The Best Tangier Beaches: Our 10-Week Moroccan Coastal Adventure

Today, I want to share what we believe are some of the best Tangier beaches. Our family of four lived right by these stunning shores for 10 weeks, from March to June 2024. These beaches quickly became our haven—a perfect spot to rejuvenate and embrace a slower pace of life as we embarked on our slow travel journey.

Tangier City is an exhilarating place to visit—a sensory overload! Everywhere you turn, there are bright colors, bustling people, and exotic smells, but the constant noise can be overwhelming.

If, like us, you crave some peace and quiet, we highly recommend retreating to the beautiful North African coastline, even if just for a short while. Feel the warm sand beneath your feet, get lost in the soothing sound of the Atlantic waves crashing against the shore, and let the kids run off some steam.

Let me tell you about four wonderful beaches in Tangier: Achakar Beach, Ba Kacem Beach, Sol Beach, and Sidi Kacem Beach.

Does Tangier Have Nice Beaches?

Tangier boasts a variety of beaches, many of which are quite lovely. But which ones should you visit during your stay?

The most obvious choice for many tourists is Tangier Municipal Beach. Located right in the heart of the action, just a short walk from the ancient medina, it’s a great option if you’re short on time. You can sit for an hour or so and gather your thoughts, and if a camel ride along the sand is on your bucket list, this is a great place to do it.

However, if you truly want to experience the best of Tangier’s beaches, we recommend venturing outside the city center. A 25-minute cab ride will take you to some of the finest beaches in Tangier, just a little further along the coast.

Three beaches—Achakar Beach, Ba Kacem Beach, and Sol Beach—are located at Cap Spartel, nestled between the Cap Spartel Lighthouse and Hercules Cave. The fourth, Sidi Kacem Beach, is a bit further but can be reached on foot from Hercules Cave. It took us about 20-25 minutes to walk there at a leisurely pace.

Getting to Tangier Beaches from Tangier

For the best Tangier beaches, head approximately 12 km outside the city center towards Cap Spartel. If you don’t have a car, no need to worry—there are several transport options:

1. Grand Taxi: Grand taxi stations are dotted around Tangier. The routes and fares are set, so you can hop into a shared taxi and pay only for your seat(s). There will be someone to direct you to the correct cab. Although we didn’t use Grand Taxis for this route, My Free Range Family did, and their fare came to around 20 DH per person. The return taxi station is at Grotte d’Hercule (Hercules Cave).
2. Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus: Tangier has a hop-on-hop-off city tour bus. One ticket gives you access to two set routes for 48 hours. For the beaches, you’ll need to hop on the Grotte d’Hercule Tour. We saw these buses driving along the coastal road at Cap Spartel throughout our stay, and they seemed to be a popular option.
3. Taxis: It’s hard to go a day without being beeped at by a passing taxi offering a lift on the coastal road. This could be a good option if you don’t fancy walking to the grand taxi station at Grotte d’Hercule after a day at the beaches. Just be sure to agree on the price before getting in.
4. InDrive App: Our go-to transport option between our apartment in Cap Spartel and Tangier City was the InDrive App. It’s easy to use and the trip cost us 59 DH each way – slightly more cost-effective than a grand taxi for four of us, even with a tip.

Now you know how to get to the Tangier beaches, it’s time to decide which one to visit first.

1. Sol Beach, Tangier (Plage Sol)

When walking down the coastal path from Cap Spartel Lighthouse toward Hercules Cave, the first sandy beach you’ll encounter is Sol Beach. The easiest way to access the beach is to turn right into the car park at Café Restaurant Sol and take the steps down.

You can also access the beach a bit further down the road, where the police vans are parked, but depending on the time of year, you might need to wade through a large body of water to reach the sand. This was the case for us in April 2024, although it dried up from May onward.

Sol Beach Amenities

This Tangier beach gets quite busy, especially on less windy days, but we never had trouble finding a good spot to set up. Plus, it’s a great beach if you want to be near amenities.

There are toilets at the Sol Café Restaurant car park entrance—just remember to keep some small change for the attendant (2 – 5 DH should be fine).

You can buy drinks, snacks, and ice creams from the mini-market across the road from the beach, and there are several restaurants nearby. For our top Tangier restaurant recommendations, check out this blog.

