City in Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, Morocco
Is Tangier safe?
Safe in the center by day; the port and medina bring hustlers, pickpockets and scams.
Is Tangier safe?
Safe in the center by day; the port and medina bring hustlers, pickpockets and scams. Take normal big-city care and avoid late-night strolls in quiet districts.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-04-20.
- Homicide rate in Morocco: 1.7 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Morocco: 17.0 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 190 · Ambulance 150 · Fire 150.
Safety in Tangier at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Pickpocketing near the port and medina, phone snatching from passing motorbikes, and aggressive touts at the ferry terminal and station. |
| At night | Boulevard Pasteur and the corniche stay busy until late. Avoid medina alleys and quiet beaches after dark; use taxis. |
| Solo women | Staring and catcalling happen, especially near the port and medina. Dress modestly, choose busy streets, and use taxis at night. |
| Other risks | Strong levante wind; Rip currents on city beaches; Heavy traffic on the corniche |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake guides at the port or station steering you to shops
- Unofficial 'taxi' drivers quoting inflated fares to the center
- Currency changers shorting euros
- Hash sellers leading to scams
Take care
- Medina and Kasbah alleys at night: snatch thefts
- Ferry port area: touts and scams
- Unlit corniche stretches after dark: robberies
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Cannabis is illegal for visitors despite open use in the Rif; sentences are long.
- Drinking alcohol in the street or anywhere outside licensed venues can lead to arrest.
- Unmarried Moroccan–foreign couples can be refused a shared hotel room; sex outside marriage is illegal for Moroccans.
How Tangier compares in Morocco
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Chefchaouen | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Essaouira | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Agadir | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Taghazout | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Merzouga | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Rabat | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ouarzazate | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Imlil | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Meknes | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Asilah | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Marrakech | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Fes | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Casablanca | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Tangier | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Tangier safe for solo female travelers?
Staring and catcalling happen, especially near the port and medina. Dress modestly, choose busy streets, and use taxis at night.
Is Tangier safe at night?
Boulevard Pasteur and the corniche stay busy until late. Avoid medina alleys and quiet beaches after dark; use taxis.
What is the crime rate in Tangier?
Pickpocketing near the port and medina, phone snatching from passing motorbikes, and aggressive touts at the ferry terminal and station. Nationally, Morocco records 1.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Tangier?
Police 190 · Ambulance 150 · Fire 150.
More about Tangier
Going to Tangier solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- ONCF (Moroccan railways)
- CTM
- ONDA Moroccan airports
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.