Day Trip from Gibraltar to Tangier: The Complete 2026 Guide (Ferries, Prices & Itinerary)

Standing at Europa Point on the southern tip of Gibraltar, you can see the Rif Mountains of Morocco rising from the haze across the Strait. Africa is just 14 kilometres away — close enough to make out individual buildings on a clear day. A day trip from Gibraltar to Tangier is one of the most thrilling excursions you can take on any European holiday: breakfast in Europe, lunch in Africa, and back in your suite by sunset.

This is the trip that turns a great Gibraltar holiday into an unforgettable one. If you are staying at Victory Suites, the concierge team will handle every detail — from booking your ferry tickets to packing a grab-and-go breakfast from your in-suite kitchen so you can eat on the road to Tarifa. But whether you go independently or on a guided tour, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about crossing to Africa from Gibraltar in 2026.

For broader trip-planning context, start with our Ultimate Gibraltar Travel Guide and our full list of Things to Do in Gibraltar.

How the Gibraltar to Tangier Ferry Works

There is no direct ferry from Gibraltar to Tangier. The crossing departs from Tarifa, a small Spanish town roughly 40 minutes west of Gibraltar by car. From Tarifa, fast ferries cross the Strait of Gibraltar to Tangier Ville (the city-centre port) in about 35 minutes — one of the shortest intercontinental sea crossings in the world.

Two main ferry companies operate the Tarifa to Tangier route:

FRS Iberia

FRS is the largest and most popular operator. They run modern catamarans with air-conditioned cabins, a café, and an outdoor deck where you can watch the coast of Africa appear on the horizon.

Frequency: Up to 8 daily departures in peak season (April–October), 4–6 in winter
First departure from Tarifa: 09:00
Last return from Tangier Ville: 20:00 (summer) / 18:00 (winter)
Crossing time: 35 minutes
Adult return fare: From €39 online, €46 at the terminal
Child (4–11) return fare: From €24
Under-4s: Free

Inter Shipping

Inter Shipping is the second operator on this route, often slightly cheaper and less crowded than FRS.

Frequency: 3–5 daily departures depending on season
Crossing time: Approximately 40 minutes
Adult return fare: From €35 online
Child return fare: From €20

Booking tip: Always book online at least 24 hours in advance. Walk-up prices at the Tarifa terminal are €5–10 more expensive per ticket, and peak-season morning ferries can sell out entirely. If your dates are flexible, midweek crossings are quieter and sometimes discounted. Both FRS and Inter Shipping allow free date changes up to 24 hours before departure on standard tickets.

Tangier Ville vs Tangier Med — Do Not Confuse Them

This catches people out every year. Tangier Ville is the port in the heart of the city, a short walk from the Medina. Tangier Med is a massive industrial cargo port 50 kilometres east of the city, used by ferries from mainland Spain (Algeciras and Barcelona). You want Tangier Ville. Ferries from Tarifa go to Tangier Ville. Double-check before booking.

Getting to Tarifa from Gibraltar

You cannot simply walk across to Africa from Gibraltar — you first need to get to Tarifa. Here are your options:

By Car (40 Minutes)

Cross the border into La Línea de la Concepción, join the CA-34 coastal road, and follow signs to Tarifa via the N-340 or the AP-7 toll motorway. The drive hugs the coastline with views across to Morocco. Parking at Tarifa port costs around €10–12 per day in the supervised car parks on Calle Batalla del Salado, a five-minute walk from the terminal.

By Taxi (40 Minutes, ~€50–60 One Way)

A taxi from Gibraltar to Tarifa ferry terminal costs approximately €50–60 one way. Agree the fare before setting off. Some drivers will wait and collect you on return for a day rate of around €120–140 — worth considering if you are splitting with travel companions.

By Bus (1 Hour 15 Minutes)

Comes (now Avanza) operates buses from La Línea bus station to Tarifa. Departures are roughly every 1–2 hours. The fare is around €5 each way. This is the cheapest option but the least flexible — make sure the bus schedule aligns with your ferry departure.

