The Grand Socco, short for Grand Socco Square, is a vibrant and historically significant public square located in the heart of Tangier, Morocco. "Socco" is derived from the Arabic word "Souk," meaning market, and the Grand Socco has long been a central hub of commerce and cultural exchange. The Grand Socco serves as a gateway between the old medina and the modern city. It is a bustling intersection where locals and visitors alike gather to experience the dynamic atmosphere. The square is characterized by its open space, a blend of traditional and colonial architecture, and the constant movement of people. The square is not only a commercial center but also a meeting point for different cultures and communities. Its significance goes beyond its physical space, as it holds historical importance, having witnessed various cultural and political events over the years. And here where the old king of Morocco Mohamed 5 had declared the independency of Morocco in 1947.
The Tangier Casbah, steeped in history, stands as a testament to the city's rich and diverse past. With its origins dating back to medieval times, this ancient fortress has witnessed the ebb and flow of various civilizations. From Phoenician and Roman influences to Arab and Andalusian contributions, the Casbah's architecture is a mosaic of cultural legacies. Perched on the highest point of the city, the Casbah served as a strategic stronghold against invaders. Its towering walls and narrow, winding streets tell tales of battles fought and victories won. Over the centuries, it has been a melting pot of cultures, fostering a unique blend of traditions that is distinctly Tangier. As one explores the Casbah, they encounter architectural wonders like the Dar el-Makhzen palace, a manifestation of Moroccan craftsmanship and elegance. The Kasbah Mosque, with its ornate details, reflects the city's Islamic heritage.
This museum is housed in the former sultan's palace of Dar El Makhzen. The focus is on the history of the area from prehistoric times to the 19th century. Exhibits are well-presented in French and Arabic only. Work your way anticlockwise around the first courtyard before heading inside to the rest of the displays, followed by a walk in the charming Andalusian garden. Particular highlights are the mosaic of Venus from Volubilis and statuary, plus the giant replica maps. The first map tracks trade routes from the Phoenician trade in metals to the electronic goods of the 21st century; the second is a gorgeous map of the known world made in Tangier in 1154 (hint: it's upside down from the viewer's perspective). The museum is inside the medina - follow the perimeter all the way to the western end, to the highest part of the city, enter the Bab Kasbah gate and follow the road to the museum. the admission fee for this place is 3 USD per person
The old medina or the switchboard zone as W. Burroughs used to call it, a maze of narrow alleys and ancient secrets, captivated the majority of artist and writers. In its labyrinth, you can find a sensory symphony-spices wafting through bustling markets, the call to prayer blending with vibrant street life. The medina's weathered walls whispered tales of time, its vivid colors, intricate patterns, and hidden courtyards become a visual feast, reflecting the bohemian spirit a man cherished. Amidst ancient architecture, here we discover liberation, and a refuge from monotony. The medina's timeless charm fuel the artist's creativity, offering a sanctuary where unconventional beauty and the quest for soulful existence converged. The air is thick here with the fragrance of exotic spices, and the sounds of vibrant street life harmonize with the distant call to prayer. Nowadays in the Medina of Tangier you can find various galleries showcasing a diverse range of artwork.
The American Legation in Tangier holds a unique and significant place in the city's history. Established in 1821, it is the first property acquired abroad by the United States government and is recognized as the oldest American diplomatic property in the world. One of the most notable events associated with the American Legation is the signing of the Moroccan-American Treaty of Friendship in 1786, marking the beginning of diplomatic relations between the two nations. This treaty, which predates the U.S. Constitution, emphasizes the longstanding and amicable connection between the United States and Morocco. Today, the American Legation is a museum and cultural center, showcasing exhibitions that celebrate the historical, cultural, and artistic ties between the United States and Morocco. It stands not only as a testament to the enduring diplomatic relationship but also as a symbol of the shared values and mutual respect between the two nations. The admission fee is 5 USD per person.
Located on a dead end street off the rue des Synagogues in the Beni Idir quarter of the Tangier medina, this synagogue was constructed in the 19th century by Moïse Nahon, a prominent educator and scholar from an influential Jewish family in Tangier. The synagogue ceased activity in the second half to the 20th century, and subsequently fell into disrepair until its restoration in 1994. It now functions as a museum.
