Can you take a ferry from Spain to Morocco?

Yes — and it's one of my favourite ways to arrive in Morocco. The Strait of Gibraltar is narrow, so the crossings are short and run frequently throughout the day. The headline route is Tarifa to Tangier: a fast catamaran that takes around one hour and, crucially, docks right in the heart of Tangier city, so you step off the boat and walk straight up into the medina. Operators on the Strait include FRS, Balearia and AML, with multiple sailings daily.

The other main option is Algeciras to Tanger Med. This is the bigger, busier port and the route most people use if they're bringing a vehicle, because it handles all the car traffic. The crossing is a little longer at around 90 minutes, but the catch is that Tanger Med sits roughly 40–45 km east of Tangier city, so you then need a taxi, shuttle or onward drive into town. For foot passengers heading to Tangier itself, I almost always recommend Tarifa for that reason — it saves you the transfer.

Practically: bring your passport, as this is an international border crossing. On many sailings Moroccan police process your entry stamp on board the ferry, which is a small pleasure — you're officially admitted before you even dock. Keep your passport handy, and if you've booked through us we tell you what to write on the arrival card. Buy tickets ahead in summer and over Spanish and Moroccan holiday periods when the boats get busy, especially if you're taking a car.

My honest advice on when to use the ferry: it's perfect for a short northern Morocco trip from Andalusia — a couple of days in Tangier with a Chefchaouen day-trip, which is exactly the itinerary I lay out on our Tangier 2-day page. It's also a wonderfully scenic, low-stress entry if you're already road-tripping southern Spain. But if your real goal is Marrakech and the Sahara, flying is far quicker than ferry-plus-the-long-drive south, so match the crossing to the trip you actually want.