How to Take a Morocco Day Trip From Seville
Did you know that it only takes a 60-minute ferry ride to get from Europe to Africa?!
That’s right - while there are many countries along Northern Africa that are a hop across the Mediterranean, one popular location is Tangier, Morocco, just a short ferry ride from Southern Spain.
If you are traveling through Spain and have dreamt of visiting Morocco, it is definitely doable to take a day trip and get a small taste of the country. This is your chance!
Visit Tangier with or without a tour company?
If you are keen to plan travel logistics, then going on your own is an option. You can get to the southern coast of Spain, cross via the ferry, explore the city of Tangier on the other side, and come back!
For us, we knew we were going to be jet lagged and exhausted from traveling as we’d be going to Morocco toward the beginning of our Spain trip. Time was limited and we wanted to make sure everything went smoothly.
Planning and logistics on the day of sounded less than appealing…which is why we opted for a tour!
I was graciously hosted by Not Just a Tourist, a Spain-based tour company that offers day trips to Morocco and back, as well as others around Andalusia!
I joined the Tangier Day Trip from Seville Tour with Not Just a Tourist. We had just a small group of us (five total), and it felt very easy-going and personalized. This is a full day tour that includes all transportation and guides; the only expenses not included are lunch (15 euros), optional camel ride (18 euros), and tips for the guides.
Transportation: How to Get from Seville to Morocco
Seville is the capital of Andalusia, Spain. It is inland and about a 2.5-hour drive to the southern coastal town of Tarifa, Spain.
Your transportation options are to drive (yourself or private transfer), take a train + bus + ferry, take a bus + the ferry, fly into the Tangier airport, among others. Here is a full breakdown of how to navigate each transportation option.
It seems that the most common options people do are take the train + ferry or hire private transfer on a tour down to the ferry. The ferry only takes about 45-60 minutes each way from Tarifa, Spain to Tangier, Morocco.
Once you pass through customs on your way out from the ferry, you’ll officially be in Africa!
With Not Just a Tourist’s Seville to Tangier day trip, all transportation was included. Our Spanish driver Enrique picked us up from the hotel, drove us to the coastal town of Tarifa, Spain, ordered our ferry tickets and sent us on our way. He was super friendly and pointed out Spanish towns or landmarks on the drive down.
Once we made it to Tangier, our Moroccan guide Hassan was waiting for us outside the ferry terminal. He and a driver took us around the whole day. Hassan was a great guide and we learned SO much about Tangier and Morocco from him! It really made our day that much better as it felt like we had an insider’s view to the city.
I’m really glad we booked a tour versus going on our own, because we would have missed out on so much information and unique details otherwise.
Exploring Tangier
There are many points of interest in Tangier. Since we had a guide and a driver, the day flowed easily and we got to visit quite a few places:
Cape Spartel Lighthouse
Camel ride on the beach
Caves of Hercules
Kaspah
Medina
I wrote about each activity we did in more detail on this post: 8 Awesome Things to do on a Tangier, Morocco Day Trip!
Shopping in Tangier
Narrow, windy pathways with colorful walls await you in the medina, with plenty of shops tucked away.
Shopping in Tangier’s medina is a really fun experience, and there are many items and keepsakes you can take home with you to remind you of your visit to Morocco.
Rugs, lanterns, leather goods, jewelry, and other decor or clothing are a few of many treasures you can find in the medina.
The medina is also home to a food and fish market, which are always fun to check out when traveling!
Haggling (negotiating) prices are a must, just like many markets you find around the world. This can be a fun “game” as you negotiate a decent price for an item you like that works for both you and the shop owner!
Food & Drinks in Tangier
With our tour (15 euros extra), we went to a restaurant that had a multiple-course Moroccan meal with water, a soup or salad, main dish, mint tea, and dessert.
The chicken skewers were juicy and perfectly seasoned, and of course I loved the bread!
What to Wear as a Female Tourist in Tangier, Morocco
You’ll want to wear either pants, skirts, or dresses that are past the knee, and it is smart to cover your shoulders.
The information we were given said to dress typically how you would in Spain, being mindful that your bottoms are below the knee.
Ferry Tips to Consider For a Spain to Morocco Day Trip:
Don’t forget your passport!
Bring a pen so you can fill out the customs form on the ferry.
Get in line right away on the ferry for customs, since it will be long and you don’t want to waste time being stuck on the boat when your time in Tangier is limited!
Do you get seasick? It might be smart to bring tablets for seasickness on the ferry, though if weather conditions are nice it may be pretty smooth. Do what you feel is best for you!
On the way back, you won’t go through customs on the ferry so you do not need to wait in the long line. Instead, you’ll get your passport stamped in the ferry terminal back on land in Spain.
Huge thank you to Not Just a Tourist for helping me make my Morocco dreams come true! This tour was part of a collaboration; opinions are my own.