Crossing Gibraltar by ferry from Algeciras or Tarifa?

Question

I'll reach Spain from London by air, than I'll cross Gibraltar by ferry. From London I've flight to Malaga and Jerez[near to Gibraltar]. I can take a ferry from Algeciras or Tarifa. To reach easily Algeciras or Tarifa which air port [Malaga or Jerez] will be the best? which is the easyest way to reach Algeciras from Malaga?How much time it will take?

Answer 1

Hi, Jerez is slightly closer to both Algeciras and Tarifa. It´s aprox 34 km from Cadiz which is 100km from Tarifa and  70 km from Algeciras (From Jerez there are aprox. 100km to Algeciras and 130km to Tarifa . Malaga is only and by highway yet youll find traffic jams, uggly road and more confusinf trafic. Jerez ia a pretty town less traffic congestion, or no congestion also smaller airport and more relaxed than Málaga´s traffic and airport There are more ferries from Algeciras than from Tarifa. The distance to Africa is more or less the same, slightly shorter from Tarifa than Algeciras  . However Algeciras is not such a pleasent city since the port is too large and you have the sensation that everyone there is only on transit, while Tarifa is a very pretty, nice beaches, nice People and you can see Africa´s coast much more clearly since its closer. Also since its less known outside Spain as link to Africa there is less trafic and people movement. Its also wind surf and parapente-sruf - or wichm´call it" paradise. Near Tarifa are the Roman ruins and Beach of Bolonia. Very Beautiful. Tarifa´s Castle and city are pretty and the wind is great - for windlovers like myself. So I would go to Tarifa. Below are the road directions to drive from Jerez to Tarifa - Algeciras

From: Aeropuerto de Jerez, Andalucía (España)  

To:  Algeciras, Andalucía (España)  

DISTANCE : 109.95 km, by Highway: 95.40 km

Tome aprox (1) : 1H 25min

Standard car

Gas : 11.24 € (9 l)

Tolls on Highway (2) ESP 5.00 EUR

Directions

Aeropuerto de Jerez, Andalucía (Espanja)  

Leave Aeropuerto de Jerez and continue Carretera Madrid-Cádiz [1.59km]

After 1 Km 0H01  cross round about circle [390m]

2 Km 0H02 cross round about circle and take A-4 [2.38km]

   follow route

E-5Cádiz

Ap-4Sevilla

A-4Jeréz

5 Km 0H05  Choose conction  631E-5Cádiz

Ap-4Sevilla

A-382Arcos

[290m]

5 Km Pass roundabout and take left N-349 [2.36km]

To Jerez de la Frontera

7 Km   Continue N-349 [860m]

8 Km  Pass roundabout and take left to Carretera Enlace with A-4 [360m]

9 Km 0H10  leave Jerez de la Frontera and choose A-4/E-5 [5.48km]

Follow route E-5 Ap-4 to:

E5- Cádiz

Ap-4 Sevilla

A-4 Jeréz

9 Km   Toll

14 Km   Toll

15 Km Choose conexion 84

Jerez Sur

Medina-Sidonia

Continue A-381 [87.75km]

51 Km      Tunel de Tablada

52 Km      Viaducto Río Alamo

104 Km Choose conection A-48/E-15 [410m]

   follow route E-15A-7

Algeciras

Cádiz

104 Km Go to Algeciras [5.37km]

   direction E-5 A-7

Cádiz

109 Km 01H25  Algeciras, Andalucía (España)  

See full route detailed and map with indications and press (suurenna kartta or magnify map) doubleckicking:

http://www14.mappy.com/sidTvNjbh/tambMn2...

OR

From  Aeropuerto de Jerez, Andalucía (España)  

To  Tarifa, Andalucía (España)  

Distance : 130.48 km by Highway: 101.76 km

Time aprox. : 1H 40min

Standard car

Gas: 13.33 € (11 l)

Tolls (2) ESP 5.00 EUR

Directions

Aeropuerto de Jerez, Andalucía (Espanja)  

Leave Aeropuerto de Jerez and continue Carretera Madrid-Cádiz [1.59km]

1 Km cross round about circle [390m]

2 Km  cross round about circle  and conect with A-4 [2.38km]

Take

E-5 Cádiz

Ap-4Sevilla

A-4Jeréz

5 Km 0H05  Choose conection 631

E-5Cádiz

Ap-4Sevilla

A-382Arcos

[290m]

5 Km cross round about circle  and turn left to conect with N-349 [2.36km]

Take Jerez de la Frontera

7 Km Continue N-349 [860m]

8 Km cross round about circle  and take left toCarretera Enlace with A-4 [360m]

9 Km Leave Jerez de la Frontera choose A-4/E-5 [5.48km]

Follow  E-5 and then  Ap-4 Cádiz

E-5

Cádiz

Arcos

Circuito

9 Km   Toll

14 Km   Toll

15 Km Choose concetion 84 to Jerez Sur

Medina-Sidonia

continue A-381 [87.75km]

51 Km      Tunel de Tablada

52 Km      Viaducto Río Alamo

104 Km choose conection A-48/E-15 [6.78km]

Follow E-15A-7

Algeciras

Cádiz

103 Km    pass by Algeciras

110 Km Leave road N-340 [18.06km]

115 Km     pass El Pelayo

129 Km  cross round about circle  and go to Tarifa [1.42km]

130 Km  Tarifa, Andalucía (Espanja)  

See full route detailed and map with indications and press (suurenna kartta or magnify map) doubleckicking:

http://www14.mappy.com/sidTvNjbh/tambMn2...

or

From  Aeropuerto de Málaga, Andalucía (Españja)  

To Algeciras, Andalucía (España)  



Distance : 131.34 km Highway : 122.11 km

Time (1) : 1H 33min (if no usual traffic jams)  

Standard Auto

Gas : 13.93 € (11 l)

Tollst (2) ESP : 5.00 EUR

Check route See full route with step by step directions in and a detailed and map with indications and press (suurenna kartta or magnify map) doubleckicking:

http://www44.mappy.com/sidBsjpvTDJE6TMn2...

PS: Sorry the Spanish server for Mappy site  was down and had to translate for U. Surprise! Did not translate as you can see the step by step instructions to Malga but I think you will still understandd or try the spanish site yourself at:

http://www7.mappy.com

Also Tarifa is the famous site of the naval battle of Trafalgar where admiral Nelson beat the French - Afrancesado Spaniards fleet.

Hope it helped

S

Answer 2

I have a funny feeling that you may think that Gibraltar is an island.

It is not and is accessed via La Linia de la Concepcion, (La Linea).

A word of warning, Algeciras is not a nice place. As a previous contributor hints. Be careful. It is the only place in Spain where I lock my car doors when passing through.