Tarifa Tourist Information

Nearest Airport: Malaga airport 2 hours, Jerez 1 hr 40 mins, Gibraltar 40 mins Nearest Beach:  Tarifa is a beach resort, Tarifa beach is fine golden sand Amenities: For a list of bars, restaurants and shops in the area please see base of page  Sports:  Tarifa is well known for being the surfing, wind-surfing, kite-surfing meca of the Costa de la Luz First Aid:

The dark blue Mediterranean in the east, the turquoise emerald ocean with its magnificent white endless sandy beaches in the west, hilly nature parks in the north – Tarifa, continental Spain’s southernmost town, is one of the most remarkable places in the world, facing the whole mountainous north African coastline on the other side of the Straits of Gibraltar at a distance of 15km.

Many cultures passed by since prehistoric times and left their imprints. But the face of old Tarifa - with its monumental castle at the seaside, finished in 960 by the Caliph from Cordoba, Abderraman III, its town walls and towers, convents and churches and the typical small shady streets and picturesque patios - was shaped during the five centuries of Moorish reign and the “Reconquista”. You will discover places in Tarifa which have greatly influenced Spanish history.

Nowadays Tarifa – extending to the west – is a very versatile town, full of vital energy, a town where you can find everything in modern shops and boutiques, in a traditional market hall as well as in modern supermarkets.  Bars and restaurants have got international and excellent local food and good wine on their menus, and you can attend courses in guitar and flamenco and a renowned school of Spanish language.

Among the many local festivals the most spectacular ones are the candlelight processions during the Holy Week and the "Cabalgata" in early september when 300-500 Andalusians on horseback accompany  "their Virgen" (Holy Mary) from her hillside hermitage to town.

Tarifa offers an extraordinary, broad range of sporting activities (hiking climbing, cycling and mountain biking,horse riding, diving and sailing etc.). But the highlights are surfing and kiting due to the excellent weather conditions at the wide golden sandy coast. In fact, Tarifa is called the world’s third wind surfing capital.

The town is also a starting point for many excursions to the cultural and historical sights of western Andalusia.
Important bird migrations between Europe and Africa can be well observed from Tarifa. It’s customary now to take a boat at the idyllic harbour for dolphin and whale watching. Ferries go to Tangiers several times a day. Guided tours of 1-3 days lead you to northern Morocco and its Kasbahs and oriental markets.

Thanks to Julia K. for this wonderful article.

Restaurants/Bars in Tarifa

Restaurante Lupita - Mexican restaurtant in Tarifa	Restaurante Karpanta, Ma Antonia Toledo 3, 11380, Tarifa Tel:  0034 956 68 25 50
Mogador Coffee Shop - C/Batalla del Salado No 36, Tarifa  Tel:  0034 956 68 53 84	Koala Bar & Cafe - based in the heart of the old town of Tarifa
Cafe La Paz - On the corner of the plaza bearing the same name in Tarifas old town.	Cafe Zumo - based on the outskirts of the old town near to the port.  Open all year round.
Entre dos Aquas Cafe  - located close to the tourist office.	Torre de la Pena 1 - Bar/Restaruante. Located practically on Tarifa beach
Casa de Porro - Bar/Restaruante	Los Lances Beach Thai Restaurant based on the beach
Valdevaqueros - Bar/Restaurant next to Club Mistral

Shops

Custom Boards Shop - Tinto 1 Tarifa, 11380 Spain
Tel:  0034 956 68 43 6