Once on the beach, you can hire sunbeds, chairs, tables, and umbrellas from the vendors by the steps. Camel rides are also available here.

You’ll likely see men walking up and down the beach selling snacks – a definite highlight for our two children. For 1 or 2 DH (approx. 10-20 cents!), you can buy lollipops or a packet of salted sunflower seeds for around 3 DH. Seeds are a delicious and popular local snack that quickly became our favorite.

If you prefer a hot drink, there is a coffee car a little further down from the mini-market. You’ll find these coffee cars dotted along the coastal road.

Safety Considerations at Sol Beach

There are a few things to be aware of on the beach, and this is consistent across the three beaches between Cap Spartel Lighthouse and Hercules Cave.

First, are the people speeding up and down the beach on quad bikes, buggies, motorbikes, and even horses! This was a bit of a worry for us, especially with our kids wanting to run and play on the sand.

There was a heart-stopping moment when a bike zoomed across the water’s edge between the kids and us.

Over the ten weeks, our kids became very street (or should I say beach) smart, but it’s something to be aware of if you’re visiting with children. Make them aware so they don’t panic and run into the path of these vehicles (our biggest worry).

You’ll also see a lot of people playing in the waves. At certain times of the day, the waves can get very big and dangerous for younger children. We watched full-grown men get knocked off their feet.

Rip tides are also common along this coastline. You’ll see them forming on the shore as you walk along. We taught the kids what to look out for and what to do if they get caught in one (YouTube is a good source of information for this).

From June onwards, there is a lifeguard station on Sol Beach, but it’s best not to take any unnecessary risks.

2. Ba Kacem Beach, Tangier (Plage BaKassem)

Ba Kacem Beach is another wonderful spot to visit. From Sol Beach you can access Ba Kacem Beach by:

1. Heading back onto the coastal road and walking up the hill until you reach the restaurant Cote Sud. Here you’ll see a road veering right that leads straight down to the beach, or
2. Walking down Sol Beach and up the sandy path to the top of the rocky outcrop. You’ll likely come across some local fishermen up there. You can then walk into the car park next to Plage Ba Kacem. If you’re young at heart (and body), you might want to scale the steep rocky slope directly down to the beach on the other side—our kids’ preferred that route, and of course we had to follow!

Ba Kacem Beach Atmosphere

Ba Kacem Beach quickly became one of our favorites during our 10-week stay. The vibe was different every time we visited. Some days, it felt like we had the beach to ourselves; on others, it was bustling with tourists and locals.

In summer, the famous Mikki Beach Club is open to the public with music, sunbeds, drinks, and food. Just be aware that in 2024, the stairway down to the beach club from the car park collapsed down the side of the cliff. So, to access the beach club, you’ll need to walk to the beach via the road at Cote Sud Restaurant.

Beach Dogs

You’ll come across many beach dogs on this stretch of beach. The yellow tags on their ears indicate that they have been neutered and vaccinated against rabies. These dogs are quite friendly and accustomed to people, although they do not like the quad bikes! They often appear from nowhere to chase the quad bikes down the beach.

Safety Considerations

The sea can be treacherous here. We witnessed two groups of teenagers rescued from rip tides on this beach and Achakar Beach.

On one occasion, a group of girls got caught in a rip tide. A bystander’s whistle caught the attention of some boys playing football, who then whistled for help. Some men with surfboards came running down the beach to rescue the girls. Fortunately, the beach was busy but the situation could have ended differently. We were informed by the police at the top of Sol Beach that not everyone makes it out.

I don’t write this to scare anyone but to raise awareness. It’s possible to enjoy these beautiful beaches without putting your life at risk. We weren’t immediately aware of the dangers, and want to make sure others are informed too.

Unforgettable Moments at Ba Kacem Beach

One unforgettable memory from this beach was the day a bewildered cow was herded onto the beach by the beach dogs. It was one of the scariest moments, having a cow charge towards you while sunbathing!

Thankfully, no one was hurt, and a man (who seemed to know what he was doing) herded it back up off the beach. We never saw that cow again, so who knows where it came from.

Amenities at Ba Kacem Beach

For amenities, the only mini-market is opposite Sol Beach, so you’ll need to walk about 5 minutes back toward Cap Spartel Lighthouse for refreshments. Cote Sud Restaurant is just at the beach entrance, but we never ate there, so I can’t give my opinion… maybe next time!

