Experience in Tangier, Morocco by Yassir

What is it like to live in Tangier? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

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It is a great experience to live in this city. I lived there my last 10 years 2004-2014 the city has developed so much and it will develop more with the objective to become the Moroccan vitrine like Barcelona, Istanbul... etc I highly recommend Tangier. The city is combining the modernity and traditionalist. There is the old city as well as many civilisations Berber, Arab, Jewish, Christian are translated in the architecture, the food and the cloths the music instruments and styles of the city. The Roman, Cartagians, Andalus heritage are also present. all in all the city is famous with its exceptional geographical location we call it the bridge between Africa and Europe. In Tangier the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean sea to give a wonderful view from Cap Spartel, very close you have the Hercule cave. All the named places of Tangier have a tendency to sound fantasy as if it came out of a book or in the Tangier's daily sayings.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Tangier?

The sudent life can vary from one University to other, but it remains a great experience to go from this previous international city.

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How much does it cost to live in Tangier?

500 Euros will be correct to live including renting.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Tangier? Is there any advice you can give?

It is not difficult, but you should rather look by yourself and treat with the house owner directly. I don't recommend to pass through any intermediary agency or simple person at least this is my way of dealing with this issue, for the language can be a problem. The Tangier people aren't arrogent so they do effort to understand you.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

This is the best side of the Moroccan heritage you can find different traditional moroccan foods (Tajine, Couscous, Tanjia, Paella, Fish "fresh from the sea"... ). As well as some international cuisine such as Spanish( casa de espania), Italian (Paula restaurant, casa de italia), French in some restaurants for the moroccan there is many restaurant I can suggest DAR DYAFA restaurant or Pesca del dia for fish.

What places would you recommend visiting in Tangier?

Hercules cave, old city, Hafa coffee, Perdicaris park and neighbering cities such as Tetouan, Chefchaouen for week end trips...

Is it good to eat out in Tangier? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

In Tangier there is a culture to eat out, even families are eating out.

I recommend the Boulevard pasteur there is a lot of coffes, restaurants as well as Malabata.

Is the nightlife good in Tangier? Where is good to go?

Tangier lives night more then day time, the isn't unfortunately a lot of places to go after the destruction of the whole discos in the bay of Tangier but they will open more vibrant places in the old port of the city since that time there is still some adresses in some hotels.

In summer and other months of the years there is a lot of festivals that you can enjoy (Tanjazz, Mouloudiat Tanja,... ) you can meet with diffrent people during this events which are hold in Plais des institutions Italiennes, in public squares such as Sahat al Oumam... as a as the associations you can find many (Tangier Acceuil, Tanja al madina, Mouhamed CHOUKRI association, Ibn BATTOUTA... etc).

What advice would you give future students heading to Tangier?

The only thing I would like to say is go and discouver you will not regret it, you will be pleased to go back and remember the experiance of the foreing friends I could meet (americans, french,... ).

As a Moroccan citizen I had a wonderful experience of 10 years in the unique city, even though the it might be not the case for someone else.

Good luck