We had an absolutely fantastic experience with Nabil, Chop Chop, and Abdul! They truly made our trip special. They were friendly, knowledgeable, fun, and went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time and experienced everything we wanted to do.
Nabil, Chop Chop, and Abdul were all amazing! Very professional, friendly and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend.
Nabil, Abdul and Chop Chop were amazing. They showed us the best time and every part of their beautiful city.
The guide was very knowledgeable and helped us understand the history of this ancient city. We loved the gorgeous views from the casbah and the open air markets.
Very kind and knowledgeable. Very flexible with plans for the day.
We had the most wonderful time in Moracco. From being picked up at the ferry to our visit to the Blue City, our stay at the beautiful air bnb and our perfect tour of the old city. We did not need to worry about anything from food recommendations to travel. Nibel was extremely kind and loves his city so much. Our tour guide (ChopChop) was also so knowledgeable
The tour guides, driver, and Nabil showed us an excellent time. They are very friendly, knowledgeable, and make sure you have a great time. We stayed for only a couple of days, and they filled the days with everything they could while still being unrushed. I will book again with Nabil and his team. My best experience I have had while traveling.
We went as a group of 14. 7 kids of various ages and 7 adults. Nabil and his crew picked us up with a smile and a warm welcome. We got to see some sites, ride camels, drink traditional tea, and have a traditional Moroccan meal. The restaurant we went to treated us like family and so did Nabil and crew. It was a wonderful experience with Chop Chop as our guide through the streets and markets. Definitely want to book a 2 day to the blue city with Nabil soon! We felt safe, had fun, and got to experience a slice of history in Africa.
Nabil and the driver are extremely friendly and know all the good places to go and take you
Had a great time and we felt very comfortable. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and spoke English extremely well. We were happy with the experience.
Nibil took us around to some amazing sites and food!
Fantastic experience! Nabil and his team were wonderful throughout the trip. We felt completely safe at all times—they truly take great care of you and your family. Highly recommended!
Nabil, Nizar and Couscous were so nice and knowledgeable. We had a great time visiting different towns, sightseeing, eating delicious food and shopping
This was a fantastic experience, 10/10 Nabil is excellent!!! Can’t wait to come back and discover with him again.
Great personal experience with Nabil! A wonderful inside look to all the sites and local destinations. The transport was safe and quick. Highly recommend!!
Great great day!! Thank you for showing us the city!
Incredible experience! Highly recommend Nabil. Made our trip extremely easy and convenient.
Nabil was more than amazing. Super knowledgeable and warm. He took us everywhere and more from an amazing dinner to camel rides. He came highly recommended by many and I see why.
Nabil is absolutely amazing. He is the best tour guide i’ve experienced thus far in my life. He’s very funny, takes us to the best places and gets us great deals. i’d use nabil as my tour guide everytime hands down.
This was a great way to get to know Tangier. Our guide was born and bred here and was very knowledge. Unfortunately because it was a Friday, some places weren't open but we saw enough to get a good feel for the place. We went to one shop and we were asked if we wanted to go there first and to a restaurant both of which were optional and there was no hard sell. The restaurant was excellent! Tangier is very hilly and there were a lot of steps, we aren't particularly fit and we were ok.
We booked a private walking tour today of Tangier for 2 couples. We were met off the cruise ship shuttle bus by Chop Chop. He took us through the local fish, meat and fruit markets where the locals shop and through many narrow and winding streets in the old town, You got to see and learn from him what day to day life was like in Tangier. We explored the Kasbah and the Medina and the Fortress and the Souk. It was fascinating and nothing was too much trouble for Chop Chop. He would find a toilet when needed, take photos and help negotiate purchases. You only get this experience in a small group as it would not be feasible to do in large numbers. We highly recommend the tour and Chop Chop ( real name Hashim ) Gary, Julie , Brian & Anita xx
This was such a fun tour! It was fully customized to our group with young kids and catered to our needs and desires. We got to see the cave of Hercules and hold a cute monkey, ride the camels, eat at an authentic Moroccan restaurant, and check out some amazing shops. We had such a fun time. Nabil was such a big help with finding some great souvenirs and was so knowledgeable about Tanger and the culture of this diverse city. This is truly an amazing family memory. I can’t wait to go back again to see more things!
