Things to do in Tarifa

In the old town

Tarifa's old town has a townscape of narrow, winding lanes from the Moorish period. The Puerta de Jerez, with its horseshoe arch, was once the main entrance to the walled town. Tarifa has three medieval rings of walls, and the “Tarifa por todo lo alto” walkway runs for almost half a kilometre along the restored south-eastern section of the wall.

Between the old town and the port stands the Castillo de Guzmán el Bueno, the caliphal castle from 960. It is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00, and a visit includes exhibition rooms and the wall walk. The churches of the old town include the Iglesia Mayor de San Mateo and the Iglesia de Santa María, which adjoins the castle, along with the Santiago chapel and the San Francisco monastery.

On the coast

The municipality of Tarifa has almost 38 km of beaches. Playa de los Lances is protected as a Paraje Natural and, together with the Parque Natural del Estrecho, designated as a ZEPA and ZEC. Which beaches there are and the rules that apply are covered under Beaches. Year-round kite school zones are planned at Los Lances Norte, Valdevaqueros and Bolonia; more under Kitesurfing.

On the bay of Bolonia rises a shifting dune over 30 m high, a natural monument since 2001. The path to the dune has been partly closed since 22 September 2026. In the western part of the bay lie the ruins of Baelo Claudia, a Roman town from the 2nd century BC regarded as the cradle of the fish sauce garum. Entry is free for EU citizens with proof.

The Strait and Morocco

Thousands of birds cross the Strait between their breeding grounds in Europe and their wintering grounds in Africa. Protected sea turtles live in the waters of the natural park, and migrating whales and dolphins have to pass through the Strait; more under Whales and dolphins.

Off the coast lies Isla de las Palomas with Punta Marroquí, the southernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula. Access to the island is restricted. Opposite, on Punta de las Palomas a few metres from the port, stands the Castillo de Santa Catalina, 24 m above the sea. In 1972 the navy converted it into a control centre for shipping in the Strait of Gibraltar, and since 2001 it has belonged to the town again.

Ferries run from the port of Tarifa to Tangier in Morocco; how the crossing works is explained on the Tarifa - Tangier ferry page. More ideas for excursions are under Day trips around Tarifa.