From Spain to Morocco
This is for you if you are in Andalusia and Morocco is right there across the strait. The short answer: take the fast ferry from Tarifa to Tangier (about an hour), then Tetouan, Asilah and Larache, towns that were Spanish until 1956. A long weekend works; a week is better.
The ferries
| Route | Who sails | Crossing | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tarifa → Tangier Ville | Baleària, Africa Morocco Link | About 1 hour | Around 10 sailings a day; lands in the city, about 15 minutes by car from the old town. Fares listed from about €27 one way |
| Algeciras → Tanger Med | DFDS and others | About 1 h 30 | Several sailings a day; Tanger Med is a big port outside the city, so plan the road in |
Which crossing to take
On foot, take Tarifa to Tangier Ville: you step off in the city. Baleària took over this route in May 2025 from FRS, which had run it for 25 years, so older blog posts may still name FRS.
With a car, or if Tarifa is full, Algeciras to Tanger Med is the busy freight and car route. Check times on the operators' own sites before you go: sailings change with the season and the weather in the strait.
The trip shape
Tangier → Tetouan → Chefchaouen → Tangier · 3–7 days
A weekend: Tangier and Asilah. Four days: add Tetouan. A week: add Chefchaouen and Larache, or take the Al Boraq train south to Rabat.
A long weekend from Tarifa
- Day 1 · TangierMorning ferry. The kasbah, the medina and the view back to Spain.
- Day 2 · AsilahAbout 31 km south. A white walled town, Portuguese from 1471, with murals painted fresh every year.
- Day 3 · TetouanThe former capital of the Spanish protectorate: its white medina, a UNESCO site since 1997.
- Day 4 · BackAfternoon ferry from Tangier Ville to Tarifa.
The Spanish north
Spain's protectorate over northern Morocco ran from 1912 to 1956, with Tetouan as its capital. Tangier was left out: from 1925 it was an international zone, occupied by Spain from 1940 to 1945, and returned to Morocco in October 1956.
Larache, about 80 km south-west of Tangier, was held by Spain from 1911 to 1956. Its new town still has the Plaza de España, and the writer Jean Genet is buried in its Spanish cemetery. The ruins of ancient Lixus lie just across the Loukkos river. Asilah's International Cultural Moussem, held every August since 1978, fills the town with music and art.
The cities on this route
What people ask
How long is the ferry from Tarifa to Tangier?
About an hour on the fast ferries of Baleària and Africa Morocco Link.
Tangier Ville or Tanger Med?
Tangier Ville is in the city; Tarifa boats land there. Tanger Med is a large port outside the city, served from Algeciras, and suits drivers.
Can I do Tangier as a day trip from Spain?
Yes, the crossing is short enough. A night or two lets you add Asilah or Tetouan.
Who runs the Tarifa ferry now?
Baleària since May 2025, alongside Africa Morocco Link. FRS left the route after 25 years.
Do I need a visa?
It depends on your passport. Check our visa page before you cross.
Which towns were Spanish?
The protectorate covered the north from 1912 to 1956, with Tetouan as capital. Larache was Spanish from 1911. Tangier was an international zone.
How do I get from Tangier to Rabat or Casablanca?
The Al Boraq high-speed train runs Tangier to Casablanca in about 2 h 10, through Rabat.
Is there a page in Spanish?
Yes: España y Marruecos, written for readers in Spain.
Next step
Sources · checked 2026-11-14
- Ferry Tarifa to Tangier, Ferryhopper
- Spain and Morocco routes, DFDS
- Tarifa–Tangier Ville now operated by Baleària, Ferry Shipping News
- Tarifa-Tanger Ville: FRS cède sa place, Bladi
- Medina of Tétouan, UNESCO list via Wikipedia
- Spanish protectorate in Morocco, Wikipedia
- Tangier International Zone, Wikipedia
- Asilah, Wikipedia
- Larache, Wikipedia
- Al Boraq high-speed train, Wikipedia
Other ways in
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