This Asilah day trip from Tangier follows the Atlantic coast to a whitewashed medina of murals, Portuguese ramparts and seafood by the ocean.
Asilah was once a Portuguese fortified port and the old medina still sits within the original 15th-century walls,
their warm sandstone color contrasting with the white houses and painted murals inside. The town hosts one of
the most interesting cultural events in Morocco each August, the Asilah Arts Festival, which invites artists from
around the world to paint new murals on the medina walls. The result is a town that changes a little every year, with fresh murals appearing on the medina walls each summer.
Asilah is about 45 km south of Tangier, less than an hour’s drive down the Atlantic coast. The drive is short, so you get a relaxed day there: a morning walk through the medina and along the ramparts, lunch by the sea, then free time on the beach or in the galleries before heading back to Tangier in the afternoon.
The medina is small enough to explore in two or three hours, yet it is full of detail: painted doorways, blue and green shutters, and new murals every year. Pair it with another day on our Larache and Lixus day trip, or head inland on our Chefchaouen day trip from Tangier.
Asilah is a small Atlantic town whose medina is ringed by 15th-century Portuguese walls. Tangier faces Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar, only about 14 km wide at its narrowest point.
The Atlantic coast is pleasant all year and much cooler than Marrakech in summer. Bring a light jacket for the ocean wind.
This private Asilah day trip from Tangier starts from $75 per person, based on two travelers sharing, and the price per person drops for larger groups. Every itinerary can be adjusted to your dates, pace and hotel preferences. Send us your dates on WhatsApp or through the enquiry form below for a free quote.
Departure from Tangier in the morning, heading south along the Atlantic coast road. The drive takes around 45 minutes to one hour and passes through open coastal farmland with the ocean visible on the right for much of the journey. Arrive in Asilah mid-morning.
Departure from Tangier in the morning, heading south along the Atlantic coast road. The drive takes around 45 minutes to one hour and passes through open coastal farmland with the ocean visible on the right for much of the journey. Arrive in Asilah mid-morning.
The medina is small enough to explore thoroughly in a couple of hours, which is part of its appeal. Visit the Hassan II Cultural Center, a beautifully restored riad that hosts exhibitions and events, and browse the small galleries and artisan shops that line the main street through the town. Lunch is taken at a restaurant on the seafront or inside the medina before free time to walk the beach, explore further, or simply sit and watch the Atlantic from the ramparts. Return to Tangier in the late afternoon.
Meals included: Lunch
What is the Asilah Arts Festival?
The Asilah International Cultural Moussem is an annual arts festival held each August that has been running since 1978. International and Moroccan artists are invited to paint murals directly onto the walls of the medina, turning the town into an evolving open-air exhibition. New murals are added each year and some older ones are painted over, meaning the town looks slightly different on every visit.
Is Asilah better than Chefchaouen as a day trip from Tangier?
They offer very different experiences. Asilah is coastal, compact, art-focused, and much closer to Tangier at under an hour away. Chefchaouen is mountainous, blue-painted, and further at around two hours. Both are worth doing if you have the time. Asilah makes more sense as a relaxed half-day while Chefchaouen rewards a full day or an overnight.
Is there a good beach in Asilah?
Yes. The beach just outside the medina walls is a wide, clean Atlantic beach that stretches for several kilometers south of the town. It is popular with Moroccan families in summer and quieter in spring and autumn.
Can I buy art in Asilah?
Yes. There are several small galleries in the medina selling original work by local and visiting artists, as well as the usual range of Moroccan crafts. The quality of art available here is generally higher than in more tourist-heavy Moroccan cities.
Is Asilah suitable for a half-day trip or does it need a full day?
Asilah is compact enough to cover comfortably in three to four hours, making it an excellent half-day trip. If you want to combine it with a beach afternoon and a leisurely lunch, a full day is perfectly enjoyable without ever feeling like you are running out of things to do.