Organised Tour Pickup

If you book a guided Tangier day trip, most operators include hotel pickup from Gibraltar. The Victory Suites concierge can arrange door-to-door tours with trusted local operators, typically priced at £75–95 per person including ferry, guide, lunch, and transfers.

Passport and Entry Requirements

You must carry your passport to enter Morocco. A driving licence or ID card is not sufficient.

UK citizens: Visa-free entry for up to 90 days
EU/EEA citizens: Visa-free for up to 90 days
US and Canadian citizens: Visa-free for up to 90 days
Australian and New Zealand citizens: Visa-free for up to 90 days

Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry. On arrival at Tangier Ville, you will fill out a short disembarkation form (sometimes handed out on the ferry). Immigration processing is usually quick — 10 to 20 minutes. On guided tours, the tour leader often collects passports and processes them as a group, saving time.

Important: You will also pass through Spanish border control at Tarifa (leaving and re-entering the Schengen Area), and then Moroccan immigration at Tangier Ville. Keep your passport accessible throughout the day — you will need it four times in total (Spain out, Morocco in, Morocco out, Spain in).

What to See in Tangier

Tangier is a city of layers: Phoenician, Roman, Portuguese, British, French, and international — all compressed into a small, walkable area. Here is what to prioritise on a day trip.

The Medina

The old walled city is the unmissable heart of Tangier. Narrow, winding alleyways open unexpectedly onto sunlit squares, mosques, and market stalls piled with saffron, leather slippers, and hand-beaten copper trays. The blue-and-white painted walls glow in the morning light. You can spend two hours here easily and still feel you have barely scratched the surface.

Key areas within the Medina:

Petit Socco (Souk Dakhli): The intimate central square where Paul Bowles, Tennessee Williams, and Jack Kerouac once sipped coffee at Café Tingis. The surrounding cafés are still the best place to sit, order a mint tea, and watch Tangier happen around you.
Grand Socco (Place du 9 Avril 1947): The bustling larger square at the Medina’s main entrance. Fruit sellers, flower vendors, and taxi drivers create a swirl of noise and colour. The Cinema Rif on the square’s edge is a beautifully restored art-deco building and cultural centre.
Rue es Siaghine: The Medina’s main shopping street connecting Grand Socco to Petit Socco, lined with shops selling everything from spices to counterfeit football shirts.

The Kasbah

At the highest point of the Medina, the Kasbah is the old fortress district with commanding views across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain. On a clear day, you can see Tarifa and the wind turbines of Andalusia.

Kasbah Museum (Dar el Makhzen): Housed in a former Sultan’s palace, this small but excellent museum displays Moroccan artefacts spanning millennia — Roman mosaics, Berber textiles, illuminated Qurans, and traditional weaponry. Entry is 20 MAD (about £1.60). The interior courtyard with its zellige tilework and carved cedar ceilings is worth the admission alone.
Bab el Assa: The gateway between the Kasbah and the Medina proper, where prisoners were once publicly flogged. Today it frames one of the most photographed views in Tangier.
The Kasbah Gardens: Shaded, quiet, and fragrant — a welcome pause from the sensory intensity of the souks below.

Caves of Hercules

About 14 kilometres west of central Tangier (20 minutes by taxi, around 150 MAD each way), these dramatic sea caves are half-natural, half-carved by centuries of Berber stone quarrying. The famous cave opening is shaped like the outline of the African continent — or, seen from outside, like a mirrored map of Africa. According to Greek mythology, Hercules rested here after separating Europe from Africa to create the Strait of Gibraltar. Entry is 10 MAD. The surrounding cliffs and crashing Atlantic surf make for impressive photos.

Cap Spartel

Just five minutes beyond the Caves of Hercules sits Cap Spartel, the north-westernmost point of the African continent. This is where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea. A 19th-century lighthouse marks the spot (not open to visitors, but the exterior and grounds are photogenic). Stand here and you are simultaneously at the edge of Africa, the Atlantic, and the Mediterranean — a genuinely remarkable geographic convergence.

