With Morocco perfectly situated so close to southern Europe and Spain in particular, it’s only natural that people want to easily travel between the two countries. Luckily, there are several options to get between the two continents using the Spain to Morocco ferry system. Book your ferry from Morocco to Spain and enjoy a smooth journey across the Strait of Gibraltar.
The Strait of Gibraltar
Ferries from Morocco to Spain sail approximately 343 times per week and are available with Balearia, FRS, Naviera Armas, Grandi Navi Veloci & AML.
As one of the most diverse nations on the continent, it’s easy to see why Morocco has long been a popular holiday destination. Spend your afternoon strolling through the Fez medina, the world’s largest living medieval Islamic city, or simply immerse yourself in the traditional Moroccan culture in a café drinking mint tea. Morocco is a great a departure point for a wide range of international destinations by ferry. As a country with thousands of miles of coast and numerous island groups such as the Canaries and Balearic's, travelling by ferry is deeply rooted into Spanish culture.
Popular Ferry Routes
While there are seven ferry routes between Spain and Morocco, there are two that are practical for tourists. These two ferry routes operate out of two locations each in Spain and Morocco. This means there are four ports in four different towns. The towns are within an hour’s drive of each other on each side, so they are close together.
Read also: Ferry from Malaga to Tangier
In Spain, ferries leave from Algeciras and Tarifa, which are about 30 minutes apart by car. In Morocco, ferry terminals are in Tangier Ville, in the heart of the city of Tangier, and Tangier Med, an industrial port city, which is a one-hour drive from Tangier.
Ferries ply the Strait of Gibraltar, the gateway between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, on one of two routes between Tarifa and Tangier Ville or Algeciras and Tanger Med.
Here are some of the most popular routes:
- Tangier Med to Algeciras: The Tangier Med to Algeciras ferry sails approximately 130 times weekly with a crossing time of 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Nador to Almeria: The Nador to Almeria ferry sails around 4 times per week with an average crossing time of 8 hours.
Other routes include:
- To Motril. Ferries depart from Tanger Med Port. Duration 8.5 hours.
- To Barcelona. Ferries depart from Tanger Med Port. Duration around 34 hours.
- To Almeria. Duration 7-8 hours.
- To Motril. Duration 6 hours.
- To Barcelona. Duration around 32 hours.
🇲🇦🇪🇸 Morocco to Spain Ferry, Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar
Key Considerations
Traveling from Southern Spain to Morocco by ferry was one of the shortest connections we had in five weeks of travel through Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, but seemed to take the longest to sort out the options. Traveling from Southern Spain to Morocco by ferry isn’t difficult, but it helps to understand some of the logistics. I’ll cover what we did and alternatives, including a side trip to Gibraltar. If you are in Spain and are curious about Morocco, an overnight to Tangier (Tanger in French) can be a wonderful way to dip your toe in and see if a longer trip is warranted.
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- Tarifa, Spain: Considerations for deciding whether to use Tarifa, Spain include the fast boat option and efficiency of landing close to downtown Tangier and the medina, a popular tourist attraction.
- Algeciras, Spain: A reason for using Algeciras, Spain is the proximity to Gibraltar, where a fascinating day can be spent stepping into a slice of England (bring your passport) and exploring the tunnels and sights from the historic rock.
After touring Spain and Portugal by car, my husband and I returned the rental car in Seville and took a bus south to the coast of Spain. We chose to stay in Algeciras so we could visit Gibraltar and took the ferry from the large industrial port in Algeciras to Tanger Med the next day.
Additional routes:
- Ceuta to Algeciras
- Melilla to Almeria or Malaga
- Tangier Med to Gibraltar
Morocco Ferry Ports Map
Practical Information
Ferry Duration
The ferry from Morocco to Spain takes between and 66 hours depending on the ferry route, operator, and ship that you choose.
Ferry Schedules
Yes, ferry services operate year-round, with increased frequency during summer and holidays.
Fastest Ferry
The fastest ferry from Morocco to Spain is on the Tangier to Tarifa ferry with FRS in .
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Car Ferries
Yes, you can bring your car on the ferry from Morocco to Spain with Balearia, FRS, Naviera Armas, Grandi Navi Veloci & AML. If you have a car, make sure the ferry you select can accommodate your car. If you have a rental car, check with the rental car agency to see if they allow the car to be taken from Spain to Morocco (they probably will not). Car ferries travel both routes. If you plan on just spending the day in Spain, we suggest leaving your car in Tangier and go as a foot passenger. However, if you are traveling on from Tarifa via car, Tarifa is a nice, charming town to stop for a fresh seafood lunch and there is public parking within walking distance to the main cafe/restaurant area. Don’t miss delving into the quaint cobblestone streets of this quiet little town. During the summer months, Tarifa gets lost in a wave of visitors.
Numerous road trips begin in Spain and conclude in Morocco. The route from Barcelona to Tangier, which passes through the beautiful Spanish countryside and then through Andalusia before arriving on the Moroccan coast, is one of the most popular road trips. If you intend to drive yourself, ensure that your vehicle has all the necessary documents to allow you to enter both countries without difficulty since Morocco to Spain distance is 1312 KM and 382 meters or 815.5 miles.
Distance
There are approximately 20 miles (33km) and 18 nautical miles between Morocco and Spain.