Chop Chop was our guide with 35 years of experience. He took us to authentic places and not just tourist traps. Kept us from being hassled by street vendors. Got us into exhibits quickly and efficiently. Would highly recommend him as a guide for anyone wanting a personal tour tailored to what you want to do and see. Excellent choice for lunch. Nabile contacted us before our tour to confirm our pick up by Chop Chop who was holding a sign for us at the Tangier ferry terminal. If you are in Tangier for a day this is definitely the way to go.
Tour of Casbah area. Gentleman was very nice but language became apparent. Kept repeating Casbah means fortress. Did not give any information about area. We walked in circles passing the same women selling vegetables and man with kittens 3 times. When I suggested to stop for coffee because many stalls closed, took us to specific restaurant, when I tried to stop at a rug stall , he said we had to leave. After coffee more circles. With stops he directed , rug shop ( crazy prices that suggested we are really stupid tourists) Moroccan oil shop and tourist shop and he got paid at each location , so that’s probably why I had to leave the first rug stall , he wasn’t getting paid. Save your money wander yourself
Nabil planned a walking tour around Tangier that included the main shopping area, the fortress, lunch, and the old city. All were fantastic, and the lunch was phenomenal. It included all the Moroccan staples and we all left very full. Nabil was amazing as he ferried us around the city sharing fun facts and snapping all the pictures we could ask for. He also led us through the shopping center taking us to his personal favorite shops which were very accommodating to tourists. Would highly recommend hiring Nabil if you plan on spending any amount of time in Tangier!
Highly recommend using Nabil as your tour guide while visiting Tangier. My family & I felt extremely comfortable exploring the city and appreciated the knowledge Nabil offered about the local area. The experience includes a lot of walking, but Nabil and his team were extremely accommodating when requiring additional breaks. We had traditional Moroccan food during his tour and the restaurant was English speaker friendly and accommodating. Excellent experience for a first time visitor!
This trip was an amazing experience with a perfect tour. The tour guide really cares about making your experience the best and easiest for you. The tour is customized for you and what you want to do including great food and places to eat as well.
Wear comfortable clothing that will adjust to warm weather or windy with a cold breeze...also to ride the camels! Don't forget comfortable shoes and your sunglasses!!!!
Nabil and his team are always so patient and caring with our family. I've done this tour before with my grandmother I'm a wheelchair and they were very accommodating. They picked us up from the port, the driver took us around in a luxury van, and our guide told us all about Tangier. We went to the Hercules cave, camel riding on the beach, had lunch at a wonderful restaurant, and walked around the old town. I recommend to everyone, it's for all ages. We felt very safe and taken care of.
Mine and my family’s experience while visiting Morocco was amazing because of Nabil and his staff members! They did a great job of personalizing our trip to our interest, and Nabil went above and beyond setting up our time to get the full experience of Morocco while we were there. The restaurants, activities, transportation, informational daily guides, etc. were so amazing! When I go back to Morocco in the future, I will definitely be going to Nabil for all my needs. Thank you, Nabil!
Best. Birthday. Ever. Checked off a bucket list item - crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and spent a day in Morocco. Nabil and his team made the day absolutely magical and memorable. Everything was extremely smooth from booking, to picking up at the ferry, to all the sightseeing spots and more. My family felt so cared for. The camel rides on the beach will be a forever memory, and even lunch was fabulous. Thank you so much for making my birthday epic!
Our guide was the best, he was on time, walked at our pace since there was quite a bit of walking, and went at our pace. If there was something we wanted to see or did not want to see or if we wanted a break, he was observant and attentive to our desires!! This definitely saved me a lot of time on having to research spots to see and how to get there. I was able to enjoy the walk and the experience without having to use gps or google all while learning interesting facts.
