Algeciras

City · Andalusia, 🇪🇸 Spain

Algeciras is a port city in the province of Cádiz, on the Bay of Algeciras, facing the Rock of Gibraltar. It has the largest port in Spain, with ferries to Tangier, Ceuta and Morocco, and it is a major crossing point between Europe and Africa.

For most visitors it is a transit stop, but it has a quiet old quarter, the Parque Natural del Estrecho nearby, and a connection to the flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía, who was born here.

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When to visit

Spring and autumn are comfortable. Summers are hot and the levante wind can blow strongly. Winters are mild but can be rainy. In the summer, the port is very busy with the Operación Paso del Estrecho for travellers to Morocco.

Best time to visit: April, May, June, July, August, September, October

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Fair

16° (feels like 12°) · extremes 8°–18°
11° at night
11 rainy days
14 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
16°C · too cold to swim
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in February

Good

16° (feels like 12°) · extremes 8°–19°
12° at night
9 rainy days
11 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
15°C · too cold to swim
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in March

Good

17° (feels like 14°) · extremes 9°–21°
12° at night
10 rainy days
13 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
15°C · too cold to swim
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Great

19° (feels like 16°) · extremes 11°–23°
14° at night
8 rainy days
15 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
16°C · too cold to swim
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in May

Great

21° (feels like 19°) · extremes 13°–26°
16° at night
5 rainy days
19 sunny days
10 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Light breeze
17°C · too cold to swim
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in June

Great

25° (feels like 24°) · extremes 17°–29°
19° at night
1 rainy day
24 sunny days
12 hours of sunshine per day
Humid air
Light breeze
18°C · cool for a dip
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in July

Great

27° · extremes 19°–32°
21° at night
0 rainy days
28 sunny days
12 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Light breeze
20°C · cool for a dip
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in August

Great

28° · extremes 20°–32°
22° at night
1 rainy day
26 sunny days
11 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Light breeze
21°C · cool for a dip
UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in September

Great

25° · extremes 18°–29°
20° at night
5 rainy days
18 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Light breeze
20°C · cool for a dip
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in October

Great

22° (feels like 21°) · extremes 15°–26°
18° at night
9 rainy days
16 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Humid air
Light breeze
19°C · cool for a dip
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in November

Good

18° (feels like 16°) · extremes 11°–22°
14° at night
10 rainy days
14 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
17°C · too cold to swim
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in December

Good

16° (feels like 13°) · extremes 9°–19°
13° at night
11 rainy days
13 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
16°C · too cold to swim
UV index 2 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5 · 1996–2025

Top sights

El Estrecho Natural ParkEl Estrecho Natural Park is a natural park in Spain, located on the northern side of the Strait of Gibraltar.

Marinid Walls of AlgecirasThe Marinid Walls of Algeciras are city walls located in Algeciras, Spain. The walls were declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1985.

Mercado de Abastos de Algeciras

Paco de LucíaFrancisco Gustavo Sánchez Gómez, known as Paco de Lucía, was a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist, composer, and record producer.

Fort of El TolmoThe Fort de El Tolmo was a fort located in Algeciras, Spain. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1985.

Aqueduct of AlgecirasThe Aqueduct of Algeciras is one of the most important buildings in Algeciras, Spain.

Estatua de Paco de Lucía is a statue of Paco de Lucía, one of the great flamenco guitarists, who was born in Algeciras. The house where he was born is in the old quarter.
Parque Arqueológico de las Ruinas Meriníes are the ruins of the medieval Marinid city, Al-Binya, an archaeological park in the center.
Parque Natural del Estrecho is a nature park along the coast, with cliffs, forests and migration routes for birds crossing the Strait.
Acueducto de El Cobre is a Roman aqueduct in the Cobre area.
Fuerte del Tolmo is an old fort in the hills of the natural park.
Mercado de Abastos is the market hall in the center, and the Puerta del Mar is an old gate.
The beaches of El Rinconcillo, Getares and El Chinarral are sandy beaches around the bay.

