Asilah, the colourful insider tip on the Atlantic coast of Morocco

Asilah is a small town south of Tangier on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. Formerly an important port city, it has the fortifications typical for this part of the coast around its small medina. If you are looking for peace and quiet away from the tourist crowds, this is the place for you.

Street art in Asilah

The most interesting thing about Asilah is probably the art. Every summer, a large street art festival takes place. Ten to fifteen artists, some from Morocco and some from abroad, come and paint colourful murals on the whitewashed walls of selected buildings in the medina.

This makes it worth visiting every year, as the city looks completely different each time. You really have to walk through the entire medina, as some of the paintings are well hidden.

In 2026, the Asilah Arts Festival will take place from 5 to 27 July.

Medina

But even aside from that, the medina, one of the smallest (if not the smallest) medinas in Morocco, is well worth a visit. Winding alleys, few annoying vendors, and only a few hidden cafés make the medina one of the best places to buy souvenirs in peace. You can’t really get lost, as the medina is too small for that. There are two large gates, the Bab el Kasbah and the Bab el Homar, as well as a few smaller entrances to the medina.

The city walls of Asilah

Towards the sea, you can walk along part of the city wall. From the Krikia viewpoint, you have a great view of the sea and the fortification walls of the medina. Here you can also see the tiny cemetery and the mausoleum of Sidi Ahmed Ben Mansour.

The beach

Asilah has beaches to the north and south of the harbour, but unfortunately, they are not always very clean. You can surf, swim or just watch the sunset.

Hammam

After all that exertion, treat yourself to a visit to the Hammam al Alba in the medina. A spa hammam offering massages (also available for couples) in luxurious surroundings.

Eating fish in Asilah

As everywhere on Morocco’s coast, there is fish. Grilled, as a tagine or, here in the north, also Spanish-style as tapas.

Stone circle

And for nerds like me, there is the stone circle of M’Zora about 15 km outside Asilah. The stone circle is believed to be at least 5,000 years old and is the only one of its kind in Morocco.

The best time to visit Asilah

Asilah is a great place to visit at any time of year. It rains occasionally in winter, but the temperatures are mild. In summer, it gets quite busy, partly because of the Art Festival, but also because more and more Moroccans are spending their summers on the coast.

How to get to Asilah

Asilah is located on the train line connecting Casablanca and Rabat with Tangier. The express train does not stop here, but you can take a slow train from Kenitra if you are coming from the south.

If you are travelling by rental car, it is even easier, just take the motorway. You can park directly at the harbour for a few DH.

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