Tarifa
Spain's southernmost town, known for wind, kitesurf beaches and ferries across the Strait to Morocco.
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Tarifa is a municipality in Cádiz province, on the Costa de la Luz (the "coast of light"), at the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula. It is the closest European town to Africa: the Strait is about 14 km wide here, and Morocco's coast is nearby. The town is one of the world's most popular places for windsports, because the Strait's funnel effect makes the Levante (east) and Poniente (west) winds blow strongly, often more than 300 days a year.
The old town is enclosed by medieval walls and has narrow, unplanned streets of whitewashed houses. The Guzmán castle stands near the port. Ferries to Tangier take about 40 minutes, and the crossing to Ceuta takes about an hour. Roman ruins at Baelo Claudia, near Bolonia, are a short drive away. Northern Europeans spend their summers here, and winds blow at over 10 knots on average every month, so the wind is strong at any time of year.
Tarifa in five
- Check the wind before planning the dayThe levante blows from the east and the poniente from the west, and both are strong. Kite and windsurf days are common, but swimming and sunbathing can be uncomfortable, so keep a flexible plan.
- Take the ferry to Tangier if you want MoroccoFast ferries cross the strait in about an hour from Tarifa. Check the operator for your date and carry your passport.EES explained
- Hire a car for the beaches and BoloniaValdevaqueros, Punta Paloma and Bolonia sit along the coast, and the Roman ruins at Baelo Claudia lie near the Bolonia dune. Buses are limited, so a car makes the day.Los Caños de Meca
- Join a whale and dolphin tripTarifa is a base for boat trips in the Strait, where dolphins and whales are seen at certain times. Check the operator's license and the season before booking.
- Base in Tarifa and visit Vejer by carVejer de la Frontera is a white hill town about 40 minutes up the coast road. Cádiz is further north and needs a longer day.Vejer de la Frontera
Things to do in Tarifa
See all attractions in Tarifa
Need to know
- Airport
- Málaga (AGP) about 2 hours by road; Jerez (XRY) about 1.5 hours
- Getting there
- Bus from Málaga, Cádiz or Algeciras; no train
- Getting around
- Walk the old town; car for beaches and Bolonia
- Best base
- The old town or beside Valdevaqueros for kitesurfers
- Time needed
- 2–3 days; a week for a surf camp
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low12°Windy, mildJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 104 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Windy, mild
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Mild, windyFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, windy
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Spring, windyMarchRain
Poor
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 199 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, windy
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh18°Low14°WarmAprilPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- MayClear5 rainy daysHigh20°Low16°WarmMayClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 27 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- JuneClear2 rainy daysHigh23°Low19°Kite seasonJuneClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 10 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Kite season
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh25°Low21°Hot, windyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, windy
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh26°Low22°Hot, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- SeptemberClear3 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh22°Low19°MildOctoberClear
Good
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low15°Cool, wetNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Mild, windyDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 147 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, windy
Average daily high and low in Tarifa, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Tarifa
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
19
- Feels like
- 18°
- Humidity
- 85%
- Wind
- 13 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Tarifa
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today23°18°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 23°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue20°17°48%Tuesday: Rain. High 20°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 48%.
- Wed19°16°55%Wednesday: Rain. High 19°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Thu19°17°38%Thursday: Rain. High 19°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 38%.
- Fri21°15°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat20°18°11%Saturday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sun20°19°64%Sunday: Rain. High 20°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 64%.
Updated 06:17 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Feb–MarCarnival of CádizCádiz, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Vejer de la Fronteraabout 40 min by carA hill town of white houses and Moorish lanes.Read the guide
- Cádizabout 1 hour by carA Phoenician port city with beaches and tapas.Read the guide
- Tangier, Moroccoabout 1 hour by ferryA day across the Strait; carry your passport.
Before you go to Tarifa
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Rules for Tarifa, checked
- Spain is in the Schengen Area. Check your entry requirements on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site before you travel.Source
- Carry your passport on every ferry crossing from Tarifa port to Tangier or Ceuta.
- Non-EU travelers may be fingerprinted and photographed at Spanish borders under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's EES page for current rules.
- Tarifa is in protected areas, including the Estrecho Natural Park. Check the park rules before you camp, light a fire or drive off-road.
Plan around Tarifa
A whitewashed hill town about 40 minutes away
Read the guideLos Caños de MecaA quiet beach village and lighthouse
Read the guideCádiz travel guideAn Atlantic old town north along the coast
Read the guideAndalucía travel guideThe wider region and how to connect it
Read the guideSchengen 90/180 ruleHow day trips to Morocco affect your count
Read the guideAll of SpainCities, trains, islands and entry rules for a Spain trip
Read the guideTarifa FAQ
Is Tarifa worth visiting?
Yes, for kitesurfing, wide beaches and a laid-back old town with Morocco visible on clear days. It is windy, so it is not the best choice for a still, hot beach week.
How do you get to Tarifa?
There is no train. Take a bus from Málaga, Cádiz or Algeciras, or hire a car. Málaga is about 2 hours by road.
How many days do you need in Tarifa?
Two or three days cover the old town, Bolonia and a boat trip. Plan a week if you want kitesurfing lessons.
Can you visit Morocco from Tarifa?
Yes, by ferry to Tangier in about an hour. Carry your passport, check visa rules for your nationality and expect an EES check when you return to Spain.
When is the best time to visit Tarifa?
May to September for kite conditions and warm sea. Winter is mild but wet and windy, and many seasonal businesses close.