I was in northern Morocco less than 2 weeks ago, but only for 48 hours. So I only have limited information. I was mainly visiting Andalucia independently, but it's quick and easy to take ferries between southern Spain and northern Morocco. I spent one night in Tangier, and one night in Tetouan. I enjoyed both towns. Both are noted for their medina. Tetouan sees far fewer tourists.
Being able to speak French is extremely helpful in Morocco. Signage tends to be in Arabic & French, including labels in the museums I visited. My sense is that English is often spoken in hotels/guesthouses, though I spoke French in both places I stayed at.
I had intended to take a bus from Tangier to Tetouan, about 60 km away. However, my taxi driver taking me to the Tangier bus station suggested I take a shared taxi to Tetouan. That was good advice. The shared taxis in both Tangier & Tetouan leave from a spot adjacent to the bus station. They are large cars which can seat 6 passengers. They depart as soon as they fill up. The 50 minute trip cost US$3.50. I took another shared taxi the next day from Tetouan to the border with Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the Moroccan coast about 40 km away. (From Ceuta I took a ferry back to mainland Spain.)
Tangier has some lovely guesthouses in the medina. They're mostly French-run. I stayed at Dar Nour, and it was excellent. I stayed at a lovely riad in Tetouan called las Mil y una Noches. (Spanish, not French, is the 2nd language in Tetouan for historic reasons, though most folks seemed able to speak both.) It's in the medina but close to the royal palace. An outstanding breakfast was included at both places I stayed at.
You will be hassled to some degree by men and boys wanting to be your guide or to render some service. Tipping is expected. A couple of times when I wanted help, for example when a Moroccan man gave me a desired tour of a site which was otherwise closed, I certainly tipped him. I didn't need a tour of the Tangier medina so I politely declined--repeatedly. "Non, merci" will usually get rid of them in Tangier. I was mostly left alone in Tetouan.
Just outside the western side of Tangier medina, I was walking past a patisserie when a French ex-pat emerged and she told me me the shop had the best pastries in Tangier. They are middle eastern style sweets. I went inside and bought a "petite boite". They were superb. The shop was called Patisserie Alafrah, Route Kasba No 33, Tanger.
It's easy to get lost in the Tangier medina, and google maps isn't always 100% accurate, probably because the alleys are so narrow.
If you have any interest in visiting Gibralter, it's an easy trip from either Tangier or Tetouan, and I can explain how to do it.
Africa's first high-speed train is in Morocco. It connects Tangier-Rabat-Casablanca. If I had had more time, I would have taken it to Rabat, but the purpose of my trip was really to visit southern Spain.
