Sitting on the northern coast of Morocco sits Tangier, a small city that is a very popular day trip from Spain.
For those who plan a Tangier day trip from Spain, Tarifa is the gateway city with its abundance of ferry sailings throughout the day. In just one hour, you can cross the Strait of Gibraltar, and for some people, once their feet hit land, not only will they be checking off another country, but maybe even stepping into Africa for the first time.
Planning a day trip from Tarifa to Tangier is very easy to do, as you’ll see in this guide. Ferries run throughout the day, making it fast and simple to get to Tangier. Tangier is very safe to visit, has a few key sights to see, and can be done independently or with a guide.
Adding on Tangier to a tour of southern Spain is a fantastic extension to your trip. Here’s how to do it.
Table of Contents
Where is Tangier, Morocco?
Tangier is sits on the Strait of Gibraltar, on the northern coast of Morocco. This narrow body of water connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.
How to Get to Tangier from Tarifa, Spain
The best way to get to Tangier from Tarifa is to take the ferry. It is important to know that there are multiple ferry ports in and around Tarifa and in and around Tangier.
Ferry Ports
The best place to stay is Tarifa, Spain. There is a ferry port in Tarifa, with multiple ferries traveling between Tarifa and the port in Tangier (Tangier Ville) every day. This crossing typically takes about one hour. This is the best option for a Tangier day trip.
The Tarifa marina and ferry terminal
It is also important to know that there is a ferry port in Algeciras, Spain with ferries running to Tanger Med (crossings take 1 hour 30 minutes and is good for both foot passengers and those with a vehicle) and Puerto de Ceuta (ferry crossings take about one hour). However, these two Moroccan ports are located outside of Tangier (at least a 50-minute drive), so they are not ideal for taking a day trip to Tangier, since you will have additional travel time to get to and from the city.
Ferry Tickets
We recommend booking your ferry tickets several days in advance. We booked ours on Ferryhopper.com but they can also be purchased on the FRS DFDS website. The timetables for the ferry can be checked on both websites.
Ferries leave Tarifa about every 2 hours. A passenger ticket is sufficient and there is no need to bring a car to Tangier if you will be here on a day trip.
Later in this guide we will get into exactly how much time you need, but a morning ferry to Tangier (we booked the 9 am ferry) and a mid-to-late afternoon ferry back to Tarifa is ideal.
Our Experience on the Ferry
We purchased our ferry tickets several days in advance. There was an online check-in window between 2 to 48 hours before departure time, but double check this when you make your reservation as this could change. The online check-in process generated an electronic ticket.
The FRS website recommends that you arrive at the port 90 minutes before departure (for us, that was 7:30 am for a 9:00 am departure). The ferries are large and everyone has to go through airport style security, so this allows for plenty of time to get through security and passport checks. These checks are closed 15 minutes before departure in Tarifa and 30 minutes before departure in Tangier.
You can double check the times when boarding closes on the FRS website. Select “Boarding Procedure.”
We arrived at 7:30 am and checked in at the desk. Our electronic ticket was scanned and paper tickets were printed.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Ask the attendant to print your return tickets from Tangier, as this will save you a step later in the day.
We ended up sitting around until 8:30 am (bring a book or download a movie onto your phone), when boarding began. At the Tarifa port, there is a café, duty free shop, and toilets.
Once on board the ferry, get in line for the Moroccan passport control. Your passport needs to be stamped on board the ferry before you disembark into Morocco. So, don’t forget your passport!
Our ferry left late, leaving Tarifa at 9:15 am and getting to Tangier at 9:15 am. On board is a small café selling snacks and drinks.
The view leaving Tarifa
There is a one hour time change between Spain and Morocco (from late March to late October, when Spain observes Daylight Savings Time). The ferry takes one hour and Tangier is one hour behind Tarifa. So, a ferry leaving Tarifa at 9:00 am will arrive in Tangier at 9:00 am. And a ferry leaving Tangier at 4 pm will arrive in Tarifa at 6 pm. So, make sure you keep track of when to get back to the ferry on Moroccan time.