Ferry Cost
The price of a ferry from Morocco to Spain can differ by route, operator, season, vehicle type and whether you are sailing on a high-speed ferry or conventional ferry.
Onboard Facilities
Ferries from Morocco to Spain provide amenities like cafés, lounges, duty-free shopping, pet-friendly areas, and Wi-Fi, especially on longer crossings. Snacks can be expensive on the ferry-we advise to bring your own.
Booking Tips
We suggest that you book in advance to ensure that you get the cheapest ferry prices and availability. Please check out our special offers page to take advantage of all the latest ferry discounts available. Book and compare Morocco Spain ferry tickets, operators, timetables and prices by using our Deal Finder.
Each of the ferry operators had a kiosk on the ground floor of the ferry terminal. We presented our electronic ticket at the AML desk and received the necessary paper ticket. We then proceeded to the second floor to board the large Morocco Star ferry, which accommodated many tractor trailers and few tourists. The ferry was spacious and modern, with a cafeteria and gift shop and several areas with different kinds of seats ranging from comfortable lounge chairs to seats with tables. Only a few were occupied. Our passports were checked on the ferry before we docked.
You can check the options and rates for these ferries online below as well as purchasing tickets. It’s highly advised that you do purchase tickets in advance during high seasons to ensure the best prices and that there is availability.
Additional Tips
- Confirm your booking.
- Passport control: Returning to Morocco from Spain, you will need to go through immigration. Try to get in line sooner than later or you might end up having to wait.
- Luggage: No luggage restrictions in terms of size for either car or foot passengers) so carry away!
- Time difference: Don’t forget the time difference-Morocco follows the UTC + 1 time zone, during Daylight Savings Time, Morocco is one hour behind Spain.
Navigating the Ports
In Tanger Med, our luggage went through security screening and there were several ATMs where we could withdraw Moroccan Dirhams. Outside the ferry terminal was a quiet scene with a few taxis at the taxi stand. From Tangier, we took trains to Fez and Marrakesh, which were efficient, clean and comfortable.
We stayed at the Mercure Hotel in Algeciras, which was a ten-minute taxi to the ferry terminal. There didn’t appear to be significant tourist activities in Algeciras, but we enjoyed walking along the wide promenade where we could view loading and unloading of the large container ships at this bustling port.
A 30-minute taxi ride brought us to the town of La Linea Conception, Spain, which is the closest the driver could get to Gibraltar without going through passport control. He dropped us off across the street from the gate to Gibraltar, where we waited in a moderately long line to go through passport control out of Spain, then another line to go through passport control for Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom.
Ferry Operators
Southern Spain to Morocco by ferry is a popular route with at least five different operators. Several companies operate Mediterranean sea ferries between Morocco and Spain, including Acciona Trasmediterranea, FRS International, Grimaldi Lines, and others.
FRS Iberia and InterShipping operate between Tarifa and Tangier Ville. FRS operates high-speed ferries that take about an hour on hydrofoils from Tarifa to Tangier Ville-look for the word “jet” when comparing options. However, when we tried to board, we were instructed to go to the kiosk on a lower level to pick up the paper ticket.
There are two companies that run this ferry line. The Grandi Navi Veloci operates 5 times a week while the Grimaldi Line runs once a week. But you may want to reconsider given the travel time of nearly 30 hours. This ferry docks in Tangier Med located approximately 40km from Tangier proper. It might be an ideal route for someone traveling with a car or camper van and looking for a way to cross without a lot of additional driving.
There are three different ferries that run multiple routes daily between Ceuta and Algeciras (about 20 slots daily); FRS, Balearia, and Transmediterranea. The travel time is approximately 1 hour. The ferries are both foot passenger and vehicle passenger accessible.
This crossing is available daily via Balearia and Transmediterranea ferries. The crossing time is approximately 6 hours.
Tangier Tarifa Ferry
Arguably the most popular of ferries connections to the southern-most tip of Spain, the Tarifa to Tangier ferry runs several ferries a day running back and forth from Morocco to Spain. The trip lasts about an hour. Pre-booking will save you the hassle of finding that your desired ferry is already booked! If you decide to chance your luck, you can buy tickets at the ferry offices or terminal in Tangier for the Tangier Tarifa ferry. Mid-afternoon gets busy so if you are going hoping to get a last-minute ticket, earlier is better.
Even if you do have re-booked tickets, you will still need to obtain your boarding pass from the terminal or ticket office in town. There are two ferry companies that use the Tangier Ville to Tarifa and return route; FRS Service runs up to eight times a day and Inter Shipping is six times a day. This can also change, though, depending on weather, high season, etc.
The consensus from our experts is that the Tangier Ville/Tarifa ferry is, although a bit more expensive than the Tangier Med to Algeciras option, the ferry is smaller, more efficient, and quicker.
Algeciras Tangier Med ferry
If your destination is Algeciras, Spain, you will be taking the Tangier Med ferry across to mainland Europe. Last time we looked, the Algeciras Tangier Med ferry companies provide a free ferry shuttle from the ferry offices to the ferry if you are a foot passenger.
Algeciras is mostly known as an industrial town and a transport hub; given their large port, but it is also considered a transit destination for further travel into southern Spain or beyond. For example, Cadiz is just over an hour’s drive northwest from Algeciras. Gibraltar is just about 30 minutes up and then down again on the southeastern coast of Spain.
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