Hotels in Asilah

Asilah: Atlantic Medina on Morocco's Northern Coast

Asilah sits on the Atlantic coast of northern Morocco, 46 km south of Tangier and roughly 300 km from Casablanca. The town's 15th-century Portuguese ramparts enclose a compact whitewashed medina where murals painted during the annual Asilah Arts Festival — held each August since 1978 — cover entire exterior walls. The festival draws painters, sculptors, and poets from across Africa, Europe, and the Arab world, making Asilah one of Morocco's most distinctive cultural stops.

Where to Stay

Most hotels and riads cluster inside or just outside the medina walls, within walking distance of Place Zellaka and the seafront promenade. A small number of beach hotels line the coastline to the south. The town attracts artists, weekend visitors from Tangier, and European travelers combining a Morocco trip with a ferry crossing from Spain.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Trains on the Tangier–Rabat line stop at Asilah station, roughly 15 minutes from central Tangier by rail.
• Best time: June through September for warm Atlantic beaches; August for the arts festival, though accommodation books up quickly.
• Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD); card acceptance is limited inside the medina.
• Language: Arabic and Darija; French and Spanish are widely understood near the port.