Algeciras (Spain)

Algeciras is a major ferry port and city in Spain's Cadiz Province in Andalusia (autonomous region) with population around 120,000 (metro around 270,000). Algeciras is just approx 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Tarifa (on Costa de la Luz) ranked as one of the world's best windsports destinations. The road distance between Algeciras and Cadiz is ~110 km (68 mi) via A381 Highway. The road distance to Gibraltar UK is ~30 km (19 mi) via A7 Highway.

Port Algeciras (code ESALG) is ranked one of Europe's largest ports by annually handled container ships, cargoes and transhipments. The port's businesses serve commercial shipping (TEU-containers, various cargoes), commercial fishing, passenger shipping (mainly via ferries, also cruise shipping), bunker fueling. Algeciras benefits from its strategic location (near Gibraltar Strait) and by annual transshipment volumes is amongst the world's busiest. Port facilities are located in Algeciras as well as in other towns part of the metro region (including San Roque, Los Barrios, Tarifa).

In FY2015, by cargo shipping volumes (~100 million tons), Port Algeciras was ranked Spain's and Mediterranean's largest. By container shipping volumes (2.8 million TEUs in 2010), the port is ranked the world's 31st-largest.

Daily scheduled ferry connections link Algeciras with Ceuta (Spanish Morocco) and Tangier Med (Morocco). These routes are operated by the companies BALEARIA, TRASMEDITERRANEA, FRS (Forde Reederei Seetouristik/Fast Reliable Seaways).

• Algeciras-Ceuta ferry travel time is ~1 hour, provided by BALEARIA (7 daily crossings), TRASMEDITERRANEA (3 daily), FRS (4 daily).
• Algeciras-Tangier ferry travel time is 1,5 hours (by BALEARIA /1 daily crossing) and 0,5 hours (by TRASMEDITERRANEA/1 daily).

Algeciras is also an industrial city, has a well-developed fishing industry, and from here are exported various regionally-farmed agricultural products (cereals, tobacco) and livestock. The tourism industry is also growing, with popular day tours from Algeciras to Tarifa and Gibraltar, and also scenic boat cruises in the Bay of Gibraltar.

Algeciras is the terminus of two major European highways going via France and England all the way to Scotland - E05 (ends in Greenock) and E15 (in Inverness). Spanish highways serving the city include Autopista AP-7 (Autopista del Mediterraneo/tall motorway along Spain's Mediterranean coast/La Jonquera-Algeciras), Autovia A-48 (Cadiz-Algeciras), N-340 (Cadiz-Barcelona) and GR-7 (links Spain with Andorra and France). The nearest airports are in Gibraltar (20 km / 12 mi), Jerez de la Frontera (100 km / 62 mi) and Malaga (120 km / 75 mi).