Tarifa

Tarifa is a charming little town of Arabic origin, situated on the southernmost tip of Europe, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Located only 14 kilometres from the African coast, Tarifa is not only known as the southernmost town in Europe, but also as the capital of winds.

Due to the dynamics between the seas that converge here, the aera is characterised by strong winds and is therefore very popular with surfers and kite surfers.

But not only for kite surfers Tarifa has something to offer, discover it with us!

Tarifa has two great attractions: on the one hand, its more than 20 kilometres of unspoilt beaches of fine sand and crystal-clear waters.

And on the other hand, its beautiful old town, which, due to the high percentage of young, sporty visitors, has a certain casual Ibizan feel to it. There are bars and restaurants with a décor and charm that you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else.

The streets invite you to stroll around and discover the beautiful corners and the many monuments that the city has, due to its rich history and strategic location between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.

This location also gives it the luxury of delicious tapas and seafood dishes fresh from the sea that should not be missed.

What to see in Tarifa

There are several beautiful monuments that you can discover while strolling through its intrinsic streets, such as:

• The Puerta de Jerez, a Moorish gate through which you enter the old town.
• The 16th century Church of San Mateo built on the remains of an ancient mosque.
• Medieval walls. You can walk up there for almost 500 metres and enjoy the views from there.
• The Castle of Guzmán el Bueno, a fortress of Arab origin.
• The Castle of Santa Catalina, a Renaissance style palace, built between 1929 and 1933, currently undergoing a rehabilitation project.
• Roman ruins of the ancient Roman city of Baelo Claudia is one of the most visited spots. It is a narrow road with the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.

Beaches of Tarifa

The beaches of Cadiz in general are spectacular and have nothing to do with the beaches of the Costa del Sol. Most of them are unspoilt, very wide and with fine golden sand.

The beaches of Tarifa are no less so. What makes them special is the large number of surfers and kite surfers who enjoy practising their sport all year round.

In other words, it is a very windy area. While for surfers it is just what they are looking for, the strong winds can really put a damper on a nice day at the beach, as the wind-driven sand is very unpleasant.

Our tip: If you are planning a day trip to Tarifa, find out about the winds beforehand.

Playa Chica Beach

Playa Chica is one of the “smaller” beaches of about 400 metres length where you can practise snorkel and it is the one most frequented by the locals.

Los Lances Beach

7 km long beach of golden sand very popular with kite surfers.

Playa de Bolonia Beach

About 20 km from Tarifa is the beach of Bolonia, one of the most beautiful and best beaches in the province of Cadiz.

It is a very wide beach about 4 km long with fine golden sand and is also famous for its huge dune of almost 30 metres height, declared a National Monument.

Despite being one of the most popular beaches, it is still wild and it is not rare to see bulls and horses strolling along the shore.

Next to the beach are also the Roman ruins of the ancient Roman city of Baelo Claudia, built in the 2nd century BC.

Playa de Valdequeros Beach

Located between Tarifa and Bologna is Valdequeros Beach. It is known as one of the best beaches in Spain. This 4 km long beach of fine golden sand is a paradise for windsurfers and kite surfers due to its strong gusts of wind.

Excursions from Tarifa

We haven’t finished yet, there is so much more to see in Tarifa!

Whale watching

When you are in Tarifa you can’t miss enjoying this marvel. The strait is characterized by the depth of its waters with a huge marine fauna. Booking a tour and seeing dolphins and whales is a wonderful experience for everyone.

Los Alcornocales Natural Park

Tarifa is not only sea. The municipality also stands out for its vast protected natural park, where you can enjoy beautiful hiking trails.

Viewpoint of the Strait

About 7 km from Tarifa is located this magnificent viewpoint with absolutely spectacular views over the strait and the African coast. On clear days it seems as if you just have to reach out your hand to touch it.

Take the ferry to Tangier

If you don’t just want to see the African coast, it’s easy. In fact, the Moroccan city of Tangier is only 17 km from Tarifa. How about a day trip to Morocco, sipping mint tea and strolling through the bazaars? It’s possible, the ferry from Tarifa takes about an hour.