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Crossing the Strait

At its narrowest point, around 14 kilometres of sea separate the two countries. This page gets you oriented; the detail of every crossing is on our sister site.

Four ways to cross

Tarifa – Tangier City: the fast ferry takes about an hour and drops you in the centre of Tangier, right by the medina, at the Tangier City (Tanger Ville) port. It is the best option on foot, and the one most affected by the easterly levante wind.

Algeciras – Tanger Med: an hour and a half at sea, with sailings throughout the day from several operators. This is the route for drivers, because Tanger Med opens straight onto the motorway to Rabat, Casablanca and the south.

Almería – Nador: six to nine hours, with a daily sailing all year round. Useful if you are heading for the eastern Rif or for Fez from eastern Spain.

Barcelona – Tanger Med: a little over a day on board, in exchange for skipping the drive across the whole peninsula.

Which route for which city

For Tangier, the Tarifa ferry: you walk straight into town. For Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakesh and Agadir, Algeciras – Tanger Med and the motorway, or Tarifa and the train from Tangier's station. For Fez, compare Tanger Med with Nador depending on where you set off from.

Each city page has a box with the recommended crossing and a link to the Ferries Marruecos door-to-door journey planner.

Summer: a dated ticket

Every summer, Operation Crossing the Strait (Operación Paso del Estrecho) brings millions of travellers through between June and September, and a trip in June or July 2030 will coincide with it. Since 2026, a ticket with a set date and time has been a condition of entry to Tanger Med and Algeciras during peak periods.

We explain it in detail, with sources, in the Operation Crossing the Strait guide on Ferries Marruecos.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the ferry from Spain to Morocco take?

About an hour from Tarifa to Tangier City and an hour and a half from Algeciras to Tanger Med. The long routes, from Almería or Barcelona, take anywhere from six hours to more than a day.

Which Tangier port should I use?

Tangier City if you are on foot and staying in Tangier; Tanger Med if you have a car or are carrying on south by motorway.

Where can I compare timetables and fares?

On Ferries Marruecos, our sister site, which covers every route with the date it was last checked.

Sources (6)

Every fact on this page comes from a source consulted on the date shown.