Most guided tours combine the Caves of Hercules and Cap Spartel into a single 90-minute excursion. If going independently, hire a taxi for the round trip from central Tangier — expect to pay around 300–350 MAD (£25–30) for the car, waiting time included.

The American Legation Museum

Tucked away in the Medina, this is the only US National Historic Landmark on foreign soil. The building served as the American diplomatic mission from 1821 and now houses a small museum of maps, paintings, and letters documenting the long relationship between Morocco and the United States. Free entry. A fascinating and rarely crowded stop.

What to Eat in Tangier

Moroccan cuisine is one of the world’s great culinary traditions, and eating well is one of the best reasons to make the Gibraltar Morocco day trip. Here is what to order, with real prices in Moroccan dirhams (MAD):

Tagine (60–90 MAD / £5–7.50): The iconic slow-cooked stew served in a conical clay pot. Chicken with preserved lemons and olives is the classic Tangier version. Lamb with prunes and almonds is richer and sweeter. Vegetable tagines are widely available and often the best value.
Couscous (70–100 MAD / £6–8.50): Traditionally served on Fridays, but tourist restaurants offer it daily. Steamed semolina piled with tender vegetables and meat, with a fragrant broth spooned over the top. Eaten with the right hand (or a spoon — no one will judge a tourist).
Pastilla (B’stilla) (50–80 MAD / £4–6.50): A savoury-sweet pie of shredded pigeon or chicken wrapped in paper-thin warqa pastry, dusted with cinnamon and icing sugar. It sounds strange; it tastes extraordinary. Do not leave Tangier without trying it.
Mint tea (10–15 MAD / £0.80–1.25): Gunpowder green tea with fresh mint and generous sugar, poured from a height into small glasses. Refusing a glass is considered impolite. This is Morocco’s national drink and social ritual.
Fresh orange juice (8–12 MAD / £0.65–1.00): Squeezed to order from carts on almost every corner. Tangier oranges are exceptionally sweet, especially from November to April. One of the best bargains in the city.
Harira soup (15–25 MAD / £1.25–2.00): A hearty tomato-based soup with lentils, chickpeas, and lamb — the traditional soup for breaking the Ramadan fast, but served year-round.
Msemen (5–10 MAD / £0.40–0.80): Flaky, square-shaped Moroccan flatbreads, often stuffed with spiced kefta (minced meat) or honey and butter. Perfect as a snack between meals.

Where to eat: For a sit-down lunch, El Morocco Club near the Kasbah is elegant and reliable (mains 90–150 MAD). Restaurant Saveur de Poisson on Rue de la Kasbah serves a famous set-menu fish lunch for 130 MAD — multiple courses, no menu, just whatever the chef bought at the market that morning. For budget meals in the Medina, look for the small restaurants where locals queue — the food is fresher, better, and a fraction of the tourist-restaurant prices.

Tip for Victory Suites guests: If you are catching an early ferry, prepare a quick breakfast in your suite’s fully equipped kitchen the night before. Pack some fruit, pastries, and a flask of coffee to eat on the drive to Tarifa — it saves time and means you arrive in Tangier ready to explore immediately.

Shopping in the Tangier Souks

The souks (markets) of Tangier are not as vast as those in Marrakech or Fez, which actually makes them better for a day trip — manageable, less overwhelming, and with lower-pressure vendors. Here is what to look for:

Leather goods: Bags, belts, wallets, and babouches (traditional pointed leather slippers). Tangier leather is softer and finer than you might expect. A good pair of babouches starts at around 80–120 MAD; a leather crossbody bag at 200–400 MAD.
Spices: Saffron, ras el hanout (a complex blend of up to 30 spices), cumin, turmeric, and dried rose petals. Buy from established shops with clear pricing rather than street vendors. A 10g packet of decent saffron costs around 30–50 MAD (considerably less than European prices, but not suspiciously cheap — very low-priced saffron is often safflower).
Argan oil: Morocco is the only place in the world where argan trees grow. Culinary argan oil (nuttier, darker) and cosmetic argan oil (lighter, unscented) are widely sold. A 250ml bottle of genuine argan oil costs around 150–250 MAD. Be cautious of diluted or fake versions — buy from cooperatives or reputable shops.
Ceramics: Hand-painted plates, bowls, and tagine pots in the distinctive blue-and-white Fassi style or the more earthy Berber designs. Small decorative plates start at 40–60 MAD; large serving tagines at 150–300 MAD. These are heavy, so factor in your luggage capacity.
Rugs and textiles: If you wander into a carpet shop, expect an elaborate tea-and-sales ritual. The rugs are often genuinely beautiful (Berber kilims, Beni Ourain wool rugs), but prices run from 500 MAD to several thousand. Only engage if you have time and genuine interest.

How to Bargain

Bargaining is expected, customary, and — once you get the hang of it — genuinely enjoyable. Follow these principles:

Start at roughly one-third of the vendor’s opening price.
Stay cheerful. Bargaining in Morocco is a social interaction, not a confrontation. Smile. Joke. Drink the tea they offer you.
Be prepared to walk away. This is the single most effective negotiating move. If the vendor calls you back, you have leverage.
Agree on a price you are happy with, not the absolute lowest possible. A few dirhams either way makes a meaningful difference to the seller and none to you.
Never start bargaining unless you intend to buy. Negotiating a price and then walking away is considered rude.

Money and Currency Exchange

Morocco uses the Moroccan dirham (MAD). As of early 2026, approximate exchange rates are:

£1 = 12.5 MAD
€1 = 10.8 MAD
$1 = 10.2 MAD

Where to exchange money:

Best option: Withdraw dirhams from ATMs in Tangier using your UK debit or credit card. ATMs are available at the Tangier Ville ferry terminal and throughout the city. Use a card with no foreign transaction fees (Starling, Monzo, Wise, or Revolut are all good choices for UK travellers).
Acceptable option: Exchange cash (pounds, euros, or dollars) at the official bureau de change inside the ferry terminal or at banks in the city centre. Rates are regulated and fairly consistent.
Avoid: Street money changers who approach you near the port or in the Medina. Rates may look appealing but short-changing is common.

Tipping: In restaurants, round up or leave 10–15% for good service. For guides, 50–100 MAD per person for a half-day tour is appropriate. For small favours (someone giving directions or taking a photo), 10–20 MAD is polite.

Many tourist-oriented shops accept euros, but the exchange rate they apply will be unfavourable. Pay in dirhams wherever possible.

Safety Tips

Tangier is generally safe for tourists and has become noticeably more polished and visitor-friendly in recent years thanks to significant government investment. That said, common-sense precautions apply:

In the Medina: Keep bags zipped and held in front of you. Pickpocketing is rare but not unheard of in crowded alleys. Leave unnecessary valuables at your hotel in Gibraltar.
Unofficial guides: Men (often young) may approach you near the port or at the Medina entrance offering to “show you around.” Some are genuinely helpful; others will lead you to a shop where they earn commission and then demand a steep fee. If you want a guide, book one in advance through a reputable operator or through the Victory Suites concierge. If approached, a firm but polite “la, shukran” (no, thank you) usually suffices.
Photography: Always ask before photographing people, especially women. Some Moroccans are happy to pose; others are not. Respect the answer.
Dress: Tangier is relatively liberal by Moroccan standards, but covering shoulders and knees shows respect, particularly near mosques. You do not need to cover your head.
Water: Drink bottled water. A 1.5-litre bottle costs about 5–8 MAD from any shop.

A guided tour eliminates virtually all hassle and is particularly recommended for first-time visitors to Morocco.

