Tangier's culture is layered: Portuguese fortifications holding Roman bronzes, an Art Deco theatre reopened after 50 years dark, Riffian embroidery in a former sultan's palace, and the Beat-era cafés and galleries still trading on the myth.
Sultan Moulay Ismail's 17th-century palace above the medina, restored in 2016 as a Mediterranean cultures museum. Carved cedar ceilings, zellij courtyards, Roman mosaics from Volubilis and a Carthaginian tomb. Open 09:00–16:00, closed Tuesdays.
A former synagogue on Rue Touahine converted into an archive of Tangier photography and lithographs, 1890–1960 — the International Zone years, Spanish protectorate street scenes, and portraits of the city's Jewish community. Free, donations welcome.
The French Institute's exhibition space on Rue de la Liberté runs 6–8 shows a year of contemporary Moroccan and Maghrebi artists — painting, video, installation. Entry is free; check the programme board outside for opening-night dates.
An Anglican church built 1894 in Moorish style: the Lord's Prayer carved in Arabic behind the altar, a minbar-shaped pulpit, and horseshoe arches. The graveyard holds Walter Harris, The Times' Morocco correspondent, and Emily Keene.
Tangier's 1913 Spanish Art Nouveau theatre, once hosting flamenco and opera for 1,400, dark since 1962 and now under Moroccan-Spanish restoration. The tiled facade by Ceramica Sevillana is intact; access depends on the works schedule.
Terraced cafe cut into the cliff at Marshan since 1921, where Paul Bowles, Jean Genet and the Rolling Stones drank mint tea over the Strait. Still just tea and biscuits on tiled steps; Spanish coastline visible on clear days.
The former British consulate on Rue d'Angleterre, a colonial-era mansion holding Morocco's modern painting collection — Cherkaoui, Gharbaoui, Belkahia — alongside rotating shows. Open 10:00–18:00, closed Tuesdays.
Bookshop opened 1949 on Boulevard Pasteur, publisher and salon for Bowles, Genet, Choukri and Goytisolo. Still stocks Arabic, French, Spanish and English titles and hosts author readings; the back room keeps Tangier-related out-of-print stock.
The medina's working craft street below Petit Socco: babouche stitchers, brass beaters and weavers at treadle looms in shopfronts a metre wide. Watching costs nothing; a handmade pair of slippers runs 150–250 MAD after bargaining.
Tangier's everyday market off Rue de Fès: Riffian women in striped mendil fouta cloth selling goat cheese and mint, spice stalls with ras el hanout blends, and cheap grilled sardine counters that locals actually use at lunchtime.
Walter Harris's 1893 Moorish-revival villa east of the city at Malabata, restored and reopened 2020 as a museum of Tangier's history and international-zone period, with gardens running down toward the bay. Closed Tuesdays.
A 1938 Art Deco cinema restored by artist Yto Barrada in 2006 as the Cinémathèque de Tanger — an arthouse screen and film archive showing Moroccan, Arab and world cinema, with a street-level cafe on the Grand Socco.