M'diq Marina

M'diq was a fishing village on the Mediterranean north of Tetouan and is now the smart end of what is marketed as the Tetouan riviera - a stretch of coast between Martil and Fnideq that has been built up heavily with apartment blocks, resorts and marinas since the 2000s. The marina is the centre of it: a yacht basin with a promenade, restaurants, cafes and shops around the water, busy in the evening and packed in July and August, when Moroccan families and emigrants returning from Europe fill the whole coast. The fishing port still works alongside and the morning catch is sold there, which is the more interesting half. Out of season the town is quiet, half the businesses are shut, and the beach is empty. The development along this coast has been fast and the results are uneven.

What you actually see

• A yacht basin and promenade - restaurants and shops round the water.
• A working fishing port - the morning catch sold beside the marina.
• August at capacity - Moroccan families and returning emigrants filling the coast.
• Fast development - a fishing village built out heavily since the 2000s.

When to go

June to September for the season; spring and autumn for space. Half a day.

Honest expectations

July and August are extremely crowded and prices rise sharply. Out of season much of it closes. The building along this coast is dense and uneven in quality. There is little to see beyond the water and the promenade.

Nearby

Tetouan and its medina are inland; Martil is south along the coast.