Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima is the northernmost region of Morocco, where the country meets the Strait of Gibraltar, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. It combines the port city of Tangier and its Cap Spartel headland, the white-walled UNESCO medina of Tetouan, the blue-washed mountain town of Chefchaouen, the mural-covered Atlantic town of Asilah, the Mediterranean beaches of M'diq, Martil and Al Hoceima, and the wooded Rif mountains of Talassemtane National Park.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Chefchaouen Woven Wool Blankets
Handwoven wool blankets in white and blue stripes made by local weavers.
Price: 150-600 MAD ($16-65)
Where: Chefchaouen medina workshops near Plaza Uta el-Hammam
Jebala Straw Hats with Wool Pompoms
Wide-brimmed straw hats trimmed with colourful woollen tassels, worn by Jebala farmers around Chefchaouen.
Price: 40-120 MAD ($4.30-13)
Where: Chefchaouen medina; weekly souk
Goat Cheese and Honey
Fresh and aged goat cheese and local honey from the Rif highlands.
Price: 30-90 MAD per kg or jar ($3.20-9.70)
Where: Chefchaouen souk and weekly market
Babouches and Leather Bags
Pointed slippers and bags sold in medina shops.
Price: 100-500 MAD ($11-54)
Where: Tetouan and Tangier medina shops
Tetouan Carved and Painted Wood
Carved and painted wooden boxes, mirrors and furniture in Andalusian style.
Price: 80-2,000 MAD ($8.60-215)
Where: Tetouan medina workshops
Asilah Paintings
Paintings of the Atlantic seafront and the town's whitewashed lanes sold by local artists.
Price: 100-1,500 MAD ($11-160)
Where: Asilah medina galleries
Spices, Dried Herbs and Argan Oil
Saffron, cumin, ras el hanout and cosmetic oils sold in small herbal shops.
Price: 20-200 MAD ($2.15-22)
Where: Tangier medina and Tetouan souks
Antiques and Tangier Curiosities
Old jewellery, silver teapots, vintage postcards and secondhand books reflecting Tangier's international past.
Price: 50-5,000 MAD ($5.40-540)
Where: Tangier Kasbah and Rue des Almohades antique shops
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Grand Socco (Place du 9 Avril 1947)
Fruit, vegetables, olives and bread from Rif farmers, at the gate to the medina
Where: Between the Ville Nouvelle and the medina
Hours: Daily approx. 8AM-8PM; busiest in the morning
Petit Socco and Medina Souks, Tangier
Textiles, babouches, spices, brass and antiques along the lanes from Petit Socco to the Kasbah
Where: Tangier Medina
Hours: Daily approx. 9AM-7PM; many shops close Friday midday
Souk Dakhil
Local household goods, cloth, traditional dress and souvenirs
Where: Tangier Medina near Grand Socco
Hours: Daily approx. 9AM-7PM
Tetouan Medina Souks
Woodwork, embroidery, leather, copper, spices and Andalusian-style crafts
Where: Tetouan Medina (UNESCO)
Hours: Daily approx. 9AM-7PM; many shops close Friday midday
Souk El Houts (Fish and Produce Market), Tetouan
Fresh fish, olives and local produce for self-catering
Where: Tetouan Medina
Hours: Daily approx. 7AM-1PM (fish); confirm locally
Chefchaouen Medina Souks
Woven wool blankets, Jebala hats, goat cheese, honey and handmade soaps
Where: Chefchaouen Medina
Hours: Daily approx. 9AM-7PM; many shops close Friday midday
Chefchaouen Monday and Thursday Souk
Rural produce, goat cheese, olives and household goods from nearby villages
Where: Edge of the medina near Bab el-Ain
Hours: Typically Monday and Thursday mornings; confirm locally
Asilah Medina Shops
Paintings, ceramics, leather and mural-quarter souvenirs
Where: Asilah Medina
Hours: Daily approx. 10AM-8PM; later in summer
Larache Central Market
Fresh fish, fruit and vegetables beside the Spanish-style square
Where: Larache Old Town
Hours: Daily approx. 7AM-1PM; confirm locally
Fnideq Market
Clothing, cheap electronics and groceries; popular with cross-border shoppers
Where: Fnideq
Hours: Daily approx. 9AM-8PM
Al Hoceima Central Market
Fresh fish, dates, olives and local produce
Where: Al Hoceima Town
Hours: Daily approx. 8AM-8PM
Marina Bay Tanger
Fixed-price shops and cafes by the port and marina
Where: Tangier Marina
Hours: Daily approx. 10AM-10PM
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Start at about 30-50 percent of the asking price and move up in small steps.
Be friendly and willing to walk away; the best price often arrives as you leave.
Never name a price you are not prepared to pay.
Compare two or three shops for the same item before buying.
Once a price is agreed, the purchase is binding.
Do not bargain at supermarkets, pharmacies, malls or fixed-price cooperatives.
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Greet shopkeepers with 'Salam' or 'Bonjour' before talking prices., Accepting mint tea is not an obligation to buy., Dress modestly in the medina and avoid photographing people without permission., Cash in dirhams is preferred in souks; ATMs are located around Grand Socco and Place de France in Tangier, and at banks near Feddan in Tetouan.