North Morocco Itinerary for women traveling solo (2025 Guide)
- Vero
- Oct 15
- 5 min read
Most travelers who visit Morocco rush through Marrakech, add a desert tour, and leave with a love-or-hate impression of the country. But Morocco is so much more than that.
After visiting Northern Morocco 3 times, I can honestly say it’s one of my favorite regions in the world. It’s beautiful, authentic, full of art, architecture and stunning landscapes, and, most importantly, an incredible place for solo female travelers looking for a safe and welcoming experience. This is my North Morocco itinerary for solo travelers.
Since I’ve been based in Málaga during the past few years, it was only taking me 30 minutes by plane or a quick ferry from Tarifa to get there. That convenience made me fall in love with this region even more and every time I go back, I discover something new.
Why visit North Morocco?
Variety of landscapes: ocean, Mediterranean coast, Atlas mountains and beautiful cities.
Fewer tourists compared to Marrakech and the desert.
Affordable food, transport, and accommodation.
Warm, welcoming locals (many speak Spanish in the north!).
Safe and relaxed vibe for solo women travelers.
Main cities & experiences in North Morocco
Tangier: the perfect base
Tangier is usually my first stop, and it’s also the most convenient entry point. Its airport is large, well-connected, and there are many direct flights from many cities in Europe.
What to do in Tangier:
Walking tour (with GetYourGuide or GuruWalk) → the best way to start and learn about the city’s history and curiosities.
Walk around the Medina → get lost in the colorful streets, discover shops, and feel the city’s vibrant energy.
Visit the Kasbah & museums → for history and views.
Relax at Café Hafa → the city’s most iconic viewpoint, perfect for tea at sunset with Europe on the horizon.
Beach walks → Tangier has a beautiful coastal side, easy to reach from the city.
Where to eat:
One of the things I love most about Tangier is how affordable and authentic the food scene is. You can enjoy a hearty couscous for as little as €4 or a bowl of harira soup for just €1 in local restaurants. Here are some of my favorite spots:
Restaurant El Amrani → A true hidden gem. Forget Instagram aesthetics, here it’s all about huge portions and ridiculously cheap prices. Don’t miss the harira soup and couscous.
Kebdani Restaurant → A popular choice for couscous, tagines, and fresh Moroccan salads. Great quality at fair prices.
Abou Tayssir → If you love Lebanese food, this is a must. I went a couple of times and tried different dishes, all delicious, all budget-friendly.
Bab Al Madina Pastry → A huge pastry shop always buzzing with locals. Perfect if you want to try authentic Moroccan sweets (and grab some to take home).
Where to stay:
I’ve stayed in three different riads in Tangier, all of them cozy, safe, and good value. These are my two top picks:
Riad Sultana → A charming riad with a great location, friendly staff, and delicious breakfast. Expect medina views (but not sea views).
Riad Tingis → My absolute favorite. Just one minute from the medina entrance, with stunning sea and medina views, the best breakfast, and the kindest staff. If I had to choose only one, this would be it.
Asilah: whitewashed charm by the ocean
Just 40 minutes by train from Tangier, Asilah is a dreamy white village on the Atlantic coast.
Why I love Asilah:
Beautiful medina filled with street art.
Wide sandy beaches where you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds for cheap.
Stunning sunsets over the ocean.
Authentic vibe: mostly visited by Moroccans on holiday, not crowded with tourists.
Finding a cozy place to stay in Asilah is quite easy, many locals rent out charming houses even just a few days. Here are two I personally recommend:
Both are centrally located, great value for money, and offer a truly authentic stay in Asilah.
I first visited in winter and thought it was cute, but returning in summer was magical. Spending time at the beach and wandering through the medina in the evenings is an experience I recommend to everyone.
Chefchaouen: the famous Blue City
Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s crowded at times. But Chefchaouen is still worth a stop.
Spend a day or night exploring its blue-painted streets.
If you have more time, go beyond the medina → the Rif Mountains are full of hiking trails and waterfalls.
There are guided tours from Tangier that combine the city with nearby nature spots (this is the one I’ve done and I can definetely recommend, it was worth every penny).
Tetouan: A Hidden Gem
Tetouan surprised me the most. Its medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, yet it feels almost undiscovered by international tourists.
My highlights:
Spending three days with locals and feeling fully immersed in Moroccan life.
Visiting a traditional hammam for only €5, a truly authentic experience, nothing like the touristy spas. Washed with argan soap and a scrub glove by local women, I left with the softest skin ever!
Exploring the medina, enjoying the slower pace, and heading to the Mediterranean beaches nearby.
If you go, ask your riad host to recommend a hammam and help you arrange transport. Things aren’t as organized here as in Tangier in terms of tours and touristy stuffs, but that’s exactly why it feels so special. This is the riad in which I’ve stayed, beautiful, perfectly located and with friendly staff, 100% recommended.
Practical travel tips for North Morocco
Getting there: Tangier has the best airport connections. From Spain, ferries also leave from Tarifa (check this out if you want to bring your car or van).
Getting around:
Trains are cheap reliable and you can book them online on the ONCF website (e.g., Tangier → Asilah train: ~€2).
Taxis can be arranged for longer trips (e.g. ~€30 for airport transfers or private rides from Asilah to Tangier).
Language: In the north, many people speak Spanish, along with Berber, Arabic, but French is not as spoken as in the South.
Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD), but many places accept euros, in most of the cases is even preferred. In Tangier you can pay by card most of the time, but I recommend to always have some cash with you especially for paying for your transfers.
Safety for solo women: Much calmer and less intense than Marrakech or Fez. I’ve always felt comfortable and safe walking around alone and never pressured to buy things.
Final Thoughts
Northern Morocco is authentic, diverse, and full of charm. Whether you’re watching the sunset from Café Hafa in Tangier, wandering the colorful walls of Asilah, getting lost in Chefchaouen’s alleys, or soaking in a hammam in Tetouan, this region offers a different Morocco, one that’s often overlooked but unforgettable.
If you’re looking for a destination that’s vibrant yet relaxed, cultural yet welcoming, and perfect for solo travel, North Morocco should be at the top of your list.
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