Featured Lists

montuno / CC BY-SA 2.0

Algeciras Unmissables

Algeciras serves as a strategic gateway between Europe and Africa, shaped by a deep archaeological heritage. This collection features the 14th-century Marinid Walls, Roman fish salting remains, and defensive watchtowers like Torre del Fraile. Architectural landmarks include the rationalist Mercado de Abastos, designed by Eduardo Torroja, and the 19th-century Town Hall. Cultural sites like the Municipal Museum and the tribute to Paco de Lucía provide insight into the city's artistic and Andalusi past, while coastal overlooks provide views across the Strait of Gibraltar.

15 places

What to experience

Visit the Marinid ruins and the market.
Walk in the Parque Natural del Estrecho.
Cross the Strait to Tangier for a day.
Visit Gibraltar and look at the Rock.

Tours & Activities

Algeciras — Map

Algeciras — Printable Tourist Map Algeciras — Travel Guide (PDF) Open the interactive map

Day trips

Gibraltar (about 20 km): a British territory with a rock, a nature reserve and monkeys. Take your passport.
Tarifa (about 20 km): the southernmost town of Spain, famous for wind sports.
Tangier and Ceuta: ferries cross the Strait. Check entry rules.
Ronda (about 100 km): a gorge town.
Marbella (about 80 km): a resort town.

Where to explore

Other places nearby:

Cádiz province: Tarifa, Cádiz and Jerez de la Frontera.
Costa del Sol: Estepona and Marbella.

Getting there

By air: Gibraltar airport and Málaga airport (about 130 km) are the closest. Jerez is about 130 km.
By train: The railway line runs to Ronda and Granada, a scenic route. Book on Renfe.
By bus: Buses run from Málaga, Cádiz, Seville and Tarifa.
By ferry: Ferries leave for Tangier, Tangier Med and Ceuta.

Getting around

On foot: The center and the port are walkable.
Local bus and taxi: For the beaches and the natural park.

Driving

Is a car worth it?: Useful to explore the coast and the park.
Parking: Paid parking in the center and by the port.
Roads: The A-7 and N-340 are busy near the port, especially in summer.

Food & drink

Algeciras has Andalusian food with a seafood focus. Try tortillitas de camarones, atún (tuna), pescaíto frito and rabo de toro. The Moroccan influence appears in tea and some restaurants.

Breakfast

Churros Churros con ChocolateFried dough sticks served with a thick, dark hot chocolate for dipping — a classic Spanish breakfast or late-night snack.

Lunch

Paella ValencianaA saffron-scented rice dish cooked in a wide, shallow pan. The traditional Valencian version uses chicken, rabbit, and green beans — best eaten at midday.

GazpachoA cold, blended soup of raw tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar, originally from Andalusia. Served as a drink or a starter, especially in summer.

Dinner

Pulpo a la GallegaBoiled octopus sliced onto a wooden board and dressed with olive oil, coarse salt, and smoked paprika — a signature dish of Galicia.

Snacks & street food

Jamón IbéricoDry-cured ham from acorn-fed Iberian pigs, sliced paper-thin and eaten on its own or with bread. The finest grade, jamón ibérico de bellota, is one of Spain's most prized products.

Tortilla EspañolaA thick potato and egg omelette, served warm or at room temperature, found in virtually every bar in Spain. Often eaten as a tapa or a quick meal.

Patatas BravasFried potato chunks served with a spicy tomato sauce or aioli — one of the most common tapas across the country.

PintxosSmall snacks anchored to slices of bread with a toothpick, the Basque Country's answer to tapas. Found in bar counters across San Sebastián and Bilbao, often with elaborate toppings.

CroquetasCrispy breaded cylinders with a creamy béchamel filling, typically made with jamón, bacalà (salt cod), or mushrooms.

Drinks

Rioja Wine Vino de RiojaSpain's best-known wine region produces full-bodied reds from Tempranillo grapes, aged in oak. The crianza, reserva, and gran reserva labels indicate increasing age and complexity.

Safety & health

Algeciras is a port city, so keep an eye on belongings in the port area. Use official ticket offices for ferries. If you cross to Morocco, take your passport.

History

The Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans used the bay. In 711 the Moors arrived, and Algeciras was a Moorish port. In 1344 Alfonso XI of Castile took it after a siege, and in 1369 it was destroyed. It was resettled in 1704 by people from Gibraltar who left after the British took the Rock.

The port grew in the 20th century and is now one of the busiest in the Mediterranean.