Tarifa is a small surfing and windsurfing town in the Gibraltar Straits that gets big Atlantic weather which converts into great surfing waves, windsurfing wind, and in turn, into tourism revenue, even from people like me who don’t surf. Many people like surfing but not surfing is also fine – Charlie didn’t surf in Apocalypse Now, as we know.
It’s mainland Europe’s southernmost point, and was important to the Moors who occupied southern Spain for centuries – it’s name has nothing to do with customs tariffs, but most likely named after Tarif ibn Malik, a Berber conqueror of southern Spain.
Even if you don’t surf, it’s a small seaside town that’s good for a stop. You can get the ferry to Morocco, hike in Estrecho National Park, or go to the beach. It’s less than 2 hours by bus to Cadiz (https://www.aerotrekka.com/cadiz-arsenal-amor/) and under 3 hours to Malaga. The old town and its fortifications are a quick wander and you get great views across the straits.
Puerta de Jerez, Old Town Tarifa
View from Tarifa castle across the straits to Morocco – Tangier is further off to the right (Tangier review here https://www.aerotrekka.com/the-intercontinental-ferry-to-tangiers/).
Tarifa gets plenty of visitors and it must be heaving in Summer, but it’s relaxed enough in the Spring and I didn’t see a single tour bus while I was there.
Estrecho National Park is immediately northeast of town – there is an easily findable coastal trail leading northeast out of Plaza Miramar and Calle Independencia that gives you great ocean views, that you’ll share with some circumspect and mellow Spanish cattle. There’s a good out-and-back trail that stays close to the ocean and passes by small farms and deserted Spanish army bunkers.
Logistics
I stayed at the Hotel Convento Tarifa, a few minutes north of the old town at Calle Batalla del Salado 14. Clean and reasonable, with large airy rooms.
There are plenty of good food options in Tarifa with decent visitor traffic year round. The Cervecería BeerShop Tarifa at Calle Nuestra Senora de la Luz 5 is a good place to try Spanish microbrews and if you can’t make it to Morocco try the Mandragora on Independencia 5 for Moroccan cooking. La Taperia at 47 Calle Batalla del Salado is a bit more local and low key and good for local tapas.
Tarifa’s bus stop is further along Calle Batalla del Salado, about 10 minutes from the old town gate and just north of the Repsol gas station. It doesn’t advertise opening hours but did have a ticket office open the morning I left. The downtown tourist office at Paseo de la Alameda keeps a bus schedule and there are frequent departures to Cadiz and Malaga (via Algeciras).
If you are taking the ferry to Tangiers, you can buy tickets at the ferry terminal immediately south of town. Tarifa is the shortest sea route to Tangiers, although there are also services ex Algeciras and Malaga. There are two lines operating at Tarifa (Intershipping and FRS) so even if you go in blind you can usually get a daytime departure within the next few hours. One wrinkle with ferries to Tangiers is to ensure you are going to Tangiers City. There are also ferries to Tangiers Med, which is a newer port located about 55km east of the town.
Tarifa Lighthouse