Ferry to Morocco: which crossing should you take?
Two ports, two crossings: an hour and a half to Tangier Med or seven to ten hours to Nador. Choose by destination, not by crossing time.
Next departure from Almería: today 23:59 · Baleària · 8 h 1 min
Decide in three questions
- Where do you sleep the first night in Morocco? If that is east of Al Hoceima, then Nador
- Travelling with small children? Then a night in a cabin is often nicer than six extra hours through the Rif
- Sailing in July or August? Then book early, whichever route you choose, and compare prices per date
Further on this site
- Timetable all sailings Almería-Nador
- Prices compared per operator, with the cost of getting there
- Port of Nador arrival and the driving times into the Rif
- Check-in when to be at the port, and the steps to Morocco
- Summer traffic travelling during Operation Marhaba
Short across the Strait or long across the Alborán Sea
Short across the Strait. Algeciras-Tangier Med is the busiest line: an hour and a half of sailing, dozens of departures a day and several operators. Besides that you sail from Tarifa to Tangier Ville, right into the city, and from Algeciras to Ceuta, Spanish territory followed by the land border. Handy for Tangier, Tetouan, Rabat, Casablanca and everything west of Fez.
Long across the Alborán Sea. Almería-Nador is the main line to the east: seven to ten hours, four operators, usually with a night on board. Alternatives are Motril-Nador, and Almería-Melilla or Málaga-Melilla: then you stay in Spain until the land border at Beni Ensar, notorious in summer for its waiting times. Handy for Nador, Al Hoceima, Berkane, Saïdia and Oujda.
From the UK and Ireland. If you take the Biscay ferry, the two Spanish ports are about equally far: from Bilbao it is 934 kilometres to Almería and 1,043 to Algeciras, from Santander 997 and 1,010. Via the Channel the same: 2,092 kilometres from Calais to Almería against 2,202 to Algeciras. So the drive in Spain hardly decides it; the drive in Morocco does. Distances by road, calculated with OSRM on 11 September 2026.
From France or Italy. If you want to skip the drive through Spain, GNV sails from Sète and Genoa to Tangier Med or Nador: one to two days at sea, but no two thousand kilometres at the wheel.
When choosing, do not count the crossing time but the door-to-door travel time. If you have family in the Rif, via Nador you are home a quarter of an hour after a night on board; via Tangier Med another day’s driving follows. For the west coast it is the other way round.
Which ferry to Morocco should I take?
| Destination | Almería-Nador | Algeciras-Tangier Med |
|---|---|---|
| Nador and surroundings | Best choice: a quarter of an hour’s drive | Big detour: 400 km, six to seven hours |
| Al Hoceima and the Rif | Best choice: about 2.5 hours on the coast road | Possible: 4 to 5 hours, partly mountain road |
| Berkane and Saïdia | Best choice: an hour and a half | Big detour: a good 7 hours |
| Oujda and eastern Morocco | Best choice: about 2 hours | Big detour: 6 to 8 hours |
| Taza, Fez and Meknes | Comparable: 3 to 4.5 hours | Comparable: 3.5 to 4.5 hours, mostly motorway |
| Tangier and Tetouan | Usually not: 6 to 7 hours’ drive | More logical: you are already there |
| Rabat and Casablanca | Usually not: 7 to 8 hours’ drive | More logical: 3 to 4 hours on the motorway |
| Crossing | 7 to 10 hours, often at night | 1.5 hours |
| Sailings | A few a day, more in summer | Dozens a day |
| Operators | Baleària, Naviera Armas, GNV and AML | Baleària, Armas Trasmediterránea, FRS and AML |
Driving times after the ferry are indicative: by the fastest road, without stops and outside the summer traffic. The driving times from Nador per place are on the page about the port of Nador.
Frequently asked questions about choosing the route
Is Almería-Nador dearer than Algeciras-Tangier Med?
Per crossing usually yes, because you sail longer and often book a cabin. Add fuel, tolls and an extra hotel night for 400 kilometres of driving and Nador often works out cheaper for eastern Morocco. Compare for your date on the prices page.
How much driving does it save from the UK?
In Spain almost nothing: from Bilbao or Santander both ports are ten to eleven hours away. In Morocco Nador saves six to seven hours for the east.
Can I go out via Nador and back via Tangier Med?
Yes, with two single tickets. That is handy if you visit family on the west coast on the way back. Book both singles early in summer.
What is the difference between Melilla and Nador?
Melilla is a Spanish city right next to Nador. A ferry to Melilla therefore does not take you into Morocco: you do that afterwards by car across the land border at Beni Ensar, where long queues form in summer. The ferry to Nador drops you directly in Morocco.
In short
- Nador, the Rif, Oujda Almería-Nador, or Motril-Nador
- Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca Algeciras-Tangier Med
- Tetouan and Ceuta Algeciras-Ceuta or Tarifa-Tangier Ville
- Fez and Meknes compare door to door
- From France or Italy Sète or Genoa to Tangier Med or Nador