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Tariff It is the southernmost point of mainland Europe, where the Mediterranean and the Atlantic meet, and from where you can see the Moroccan coast as far as 14 kilometres. A medieval walled town, vast beaches and the Strait stretching out ahead.
These are The 15 must-haves, with the timetables and prices you really need to help you plan.
A maze of narrow, Arab-style streets, whitewashed houses and arches spanning from one side to the other to provide shade. The main street is the Sancho IV el Bravo Street, which runs through it from east to west.
You don’t need a plan: just set aside a couple of hours to wander around, pop into the craft shops and have a drink in the squares. It’s the best thing about Tarifa, and it’s free.
The monumental entrance to the old town and the only one of the three gates to have survived which the city wall had: the other two were the Retiro wall, to the east, and the Mar wall, to the west.
It is from the 13th century, dating from the expansion of the enclosure during the Benimerín period, with two crenellated towers. Above the arch there is an inscription commemorating the conquest of Tarifa by Sancho IV the Brave, 21 September 1292.
And something that hardly anyone looks up to see: On the inside of the door, following the restoration in 2000, the following was installed «The Christ of the Winds», a work by the artist from Tarifa Guillermo Pérez Villalta, in a deep blue niche with a starry vault. It’s well worth a visit.
Tarifa had three walled enclosures: the one from the Almedina, the oldest, around the castle; the one at the Lilac; and that of the Suburb, the largest of them, where the Puerta de Jerez is located.
The interesting thing is that you can walk over them. A section of approximately 500 metres of rampart walk, amongst the Network Tower and the Los Maderos Tower, with information boards and views of the old town and the Strait. Check with the tourist office to confirm it is open, as it is not always accessible.
These walls withstood the the siege of 1811–1812 in the face of Napoleonic artillery – one of the episodes that explains why Tarifa was such a hotly contested stronghold.
Tarifa’s most important monument, and its exact date: it was erected in the year 960 by order of the Caliph Abderramán III, to control access through the Strait. It is one of the few Caliphate-era castles still standing in Spain.
The story behind the name: at 1294, Alonso Pérez de Guzmán He was defending the fortress when the besiegers threatened to kill his son – whom they were holding captive – if he did not surrender the castle. Guzmán threw his own dagger from the ramparts. He lost his son but retained the fortress, hence his nickname «the Good».
What to see inside: the trapezium-shaped walls, the rectangular towers in the Caliphate style with Byzantine influences, the Tower of Guzmán el Bueno —a watchtower, octagonal in shape, connected to the castle by a drawbridge— and the Gate of the Founding Stone, with access via a bend in the road. From the top, you can see the mountain pass, Isla de las Palomas and Africa.
It has been declared Bien de Interés Cultural and it is open to visitors, although it is advisable to check the opening hours before going up.
This is where Europe ends. The island marks the southernmost tip of the continent and physically separates the Mediterranean and Atlantic: the sign pointing it out is the must-have photo.
It is connected to the ground by a artificial isthmus accessible on foot, with the sea on either side. The island itself It is a military zone and cannot be visited freely, but the walk to the headland, with the lighthouse ahead and Africa in the distance, is the thing to do.
If you’re interested in joining: there is the Tarifa Island Interpretation Centre, next to the lighthouse, with visits arranged through the local tourist office and by prior booking. The island had Roman limestone quarries and was a Phoenician supply point.
The main church in Tarifa, right in the heart of the old town. Construction began around 1506 built on the ruins of an ancient mosque, with a three-nave layout and ribbed vaults Gothic buildings that still survive today.
It is the façade that catches the eye: Andalusian Baroque, designed in 1774 by Torcuato Cayón de la Vega —the same architect who designed the Capilla de Europa in Algeciras— and completed in 1778.
Inside, there is a Visigothic tombstone which is one of the oldest Christian sites in the area, and the Sagrario Chapel, with a dome resting on pendentives. Admission is free.
The other temple in the centre, on the Plaza del Ángel, originating from a former Franciscan convent founded in 1519.
What almost nobody knows: was seriously damaged by the the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and it practically had to be rebuilt from scratch. The reconstruction is by 1794-1797, which explains its blend of late Baroque and Neoclassical styles.
Inside is the Holy Christ of Consolation, a 16th-century crucifix. It’s a little out of the way, and its square is one of the quietest in the city centre.
It is in a historic building in the town centre that you get a true taste of Tarifa: fish from the Strait, with the bluefin tuna as its star product, as well as fruit, vegetables and a selection of tapas.
Go mid-morning, which is when there’s a lot going on, and from Tuesday to Saturday.
Be careful with the name, because it’s misleading: it’s not medieval. It was built between 1929 and 1933, designed by the architect Julio Murúa, inspired by the Italian Renaissance, situated on a hill 24 metres above sea level.
Nor was its original purpose military: it was built to house a harbour traffic lights and later served as weather station.
