Medina of Tétouan

The basics

You can walk through the medina of Tetouan on your own, which is nice since you can get a bit lost and not have to stick to a schedule. Or, you can hire a guide who can explain the nuances of the market and tell you what’s being sold, making your experience more colorful and entertaining. A guide could also help you bargain if you like. Tours to the medina of Tetouan are usually part of a Tetouan day tour, where you also visit the Royal Palace, Feddan Park, and possibly the Architectural Museum.

Things to know before you go

• Tetouan is in northern Morocco, which has a dry climate. Make sure to hydrate more than you think you should.

• Bring some cash since you’ll likely find something you’d like to purchase in the medina.

• Bring your cameras, since there will be some great photo ops. But if you want to take photos of people, make sure to get permission first.

How to get there

You can fly into Tangier airport, then get a grand taxi to Tetouan. Or, if you come from Europe, you can take a ferry to Tangier and then hop in a taxi. Once in Tetouan, you can get around by petit taxi or walk. It’s a good idea to hire a car and driver for your stay in Morocco since always dealing with taxis gets tedious.

When to get there

Head to the medina during the daytime, when the shops are open and people are out and doing their daily chores and responsibilities. This isn’t really a tourist market, so when it’s time for dinner, shops close up, and the vendors go home, not bothering to stay open to make an extra buck from a group of tourists, like in larger cities.

Djellabas

If you want to shop for local fashion, head to the medina and find the djellaba section. These long, flowy garments were traditionally made to protect the wearer from the elements, like windy and chilly mountain weather. They still do, but they can also be gorgeous and upmarket in beautiful fabrics, suitable for upscale events.