Tarifa · Costa de la Luz
Tarifa as a place to stay
Atlantic to the west, the Strait to the east, the old town in between
Tarifa is small enough that you reach everything on foot, and lively enough that nobody has to go to bed early. The Levante from the east and the Poniente off the Atlantic shape the day more than the season does. We live in La Marina: five minutes to Los Lances beach, ten to fifteen into the old town, the balcony facing west, where the sun drops into the sea in the evening.
As of August 2026
- 33.5 km
- Atlantic coastline of the municipality
- 10.5 km
- Mediterranean coastline of the municipality
- 14.4 km
- Europe – Africa at the narrowest point
- 226 ha
- Playa de los Lances protected area
Coastline lengths of the municipality and the distance across the Strait, from the municipality and MITECO.
Where you are
Two seas, a causeway between them
At the causeway to the Isla de Tarifa the Mediterranean and the Atlantic meet. To the right lies the small Playa Chica on the Mediterranean side; to the left Los Lances begins and runs west for kilometres to Valdevaqueros.
The town itself is compact: old town behind the walls, La Marina on the western edge, between them Calle Batalla del Salado with the first bars. To Valdevaqueros and Bolonia you drive ten minutes along the N-340.
- Two coasts
- Playa Chica on the Mediterranean, Los Lances on the Atlantic
- La Marina
- The western edge of town, between old town and beach
- Further west
- Valdevaqueros, Punta Paloma and Bolonia, by car
Arriving
Along the N-340, and then straight into the garage
From Málaga it is around 160 kilometres, about two hours along the western Costa del Sol and through Algeciras. Gibraltar is closer, about an hour including the land border; Jerez a good hour and a half, Seville two to two and a half hours. The coach stops at Calle Batalla del Salado, the ferry from Tangier in the port.
The apartment comes with an underground parking space: drive in, stop looking. In town you walk; you need the car for the western beaches and Bolonia.
Where you stay
Old town or La Marina
If you want to step out of the front door straight into the lanes in the evening, stay in the old town. If you want to see in the morning whether there is wind on Los Lances, and still walk into town in the evening, you stay with us in La Marina.
Old Town
Lanes, tapas and the Castillo outside the door; tight and little parking.
La Marina
Between old town and beach, five minutes to Los Lances. This is where AMARA Family & Surf is.
Los Lances
The long Atlantic beach, where the wind is the programme.
Campo & hills
Fincas with views over the Strait, everything by car.
WHO TARIFA SUITS
Wind as the programme or calm beach days
On Los Lances the wind sets the day: with the Levante the sand flies, so you swim on the Mediterranean side at Playa Chica or drive to Bolonia. In July and August the town is full and parking a chore; from September Tarifa belongs to the people who live here again.
If you are looking for calm beach days, a town without a summer rush or a Balcón instead of a strait, Nerja on the Costa del Sol is the better base: AMARA Playa there is 200 metres from the beach, and the day does not depend on the wind.
- Beach day
-
Tarifa
The wind decides: Los Lances with the Poniente, Playa Chica with the Levante
Nerja
Town beaches and coves, before breakfast
- Evenings
-
Tarifa
Old-town lanes and Calle Batalla del Salado, kiters at the bar
Nerja
The Balcón, the promenade, tapas in the lanes
- Season
-
Tarifa
July and August full, quiet from September; kite camps in autumn
Nerja
Lively in summer; promenade, cave and museum in winter
- Car
-
Tarifa
On foot in town; a car for the western beaches and Bolonia, a garage space at the apartment
Nerja
Bus straight from the airport, unnecessary in the centre
Wind & seasons
In Tarifa you do not ask about the sun, but about the wind
The Levante comes from the east, warm and strong, and sets the sand moving on Los Lances; then Playa Chica on the Mediterranean side is the beach for swimming. The Poniente comes off the Atlantic, steadier, and brings the waves: the wind we go out on the water in ourselves.
In summer the wind keeps the heat in check; the records barely exceed 37 degrees. In winter it stays mild, around 14 to 15 degrees, and windy enough for kiting.
From September
From September Tarifa belongs again to the people who live here
From September it gets quiet. You meet the same faces in the supermarket, get talking with locals, and the club runs its kite camps. For us this is the loveliest time here.
In July and August the town is full and parking is a chore; we then drive to Valdevaqueros to kite and into the garage to park.
For longer stays the apartment has a fireplace, heating, a kitchen and a washing machine.
Our apartment
Why we live in La Marina
The balcony faces west over the Atlantic; in the evening the sun goes down into the sea there. Above it is the bedroom with the same view: you wake up with the sea, and when there is wind, you see it in the kites over Los Lances.
Robert has lived here for months at a time, again and again, to kitesurf and to be with friends. When the apartment came up for sale, we bought it and modernised it. Because of the evenings, and because it simply works day to day: 75 square metres on two floors, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, underground garage for car and boards, the supermarket opposite.
The pool belongs to the complex and is open in summer. If you want the Castillo outside the door, you are better off in the old town; if you want to see the beach, with us.
One thing worth saying plainly: if you want historic Tarifa right outside your door, the Old Town will suit you better than we do. The pool belongs to the complex rather than the apartment and operates seasonally; check the current opening period before booking.
- 75 m² on two levels, bedroom with sea view
- West-facing balcony over the Atlantic
- Underground parking space for car and boards
- Supermarket opposite, Los Lances five minutes on foot
- Old town ten to fifteen minutes on foot
From September
Quiet, kite camps at the club, the same faces in the supermarket; fireplace and heating in the apartment.
Parking
The old town is residents-only from 13:30; the apartment comes with an underground garage space.
Everyday life
Supermarket opposite, bakery and pharmacy in the same street; Calle Batalla del Salado on foot in the evening.
Wind and weather
The Levante warm and strong from the east, the Poniente steady off the Atlantic; monthly values for your dates.
Beach and coast
Swim close to town or watch the kiters further west; which beach suits today depends on the wind.
Wind and kitesurfing
Afternoon wind on Los Lances, Valdevaqueros in high season; beginners through the Tarifa Surf Club.
Old town and history
Through the Puerta de Jerez into the walled core, the Castillo as the anchor, the Strait at your back.
Food and evenings
Red tuna from the almadraba tradition, later Calle Batalla del Salado and the lanes of the old town.
Whales in the Strait
A boat trip to whales and dolphins from the harbour, flexible around sea state and season.
Bolonia and Baelo Claudia
Open coast, the dune and the Roman town: a whole day, never a stopover.
Your days here
For us, Tarifa is the most beautiful place we know.
Because of the evenings: the sun drops into the sea in front of the balcony, and the old town is ten to fifteen minutes on foot.
Bolonia with the Roman town of Baelo Claudia fills a whole day; in migration season the birds cross the Strait above you, and in the evening you sit in the lanes.