Tangier's beaches by car: Dalia, Achakar, Sidi Kankouch and Ksar Sghir

Tangier has two seas on its doorstep: the Atlantic to the west, the Strait and the Mediterranean to the east. You can walk to the city beach, but the best ones lie outside town, a quarter of an hour to forty-five minutes' drive away. With a car you pick your side according to the day's wind, and you can fit several beaches into one day.

Photo: Abdelkarim chaara — CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Published on 30 September 2026

Tangier's city beach: the bay, the corniche and Malabata
The Atlantic side: Achakar, the Caves of Hercules and Cape Spartel
The Mediterranean side: Playa Blanca, Sidi Kankouch and Oued Aliane
How do you get to Dalia beach from Tangier by car?
Ksar Sghir and the drive back along the coast

Tangier's city beach: the bay, the corniche and Malabata

The easiest Tangier beach to reach is the city's own: a long strip of sand along the bay and the corniche, from the marina to Malabata. Locals come here to walk, to swim when the sea is calm, or to have a coffee facing the Strait without getting back in the car.

If you drive, park on the corniche side or towards Malabata rather than in the centre. Attendants in hi-vis vests often watch the spaces: agree the price when you arrive and pay when you leave. On summer evenings the whole city heads down to the corniche, so arrive early or walk from your hotel.

For clearer water and fewer people you have to leave town, west towards the Atlantic or east towards the Mediterranean and Dalia beach.

The Atlantic side: Achakar, the Caves of Hercules and Cape Spartel

To the west, the Atlantic coast starts at Cape Spartel, about 13 kilometres from the centre over the Montagne district, roughly twenty minutes' drive. The road then heads south. The Caves of Hercules and Achakar, a long beach of golden sand, are about 15 kilometres from Tangier.

This is the ocean: the waves are bigger than on the Mediterranean and the currents call for care. In half a day you can take in the Cape Spartel lighthouse, the caves and a swim at Achakar.

The Mediterranean side: Playa Blanca, Sidi Kankouch and Oued Aliane

To the east, the RN16 coast road follows the Strait. Playa Blanca is about 12 kilometres from the centre: a small cove with clear water that gets deep quickly. You walk down a steep path from a car park higher up, so save some energy for the climb back, especially in the midday heat.

Just beyond, Sidi Kankouch, around 15 kilometres out, lets you park close to the sand. Further on, Oued Aliane, a little over 20 kilometres and about half an hour away, is a big beach that gets very busy in summer, with restaurants nearby.

How do you get to Dalia beach from Tangier by car?

Dalia beach sits on the Strait, in the municipality of Ksar al Majaz, a little over 50 kilometres from Tangier: allow about fifty minutes on the RN16, which follows the coast. It is one of the most popular beaches in the region, and a car is the simplest way to get there.

Don't confuse it with Aïn Dalia, a different place inland, south of Tangier. For the beach, follow the coast east towards Ksar Sghir.

Ksar Sghir and the drive back along the coast

Ksar Sghir, some 40 kilometres from Tangier or around forty minutes by road, is a small coastal town with a fishing harbour and the remains of a Portuguese fortress. The water is warmer here than on the Atlantic side. Stop for lunch before carrying on to Dalia, or on the way back.

In summer the coast roads fill up fast, especially at weekends. Leave early: you will find a space near the beaches and get back before the evening jams at the entrance to Tangier.

Frequently asked questions

What is the closest beach to Tangier?

The city beach, along the bay near the marina. Outside town, Playa Blanca and Sidi Kankouch are about a quarter of an hour's drive east, and Achakar is about 15 km away on the Atlantic side.

How far is Dalia beach from Tangier?

A little over 50 km on the RN16 coast road, or about fifty minutes without traffic.

Do you need a car for Tangier's beaches?

It's the most practical option: the beaches stretch out on both sides of the city, from Achakar in the west to Dalia in the east, and a car lets you visit several in one day. A small city car is all you need.

Which beach should you choose in Tangier?

In town, the bay beach along the corniche is good for a stroll. For a quiet swim, the Mediterranean coast (Playa Blanca, Sidi Kankouch, Oued Aliane, then Dalia) often has calmer water than the Atlantic, where Achakar has a long sandy beach but bigger waves.

Where do you park for Tangier's city beach?

On the corniche side or towards Malabata rather than in the centre. Attendants often watch the spaces: agree the price before you walk off.

Sources

Visit Morocco — visitmorocco.com

Wikipedia — fr.wikipedia.org

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