Tétouan

Tétouan is Morocco's Andalusian city — and a UNESCO World Heritage site that hardly any tourist visits. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Muslim and Jewish refugees from Spanish Al-Andalus settled here, bringing their architecture, craftsmanship, and culture with them. The result: a medina that feels like a piece of Granada in North Africa.

★★ Medina (UNESCO World Heritage)

Tétouan's Medina is one of the best-preserved in all of Morocco — and one of the most authentic, as it functions practically without tourism. The white houses with their wrought-iron balconies, the tiled courtyards, the souks full of artisans (tanners, silversmiths, weavers) — everything feels like it did 200 years ago. Unlike in Marrakech, there is no hustling, no fake guides, no inflated prices. You can simply stroll through the alleys and observe everyday life.

Royal Palace & Place Hassan II

The Place Hassan II at the edge of the medina is an elegant square with the magnificent Royal Palace (only from the outside), which shines in the Spanish-Moorish style. The arcades around it house cafes where you can sit for hours and watch the square.

Archaeological Museum

Small but fine museum with finds from the nearby Roman city of Lixus and the region — mosaics, sculptures, ceramics. It shows how deep the history of this region goes.

Spanish Heritage

Tétouan was the capital of the Spanish Protectorate (1913-1956), and the Ensanche (Spanish new town) south of the medina is a piece of Spain in Morocco: Art Deco buildings, a cathedral, Spanish schools, and street names in Spanish. In the cafes, Spanish is still spoken — alongside Arabic and Berber, the third everyday language.