Tangier in winter: what to do when it rains?
Winter in Tangier is mild but rainy. Here is what to do when the sky clouds over: museums, historic cafés, bookshops, hammam and walks between showers.
- Winter is mild by day, cool in the evening, with some rainy days.
- The museums, cafés and bookshops in the centre are under cover and close to one another.
- Bring a waterproof jacket and shoes with good grip: the cobblestones are slippery.
What winter is like in Tangier
Between November and March, Tangier stays mild during the day, but it rains regularly and the wind blows across the strait. On fine days, the winter light over the bay is magnificent. The city is quieter than in summer and accommodation is easier to find.
Indoor visits
The Kasbah Museum, in the former sultan's palace, and the American Legation, with its maps, paintings and its room devoted to Paul Bowles, can be visited in the dry. The Cinémathèque de Tanger, on the Grand Socco, screens art-house films and has a café. The Librairie des Colonnes, on Boulevard Pasteur, is ideal for browsing books about Tangier.
Cafés for watching the rain
Tangier is a city of cafés. Those on the Petit Socco and Boulevard Pasteur are covered; you can spend an hour there over a mint tea or a black coffee. Café Hafa stays open in winter, but its terraces are exposed: pick a sunny spell.
The hammam
A traditional hammam or a riad's hammam is the perfect activity for a cold day. Ask your accommodation about the times set aside for women and for men, and what to bring.
Between two showers
As soon as the sky clears, go up to the Kasbah for the view, or take a stroll along the corniche. Cape Spartel is spectacular in rough weather, but the wind is strong there: wrap up.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cold in Tangier in winter?
The days are mild, the evenings cool. Many houses and riads have little heating: ask whether your room has a heater.
What to do in Tangier when it rains?
The Kasbah Museum, the American Legation, the Cinémathèque, the Librairie des Colonnes, covered cafés and the hammam.