Travel guide · Ferry, timing and what fits in a day
Day Trip to Tangier from Spain
A day trip to Tangier from Spain is an hour by ferry: take the morning boat from Tarifa to Tangier City Port (Tanger Ville), spend the day in Tangier with your own licensed guide and sail back in the evening. You book the ferry, your guide meets you inside the port, and private tours start from $25 per person for a group of 4. Here is how the crossing works, what fits in a day from each city in Spain, and what to bring.
- By Fadi Bennani, licensed guide, licence 3797
- 87 Google reviews, rated 4.9
- Updated October 2026
Crossings
Spain → Tangier
Now in Tangier
| Way | Time | Arrives | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tarifa ferry | About 1h | Tanger Ville | Tarifa |
| Algeciras ferry | About 1h30 | Tanger Med | Algeciras |
| Coach tour | Up to 13h day | In a group | Costa del Sol |
| Private guide | 4 to 8h | Met at the port | Your ferry |
Pick what matters most and the board lights up the best way to cross.
- About 1 hourTarifa to Tanger Ville
- About €35 to €40ferry, each way
- 10 min walkport to medina
- 2 hours behindSpain, in summer
- Passportno visa for many
- From $25private tour, per person (group of 4)
The short answer
Can you do a day trip to Morocco from Spain?
Yes. The easiest day trip to Morocco from Spain is Tarifa to Tangier: the fast ferry crosses the Strait of Gibraltar in about an hour and lands at the Tanger Ville port, about ten minutes' walk from the medina. Take a morning ferry, spend the day in the city (here are the things to do in Tangier) and sail back to Spain in the evening.
You book the ferry yourself, online or at the port, for about €35 to €40 each way. Tour Guide Tangier meets you inside the port at Tanger Ville with your name, plans the day around your crossing times and brings you back in time for your boat home. A private tour in Tangier starts from $25 per person for a group of 4.
Bring your passport. EU, UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens, among many others, need no visa for a short visit, but check the rules for yours. Passport control for Morocco happens on board the ferry, so join the queue as soon as you sail.
- About 1 hourTarifa to Tanger Ville
- 10 minutes on footFrom the port to the medina
- From $25Private tour, group of 4
- PassportBring it for the crossing
Organised or with your own guide
An organised day trip from Tarifa or your own guide in Tangier
The organised day trip
The ferry companies and several agencies in Tarifa sell day trips that bundle the ferry ticket, a guide, lunch and a group tour of Tangier. The package keeps fixed times: the morning ferry out, a set route through the city and the ferry back at the end of the day.
With your own guide
You book the ferry that suits you, and your licensed guide waits for you inside the port at Tanger Ville with your name. The day is for your group only: you choose the tour, the pace and the stops, and the plan is built around your boat home.
Plan your crossing
Your day trip from Spain, city by city
Where you start decides how long the day is. Pick your city for the road to the ferry and the Tangier tours that fit.
Where are you starting from?
From Tarifa
- By road to Tarifa portYou are there
- Ferry to Tanger VilleAbout 1 hour
- In TangierYour guide inside the port
Stay in Tarifa the night before and take an early ferry: the day is long enough for the full day tour, with the Kasbah, the medina, Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules. The day from Tarifa, step by step.
From Algeciras
- By road to Tarifa portAbout 30 minutes
- Ferry to Tanger VilleAbout 1 hour
- In TangierYour guide inside the port
Ferries from Algeciras sail to Tanger Med, about 45 minutes from Tangier by road. For a day trip, the short drive to Tarifa and the ferry to Tanger Ville save time. We meet either port, with an extra fee for pick-up at Tanger Med. The day from Algeciras, step by step.
From Gibraltar
- By road to Tarifa portAbout 45 minutes
- Ferry to Tanger VilleAbout 1 hour
- In TangierYour guide inside the port
Cross into Spain at La Línea, then take the coast road to Tarifa. A morning ferry leaves room for the full day tour. The day from Gibraltar, step by step.
From Cádiz
- By road to Tarifa portAbout 1 hour 15
- Ferry to Tanger VilleAbout 1 hour
- In TangierYour guide inside the port
A comfortable day: leave early, and choose between the full day tour and a half day in the medina with time to shop. The day from Cádiz, step by step.
From Marbella
- By road to Tarifa portAbout 1 hour 15
- Ferry to Tanger VilleAbout 1 hour
- In TangierYour guide inside the port
Along the coast from the Costa del Sol. The full day tour fits well; so does a Bourdain walk with lunch. The day from Marbella, step by step.
From Málaga
- By road to Tarifa portAbout 2 hours
- Ferry to Tanger VilleAbout 1 hour
- In TangierYour guide inside the port
Two hours each way to the ferry makes a long day, so a half-day tour is the relaxed choice, or stay a night in Tangier. The day from Málaga, step by step.
From Seville
- By road to Tarifa portAbout 2 hours 30
- Ferry to Tanger VilleAbout 1 hour
- In TangierYour guide inside the port
A day trip is possible but long. A night in Tangier makes the crossing worth it: the walking tour on the first evening, the full day tour the next morning. The day from Seville, step by step.
Road times are rounded estimates without traffic. Ferry timetables change with the season: check them when you book the crossing, and tell us your times.