Once the ferry arrived in Tangier, we were one of the first to disembark and it took us 15 minutes to walk through the port (it’s big!) and do another security check.
Best Things to Do in Tangier, Morocco
Now that you made it Tangier, what can you do? Strolling through the medina, visiting a few museums, and checking out the coastal views top the list.
This list of things to do in Tangier is in order geographically, in the same order as a nice walking route through town, starting and ending at the Tangier Ville port.
This walking route takes about an hour and half of walking time, plus several hours for time spent inside museums and shops, for a total time of 3 to 4 hours. Add some additional time for lunch, shopping, and detouring to anything else that looks interesting.
You can see the walking route on the map later in this guide, plus it can be saved to your Google Maps so you can follow it while in Tangier.
Point Kilométrique Zéro & Lalla Abla Mosque
As you walk from the port to the medina (the old city of Tangier) you will first be “greeted” by numerous guides offering to show you around town. We politely said “no thank you” and continued on our own.
Tangier is very safe and we had no issues here and walked quite a bit through town. In fact, everyone we met was very friendly and helpful.
As you walk alongside the large round-about next to the port, you will see Lalla Abla Mosque.
On the far side of the circle, next to the stone, fortress walls, is a plaque called Point Kilométrique Zéro. This plaque signifies Tangier’s strategic position as a gateway to Europe and Africa.
Lalla Abla Mosque
The view walking from the ferry terminal to the medina
Bab el Hira
Enter the medina at Bab el Hira, one of the entrance gates into the old city.
Bab el Hira
Terrasse Belle Vue
Just beyond the gate, look for a short set of stairs that leads up to a terrace. This terrace offers a very nice view of the marina and the port.
The view from Terrasse Belle Vue
Rue de la Marine
When you leave the terrace, walk down the steps and go straight, heading up Rue de la Marine. This is one of the main thoroughfares through the medina and located along this street are the Tangier Grande Mosque, Petit Socco (a small square in the medina), shops, and cafes.
Looking up Rue de la Marine from Terrasse Belle Vue
Tangier Grande Mosque
Rue de la Marine
Petit Socco
Tangier American Legation Museum
This small museum is located inside of the building that formerly housed the United States diplomatic mission to Morocco. It is the only U.S. National Historic Landmark in a foreign country.
This museum is a symbol of the cultural and diplomatic relations between the United States and Morocco.
Did You Know? Morocco was the first country in the world to recognize the United States as an independent nation in 1777. In 1786, a treaty established trade and diplomatic relations between Morocco and the USA and has remained unbroken since this time.
On a visit here, tour the historic rooms, see the 1786 Moroccan American Treaty of Peace and Friendship, and learn more about the history of this building and its important significance.
This museum does not open until 10 am. Double check hours and get pricing here. From Petit Socco, you’ll walk through a maze of narrow streets in the medina (lots of fun!) to get here. If you arrived on an early ferry, you may have some time to get a cup of tea in one of the cafes on Petit Socco before walking to the museum.
Moshe Nahon Synagogue
This beautiful synagogue is located in the medina, about a 3-minute walk from the Tangier American Legation Museum. It is not open on Saturday (the day we visited Tangier), so we don’t have photos, and it’s a bit of an off-the-beaten-path place to visit, but it’s a nice detour for those who want to see a synagogue in Tangier.
Grand Socco
This large square is surrounded by several important and iconic buildings, including Cinéma Rif and Mosquée Sidi Bouabid. Also on this square you can see Bab Al Fahs, another historic gate that leads into the medina.
Grand Socco
Bab Al Fahs
Phoenician Tombs
Next up is the Roman Punic Necropolis, the oldest site in Tangier and one of the best viewpoints from town. It takes bit of walking to get here, so you can skip it in the interest of time or to save some steps, but it is an interesting place to visit.
