Algeciras

Algeciras is a city in the Province of Cádiz in Andalusia, the southernmost region of Spain. It’s west side of a bay of the Mediterranean, looking across to Gibraltar to the east. Most travellers are just passing through to take the ferry to Morocco. In 2025 the population was 126,500.

Al-Jazīrah in Arabic means the island or peninsula, same as the Qatari TV channel Al-Jazeera, the city of Algiers, and sundry other places. No such feature is evident now, but a small island hereabouts was engulfed by coastal development. The Roman port of Iulia Traducta lies somewhere beneath streets that now are pounding at all hours with trucks heading to the port.

Algeciras came under Moorish rule from 914 AD but fell to Castilian control in 1344. Accounts of the Reconquista like to portray a triumphal march of Christendom, but the Moors re-took Algeciras in 1369 and held it to 1462. The place was then depopulated, until 1704 when the British seized Gibraltar, its Spanish inhabitants fled (with good reason) and re-settled temporarily on the other side of the bay. "Temporarily" until the British went home – but over 300 years later Gibraltar is still staunchly British, and the refugee encampment became present-day Algeciras.

Oficina de Turismo is on Juan de la Cierva, midway between ferry terminal and the bus and railway stations, open M-F 09:00-14:30, 15:15-18:30.

Helity helicopters fly five times a day across the Strait from Ceuta, taking 10 min. The helipad is by the ferry terminal.

The nearest airports for commercial fixed-wing aircraft are Gibraltar (GIB ^IATA) a 15 min drive, Jerez de la Frontera (XRY ^IATA) 40 min, and Malaga (AGP ^IATA) 60 min.

One train per day comes direct from Madrid Puerto de Atocha, taking 5 hr 30 min via Córdoba, Antequera, Ronda and San Roque. Three other daily services have a change in Antequera.

36.1265-5.4491 Algeciras railway station has toilets but little else, find cafes in the nearby streets. Turn right (east) as you exit to pass the bus station (which has better facilities) then reach the ferry port.

Algeciras is the terminus of Highway A-7 from Malaga and Marbella, A-381 from Jerez and Cádiz, and A-340 winding round the Atlantic coast via Tarifa.

Comes buses run from Cádiz six times a day, taking two hours.

Avanza buses run from Malaga every hour or two, taking 2-3 hours via Malaga Airport, Marbella, Estepona and La Linea.

Alsa bus treks the length of the country daily from A Coruña via Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, Ourense, Salamanca, Mérida, Seville, Jerez and Tarifa.

CTM Campo de Gibraltar post timetables for local buses:

- M110 & M112 from Los Barrios (by Autocares Hepeta).

- M120 from La Linea (by Comes).

- M130 from San Roque (by Autocares Hepeta).

- M170 from San Pablo (by Comes).

The bus station is 100 m east of the railway station. It’s usually clean and has luggage lockers, for €3.50 / day in 2026.

36.13015-5.441492 Puerto is how the ferry terminal is signposted on highways. All ferries carry vehicles.

From Ceuta DFDS sail five times a day, taking one hour.

From Tanger Med Baleària sail six times a day, taking 30 min. DFDS also sail eight times a day taking 2 hr 30 min.

Tanger Med is 30 km northeast of Tangier city, 45 km by road. The city has buses and trains from elsewhere in Morocco so it’s usually more convenient to sail from there to Tarifa, one hour.

From Algeciras port it’s a 10 minute walk to the bus station then another 5 to the railway station. Follow the crowd up Calle Segismundo Moret.

Most sights are in walking distance.

Taxis wait by the ferry terminal.

• 36.131111-5.4472221 Plaza Alta is the city’s focal point, a pedestrianised square with an ornate fountain. A church and a chapel stand on it but most buildings here are modern.
• Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Palma, Ventura Morón 2, ☏ +34 956 663700. Daily 09:00-13:00, 18:00-20:30. The city’s parish church is west side of Plaza Alta. It was built in 1736, though the Virgin of La Palma on the altar is 14th century. (updated Oct 2026)
• Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Europa at the southeast corner of Plaza Alta is a little gem of a chapel, open daily 09:00-13:30. It was consecrated in 1690 but wrecked in the 1755 earthquake and rebuilt in 1769.
• Museo Municipal, Teniente Miranda 118 (100 m north of bus station), ☏ +34 956 672772. M 09:00-15:00, Tu-F 09:00-15:00, 17:00-20:00, Sa 10:00-13:00. Small museum of local history. Free. (updated Oct 2026)
• 36.134528-5.4487242 Parque Maria Cristina is a relaxing green space with subtropical vegetation. It stretches north from Av Blas Infante and is open daily 08:00-20:00.
• Medieval walls of the city were built in the 1280s. They’re best seen east of Parque María Cristina along Calle Fuerte Santiago, where they were uncovered during a development project.
• 36.148837-5.4452813 Torre del Almirante is the scrappy remnant of a 15th century gunpowder magazine, one of a line of towers guarding the seafront. It’s just a heap of masonry and there’s not much of a view from here, with trucks rumbling overhead along the port’s north access road.