Step by step
How the day works
From the ferry in Spain to your boat home, with the times that matter.
Book the ferry
Online a day or two ahead, or at the port, for about €35 to €40 each way. Be at the terminal early: the ferry companies ask for up to 90 minutes.
Get stamped on board
Passport control for Morocco is at the front of the ferry, where you hand in a landing card. Queue as soon as you board; the line gets long.
Meet your guide
Inside the port at Tanger Ville, holding your name. The medina is about ten minutes' walk away; the coast and Cap Spartel are by car.
Back for your boat
We plan the day backwards from your ferry home. Crossings can be delayed in bad weather, so check the day before.
Before you cross
What to know for a day in Morocco
Passport
Always
Carry it for the ferry and passport control on both sides, even for one day. If you cross on your own ferry ticket, an ID card is not enough: Morocco asks for a passport valid for more than six months, even for a day trip. Children need their own passport too.
Visa
Not for many
EU, UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens need none for a short visit. Check the rules for yours.
Time
GMT all year
Since 20 September 2026 Morocco keeps GMT all year, with no change for Ramadan. It is one hour behind Spain in winter and two hours behind in summer, so you gain time on the way in.
Money
Moroccan dirham
Cards and euros work on the ferry. In the medina, cash in dirhams is easier: use a cash machine in the city.
What to wear
What you wear at home
Comfortable clothes and shoes for the medina's slopes and steps. Otherwise, dress as you would in Europe.
Phone
Check roaming
Morocco is outside EU roaming, so check your plan before you cross or buy data for the day.
Only one day in Morocco?
Why meet a private guide at the port
Met off the ferry
Your guide waits for you inside the port at Tanger Ville with your name, so the day starts the moment you land.
Timed to your boat
The day is planned backwards from your ferry home, and you are back at the port in time for it.
Your group only
No coach and no group timetable: the Kasbah, the medina, the coast or a food walk, at your pace.
No deposit for most groups
Private tours from $25 per person for a group of 4, paid on the day in cash, by PayPal or by bank transfer. Groups of 11 or more pay a deposit of 40% of the agreed price to hold the date.
Good to know
Day Trip to Tangier from Spain: Your Questions
What travellers ask before they cross.
Can you do a day trip to Morocco from Spain?
Yes, a day trip to Morocco from Spain is easy: take the morning ferry from Tarifa to Tanger Ville, about an hour, spend the day in Tangier and sail back in the evening. With a private guide waiting at the port, you see the Kasbah, the medina and the coast without losing time.
How long is the ferry from Tarifa to Tangier?
About an hour, and it can take longer in bad weather. The first ferries leave Tarifa in the early morning and the last ones back leave in the evening; times change with the season, so check them when you book.
Which ferry should I take from Spain?
For a day trip, the ferry from Tarifa: it lands at Tanger Ville, at the edge of the medina. Ferries from Algeciras sail to Tanger Med, about 45 minutes from the city by road. We meet both, with an extra fee for pick-up at Tanger Med, and we plan the tour around your crossing times.
Do I need a passport or a visa?
You need your passport. If you cross on your own ferry ticket, an ID card is not accepted and the passport must be valid for more than six months. Many nationalities, including EU, UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens, need no visa for a short visit; check the rules for yours before you travel.
Is there a time difference between Spain and Morocco?
Yes, Morocco is one hour behind Spain in winter and two hours behind from late March to late October. Since 20 September 2026 Morocco keeps GMT all year (the Moroccan government's announcement), while Spain changes to summer time. Ferry times are shown in local time on each side.
Do you pick us up in Spain?
No, we do not pick up in Spain: you book the ferry yourself and we meet you at the port in Tangier, then bring you back in time for your boat home. Tell us your ferry times when you book.
Plan your day
Your day from Spain, planned for you
Tell us your date, your group and your ferry times. Nothing is booked until we confirm in writing.
From $25 per personFor a group of 4 guests. Smaller groups pay more per person: see the price for your group.
- Your guide inside the port, with your name
- The day planned around your two ferries
- Back at the port 60 minutes before your boat
- Pay on the day: cash, PayPal or bank transfer
- No deposit for most groups
- Free cancellation 48h before
- Reply within 2 hours (8am to 10pm)
Tangier tours for your day
What to do with your day in Tangier
- Tangier Day TourThe Kasbah, the medina, Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules, from $65 per person
- Tangier Walking TourTwo to three hours on foot through the medina and the Kasbah, from $25 per person for a group of 4
- Anthony Bourdain TourThe cafés and the fish lunch from Parts Unknown, from $65 per person
- Tangier Shopping TourThe souks with a lesson in every shop, from $30 per person
- Tangier Food TourSix to eight tasting stops through the medina, from $45 per person for a group of 4
- Things to do in TangierIdeas, day plans and a map for your time in the city
- All Tangier private toursEvery private tour from Tangier, side by side
- Morocco tours from TangierStaying longer? Private trips of 2 to 21 days that start at the ferry
Ready when you are
Send us your ferry times
Tell us your date, your group and your crossing times, and you will have a plan and an exact price within 2 hours (8am to 10pm).
- Met inside the port
- Planned around your ferries
- Your group only