Tangier was founded by the Phoenicians somewhere between the 10th and 8th century BC. This necropolis is one of the lasting landmarks that remain from the Phoenicians. 98 tombs are located in this necropolis, many of which are carved into a rocky hillside that overlooks the Strait of Gibraltar.
This rocky hillside/historic graveyard is a popular hangout spot for locals. For the tourists that make it out this way, you get a great view of Tangier.
To get here from Grand Socco, it is a 1.2 km walk that takes about 20 minutes. The walking route is marked on our map below but basically you will walk on Rue de Kasbah and then turn right onto Rue Assad Ibn al Farrat, which will turn into Av. Hadj Mohamed Tazi. When you reach a park on the left, look for an opening in the buildings on the right. The opening in the buildings will be a street that will lead you right to the Phoenician tombs (Tombeaux Phéniciens on Google Maps).
Bab Kasbah & the Kasbah
Now it is time to explore one of the oldest parts of Tangier, the Kasbah. It is a 10-minute walk to get to Bab Kasbah, the gate that leads into the fort. Once in the Kasbah, there are several museums you can visit.
What is the difference between a kasbah and a medina? A kasbah is a fort or fortified area, which usually serves as a political center for the city. The medina is the part of the city where the shops, restaurants, and homes are located.
Ibn Battouta Museum
This is the first museum you will come to once inside the kasbah.
This relatively new museum tells the life story of Ibn Battouta, a Moroccan explorer who traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa during the 14th century. It is an amazing story and very interesting museum, especially for those who love to travel. Just imagine what traveling would have been like 600 years ago…
Get hours and pricing on the official website.
Ibn Battouta Museum
Place de la Kasbah and Bab Al Bahr
Place de la Kasbah is a small square located inside the kasbah. It is surrounded by a few restaurants and museums. One of the most picturesque spots here is Bab Al Bahr, another gate in the fortress walls. If you walk through the gate, there is a nice viewpoint of the Strait of Gibraltar.
Place de la Kasbah
Bab Al Bahr
Two More Museums
Sitting on Place de la Kasbah is the Museum of Contemporary Art. On a side street off of the square is the Kasbah Museum. This small museum tells the story of Tangier and on display are paintings, a lovely courtyard, and ancient architecture.
The Kasbah Museum
The courtyard of the Kasbah Museum
Mosaic tile floor in the Kasbah Museum
Stroll through the Kasbah
Now, stroll through the kasbah, working your way back to the medina. Two places not to miss include Bab el-Assa, another beautiful gate with very pretty tiled benches sitting next to it, and Rue Hadj Mohamed Torres, a narrow street lined with shops and restaurants.
Bab el-Assa
Rue Hadj Mohamed Torres
Le Salon Bleu is a tiny café located near Place de la Kasbah. It’s a great place to get a cup of coffee and enjoy the view over Tangier. Dar Harruch and Kebdani Restaurant are two places to sit down to lunch that are located on Rue Hadj Mohamed Torres. In the medina, Restaurant Al Maimouni and Restaurant Ahlen are two more restaurants that get rave reviews.
Return to the Ferry Terminal & Spain
At this point, you can go for another stroll through the medina or walk back to the ferry terminal, depending on how much time you have left before your ferry leaves. Don’t forget that you need to be at the ferry terminal at least 30 minutes before departure.
The ferry crossing takes one hour. With the one hour time change, a 4 pm ferry will arrive in Tarifa at 6 pm (one hour for the ferry and one hour for the time change).
Passport control for Spain is not onboard the ferry, it is inside of the ferry terminal in Tarifa.
Best Things to Do in Tangier & Walking Route: On a Map
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.
How Much Time Do You Need in Tangier?
Four to six hours is all the time you need to visit the highlights of Tangier. If you follow our walking route and arrive in Tangier at 9 am, you can take a ferry as early as 2 pm, if you move quickly through town, but a 4 pm ferry is best for most people (don’t forget the time change and a 4 pm ferry will arrive in Tarifa at 6 pm).
It is possible to spend the night in Tangier, for those who want to spend more time here. We saw many people with small suitcases who looked to be spending a night or two in Tangier.
