Tangier guide

Tanger Med: getting to central Tangier

TangerLocal editorial teamPublished on 22 October 2026Desk research · without a visit by our team

Tanger Med port is about 45 km from central Tangier. Bus, shared grand taxi, private taxi or transfer: prices recorded in 2026, journey times and the pitfalls to avoid when you get off the ferry.

The essentials in 30 seconds

Tanger Med is 40 to 50 km from the centre depending on the source, 45 minutes to an hour by road.
The cheapest bus (Alsa network) links the port to Tanger Ville station for about 7 to 10 MAD, in cash, in about an hour.
Shared grand taxi: about 30 to 50 MAD a seat; whole taxi: about 200 to 400 MAD depending on the time (2026 guide prices, agree beforehand).
In the evening, buses become rare: plan a taxi or a booked transfer if you arrive late.
If your ferry comes from Tarifa, you probably arrive at Tanger Ville port, right in the centre: check your ticket.

Tanger Med or Tanger Ville: check your port first

Tangier has two passenger ports. Tanger Ville port is right in the centre, at the foot of the medina: ferries from Tarifa arrive there. Tanger Med is a very large cargo and ferry port on the Strait coast, east of the city: ferries from Algeciras and long-distance routes generally dock there. Published distances range from 40 to 50 km depending on the source (vanupied.com, Smart Morocco Travel, MC Consigne), 45 minutes to an hour by road. The name of the arrival port is on your ticket: it is the first thing to check, because the rest of the journey is completely different.

By bus: the cheapest

An Alsa bus links the Tanger Med passenger terminal area to Tanger Ville railway station. The recorded fare is about 8 MAD according to vanupied.com (updated 3 May 2026) and 7 to 10 MAD according to Smart Morocco Travel (August 2026), paid in cash to the driver. The journey takes about an hour to an hour and a quarter. The frequency is not officially published: vanupied.com mentions a departure every hour and a half, Smart Morocco Travel a “reasonably frequent” daytime service that becomes rare in the evening. None of the sources consulted gives the line number: ask at alsa.ma or at the terminal. From Tanger Ville station, a petit taxi takes you to the medina or your hotel.

By shared grand taxi

Grands taxis wait at the port exit. In a shared taxi, you pay for one seat and the car leaves when it is full (six seats). The recorded fare is about 30 MAD a seat according to vanupied.com, 30 to 50 MAD according to Smart Morocco Travel. It is a good option if you travel light, by day, and don't mind waiting for the car to fill up. Ask where the taxi drops you: often a central point, from where a petit taxi finishes the journey.

By private taxi or booked transfer

Taking a grand taxi to yourself costs about 200 to 300 MAD according to vanupied.com, 250 to 400 MAD according to Smart Morocco Travel, depending on the time and the exact destination. The journey then takes 40 to 50 minutes door to door. Agree the total price before you get in, luggage included, never afterwards: that is the advice common to all sources. A transfer booked in advance (through your accommodation or an agency) has the advantage of a price fixed beforehand and a driver waiting for you, useful if you arrive at night or with family.

Arriving in the port

Foot passengers and vehicles follow separate routes. Depending on the quay, there may be a walk or an internal shuttle to the terminal. On some crossings from Algeciras, passport control takes place on board during the crossing; otherwise it happens on disembarkation (MC Consigne, August 2026). Keep your passport and ticket to hand. According to the same source, the port has no left-luggage office.

Evenings and busy days

Buses become scarce in the evening: if your ferry arrives late, plan a taxi or book a transfer. In summer, and especially when Moroccans living abroad return home, the port is very busy and delays can grow. In a strong east wind, crossings may be delayed: our guide When to come explains the levante.

Which option for your situation?

Alone or as a couple, by day and with little luggage: the bus or a shared grand taxi. With family, heavy luggage or at night: a private taxi or a booked transfer. If you can choose your ferry from Spain and are heading to central Tangier, the Tarifa–Tanger Ville route saves you this whole journey: see our article Tangier–Tarifa by ferry.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Tanger Med from Tangier?

About 40 to 50 km depending on the source, 45 minutes to an hour by road.

Is there a bus between Tanger Med and Tangier?

Yes, an Alsa bus links the port to Tanger Ville station for about 7 to 10 MAD, in about an hour. It runs less often in the evening.

How much is a taxi from Tanger Med to the centre?

About 30 to 50 MAD a seat in a shared grand taxi, and about 200 to 400 MAD for a whole taxi, according to 2026 reports. Agree the price before you get in.

Do ferries from Tarifa arrive at Tanger Med?

Generally not: they arrive at Tanger Ville port, right in the centre. Check the port shown on your ticket.

Sources

vanupied.com, “Ports de Tanger (Ville & Med): comment venir en ferry ?” · updated 3 May 2026, accessed 22 October 2026
Smart Morocco Travel, “Tangier Med to Tangier: Bus, Taxi or Transfer? (2026)” · article of 17 August 2026, accessed 22 October 2026
MC Consigne (luggage storage company), “Tanger Med centre-ville: débarquer, embarquer et rejoindre Tanger” · article of 9 August 2026, accessed 22 October 2026

Article written from these documentary sources, without a verification visit unless stated otherwise. Prices and opening hours change: check them before you go.