What is Tangier like in August?

August is high summer in Tangier. Long-term averages for the city put daytime highs at about 29°C and night-time lows at about 19°C, with rain on less than one day in a typical August. Because the city sits on the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, a sea breeze usually takes the edge off the afternoon heat, so it feels gentler than Marrakech or Fes in the same month. The flip side is wind: an easterly wind through the Strait can blow hard for a day or more, which makes the Mediterranean-facing beaches choppy and the Atlantic side calmer.

It is also the busiest month of the year on the north coast. Moroccan families come to the beaches for their summer holidays, and many Moroccans who live in Europe return home for the summer, many of them by ferry across the Strait. The seafront, the cafés and the beaches west of the city towards Cap Spartel are lively until late, and hotels and ferries fill up, so book both well ahead and expect busier roads at weekends.

For sightseeing, do the medina and the kasbah early in the morning or after about 5pm, when the lanes are cooler and the light is softer. The kasbah at the top of the medina has wide views over the Strait to Spain on a clear day, and the terraced cafés on the cliffs nearby are a classic place to sit over mint tea as the sun drops. About 15 km west, Cap Spartel marks the north-western tip of Africa, where the Atlantic meets the Strait, and the Caves of Hercules are close by on the Atlantic shore.

Tangier also makes a good base for short trips. Asilah, a whitewashed seaside town, is about 45 km down the Atlantic coast; Chefchaouen is roughly 115 km away, about two hours by road, and is cooler in the Rif mountains. Al Boraq, Africa's first high-speed train, links Tangier with Rabat and with Casablanca in about 2 hours 10 minutes, so a coastal route south is easy to plan.

Pack light, breathable clothes that cover shoulders and knees for the medina, swimwear for the beach, sunscreen, a sun hat and a light layer for breezy evenings by the sea. If you want the same weather with fewer people, June and September are usually quieter.