Hour-by-Hour Sample Itinerary

Here is a realistic, tried-and-tested schedule for a Tangier day trip from Gibraltar:

Time	Activity	Details
07:00	Wake up at Victory Suites	Grab the breakfast you prepped in your suite kitchen the night before
07:30	Depart Gibraltar for Tarifa	40-minute drive via the N-340 coastal road
08:15	Arrive at Tarifa ferry terminal	Park, collect pre-booked tickets from the FRS or Inter Shipping counter
09:00	Ferry departs Tarifa	Head to the outdoor deck for views of the Strait; dolphins are occasionally spotted
09:35	Arrive Tangier Ville	Clear Moroccan immigration (10–20 min); withdraw dirhams from the terminal ATM
10:00	Walk to the Grand Socco	10-minute walk uphill from the port through the modern city
10:15	Enter the Medina	Explore Rue es Siaghine, Petit Socco, and the surrounding alleyways
11:00	Kasbah and Kasbah Museum	Panoramic views across to Spain; wander the peaceful gardens
12:00	Coffee or mint tea at Café Hafa	Legendary clifftop café overlooking the Strait — Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones drank here
12:45	Lunch	Tagine, pastilla, and fresh orange juice at a Medina restaurant
14:00	Shopping in the souks	Leather, spices, argan oil, and ceramics — practise your bargaining
15:00	Taxi to Caves of Hercules and Cap Spartel	20-minute drive west; explore both sites (allow 45 min total)
16:15	Taxi back to Tangier Ville port	Allow extra time for unexpected traffic
17:00	Clear Moroccan exit immigration	Keep your passport handy
17:30	Ferry departs Tangier Ville	Relax on the return crossing; the sunset over the Strait is spectacular
18:05	Arrive Tarifa	Clear Spanish border control
18:30	Drive back to Gibraltar	40 minutes on the coastal road
19:15	Arrive back at Victory Suites	Head to the heated rooftop pool; you have earned it

Note: This itinerary uses the 09:00 departure and 17:30 return, which works well year-round. In summer, you can take a later return ferry (up to 20:00) and spend an extra couple of hours in Tangier — consider a sunset drink at one of the terrace cafés above the port.

Booking Through Victory Suites

Guests at Victory Suites have access to a dedicated concierge service that takes the logistics out of the Tangier day trip entirely. The team can:

Book your ferry tickets with FRS or Inter Shipping at the best available rates
Arrange a trusted English-speaking guide for the Medina and Kasbah
Organise private car transfers to and from Tarifa, so you can relax instead of navigating Spanish border traffic
Recommend and reserve restaurants in Tangier for your lunch
Coordinate full guided tours with door-to-door pickup from your suite, typically priced at £75–95 per person all-inclusive

The concierge has run this trip hundreds of times and knows every shortcut, every reliable restaurant, and every common mistake to avoid. If this is your first time crossing to Africa, their expertise is invaluable.

And when you return in the evening — perhaps sunburned, laden with spices and leather goods, buzzing from the sensory overload of the Medina — Victory Suites is exactly where you want to be. The only hotel in Gibraltar with a heated rooftop pool awaits you, along with views across the harbour and the Rock. Pour a glass of something cold from your suite’s kitchen, settle into a lounger, and process the fact that you had breakfast in Europe and lunch in Africa.

Fitting Tangier into Your Gibraltar Trip

A Tangier day trip works best on day two or three of a Gibraltar stay, once you have explored the Rock itself. If you are planning a longer visit, see our 3-Day Gibraltar Itinerary for how to structure your time, and check out our guide to the Best Restaurants in Gibraltar for where to eat on the evenings you are not in Morocco.

If the idea of a two-continent holiday appeals to you — and it should — then Gibraltar is the only place in Europe where you can pull it off this easily. Fourteen kilometres. Thirty-five minutes. A different continent, a different culture, a different world. And then back to your suite in time for a swim.

Ready to cross continents? Book your stay at Victory Suites and let the concierge team plan your Tangier adventure. Africa is closer than you think.