The Great Mosque of Tangier 🇲🇦

Located on Rue de la Marine in Tangier's old medina—just below the Petit Socco and above the sea walls—The Grand Mosque of Tangier stands as an intriguing historical anchor. While the site originally hosted an ancient Roman temple to Hercules and later a 5th-century church, a grand mosque was established during the Marinid dynasty. Over centuries of shifting control, it served as a Portuguese cathedral and an English garrison point before Moulay Ismail restored it to Islamic worship in 1684.

The structure you see today largely dates to a complete reconstruction ordered in 1815 by Sultan Moulay Slimane, with later extensions and restorations. As you explore the surrounding medina streets, you will appreciate its striking exterior architecture. The minaret features classic Moroccan design with white stucco blind arches, geometric patterns, and green tile mosaics, while the main entrance portal displays radiating geometric motifs beneath a wooden canopy.

Directly across the street, you can admire a late 19th-century public fountain adorned with zellij tilework set within a horseshoe arch. Because the mosque remains an active place of worship, non-Muslim visitors cannot enter the interior, but observing its historic exterior offers a rich glimpse into Tangier's layered past.

What to see at The Great Mosque of Tangier

• Historic minaret with white stucco blind arches and green tile mosaics
• Main entrance portal decorated with radiating geometric motifs and a wooden canopy
• Late 19th-century public fountain with tile mosaic inside a carved horseshoe arch
• Rich history spanning Roman, Marinid, Portuguese, English, and Alaouite eras

Visiting tips

Please note that because this is an active place of worship, the mosque interior is closed to non-Muslim visitors, so plan to view its architecture from the outside.

How long: 30-45 minutes · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

The Great Mosque of Tangier is easy to reach on Tangier’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Lalla Abla Mosque. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Tangier travel guide.