Somewhat seedy yet perennially stylish, Tangier is a confluence of European and North African cultures. Tourism here began in earnest in the 1800s, when the American Legation Museum became one of the first U.S. Embassies and the headquarters of American diplomacy in North Africa. The port city stands on a hill, with narrow alleys leading through the medina from the water to the fortified ancient kasbah. Hidden along the streets are chic boutiques, antiques stores, rug dealers, food markets and cafés. Visitors can easily fill several days here, especially by including day trips to historic Tétouan and the picturesque coastal city of Asilah. In the summer, European and Moroccan tourists flock to resorts along the golden Mediterranean beach of Tamuda Bay.