3. Achakar Beach, Tangier (Plage Achakar)

Now we come to one of the most famous beaches in Tangier – Achakar Beach. Since we stayed very close to this beach, it became our most frequented spot.

It is linked to Ba Kacem Beach and can be easily reached along the water’s edge. You’ll pass by a rocky narrowing with overhanging caves where the stretch transitions into Achakar Beach.

Points of Interest on Achakar Beach

Just a point of interest, check the side of the cliff for circular marks left by Berber people who cut into the rocks to make grinding wheels. They look very similar to the patterns on the walls of Hercules Cave but are easy to miss if you’re not looking for them!

Fun Activities for the Kids

At the beginning of Achakar Beach, you’ll walk past a huge dune. The kids had so much fun climbing to the top and running down as fast as their legs would carry them.

Just past the Kabana Beach Club (open from June), you’ll see some winding steps up the cliff that lead to Stage de Camel. If the camels are not already on the beach, this is where you will go to get a camel ride. There is also a small snack bar in the car park at the top of these steps.

Seasonal Changes on Achakar Beach

Achakar Beach transforms as peak tourist season approaches at the beginning of June. We saw lifeguard stations, bins, and what looked like changing stations appear almost overnight.

There are some areas on this beach where rubbish accumulates, especially outside the tourist season, which is a real shame. But as the beach started to get busier, we saw people walking up and down the beach cleaning up.

Our Favorite Spot on Achakar Beach

Our favorite spot was right at the far end of Achakar Beach. Walk as far as you can go, and you will see what looks like the ruins of a 1960s hotel (please correct me if I’m wrong!).

I found it fascinating and could almost feel the buzz of excitement that must have filled the place all those decades ago. I’m always looking for an opportunity to connect with the history of the places we visit. Are you the same? Let us know in the comments!

In April and May, there was a pool of water here at the mouth of the river which the kids named “The Lagoon.” This was a safer place for them to swim than in the sea, and many local kids seemed to agree, as there were always people playing in the water. Unfortunately, as the weather got drier and hotter toward the end of May, it all dried up.

4. Sidi Kacem Beach, Tangier (Plage Sidi Kacem)

To reach Sidi Kacem Beach take a 20-minute walk past Hercules Cave. Just follow the road, even when it seems like you’re heading inland—keep veering right when you can. You’ll find yourself walking on a path through Salman of Saudi Arabia’s Moroccan compound.

Accessing Sidi Kacem Beach

As you reach the end of the compound, you’ll see the ocean on your right. Keep walking down the road until you reach a roundabout. Here, you’ll find steps to take you down to the beach.

When we visited in April 2024, there was a large stretch of water to cross. It’s only ankle-deep but be prepared to get your feet wet!

Sidi Kacem Beach Experience

The waves were too big for swimming, so the kids had a great time splashing about in the clear shallow water at the top of the beach. It may have been the time of year, but apart from some local fishermen, we were the only people on the beach.

What did we like most about this Tangier beach?

The beach is flat, with golden sand stretching as far as the eye can see. It had a different feel to the beaches on the other side of Hercules Cave, and variety is the spice of life after all.

We also enjoyed walking to the beach through the royal compound—the whole experience was memorable.

Nearby Restaurants

Two restaurants are on the road along the top of Sidi Kacem beach: L’Ocean and La Piscine. We didn’t get a chance to eat at either of them, but the swimming pool in La Piscine looked very tempting!

Key Takeaways: The Best Tangier Beaches

We started this blog with a question: “Does Tangier Have Nice Beaches?” I hope this blog has helped answer that question. In addition to Municipal Beach Tanger in the city center, there is an abundance of great beaches in Tangier that are easy to get to.

If you’re looking for the best beach in Tangier, we recommend checking out Achakar Beach, Sol Beach, Ba Kacem Beach, or Sidi Kacem Beach.

But wait, there’s more!

For smaller Tangier beaches, you could try Playa Blanca or Dalia Beach. During the summer months though, these beaches fill up quickly.

If you’re visiting Tangier, you may also enjoy our other blogs that cover our experiences and recommendations from our stay. Happy beach-hopping!

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