• 36.1062-5.43164 Fuerte de San García is the ruin of a small fort built in 1730 and destroyed in 1811. You get better views of Gibraltar and the strait from here as the industrial port is behind you. A modern metal viewing tower stands nearby but is derelict and locked.
• Parque Natural del Estrecho: see Tarifa for this park ranging over the coast and hills near the south tip of Europe. Migratory birds such as storks are often seen here.
• 36.3484-5.6045 Parque Natural Los Alcornocales. M-F 08:00-14:30. The most extensive forest of cork in Spain and one of the largest in the world. The cork oak Quercus suber is an evergreen that grows a layer of cork beneath its bark: this can be harvested every ten years or so for 200 years without harming the tree. Cork once had extensive uses but is being steadily replaced by modern materials, so commercial cork groves around the Mediterranean have been grubbed out and this is their last major stand. There’s also large tracts of laurel forest.  (updated Oct 2026)

• Playa de El Rinconcillo is the main beach, stretching for 2 km from north of the port by Hotel Mirador del Estrecho (below) up to the outflow of Rio Palmones. The north tip is sand dunes and you might have it to yourself.
• Playa de Getares is the south beach, starting beyond Fuerte de San García (above) and stretching for 1 km. You’re by the Med not the Atlantic here, so the tidal range is only 40 cm and the wind and waves are not so fierce – head to breezy Tarifa for activities such as kite-surfing.
• Cinema: Cine Yelmo is west edge of the city off A-7 in Puerta Europa shopping centre.
• Theatre: Teatro Florida is on Av Agustín Bálsamo by the railway station.
• Football: Algeciras CF play soccer in Primera Federación, the semi-professional third tier. Their Estadio Nuevo Mirador (capacity 7200) is north edge of the city by the river.
• Golf: no courses around the city, the nearest are at Sotogrande.

• Mercado de Abastos is the market hall for fresh produce on Plaza Nuestra Señora de la Palma, a block inland from the coast highway. It’s open M-Th 09:00-14:00, 17:00-20:30, F Sa 09:00-14:00.
• Carrefour Express is by the market hall at José Santacana 5, open M-Sa 08:00-21:00. There’s another near Plaza Alta at Pablo Mayayo 34.
• El Corte Inglés is a big chain department store on Juan Pérez Arriete, open M-Sa 10:00-22:00.

You don’t come to Algeciras for fine dining. Cheap ‘n cheerful eats are in the streets around Plaza Alta, especially Calle Alfonso XI coursing north to Parque María Cristina.

• El Mesón Algeciras is 50 m east of the bus station on San Bernardo, open M-F 06:30-20:00, Sa 07:30-17:00.
• La Flauta Mágica is halal Moroccan food at Av Virgen del Carmen 19 near the ferry terminal, open daily 12:00-23:00.
• El Taller is a block south of Plaza Alta at Teniente García de la Torre 3, open W-M.
• El lugar que no existe – the place that doesn’t exist – obviously can’t be shown on the map, but it’s a child-friendly café next to El Taller at Joaquín Costa 1. It’s open M-Sa 11:00-16:00, 19:00-23:30, long past the little dears’ bedtime.
• La Cata is a tapas bar next to Town Hall on Alfonso XI, open daily 12:00-16:00, 20:00-00:00.
• Surban is an Andalusian restaurant at Plaza Neda off Calle Sevilla, open Su-Tu 13:00-16:00, Th-Sa 13:00-16:00, 20:00-00:00.

Lots of wine from other parts of Spain. Also lots of sherry from the sherry triangle around Jerez – in Spain always drink it with food.

Bars are in the same streets around Plaza Alta as the eating places.

Touts pester travellers arriving off the ferry. They’ll conduct you to nearby accommodation on which every cleaning and maintenance effort has been skimped.

• La Jungla, Cayetano del Toro 22, ☏ +34 646 854555. Basic place midway between railway station and ferry terminal. (updated Oct 2026)
• Hostal Algeciras, Plaza General Martí Barroso 4, ☏ +34 956 098580. Convenient for transport, is the best that can be said of it. (updated Oct 2026)
• Hostal La Plata, Cayetano del Toro 29 (100 m east of bus station), ☏ +34 956 662152. Basic but convenient. (updated Oct 2026)

• Hotel Mir Octavio, San Bernado 1 (at bus station), ☏ +34 856 584224. Efficient place by the bus station with underground parking. B&B double €90. (updated Oct 2026)
• 36.1235-5.44441 Globales Reina Cristina, Paseo de la Conferencia, ☏ +34 956 602622. Mid-range place, cleanliness varies. B&B double €90.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 36.1429-5.44832 AC Hotel Algeciras, Ctra del Rinconcillo, ☏ +34 956 635060. Clean and comfy with underground parking. B&B double €110.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 36.1551-5.45563 Hotel Alboran, Los Álamos, ☏ +34 956 632870. Smart modern place north edge of town. B&B double €100.  (updated Oct 2026)
• 36.1538-5.44664 Hotel Mirador del Estrecho, Ctra del Rinconcillo, ☏ +34 956 098701. Clean friendly hotel by Rinconcillo beach. B&B double €90.  (updated Oct 2026)

As of Oct 2026, Algeciras and its approach roads have 5G from all Spanish carriers.

Be careful with visiting neighbourhoods like Saladillo, Bajadilla or La Piñera.

• Gibraltar rears up to the east. It’s British but now has an open border with Spain.
• Tarifa has an old town, and is the best port for reaching Morocco.
• Cádiz has an extensive old city with stout defences.
• Jerez is the principal city of the sherry triangle, with bodegas you can visit.
• Tangier is a fascinating city and a transport terminus for the rest of Morocco.
• Ceuta is a Spanish city on the African mainland.

Ceuta ←	S  N	→ END
Tanger Med ←	S  N	→ END
merges with ←	SW  NE	→ La Línea de la Concepción & Gibraltar → Malaga
Cádiz ← Tarifa ←	SW  NE	→ merges with