to Michouar's Square. This is where you will find an enormous complex. The oldest part dates back to the 1700s. In the early 1900s it became the seat of the Khalifa. Then it transformed into the Royal Palace after Morocco's independence in the 1950s. 

Royal Palace

Behind that royal residence is a another section of the Medina where you will find a street called Avenue Mohamed Ben Larbi Torres. Along both sides there are all kinds of merchandise including fine jewelers, traditional clothing, and luxury goods. 

Av. Mohamed Ben Larbi Torres

The other side of this passageway has brought us to what looks like a section of wall. This Is the fortification of the Kasbah of Tetouan. While there is an older archaeological site up on the hill that many refer to as the Kasbah, this one was built in 1286, and reconstructed in the 15th century by Sidi Ali Al-Mandri. 

The Kasbah

The green door behind me lead to the Kasbah Mosque. Which reminds me, green doors like that signify public buildings, but if you see a brown door - those are private residences. Something else you may notice throughout the medina, there are arrow-like markings on the floor. These are used to guide you to the various gates ... just in case you get lost. 

Dinner in Morocco

After exploring the Tetouan Medina it was finally time to eat. This lovely establishment provided us with a soup and chicken skewers to start things off followed by couscous as a main dish. But that wasn't all. Next we were served mint tea along with a side dish of entertainment. 

After dinner we headed back out for a couple more places to visit. The first was a pharmacy that specializes in herbal remedies with the option to sample and purchase their natural products. We then entered into a store with a multitude of fine items for sale. This included handmade rugs ... the price they would not tell us. It is all about the art of the bargain. 

With so many interesting sights around every corner, the Tetouan Medina is definitely worth a visit. Like I mentioned, it can be a bit overwhelming. I really recommend planning your trip with professional guides to make your visit a little less strenuous, especially when it comes to the logistics of border crossings. 

Follow along here in my video!

And tell me down below what you think of this adventure.