Nabil an his team were amazing. He was very responsive every time I had a question before the trip. We did a walking tour of Tangier and a day trip to Chefchaouen. We spent both days with someone who was showing us their home. Neither tour felt scripted, and both gave us a good feel for the cities. We thoroughly enjoyed both. The food was excellent and the tea....I fell in love with the mint tea. If you're going to Tangier and want to see the Blue City, I can't recommend Nabil's tours enough.
I couldn’t recommend the tour with Nabil more! Everything was taken care of: the order of the trip, the camel ride, the car/driver…it made it so easy and flawless. Oh and the food-he had the best restaurants picked out and the owners treated us like queens! But on the other side he reminded us that it was our trip and things could be added or eliminated. We felt very comfortable and safe with him and his English is excellent. Thanks Nabil!
I have had dozens of guides in several countries and Nabil and his team were easily the best and most knowledge I have ever had the pleasure of working with. They were so attentive to our needs. The day was planned out throughly and we had the best Moroccan meal as well. I actually learned a lot throughout the day and cannot wait to be back. You won't regret booking this tour. You gain a friend for life.
I booked a tour with Nabil Tours and when I tell you he was the best tour guide, he is very knowledgeable. There was a total of six people (3-couples) in our group, we were in Morocco for 4-nights and three days each day was filled with staering with Aslah, a beautiful city full of art. The second day were took a riding tour through the new town Morocco and walked the old city of Morocco, my favorite was the old city, and we also enjoyed a camel ride on the beach this was very nice. Our last day with Nabil was the blue city and this is a must to see, also please bring paper money we didn't find any shops or restaurants that take cards in the blue city. I wrote all that to say book your tour with Nabil and trust me you want be disappointed. Very satisfied 😌 client! Chery M
The sights were incredible, the food… amazing and Nabil was an excellent guide. We were supposed to meet at our hotel but Customs took over 90 minutes. Nabil picked us up from the airport instead and saved valuable time. He gave a driving tour of the city, a beach view camel ride, a Tangier old city guided walk (where he grew up), and ended with a great Moroccon dinner in town. He is easy to trust and likely one of the best guides we’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. Haven’t booked him yet? What are you waiting for.
Nabil our tour guide is fluent in English, proactive, and handsome! Walking tour of Casbah and Medina was informative and intimate. Nabil has an army of associates to provide guided luxury car services, and guided tours of all must see sites within 200 km of Tangier!
I’m not sure where to begin with what a remarkable experience we had with Nabil as our guide. Not only did we not have to worry about a single thing— he gave us a very interesting history lesson that made Morocco even more intriguing. We purchased all kinds of beautiful pieces and didn’t have a single issue bringing things back through customs. He picked us up at the ferry without delay and was incredibly punctual for our tour. He was truly considerate of us having two kids (2 and under). He helped us with our bags and our stroller which was so kind. Morocco is a safe place to visit in general, so I didn’t feel a guide was necessary in that regard, however, if you want to feel like a movie-star walking through the beautiful narrow-market-lined streets, I HIGHLY recommend Nabil!! Nabil went above and beyond what was expected of him and I can’t wait for our next trip! We truly appreciate everything you did for us. My husband has been raving about you since we left! (and Audrey is still asking about the camels!!)
Very kind and super friendly guide. Had arranged a driver for us and led us through an amazing number of sights. Kept us involved and tailored the tour to our schedule and needs. Made us feel incredibly welcome and you could feel his love for the city he calls home. Would highly recommend!
Nabil was amazing, it’s his town we found him and he asked us questions, learned what we would be interested in and hung out with us and gave us the Tangier experience we were looking for. We sat in a cafe we requested to go to and he made us feel like a local gave us tips/ the “in’s& outs” of tainger & for the rest of trippin morocco. I would definitely recommend if you are planning on going to Tangier look him up.
Meeting up with these brothers was the highlight of our trip to Tangier. They embraced us and taught us about many stories of their culture. They are so friendly and knowledgeable and full of love for their country, family and friends that we couldn’t help but fall in love with them too. We highly recommend that when you are in Morocco and if you want to have an amazing visit that will take you into the rich past and beautiful future of this country that you contact these brothers and book your next fantastic adventure.
Excellent attention and service Wonderful linea!!! very interesting and instructive walk wonderful food and lovely city
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