Asilah Travel Guide

City City in Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, Morocco

On Morocco’s Atlantic coast, Asilah’s white ramparts and painted medina walls lure painters and beachgoers. Visitors stroll mural-lined alleys, eat fresh sardines on the corniche and time trips to the annual art festival.

Alley in the city of Chefchaouen 323234333.jpg

Costs

$50-80 / day

Mid-range coastal Morocco prices; riads, seafood, and cafes cost more than inland towns.

Safety

Generally safe and relaxed

Calm and tourist-friendly; petty theft can happen in busy spots.

Best Time

May-October

Warm, breezy coastal weather ideal for beaches and exploring the medina.

In This Guide

Why Visit Asilah?
Top Things to Do
Plan Your Visit
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Time

—

Weather

—

Population

34,011

Infrastructure & Convenience

Walkable medina, good train links to Tangier, tourist services and bilingual signs in spots.

Popularity

Popular with Moroccan and European coastal tourists, art lovers, and day-trippers from Tangier.

Known For

whitewashed medina, murals, beaches, seafood, Portuguese ramparts, art festival, galleries, relaxed cafes, surf, coastal promenade

Asilah runs a well-known annual mural and arts festival each August, transforming its medina walls.

Why Visit Asilah? #

Perched on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, Asilah is prized for its whitewashed medina, seaside ramparts and an annual arts festival that fills alleys with murals and music. Cafés and seafood stalls along the corniche serve grilled sardines and tagine, while narrow streets host artist studios and boutique riads. Its compact size makes it ideal for leisurely strolls among historic gates, gallery-filled squares and evenings near the ocean breeze.

Top Things to Do in Asilah

All Attractions ›

Cape Spartel

Cape at Strait of Gibraltar entrance with lighthouse

Cape

Lixus

Ancient archaeological site of Phoenician and Roman remains

Archaeological Site

Grand Mosque of Tangier

Historic Tangier mosque near medina and royal kasbah

Mosque

Lalla Abla Mosque

Mosque located in the Tangier metropolitan area

Mosque

Sidi Bou Abid Mosque

Mosque in Tangier, North Moroccan coastal city

Mosque

Don't Miss

Asilah Medina - Stroll painted medina alleys, art murals, whitewashed houses and artisan stalls.
Asilah Ramparts and El-Hamra Gate - Walk the seaside ramparts for coastal views and historic fortifications around the medina.
Plage d'Asilah (Paradise Beach) - Relax on the long sandy beach a short walk from the medina and ramparts.

Hidden Gems

Asilah Artists' Centre - Visit local galleries showcasing mural projects and rotating exhibits during the arts festival.
Café Hadra - Sip mint tea at a tucked-away café frequented by local artists and writers.
Riad-Style Guesthouses - Explore restored riads with tranquil courtyards offering traditional breakfasts and rooftop views.

Day Trips

Tangier Day Trip - Take a short trip to Tangier for its medina, kasbah, and Mediterranean waterfront cafés.
Larache Coastal Town - Visit Larache for its historic port, waterfront promenade, and seafood restaurants.

Best Time to Visit Asilah #

Asilah's Mediterranean coast offers mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Spring and summer are best for beaches, festivals and strolling the medina; winter suits quieter cultural exploration.

Winter

November - February · 10 - 17 °C / 50 - 63 °F

Mild, wetter winters mean fewer tourists and cool seaside walks-good for off‑season cultural visits and quiet beach strolls.

Spring

March - May · 13 - 23 °C / 55 - 73 °F

Sunny, fragrant and pleasantly warm-ideal for wandering medina walls, beaches and enjoying cafés before summer crowds surge.

Summer

June - September · 20 - 30 °C / 68 - 86 °F

Warm, dry and breezy coastal weather-perfect for swimming, markets and lively evenings, though beaches fill up on weekends.

Best Time to Visit Asilah #

Climate

Temperate climate with warm summers (peaking in August) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 8°C to 28°C. Moderate rainfall (642 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.

Best Time to Visit

JulyAugustJune

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

36°

Warmest Month

6°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 16°C and lows of 8°C. Significant rainfall (111 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

68 Good

Comfort

12°

Feels Like Cool

12°C

Temperature

8° – 16°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

111 mm

Rainfall

3.5 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.4

UV Index

Low

9.9h daylight

February

February is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 9°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm).

70 Very Good

Comfort

13°

Feels Like Cool

13°C

Temperature

9° – 17°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

103 mm

Rainfall

3.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.7

UV Index

Moderate

10.8h daylight

March

March is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 11°C. Regular rainfall (85 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

70 Very Good

Comfort

15°

Feels Like Cool

15°C

Temperature

11° – 19°

80%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

85 mm

Rainfall

3.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.1

UV Index

High

11.8h daylight

April

April is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (46 mm).

78 Very Good

Comfort

16°

Feels Like Cool

16°C

Temperature

12° – 20°

80%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

46 mm

Rainfall

3.8 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.6

UV Index

Very High

13.0h daylight

May

May is mild with highs of 22°C and lows of 14°C. Light rainfall.

90 Ideal

Comfort

18°

Feels Like Mild

18°C

Temperature

14° – 22°

78%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

25 mm

Rainfall

4.0 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.9

UV Index

Very High

13.9h daylight

June

June is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 17°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.

