Things to do · Asilah
Asilah is a whitewashed Atlantic town on Morocco's north coast, famous for its mural-covered medina, Portuguese ramparts and breezy beaches. Here are twelve experiences that capture its artistic, seafaring spirit.
12 experiences
Asilah's compact medina is a maze of lime-washed lanes painted in blue and white. Many walls carry vivid murals, repainted each summer by visiting artists, making the whole quarter an open-air gallery.
The medina is wrapped in stout stone ramparts built by the Portuguese in the 15th century after they took the town in 1471. You can follow the walls for sweeping views over the rooftops and the Atlantic.
Bab al-Bahr, the 'Gate of the Sea', is the medina's seaward entrance, opening from the old town directly toward the Atlantic. It frames classic views of the waves breaking against the fortified walls.
A few kilometres south of town, Paradise Beach is a long sweep of golden sand backed by low cliffs and reached down a sandy track. Its wide, clean shore makes it the favourite stretch around Asilah.
Asilah's working harbour shelters small fishing boats that supply the town's restaurants. Wander the quayside in the late afternoon to watch the fleet come in and see the day's catch unloaded.
Since 1978 the annual Asilah Arts Festival (Moussem Culturel International) has drawn artists who paint fresh murals across the medina walls each summer, cementing the town's reputation as Morocco's mural capital.
El Hamra is one of the square watchtowers set into Asilah's Portuguese-era fortifications. Rising above the ramparts, it offers a vantage point over the medina lanes and the surrounding coastline.
The Krikia bastion is a clifftop platform built into the southwest corner of the walls. It overlooks the Atlantic and a small clifftop cemetery, and is a popular spot to catch the sunset over the ocean.
With its busy fishing port, Asilah serves some of the freshest seafood on the north coast. Restaurants near the ramparts and harbour grill the daily catch, from sardines and sea bream to calamari and prawns.
Built in the early 1900s for the local chieftain Ahmed al-Raissouni, this seafront palace now serves as the Hassan II International Centre for Meetings, a cultural venue at the heart of the arts festival.
Tangier lies about 45 km north and is easily reached by train or road. Morocco's gateway to the Strait of Gibraltar offers a buzzing kasbah, the Grand Socco and a cosmopolitan history shaped by Europe and Africa.
Cap Spartel, near Tangier, marks the northwest tip of Africa where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. Its 19th-century lighthouse and the nearby Caves of Hercules make a scenic day out from Asilah.
A day or two is enough to explore the medina, walk the ramparts and relax on the beach. Stay longer in summer if you want to enjoy Paradise Beach and combine day trips to Tangier and Cap Spartel.
Spring and autumn bring mild, pleasant weather, while summer is warm and lively, peaking with the Asilah Arts Festival when artists paint fresh murals across the medina walls.
Yes. Asilah's mural-covered medina, Portuguese ramparts, relaxed harbour and nearby Atlantic beaches make it one of the most charming and photogenic towns on Morocco's north coast.
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