Asilah

Located just 45 minutes south of Tangier, on the Atlantic coast, the small town of Asilah is a hidden gem, often bypassed by visitors to northern Morocco.  With a Bohemian vibe, this laid-back town brings together a blend of Portuguese, Spanish, and Moroccan influences.

At the heart of Asilah is a clean, well-preserved medina. Its whitewashed walls provide a canvas for street artists from around the world, who flock to Asilah every July for the annual arts festival, transforming the streets with striking, colourful murals.

The Grand Mosque, Asilah

As you enter the medina through the Bab al-Kasbah gate, you can't miss the Grand Mosque, on the left, with its octagonal minaret, a design seen mainly in northern Morocco.

Borj Al Qamra tower, Asilah

A little further on, the impressive Borj Al Qamra tower, a rectangular tower, built by the Portuguese in 1509, overlooks a small square.

The winding lanes of the medina are a great place for some relaxed retail therapy, with artisan boutiques and galleries and none of the hard-sell you’ll find in more popular tourist cities. Traditional carpets hang from windows, artists exhibit their work outside shops and small boutiques display jewellery, ceramics, textiles, leather goods, kaftans and more. Whitewashed buildings gleam in the sunshine and contrasting blue and green painted shutters and doors make for great photographs.

Look out for the Insta-worthy door, surrounded by a circle of handprints, seahorses and other symbols, on a white building, next to the sea wall. You’ll know you’ve found it when you spot the queue of people waiting to pose for a photograph.

The medina is protected from the crashing Atlantic waves by 15th-century Portuguese ramparts. Follow the ancient walls to where they jut out into the ocean, at Krikia, for views back over the medina – a popular spot at the end of the day to watch the sun setting over the ocean.

Ramparts, Asilah medina

If time allows, take a stroll along the waterfront promenade next to Asilah’s sandy beaches, enjoy fresh fish and seafood in a local restaurant and, if you happen to be visiting on a Thursday, check out the weekly regional souk (market), held on Avenue Khalid Ibn Oualid. And on any day of the week, there is a smaller street souk on Avenue Hassan II, outside the Bab Al Homar gate to the medina.

Asilah is one of my favourite small towns in Morocco. If you’re visiting Northern Morocco, don’t miss it!