It is no longer in use and visitors are not allowed inside, but its silhouette against the backdrop of Los Lances beach is one of the most photogenic sights in Tarifa, especially at sunset. The walk there along the coast is well worth it.
The urban beach: 7.2 kilometres about 120 metres wide, stretching from Punta de La Peña to Punta de Tarifa.
It is Protected Natural Area, covering 226 hectares: the Jara and Vega rivers and the Salado stream flow into its central section, forming marshes where there are otters and migratory birds gather there.
About 10 kilometres north-west, with 4 kilometres of sandy beach and the coast’s most recognisable landmark: the the great dune at Punta Paloma, a natural shifting dune that is moved by the wind and which you can climb.
It is, along with Los Lances, the epicentre of the kitesurfing and windsurfing, with schools and beach bars. It can be reached via signposted turn-offs from the N-340, with parking right next to the beach.
For many, the most beautiful in the province. A cove with turquoise waters, almost entirely undeveloped, and a a shifting dune over 30 metres high, designated a Natural Monument which you climb to see the Strait from above.
It’s about 20 kilometres from Tarifa, via the signposted turn-off from the N-340. In summer, arrive early: the car park fills up quickly.
To choose a beach based on the wind, you need to the best beaches in Tarifa.
The must-see cultural attraction in the area, and it is on the sandy shore in Bologna. A Roman city founded in the late 2nd century BC. who made a living from tuna and garum, the fish sauce that was exported throughout the Empire.
They walk along the forumthe basilica, the theatre, the temples of the Capitoline Triad and that of Isis, the market and the salting works. It has an interpretation centre with projections that bring the city to life.
And here’s what you need to know before you go:
About 6 kilometres from Tarifa along the N-340 towards Algeciras, to 300 metres above sea level, within the Estrecho Nature Reserve.
From here, you can take it all in at a glance: the whole Strait at your feet and, opposite, Jebel Musa and Mount Hacho in Ceuta. At its narrowest point, there is only 14.4 kilometres between Punta de Oliveros and Punta Cires.
It has a car park and is just a five-minute stop, but it’s the sort you’ll remember. It’s best first thing in the morning or at sunset.
The Strait is one of the best places in the world to see whales and dolphins, and the trips set off from the port of Tarifa itself.
You can see them common and bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales and fin whales for much of the year, and in In summer, the orcas arrive following the bluefin tuna, which is when the run is at its most spectacular. We’ll tell you all about it in whale-watching in the Strait.
It’s the one factor that determines everything in Tarifa. When there’s a strong easterly wind, the sand blows about and the beach becomes uncomfortable, but the town fills up with kitesurfers: it’s not for nothing that it’s the kitesurfing capital of Europe.
If you happen to have a day like that, there are alternatives at what to do in Tarifa with an easterly wind.
We are a local tour operator based in Málaga with over 50 years’ experience organising trips around Andalusia. From Tarifa, here are two itineraries that you simply can’t do from almost anywhere else in Europe:
Crossing Africa. Tarifa is the the only port on the mainland with a direct ferry service to Tangier, and the crossing takes about an hour. It’s a day trip.
Gibraltar and the dolphins, on the other side of the bay, with the option of adding a sighting in the Strait.
Enter through the Puerta de Jerez, wander through the old town to the church of San Mateo, climb up to Guzmán el Bueno Castle and visit Isla de las Palomas, the southernmost point of mainland Europe. If you have time, stop off at the Mirador del Estrecho at sunset, six kilometres away along the N-340.
It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.00 am to 2.30 pm and is closed on Mondays, so you can only visit in the morning. Admission costs 1.50 euros and is free for European Union citizens. It’s best to arrive early, as there is hardly any shade and groups start arriving by mid-morning.
Named after Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, who was defending the town in 1294 when the besiegers threatened to kill his son – whom they were holding captive – if he did not surrender the castle. Guzmán threw his own dagger from the ramparts. He lost his son but retained Tarifa, hence the nickname. The fortress dates back further: it was built in the year 960 on the orders of Caliph Abd-ar-Rahman III.
Not freely, as it is a military zone. However, you can walk along the artificial isthmus that connects it to the mainland, with the Mediterranean on one side and the Atlantic on the other, all the way to the tip where the lighthouse stands. To access the interior, there is the Tarifa Island Interpretation Centre, with tours organised through the municipal tourist office, which require advance booking.
Yes. Tarifa is the only port on the Spanish mainland with a direct ferry service to Tangier; the crossing takes about an hour, making it possible to travel to Africa and back in a single day. It’s one of the most unique experiences you can have from anywhere in Europe.
In summer, when they follow bluefin tuna as they pass through the Strait. The rest of the year, common and bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales and fin whales are frequently sighted. Whale-watching trips depart from the port of Tarifa itself, and the Strait is considered one of the best places in the world for whale-watching.
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