Wander the whitewashed medina and murals
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.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Asilah · Photo: Pedro Lozano, CC BY 2.0
Things to do in Asilah
Asilah is a whitewashed town on Morocco's north Atlantic coast, known for the murals painted across its medina walls. You can walk the Portuguese ramparts to the Krikia bastion, pass through Bab al-Bahr, the sea gate, swim at Paradise Beach and eat fresh seafood near the fishing port. Tangier makes an easy day trip.
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Things to do around 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.
See the Asilah arts festival murals
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.
Day trip to Tangier
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.
Drive to Cap Spartel
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.
More to do around Asilah
Walk the ramparts and Portuguese walls
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.
Photograph Bab al-Bahr, the sea gate
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.
Relax on Paradise Beach
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.
Soak up the harbour and fishing port
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.
Climb El Hamra tower
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.
Visit the Krikia bastion over the Atlantic
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.
Feast on fresh seafood
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.
Explore Raissouni Palace (Hassan II Centre)
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.
Before you knock
The questions people ask us most before they plan a trip.
How many days do you need in 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.
When is the best time to visit Asilah?
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.
Is Asilah worth visiting?
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.
Want to see Asilah with a local? We'll plan the day.
- 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.