The ramparts & medina
Walk the 15th-century Portuguese walls above the sea and the whitewashed lanes of blue doors and murals within.
Casablanca, MoroccoConcierge · 7 Days · 9–21H GMT+1
Atlantic coast · Northern Morocco
Asilah, Morocco
A whitewashed Atlantic art town — Portuguese ramparts, painted murals and a calm, walkable medina near Tangier.
Best time
May–September for the coast; the arts festival is in summer
Recommended
A half-day or overnight from Tangier
Airport
Tangier Ibn Battouta (TNG) + 45 min
Region
Atlantic coast · Northern Morocco
Why Asilah
Forty minutes south of Tangier, Asilah is the prettiest small town on Morocco's northern coast. From a Casablanca arrival you reach it via Tangier — barely two hours from Casablanca on the Al Boraq high-speed train — then a short drive down the coast. A compact, whitewashed medina wrapped in Portuguese ramparts, with cobalt-blue doors, bougainvillea and the Atlantic breaking against the walls, it hosts a summer arts festival that covers the lanes with fresh murals, and stays calm and creative year-round.
What to see
Highlights of Asilah.
Street-art murals
Walls repainted each summer during the Asilah Arts Festival, making the medina an open-air gallery.
Paradise Beach
A long sweep of sand a short ride south, reached by horse-cart in summer.
Itineraries
Our Asilah tours.
Every itinerary below is privately operated, fully customisable, and includes a deep stop in Asilah. Click any tour for the day-by-day plan, the map, dates and pricing.
1 day
Tangier & Asilah coastal day
Combine the kasbah of Tangier with the whitewashed art town of Asilah on a private day.
from $220Enquire →
Before you go
Practical notes.
- Getting there: 45 minutes south of Tangier by road or train
- Best for: Art, photography, a calm coastal stop on a northern route
Concierge
Have your Asilah trip designed by a local
Tell us your dates, group size and pace. We'll send back a written proposal within 24 hours — private guides, transfers, riads, the lot.
Request a proposalFAQ
Asilah — common questions.
Is Asilah worth visiting?+
Yes if you're in the north — it's the most charming small town on the coast, with Portuguese ramparts, a whitewashed medina full of murals and a relaxed pace. It pairs perfectly with Tangier or Chefchaouen.
How far is Asilah from Tangier?+
About 45 km, or 40–45 minutes by car or train. It makes an easy half-day trip from Tangier, or a calm overnight by the sea.
Closest destinations
Pair Asilah with.
These destinations are closest to Asilah — easily combined on a private itinerary.
32 kmAtlantic coast · Northern Morocco
Larache
Up the Atlantic corridor from Casablanca, Larache is the coast's quiet Spanish-colonial port — a weathered medina above a river estuary beside the Phoenician and Roman ruins of Lixus.
Explore
40 kmStrait of Gibraltar · Northern Morocco
Tangier
Where Africa meets Europe — and barely two hours from Casablanca on the Al Boraq high-speed line.
Explore
62 kmRif mountains · Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma
Tétouan
Ride the high-speed line north from Casablanca and finish in Tétouan — Morocco's Andalusian city, a UNESCO medina of whitewashed lanes, Moorish stucco and the heritage of Muslim and Jewish Iberia.
ExploreRead more
From the journal.
Stories, guides and practical tips to help you plan your time in Asilah and beyond.