I’m planning to catch the ferry across from Spain to Tangier. While I don’t particularly want to spend any time in the city, I do want to head south and explore the country. Are there good transport links from Tangier, say to Fez? Nigel Brookes, Tadcaster

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: You might be surprised at Tangier – it’s an exotic blend of Moroccan and European influences, thanks to its days as when it was administered as an International Zone and shared between nine different countries. It has a fine old Medina and Kasbah, plus a broad city beach backed by a grand corniche.

That said, if time is tight, you won’t find anywhere more spectacularly Moroccan than Fez, and it’s easy to get to from Tangier.

There’s a wonderful new station in Tangier, a couple of miles from the Medina, and standing in splendid isolation on a patch of land just back from the corniche. You’ll find it clean and tidy and relatively hassle free too. From here you can get trains to Fez (5hrs and about 100 Dirham’s), Casablanca (5hrs, about 130 Dirham’s), Meknes (4hrs, about 90 Dirham’s), or Marrakech (10hrs, about 300 Dirham’s in First Class couchette, or 200 in Second Class).

One big party in Morocco

Take your party to the oasis. Moroccan style - riads, kasbahs and camps to rent for groups of 10-50

Bargain hunting in Casablanca

The junk shops of Casablanca are full of antiques from its Art Deco glory days, says writer Tahir Shah

• One big party in Morocco

Mountaineering in Morocco

Crampons and ice axe at the ready, Nikalas Cook tackled a winter ascent of Mount Toubkal, but the weather had other plans

• A genuine Berber guesthouse in Morocco

• Will Morocco be a bargain in 2009?

Related Internet Links

• 77 more articles on Morocco

Related Links

• Revving up in Morocco

There’s an overnight service back from Marrakech to Tangier, which arrives early enough for you to gat a taxi straight to the port (about 20 Dirham’s) and head back to Spain on the ferry.

For train times and fares, visit the national rail operator ONCF.

The bus station in Tangier is a short walk from the port, just past the police station, which used to be the old railways terminus. Here you’ll find a little chaos, but regular busses heading to Fez (6hrs, and about 100 Dirham’s), Marrakech (10hrs, and about 200 Dirham’s). See www.ctm.co.ma for timetables.

Times recommends

• Checking into ‘Europe’s dirtiest hotel’
• The best out of season European breaks
• Smugshots special: wintersports