Tangier Waterfront Promenade

The waterfront promenade is the signature run in Tangier. One can run for 8.5 km along the water, enjoying great views of the Mediterranean/Strait of Gibraltar/North Atlantic. There are two ‘sections’: Ave. Mohammed VI and Route de la Plage. We prefer the Route de la Plage Merkala.

Ave. Mohammed VI Section: 5 km. The east end starts at Villa Harris Park. There’s a wide sidewalk along Ave. Mohammed VI, in the more modern Tangier City Center, with views of the water much of the way. There are some spots where buildings block the view. Note that Ave. Mohammed VI is a major road with several lanes of traffic, so it’s not quiet and bucolic. The first 2 km are along Plage de Tanger (plage=beach)/Plage Muncipale. At the 2 km mark, there’s more of a dedicated path through Corniche Gardens and along the Marina. It’s 5 km to the Dar Al-Baroud Tower.

• Add-On: Run the 800m jaunt down the marina pier

Route de la Plage Merkala. 3.5 km. This section is quieter and more of a dedicated waterfront path. The wide, brick-surfaced path follows Route de la Plage Merkala for 3 km from Dar Al-Baroud Tower west to Merkala Garden. There are great views and a festive scene. From Merkala Garden, you can curl inland a bit and continue along a dirt path for another 0.5 km.

• Add-On: At the Merkala Garden at the west end, can run inland on its paths to the small, nicely landscaped Marshan Park. Then head west to the Marshan Palace — pretty grounds!

Note: The beaches along the route are beautiful but they aren’t great for running — sand isn’t very firm.