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Useful Tips for Attending

Helpful travel and local information for attendees visiting Tangier for AISTATS 2026.

Conference venue

Hilton Tanger Al Houara
Km 17.5, Route de l'Aéroport, Al Houara, Tangier, 90000, Morocco

The venue overlooks the ocean and sits within 60 acres of protected forest near the beach. Tangier’s old city, the American Legation Museum, and the Kasbah are within about a 45-minute drive, and the Caves of Hercules are about 18 km away.

Hotel block status

The Hilton Tangier Al Houara, the conference headquarters hotel, is currently sold out of the conference room block. Discounted room rates are no longer available.

You may still be able to book rooms at the hotel at regular rates. Hotel reservation information is available here: https://virtual.aistats.org/Conferences/2026/Hotels

Hotels and accommodations

Hilton City Center and Hilton Garden Inn are the only other hotels with conference contracts, and daily round-trip transportation to Al Houara is provided for attendees staying at those properties.

  • Hilton City Center: 1780 MAD (~$190.73 USD), including breakfast, VAT, and transportation to Hilton Al Houara.
  • Hilton Garden Inn: 1380 MAD (~$147.87 USD), including breakfast, VAT, and transportation to Hilton Al Houara.

Only attendees staying at Hilton City Center or Hilton Garden Inn may use the conference-provided transportation. Attendees staying elsewhere should plan to arrange their own daily transportation to and from the venue.

Other accommodation options include hotels near the airport, such as Hotel Ibn Batouta Tangier and Senator Hotel Tanger, or hotels in Tangier city center.

If you stay in the city center, the commute to the venue is typically about 30–45 minutes by car, depending on traffic.

Getting there

Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport (TNG) is the main international airport serving Tangier. Taxi rides to the venue typically take about 20 minutes.

Transportation from the airport to the Hilton headquarters is about 40 MAD (~$4.84 USD). A shuttle from the airport to your hotel can sometimes be arranged directly through the hotel if requested in advance.

A regular airport bus also operates between the airport and the city center. Tickets cost about 40 MAD, and buses generally run about once an hour.

Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) is Morocco’s largest airport and can also be a useful arrival point. From there, a direct high-speed Al Boraq train connects to Tangier in about 2 to 2.5 hours.

Train tickets from Casablanca to Tangier typically range from about 250–450 MAD ($25–$40 USD), depending on booking time and class. Gare de Tanger Ville is the city’s main train station, with rail connections to major Moroccan cities, including Kenitra, Rabat, and Casablanca.

Hotel transfers

Conference-provided transfers between the city center hotels and Hilton Al Houara are available only for guests staying at Hilton City Center and Hilton Garden Inn.

  • A reader board with the AISTATS logo will be posted in the Hilton lobby starting the day before the conference to share transfer timing.
  • Boarding will be monitored by verifying attendee names and badges for those staying at the contracted hotels.
  • Proposed return times are 7:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday, and 5:30 pm on Monday and Tuesday.
  • The bus is expected to leave at least one hour before the event start time.
  • A reliable fallback option is to share a cab between the city center and the Hilton, typically around 80 MAD per ride and often splittable among 3–4 people.

Transfer schedules remain subject to final arrangement with the hotel.

Getting around

  • Petit taxis are best for shorter trips within the city and typically run on a meter.
  • Grands taxis are used for longer trips and may be shared or private.
  • Careem operates in Tangier and is a convenient ride-hailing option. A ride from the airport to the venue is approximately 80 MAD.
  • InDrive is also widely used, with fares negotiated in the app.
  • Uber does not operate in Morocco.
  • The Hilton can arrange airport transfers for hotel guests if requested in advance.
  • Cash is often needed for taxis, and taxis typically do not provide receipts.

Hilton concierge transport service

Reservations are required and can be arranged with the hotel by email at TNGAH.Concierge@hilton.com or by phone at +212 539 409 400.

  • Car (max 4 persons): 400 MAD per trip
  • Van / Vito (max 6 persons): 650 MAD per trip
  • Mini bus (max 15 persons): 1000 MAD per trip
  • Bus (max 46 people): 2000 MAD per trip

Meals

The Hilton offers multiple onsite dining options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Tangier also has many restaurants and cafés, and attendees are encouraged to explore the local food scene and Moroccan cuisine throughout the city.

Childcare and family services

The venue offers a kids’ club with capacity for 20 and a teenagers’ club with capacity for 10, each with dedicated programming during the day.

Recommended sights

  • Kasbah Museum
  • Medina and Grand Socco
  • Tangier Casbah
  • Dar el Makhzen (Sultan’s Palace)
  • Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules
  • Cap Malabata and the lighthouse
  • Corniche Promenade
  • Achakkar Beach

Health and safety

Morocco is generally a safe destination for travelers, and the conference venue area is secure and well serviced.

  • Keep an eye on your belongings in crowded market areas.
  • Unlicensed guides may approach visitors in the medina; a polite but firm “non merci” or “la shukran” is usually enough.
  • It is normal to negotiate prices in markets and sometimes with taxi drivers.
  • Bottled water is widely available and recommended.
  • Travel insurance is recommended.
  • CHU Mohammed VI - Tangier is close to the conference venue in case of emergency.

Emergency numbers

  • 15 — Fire brigade, medical emergencies, and ambulance dispatch
  • 19 — Police
  • 177 — Gendarmerie Royale

Practical tips

Language

Arabic and French are widely spoken in Morocco. Spanish is also common in Tangier, and English is often spoken in hotels and tourist areas.

Currency

The local currency is Moroccan Dirham (MAD). ATMs are available in the city center, and credit cards are widely accepted in larger establishments.

Adapters

Morocco uses Type E electrical plugs. Make sure to bring appropriate adapters.

Weather

Early May is usually mild, with daytime temperatures around 17–23°C (63–73°F) and cooler evenings around 13–15°C. Rain is possible but infrequent, and the coast can be breezy, especially in the afternoons, so a light jacket or layers are a good idea.

Connectivity

You may want to buy an eSIM in advance, for example through Airalo, or pick up a local SIM or eSIM at the airport so you have mobile data throughout the conference.

Poster printing

Participants are responsible for printing their own posters.

Poster board specifications

  • Dimensions: 2.4 m x 1.2 m
  • Material: 100% wood
  • Fixing method: pins or command strips

Local printing options