Tours of Tangier, Morocco
Our one day Tangier itinerary only includes sights that are easy to get to in town. There are also a few sights outside of Tangier, such as Cap Spartel, Hercules Caves, and Achakkar Beach, that can be added on to your day, if you hire a taxi or take a tour.
This 5-hour tour starts in Tangier and includes Cap Spartel, Achakkar Beach, a camel ride, and Hercules Caves, as well as a walking tour of Tangier, so it is a great way to see both the city sights and places outside of Tangier.
This is a 7-hour tour that also includes the Tangier city center as well as Cap Spartel and Achakkar Beach.
This full day tour from Tarifa includes the ferry ride, a visit to the Tangier medina, as well as Cap Spartel.
If you prefer a private tour, this tour can be done from Tarifa or Algeciras and can be customized for your interests, visiting Tangier and the coastal sights.
Mosaic tiles in the Kasbah Museum
Very Important Things to Know When Planning Your Tangier Day Trip from Spain
Bring Your Passport! You will need your passport to enter Morocco and return to Spain.
SIM Cards. Consider getting an eSIM for Morocco. We bought our eSIM through Airalo, which we use for our SIM cards while traveling. If you don’t plan on purchasing a SIM card, cache your Google Maps on your phone and put the phone in airplane mode so the map doesn’t try to update.
Currency. Bring cash. Some places we visited were cash only, but they did accept euros. We used both our credit card and euros and never had to withdraw dirhams or convert any currency.
Clothing. Keep your shoulders and knees covered.
Time Change. There is a one-hour time change between Tarifa, Spain and Tangier, Morocco. Spain observes daylight savings time from the end of March through the end of October. Morocco does not observe daylight savings time, but during Ramadan it will set the clocks back one hour. Confirm these times before you go, which is crucial to getting on the Tangier to Tarifa ferry at the end of the day.
Ferry Tickets. Purchase your ferry tickets in advance. The security checks to board the ferry closes 15 to 30 minutes before departure, depending on the ferry terminal. Get updates here.
Where to Stay in Tarifa
In Tarifa, we stayed at La Residencia Puerto Hotel & Spa. It has a fantastic location in Tarifa, within walking distance of the ferry terminal and many restaurants in town. One of the best parts of the hotel is the rooftop pool and terrace, which overlooks Tarifa and the marina. There is also an onsite restaurant and a parking garage under the hotel. We had a wonderful experience here and highly recommend it. This hotel also has a sister property called Apartamentos La Residencia Tarifa that contains apartments and is a 10-minute from the marina.
For lunch or dinner in Tarifa, we recommend Restaurante La Morena, Restaurante Raizes, and El Patio Restaurante (the restaurant in La Residencia Puerto Hotel & Spa).
Our room at La Residencia Puerto Hotel & Spa
Rooftop terrace at La Residencia Puerto Hotel & Spa
If you have any questions about how to plan a Tangier day trip from Spain or how to spend one day in Tangier, let us know in the comment section below.
More Information for Your Trip to Spain
ANDALUSIA: In our guides to Andalusia, Spain, we cover the best things to do in Seville, the best way to spend one day in Seville, a one day itinerary with a walking tour of Ronda, and a guide to the Caminito del Rey, one of the most famous walks in Spain. And if you have plans to visit Granada, don’t miss our article How to Plan a Trip to Granada and our Guide to the Alhambra. We also have an article about the Best Things to Do in Córdoba and How to Visit the Rock of Gibraltar.
MADRID: Visit the must-see sights plus a few hidden gems in our article Best Things to Do in Madrid. We also have a detailed itinerary on How to Spend One Day in Madrid.
BARCELONA: Start with our guide to the best things to do in Barcelona. Plan your visit with our 3 Day Barcelona Itinerary, our guide on Where to Stay in Barcelona, and get recommendations on where to eat in Barcelona.
Read all of our articles about Spain in our SpainTravel Guide.
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