The essentials
The route is run by GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci). The crossing takes 31 hours from Barcelona to Tangier and 37 hours in the opposite direction, according to the company. Some of the sailings are a call by its ships coming from Genoa or Sète.
In November 2026 there were 2 sailings a week according to Direct Ferries; GNV talks of between 2 and 5 sailings a week for its two routes to Morocco from Barcelona and warns that frequency increases in summer. You can book all year round.
The ship arrives at Tanger Med, not in the city of Tangier. The sum to do is simple: from Barcelona to Algeciras it is about 1,100 km by road. If you are setting off from Catalonia, the south of France or further north, the ship replaces them with two nights on board.
On foot, by car, motorhome or motorbike, or with a pet
On footAccepted
Accepted. There are reclining seats, which are the cheapest option, and inside cabins, outside cabins and suites.
CarAccepted
Accepted. You must show the original vehicle registration document and, if the driver is not the registered keeper, an authorisation.
MotorhomeAccepted
Accepted: GNV advertises cars, motorbikes and motorhomes.
MotorbikeAccepted
Accepted.
PetsAccepted
Dogs and cats travel in a pet-friendly cabin (2 animals maximum per cabin, limited places) or in the on-board kennels; lead and muzzle in the communal areas. To enter Morocco, the ferry companies ask for a pet passport or animal health certificate, a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. What people most often forget is the return: the rabies antibody test has to be done before leaving Spain. We explain it in the pets guide.
Guide prices
- Foot passenger, one way
- from 87 €
- Car + driver, one way
- No reliable figure
GNV advertises the route ‘from €87’ in the Barcelona → Tangier direction and ‘from €94’ on the return, in a reclining seat. The cabin and the vehicle are charged separately, and no source publishes a ‘from’ price for a car with driver. To compare with driving, add fuel, tolls and at least one hotel night.
‘From’ prices seen on the date we checked. They change with the date, the ferry company and how far ahead you book: use them to compare routes, not as a guaranteed fare. Last checked: November 2026.
Departure: Barcelona
GNV sails from the Moll de Sant Bertran ferry terminal, the F2 international terminal of the port of Barcelona. Access is via the city ring roads (rondas); the L3 metro line and buses 59 and D20 reach the port.
The car park the port recommends is the World Trade Center one: €29 for one day and €95 for seven days, with a maximum height of 2.20 m.
Check-in: 4 hours before departure, with or without a vehicle. Check-in closes 60 minutes before and anyone arriving late loses their ticket.
Arrival: Tanger Med
According to the port of Tanger Med, passports are stamped on board. With a vehicle you go through the customs booths at the ‘Automobile Access’, where the temporary import (admission temporaire) is processed: see the guide to taking a car to Morocco.
On the way back, check-in at Tanger Med opens 9 hours ahead and closes 4 hours before departure; the port recommends 5 hours for the long routes. The ticket must be a dated (closed) one.
By road from Tanger Med
| City | Distance | Driving |
|---|---|---|
| Tangier | 50 km | 51 min |
| Tetouan | 62 km | 1 h 02 min |
| Chefchaouen | 126 km | 2 h 14 min |
| Rabat | 283 km | 3 h 13 min |
| Casablanca | 376 km | 4 h 13 min |
| Fez | 440 km | 5 h 01 min |
| Marrakesh | 608 km | 6 h 44 min |
| Agadir | 831 km | 9 h 04 min |
Distance and driving time without stops, calculated with OSRM on OpenStreetMap data (2026-11-10). For guidance only.
Pros and cons
For
- Avoids about 1,100 km of road between Barcelona and Algeciras.
- You rest on board: cabins, restaurants and halal menus.
- Runs all year round.
- Arrival at Tanger Med, with a direct exit onto the motorway.
- Cabins that accept pets.
Against
- 31 hours out and 37 back.
- About 2 sailings a week outside summer: you have to fit the trip around the ship.
- 4-hour check-in.
- Fixed-date tickets; the cheapest fare allows no changes or refund.
- A single ferry company: no alternative if it is cancelled.
Who it is the right choice for
It is the right choice if you are leaving from Catalonia, Aragon or the south of France with a loaded car or a motorhome, are travelling as a family and prefer two nights at sea to two days on the motorway. If you are leaving from Madrid or the south, Algeciras is quicker. Compare it with your own details in the tool.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the ferry from Barcelona to Tangier take?
31 hours from Barcelona to Tanger Med and 37 hours on the return, according to GNV.
Which ferry companies sail Barcelona – Tangier?
Only GNV in November 2026. We have not found any other company selling the route.
How many sailings are there a week?
About 2 in November 2026 according to Direct Ferries; more in summer. GNV does not publish a fixed frequency per route.
Do I need a cabin?
It is not compulsory, but it is one or two nights on board. The reclining seat is the cheapest option; the cabin, the most restful.
How early do I need to check in at Barcelona?
4 hours before departure, with or without a vehicle. Check-in closes 60 minutes before.
Is a Spanish national ID card (DNI) enough?
No. To enter Morocco you need a passport valid for more than six months.
Sources (6)
Every figure on this page comes from a source consulted on the date shown.
- GNV · Barcelona – Tánger, 2026-11-11
- GNV · puerto de Barcelona, 2026-11-11
- GNV · puerto de Tánger, 2026-11-11
- Direct Ferries · Barcelona – Tanger Med (comparison site), 2026-11-11
- GNV · condiciones generales, 2026-11-11
- GNV · viajar con mascotas, 2026-11-11