The cruise port of Tangier sits right on the border between the modern marina and the historic old town. This varied 5 km route combines the narrow alleys of the Medina, the traditional souk and the modern harbour promenade.
What makes it special is the contrast between historic Tangier and the modern coastal promenade around Tanja Marina Bay.
The route starts directly outside the cruise port of Tangier. After just a few metres it leads up through the historic fortifications towards the old town.
The route first leads uphill through the narrow alleys of the Medina. We initially keep more to the east and reach the historic city gate of Bab Al-Bahr. From there you have a beautiful view of the sea and the harbour. After a few more metres the route turns left and heads towards the Mendoubia Gardens.
At the Mendoubia Gardens the route turns left into the market area. Following one of the larger alleys, it then heads back downhill towards the sea. Once there, the route continues to the right all the way to the modern Tanja Marina Bay. Optionally, you can run a few more metres to the beach. The return then leads along the coast back to the cruise port.
This route combines old town, souk and modern marina. From a runner's perspective there are some limits: the elevation, stairs and the often busy crowds in the narrow alleys of the old town make it more suitable for a relaxed run or a walk than for ambitious training. Anyone who wants to discover Tangier in an active way will, however, find a very varied route directly from the cruise port.
The route is ideal as a sporty start to the day or as a relaxed finish after an excursion in Tangier. The combination of old town, souk and coastal promenade gives you many different impressions of the city over a short distance.
If you want to add some adventure to your city visit, a quad tour through the desert around Tangier is a great option. The transfer from the cruise port can be booked, so the excursion combines very well with a sporty session.
Alternatively, you can discover Tangier on a private guided walking tour. The tour also starts close to the cruise port and is perfect to learn more about the history, culture and old town of Tangier. Before or after the tour, there is still plenty of time for an easy run or walk along the coast.
The route starts directly at the cruise port of Tangier. No transfer is required.
You can either follow the route directly on the map on this page or import the GPX file into a navigation app such as Komoot. We recommend using the GPX file for navigation, as it is much more precise and provides clear GPS guidance while running. Once the GPX file has been saved in your app, you can usually also use the map offline. We recommend testing the navigation in airplane mode without active Wi-Fi beforehand to ensure it works without an internet connection.
Tip: It is still useful to have internet access while travelling. A global data plan that works in many countries, such as eSIM.sm (advertisement), is well-suited for cruises.
Overall, the route is considered safe. It mainly follows wide promenade paths directly by the sea. The promenade in particular is busy with walkers, runners and other tourists.
If you run in the afternoon, plan in enough buffer time. For emergencies, we recommend saving your ship's phone number beforehand. Well-known international ride services such as Uber or Bolt are not available in Tangier. In an emergency you should be able to flag down a regular taxi along the seaside promenade. As a rule you can also pay in euros, but it is worth confirming this briefly.
Along the promenade and in the old town you will find several cafés and restaurants where you can buy drinks. There are toilets in the souk, but only for a fee.
The route mainly follows asphalt and paved promenade paths. Regular running shoes are sufficient. We also recommend bringing sun protection (ad), enough water and a smartphone or watch for navigation. As card payments are still often not accepted in Tangier, we recommend taking some cash with you. As a rule, you can also pay in euros.