The ramparts & medina
Walk the 15th-century Portuguese walls above the sea and the whitewashed lanes of blue doors and murals within.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Asilah, Morocco
Asilah is a small whitewashed town on the northern Atlantic coast, wrapped in Portuguese ramparts that the waves break against. Each summer an arts festival covers its lanes with fresh murals. From Fes you add it to the Tangier end of a northern route, as a half-day or an overnight 45 minutes south of Tangier.
- Private or small-group
- A written quote for your dates
- WhatsApp support during your trip
Why go to Asilah
Forty minutes south of Tangier, Asilah is the prettiest small town on Morocco's northern coast: a compact, whitewashed medina wrapped in Portuguese ramparts, with cobalt-blue doors, bougainvillea and the Atlantic breaking against the walls. Each summer an arts festival covers the lanes with fresh murals, and the town stays calm and creative year-round — a relaxed coastal counterpoint to the bustle of Tangier and Fes.
- Best time
- May–September for the coast; the arts festival is in summer
- How long
- A half-day or overnight from Tangier
- Nearest airport
- Tangier Ibn Battouta (TNG) + 45 min
- Region
- Atlantic coast · Northern Morocco
What you'll see in Asilah
Street-art murals
Walls repainted each summer during the Asilah Arts Festival, making the medina an open-air gallery.
Paradise Beach
A long sweep of sand a short ride south, reached by horse-cart in summer.
Ways to see Asilah
Trips we build around Asilah. Tell us which one fits and we'll write the days and quote them for your group.
1 day
Tangier & Asilah coastal day
Combine the kasbah of Tangier with the whitewashed art town of Asilah on a private day.
Before you go
Getting there. 45 minutes south of Tangier by road or train
Best for. Art, photography, a calm coastal stop on a northern route
Read next. Is Volubilis Worth Visiting, and How Do You Do a Meknes & Volubilis Day Trip from Fes?; Can You See Wild Monkeys Near Fes, and Is the Ifrane & Azrou Cedar Forest Day Trip Worth It?; Is the Fes Medina Overwhelming, and How Do You Avoid Getting Lost?.
Pair Asilah with
The places closest to Asilah, easy to join on one private route.
Questions about Asilah
Read these before you add Asilah to a trip.
Is Asilah worth visiting?
Yes if you're in the north — it's the most charming small town on the coast, with Portuguese ramparts, a whitewashed medina full of murals and a relaxed pace. It pairs perfectly with Tangier or Chefchaouen.
How far is Asilah from Tangier?
About 45 km, or 40–45 minutes by car or train. It makes an easy half-day trip from Tangier, or a calm overnight by the sea.
Tell us your dates. We'll plan Asilah with you.
- Tell us what drew you in. Your dates, who is travelling and what you want to see.
- A person reads it. We write a day-by-day plan for your group, private or small-group.
- You change anything. Then we confirm the guides, drivers and riads.