Tangier Day Trip with Ferry and Lunch from Tarifa

Tarifa port and the ferry across the Strait

Tarifa is the southernmost town of continental Europe, and from its small port the coast of Morocco looks close enough to touch: only about 14 kilometres of water separate the two continents at the narrowest point of the Strait of Gibraltar. The Tarifa to Tangier ferry is the fastest link between Spain and Morocco, and the crossing takes about one hour, arriving at Tangier's city port right below the old town.

On deck you watch the Spanish hills fall behind and the white city of Tangier rise on its hillside. On clear days dolphins sometimes follow the wake. Passport checks for Morocco are usually done on board, so keep your passport ready. Remember that Morocco is often one hour behind Spain, which is useful to know when you plan the return ferry.

Cape Spartel, where two seas meet

Cape Spartel marks the north-western corner of Africa, about 14 kilometres west of Tangier, on the point where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean entrance of the strait. The road climbs through pine and eucalyptus woods to a white lighthouse built in the 19th century, which still guides ships through one of the busiest sea lanes in the world.

From the viewpoints beside the lighthouse you see the deep blue Atlantic on one side and the calmer strait on the other, and on clear days the coast of Spain on the horizon. The stop gives you time for photos and fresh sea air before the coach continues along the coast. A Cape Spartel tour is one of the classic parts of any Tangier excursion from Tarifa.

The Achakkar sea caves

A short drive south of Cape Spartel, the Achakkar caves open onto the Atlantic in limestone cliffs above a long sandy beach. Parts of the caves were shaped by the sea and partly cut by people who once quarried millstones from the rock, leaving rounded marks on the walls. Local stories link the caves with ancient legends, and the site is one of the best-known sights near Tangier.

The most famous view is the opening to the ocean, whose outline is often compared to the map of Africa seen in reverse; standing inside, you watch the waves break against it. Your ticket includes entry to one of the caves, and a second cave can be visited for an extra fee on the spot. Wear shoes with grip, as the floor can be uneven and damp.

The Kasbah of Tangier

The Kasbah crowns the highest point of the old city, inside walls that once protected the governor's residence and the garrison. You enter through the great gate of Bab el Kasbah into a quiet quarter of whitewashed houses, blue doors and narrow passages. The former sultan's palace here now holds the Kasbah Museum, with its tiled courtyards and Andalusian-style garden.

From the terraces at the edge of the Kasbah the view sweeps across the port and the strait to the mountains of Spain, which makes clear why Tangier has always been a crossroads of cultures. Your guide explains the city's long story, from Phoenician and Roman times to its years as an international city in the 20th century. It is one of the most photographed places on a Tangier medina tour.

The Medina and a Moroccan lunch

Below the Kasbah, the Medina of Tangier is a maze of lanes lined with small shops selling spices, leather slippers, lanterns, ceramics and carpets. Your guide leads the group through the Petit Socco, the small square that was once the heart of city life, and the Grand Socco at the edge of the old town, pointing out mosques, fountains and old houses along the way. The visit also includes entry to a historic synagogue, a reminder of the city's long mixed heritage.

Lunch is served at a traditional Moroccan restaurant in the Medina. Typical menus include a warming soup, Moroccan salads, a tagine or couscous and sweet mint tea, and the food is halal, as everywhere in Morocco. Drinks with lunch are extra. Afterwards there is usually a little time for shopping before the coach takes you back to the port.