Grand Socco

Main square between the medina and Ville Nouvelle. Good for orientation but has persistent hustlers offering tours. Better as a transit point than a place to linger.

Grand Socco (officially Place du 9 Avril 1947) is the roundabout square between the old medina and modern Tangier. There's a marble fountain in the middle with palm trees and flower gardens with benches - would be nice to sit if not for the guys constantly offering to guide you. The square has a mosque, banks, restaurants with outdoor seating, cafes, Cinema Rif, and a pharmacy. During the day locals catch buses, tourists take photos, vendors sell orange juice and snacks. Cinema Rif has become a hangout for students and younger locals, serves food and drinks. The problem is the hustlers who approach tourists offering to show them around the medina and Kasbah, then reveal the fee later. They're persistent and annoying, though not usually dangerous. Either say no firmly and keep walking, or hire an official guide from the tourist office at 29 Avenue Pasteur - having one with you keeps the street guys away. Despite the hassle, Grand Socco is a useful landmark and gateway between old and new Tangier.