Ceuta

Ceuta is a Spanish city on Africa's north coast, known for its Royal Walls and a cathedral that was once a mosque. Plan around border checks before you go.

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Ceuta is a Spanish autonomous city on Africa's northern coast. Its only land neighbour is Morocco, and the city lies between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Culturally it is tied to Andalusia. Spanish is the official language, and Moroccan Arabic, in the local dialect, is also widely spoken. Christians and Muslims are the two largest religious groups, and small Sephardic Jewish and Hindu communities also live here. The city uses the euro and is part of the Schengen area, but border checks apply between Ceuta and mainland Spain.

The Royal Walls, begun by the Portuguese in the 1540s, include bastions, a navigable moat and a drawbridge. Ceuta Cathedral started as the town's Grand Mosque, which the Portuguese turned into a cathedral after they captured the city in 1415. Ferries run several times a day between the Port of Ceuta and Algeciras on the Spanish mainland. Summers are dry and can be very hot, with a record of 40.8 °C in July 2023, so schedule walks for early morning or evening.

Ceuta in five

Carry your passport at every crossingCeuta is in the Schengen area, but border checks apply between Ceuta and mainland Spain. Carry your passport for ferries and flights, and expect checks on the way back.Visas and entry
Use the city bus for both border crossingsThe city bus serves both crossings but does not enter Morocco. Cars and pedestrians use the road checkpoint near Fnideq, and a pedestrian crossing runs between Benzú and Belyounech. The rest of the land border is closed to ordinary crossing.
Book the ferry to Algeciras or fly from the heliportCeuta has no land link to mainland Spain, so the ferry to Algeciras and the Ceuta Heliport are the direct options. Ferries run several times daily from the Port of Ceuta.Getting around
Carry euros and some dirhamsThe euro is the currency, but the Moroccan dirham is used in cross-border trade, and prices are often marked in euros. Carry dirhams only if you plan to cross into Morocco.Money and costs
Avoid sovereignty talk at the borderMorocco claims Ceuta and calls it occupied, while Spain holds that the city belongs fully to Spain. Keep the topic out of border queues and public conversation.

Things to do in Ceuta

See all attractions in Ceuta

Monument · CeutaArab Baths of Ceuta

Rocky outcropping in the ocean with a distant town

Landmark · CeutaCasa de los Dragones

Museum · CeutaMuseo de la Legión

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to CeutaPut the places you like in Ceuta on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Euro (EUR)
Entry: Schengen rules; passport checks on trips to mainland Spain Read more
Emergency: 112 for police, fire and ambulance
Language: Spanish (official); Moroccan Arabic widely spoken
Time: UTC+1, daylight saving to UTC+2 in summer

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear9 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°Mild, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Mild, quiet
MarchRain12 rainy daysHigh17°Low13°Spring starts
AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low14°Mild, dry
MayClear5 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Warm, dry
JuneClear3 rainy daysHigh24°Low19°Warm, long days
JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh26°Low21°Very hot, dry
AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh27°Low22°Hot, dry
SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh25°Low21°Warm, dry
OctoberClear8 rainy daysHigh22°Low19°Mild, dry
NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh19°Low15°Cool, quiet
DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low14°Mild, quiet

Average daily high and low in Ceuta, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Ceuta

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 20°
Humidity: 84%
Wind: 9 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Ceuta

09:36 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today21°19°0%Monday: Fog. High 21°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue21°18°40%Tuesday: Rain. High 21°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 40%.
Wed21°18°62%Wednesday: Rain. High 21°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 62%.
Thu21°17°18%Thursday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 18%.
Fri21°16°2%Friday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 2%.
Sat20°17°8%Saturday: Rain. High 20°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 8%.
Sun20°19°55%Sunday: Rain. High 20°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 55%.

Updated 06:25 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 9.842 MAD

Amount

Converted to

MAD · Moroccan Dirham

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

MoroccoOne road checkpoint at FnideqCross at the Fnideq road checkpoint, which handles cars and pedestrians, or walk across at Benzú.Read the guide
AlgecirasSeveral ferries dailyA port on the Spanish mainland across the Strait of Gibraltar, reached by ferry.

Before you go to Ceuta

eSIM for CeutaData for ferry and border daysRead the guide

Insurance for CeutaCover for a missed ferryRead the guide

Money for CeutaEuros and dirham cash plansRead the guide

Stays in CeutaHotels across the cityRead the guide

Rules for Ceuta, checked

Expect border checks when you enter or leave Ceuta by sea or air to mainland Spain, even though Ceuta is in the Schengen area.
Check Morocco's entry rules with its consulate or official site before you cross from Ceuta at Fnideq or Benzú.
Keep political talk about Ceuta's status away from border checks and public places, since Morocco and Spain disagree on sovereignty.

Plan around Ceuta

Visas and entry

Schengen rules, passport checks and the Morocco crossing

Read the guide Getting around

Ferry from Algeciras, the heliport and city buses

Read the guide Money and costs

Euros, dirhams and typical prices in the city

Read the guide Where to stay

Hotels and guesthouses across the city

Read the guide Phones and eSIM

Data plans for Ceuta and trips into Morocco

Read the guide Travel insurance

Cover for ferry, flight and border delays

Read the guide

Ceuta FAQ

Is Ceuta part of Spain?

Yes. Spain governs Ceuta, a city on Africa's northern coast that borders Morocco. The euro is the currency and Spanish is the official language.

Do I need a visa for Ceuta?

It depends on your passport. Ceuta is part of the Schengen area, so Schengen short-stay rules apply. Check the requirements for your nationality on the Spanish foreign ministry site before you book.

Can I walk from Ceuta into Morocco?

Yes. Walkers can cross at Benzú and Belyounech, and cars and walkers can use the road checkpoint near Fnideq. Expect checks in both directions.

How do I get from Ceuta to mainland Spain?

Take a ferry from the Port of Ceuta to Algeciras, which runs several times daily. The Ceuta Heliport also offers an air link to mainland Spain.

What language do people speak in Ceuta?

Spanish is the official language. Moroccan Arabic, in the Ceuta dialect, is also widely spoken, so a few words of each help.

Is Ceuta worth visiting?

Yes, if you want Portuguese, Spanish and Moroccan history in one city of about 83,500 people. The Royal Walls and the cathedral, a former mosque, are the clearest starting points.