96 Ideal

Comfort

21°

Feels Like Mild

21°C

Temperature

17° – 25°

77%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

7 mm

Rainfall

3.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

2.3

UV Index

Extreme

14.4h daylight

July

July is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 19°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and mostly sunny skies.

98 Ideal

Comfort

23°

Feels Like Mild

23°C

Temperature

19° – 27°

76%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

0 mm

Rainfall

3.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

2.3

UV Index

Extreme

14.1h daylight

August

August is the warmest month with highs of 28°C and lows of 20°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.

98 Ideal

Comfort

24°

Feels Like Mild

24°C

Temperature

20° – 28°

77%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

3 mm

Rainfall

3.5 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

2.0

UV Index

Extreme

13.3h daylight

September

September is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 19°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.

96 Ideal

Comfort

23°

Feels Like Mild

23°C

Temperature

19° – 26°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

13 mm

Rainfall

3.3 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.5

UV Index

Very High

12.3h daylight

October

October is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 16°C. Moderate rainfall (44 mm).

88 Excellent

Comfort

19°

Feels Like Mild

19°C

Temperature

16° – 23°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

44 mm

Rainfall

3.1 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.0

UV Index

Moderate

11.2h daylight

November

November is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 13°C. Regular rainfall (85 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

72 Very Good

Comfort

17°

Feels Like Cool

17°C

Temperature

13° – 20°

78%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

85 mm

Rainfall

3.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.5

UV Index

Moderate

10.2h daylight

December

December is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (120 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

68 Good

Comfort

14°

Feels Like Cool

14°C

Temperature

10° – 18°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

120 mm

Rainfall

3.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.4

UV Index

Low

9.7h daylight

How to Get to Asilah

Asilah is conveniently reached by rail from Tangier and along Morocco's Atlantic/Mediterranean corridor; Tangier Ibn Battouta (TNG) serves air arrivals. The town is compact and easy to reach by train or taxi from regional hubs.

By Air

Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport (TNG): The nearest international airport (about 45-60 minutes by road to Asilah). Taxis to Asilah typically take 30-50 minutes and cost roughly 150-250 MAD depending on time of day and negotiation.

Casablanca Mohammed V (CMN) / Rabat (RBA): International visitors sometimes arrive via Casablanca or Rabat and continue by train along Morocco’s ONCF network to Kenitra or Tangier, then connect to Asilah by rail or road.

By Train & Bus

Train: Asilah has its own ONCF train station on the main Atlantic/Mediterranean coastal line. Regular trains connect Asilah with Tangier (≈30-40 minutes), Rabat and Casablanca. Ticket prices on ONCF regional trains are modest (second-class fares are inexpensive) and travel times are short from Tangier.

Bus: Local buses and CTM/other carriers run services through the region; buses are an alternative to trains for some connections.

How to Get Around Asilah #

Asilah is very walkable - the medina, beaches and ramparts are best explored on foot; narrow streets discourage cars. For longer journeys there are petit taxis in town, a railway station on Morocco’s ONCF line, and regional buses; prebooked transfers from Tangier or Rabat are common in high season.

Where to Stay in Asilah #

Budget

Medina & seafront - $20-50/night

Asilah has several affordable riads and pension-style guesthouses within the medina. Budget options are limited in high season but generally decent.

Asilah - budget riads & hostels (Booking) - Small riads and budget guesthouses listed
Tripadvisor Asilah - budget stays - Local cheap riads and guesthouses

Mid-Range

Medina, near the beach - $50-110/night

Mid-range riads and boutique hotels inside the medina offer character, comfortable rooms and easy beach access; book early in summer.

Riad Asilah (example riad) - Comfortable riad in the medina
Asilah mid-range listings (Booking) - Boutique guesthouses and small hotels

Luxury

Medina & coast - $110+/night

Asilah has small upscale riads but few large luxury hotels; for big-resort luxury, look to Tangier or Rabat nearby.

Nearby luxury hotels (Tangier / Rabat) - Higher-end hotels in bigger coastal cities
Higher-end riads in Asilah - Top riads with upgraded services

Where to Eat in Asilah #

Local Food

Asilah offers fresh seafood and Moroccan tagines served in charming restaurants inside the medina and along the waterfront.

Medina Cafés & Desserts

Small cafés in the old town serve mint tea, pastries and light seafood plates - perfect after strolling the ramparts.

Breakdown of cuisine types found across Asilah's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.

Pizza

Fish

Seafood

Arab

Cake

Pasta

Tapas

Burger

Pancake

Moroccan

Breakfast

Coffee Shop

Italian Pizza

Nightlife in Asilah #

Asilah has a livelier evening atmosphere than many small Moroccan towns, especially during the summer arts festival. Seafront cafés and restaurants stay open late and there’s occasional live music, but after season many venues keep earlier hours.

Shopping in Asilah #

Asilah’s medina and nearby streets are home to art galleries, workshops and small boutiques selling textiles, ceramics and locally produced crafts. The town has a reputation for artist-run galleries and seasonal stalls, so the best shopping can coincide with the art festival in summer.

Nearby Cities #