Places to Visit in Al Hoceima, Morocco, North Africa, Africa

Places to Visit in Al Hoceima, Morocco, North Africa, Africa

Al Hoceima is a Moroccan city, located on the Mediterranean coastline between 35°15′ N latitude and 3°56′ W longitude. It comes under the Al Hoceïma Province in Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate region in the extreme north of the country. Al Hoceima is situated around 480 km northeast of Rabat, the capital of Morocco and 570 km northwest of the country’s largest city, Casablanca.

Al Hoceima holds a tourism and fishing based economy, drawing a substantial number of overseas tourists, mainly from Europe, during the summer months. Playa Quemado is the most famous beach of Al Hoceima, located close to star rated Mohammed V Hotel.

History of Al Hoceima:

Until the Spanish General Sanjurjo landing on the beach of Al Hoceima around 1925, Al Hoceima was not in the way of evolution. After claiming, Sanjurjo named it Villa Sanjurjo and constructed many houses, schools and hospitals, which became prologue for development. Its name was once changed to Villa Sanjurjo and the town got its current name after the independence of Morocco in 1956.

Connectivity to Al Hoceima:

Al Hoceima hosts an international airport, the Cherif Al Idrissi Airport, with scheduled flights from Casablanca, Tetouan, Amsterdam, Brussels, Casablanca and seasonal flights from Rotterdam, Hague and Charleroi. The distance of around 10 km from the airport to the city centre can be crossed by airport taxi or bus.

Al Hoceima’s road transportation extends to all around the country, including Marrakech and Casablanca. Buses, taxis and rental cars are the options to get around Al Hoceima.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Al Hoceima:

Tarifit Berber or Tamazight is one of the commonly spoken languages in Al Hoceima, mainly used by Ibeqquyen tribes.

Shops are abundant in Al Hoceima, ranging from groceries to retail outlets. Two nice restaurants in Al Hoceima include:

Hotel ristorante Perla
Cafe marino

Things to do in Al Hoceima:

Boating
Beach exploration
Walking

What to see in Al Hoceima?

Beaches in Al Hoceima:

Being a coastal city, Al Hoceima features many nice beaches with different water sport activities including boat riding. Calabonita is one of the famous beaches in Al Hoceima, where visitors can enjoy memorable boat riding at a cost of 20 Dhs. Playa Quemado is the most famous beach of Al Hoceima.

Rif Mountains:

The Rif Mountains is a mountain range, in which Tidighin is the highest peak, measuring at an altitude of 2,455 meters. Al Hoceima is situated on the northern edge of the Rif Mountains.

The port of Al Hoceima:

The port of Al Hoceima is the Rif Region’s 2^nd largest port following the port in Nador. It can be reached by a rental vehicle from the city centre.

Spanish Catholic Church:

The Spanish Catholic Church in Al Hoceima was constructed during the Spanish colonial period, which is still good in condition and attracts both local Christian devotees and tourists.

List of other places of interest in and around Al Hoceima includes:

Plage Qualermo
Attarin Medersa
Medina of Fez
Jardin Jnan Sbil
Bou Inania Medersa
Bab Bou Jeloud
Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts and Crafts
Kairaouine Mosque
Glaoui Palace
Fontaine Nejjarine
Musee des armes
Tombe dei Merenidi

When to visit Al Hoceima?

Al Hoceima is a year round destination, those looking to experience best of Al Hoceima’s beaches can make tour in September or October.

Where to stay in Al Hoceima?

Al Hoceima is a colorful developing city, home to around 20 standard accommodation centres that are shared between all parts of the city. Advance booking is advised to get desired hotels during peak season. The prominent hotels in Al Hoceima are as follows: