Visiting Tetouan by Rental Car: the Medina, the Tamuda Bay Coast and the Rif Road

Tetouan is a city for walking, but everything around it is best reached by car: the beaches of Martil, Cabo Negro and M'diq on the Mediterranean, the village of Oued Laou further east, and Chefchaouen up in the Rif. The city is some sixty kilometres from Tangier, and its airport, Sania R'mel, sits close to the centre on the Martil road. Here is how to plan it, place by place, without mixing up the towns along the coast.

Photo: Oumaima Achoua — CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Where to park when visiting Tetouan's medina
Martil, Cabo Negro and M'diq: how they differ from Tetouan
How to reach the coast and Fnideq by motorway
Which road to take to Oued Laou and the coast further east
How to get to Tetouan from Tangier or the airport
Do you go through Tetouan to reach Chefchaouen?
Which car to rent in Tetouan

Where to park when visiting Tetouan's medina

Tetouan's medina has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Rebuilt in the late 15th century by Andalusian refugees from Granada, it has kept a tight web of lanes and seven gates in its walls, Bab Okla among them. You explore it on foot, and the car stays outside.

The easiest option is to park on the new-town side, the Ensanche built under the Spanish protectorate, when Tetouan was its capital from 1913 to 1956. From there, Hassan II square, the former Feddan overlooked by the royal palace, is the natural way into the old town.

In the streets of the centre, parking is often watched by attendants in hi-vis vests who expect a few dirhams. Agree the price before you walk away, especially if the car is staying overnight.

Martil, Cabo Negro and M'diq: how they differ from Tetouan

Martil is not a district of Tetouan but a town in its own right, part of the M'diq-Fnideq prefecture since 2010, about ten kilometres north-east of Tetouan at the mouth of the Martil river. It is the nearest beach to Tetouan, and its seafront is very lively in summer.

North of Martil, Cabo Negro is a headland with a residential beach resort, between Martil and M'diq. M'diq, 15 to 20 kilometres from Tetouan depending on where you start, is a fishing port that has grown into a seaside resort. Further north still, before Fnideq, lies Marina Smir.

This stretch of coast is marketed as Tamuda Bay, after Tamuda, the ancient city whose remains lie near Tetouan. The pick-up location is shown on each car's listing; check it before you book, because a car collected in Tetouan is not a car collected in Martil or M'diq.

How to reach the coast and Fnideq by motorway

The A7 motorway links Tetouan to Fnideq over 28 kilometres along the coast. Opened in two stages, in 2007 and 2008, it is a toll road. It serves Martil and Cabo Negro, M'diq and then Marina Smir before reaching Fnideq.

In summer this coast draws big crowds and traffic builds up, especially late in the day as people leave the beaches. Set off early if you have a particular beach in mind, and keep some cash or a Jawaz badge for the toll.

Fnideq is the last Moroccan town before Ceuta, which is Spanish. The border is crossed at the Tarajal post, known locally as Bab Sebta. Taking a rental car into Ceuta depends on each agency's terms: ask before you book, and have the documents you need to cross the border.

Which road to take to Oued Laou and the coast further east

Oued Laou is about 45 kilometres south-east of Tetouan on the N16, the coast road also known as the Mediterranean ring road. Allow between forty-five minutes and an hour.

The road leaves Tetouan through Martil, then runs along the sea between cliffs and coves. Oued Laou is a village at the mouth of the river of the same name, with a long beach that is quieter than those of Tamuda Bay.

Beyond it, the N16 carries on to El Jebha and then Al Hoceima. The road is winding, so drive it in daylight and fill up before leaving Tetouan if you plan to go far.

How to get to Tetouan from Tangier or the airport

Tetouan is some sixty kilometres south-east of Tangier. The main road between the two is the N2, which is now over capacity: at peak times the drive can take more than an hour and a half. A Tangier to Tetouan motorway of about 60 kilometres is planned, with work announced to start in 2027 at the earliest.

If you land at Tanger Med port, the N16 runs down from Ksar Sghir to Fnideq and on to Tetouan along the coast. Our guide to Tangier and the north covers the arrival points on the Tangier side.

Tetouan Sania R'mel airport (TTU) lies between Tetouan and Martil, a few kilometres from the centre. It is also the closest airport to Ceuta, which has none of its own. The pick-up location is shown on each car's listing; check it before you book. Tangier Ibn Battouta airport is the region's other gateway.

Do you go through Tetouan to reach Chefchaouen?

Chefchaouen is some sixty kilometres south of Tetouan on the N2, the same road that comes in from Tangier. Allow between one hour and an hour and a half: the road climbs into the Rif and the bends keep the average speed down.

That makes Tetouan a good base. You can do the round trip in a day, or spend the night there before heading up. For parking in Chefchaouen and the Akchour walk, our dedicated Rif guide has all the details.

Which car to rent in Tetouan

The right car depends on your plans. The medina, the coast and the Fnideq motorway are easy in a small city car; the N16 to Oued Laou and the Rif road call for something a little higher or more powerful if you are travelling with luggage.

On Loccor, the cars listed in Tetouan belong to independent local agencies, and the agency's identity is shared with you once your booking is confirmed. Compare models, gearboxes and terms on the Tetouan page, or run a search with your dates.

The security deposit depends on the agency, with or without, and each listing says which. You pay a deposit online and the balance at the agency on collection. A national driving licence in Latin script is enough. If you are staying in Martil, M'diq or Cabo Negro, bear in mind that the pick-up location is shown on each car's listing; check it before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Is Martil part of Tetouan?

No. Martil is a separate town, about ten kilometres north-east of Tetouan, part of the M'diq-Fnideq prefecture since 2010. It is the nearest beach to Tetouan.

How far is Tetouan from Tangier?

About 60 kilometres on the N2. At peak times the drive can take more than an hour and a half.

Is the motorway between Tetouan and Fnideq a toll road?

Yes, the A7 is tolled. It is 28 kilometres long and serves Martil, Cabo Negro, M'diq and Marina Smir.

Can I drive a car rented in Tetouan into Ceuta?

Taking a rental car into Ceuta depends on each agency's terms. Ask before you book, and have the documents you need to cross the border.