We all know Spain for its beautiful coastline, vibrant metropolises where modern city-building goes hand in hand with tradition and architectural beauty, and, well, that irresistible Southern European flair: there’s just no beating cobbled Old Towns and $5 tapas.
What some may not know, however, is that Spain is not restricted to Europe only: though this may sound odd, there are a number of Spanish territories outside the Old Continent that are every bit as part of Spain as Madrid, Barcelona, and the like are.
One of those is Ceuta, an autonomous city located across the Mediterranean Sea in Africa!
You read that right: there is a Spanish-administered exclave on the North Coast of the neighboring continent, and if you’re looking for those crowd-free beaches and unexpected adventures, you’ll want to read this:
Where Even Is Ceuta?
Unless you zoom in on a particular area of Morocco’s map, you’re unlikely to notice the small, 7-square-mile peninsula lining the Mediterranean, separated from the Muslim-majority country by a thin, barely discernible borderline.
That’s Ceuta, a fortified port city belonging to Spain, though it shares land borders with an African country.
The History of the Mediterranean is a long––and tedious one, for some––involving many a rise and fall of empires and the redrawing of borders.
Ceuta itself was founded at some point in the 1st millennium BC, when Carthaginian and Roman cultures were at their peak.
It went on to be conquered by a succession of peoples, from the Moors to the Portuguese to the Spanish.
Despite its geographical location, the Spanish have held since 1668, prior to the creation of modern Moroccan statehood, so it’s been geopolitically aligned with Southern Europe for 356 years.
It is, as we like to call it, a little slice of Spain in North Africa:
A Piece Of Spain In The North Of Africa?
Ceuta’s citizens are primarily ethnically Spanish, and devout Christians, with a significant minority of Muslims and even some Sephardic Jews, they hold Spanish passports, and to the inattentive onlooker, this could be any other city in sun-drenched Andalusia.
From the landmark-packed Old Town to the beautiful coastline, Ceuta ticks all of the boxes and then some.
The port area is dominated by the Royals Walls, a series of ramparts with a sea-filled ditch that have protected the city since the year 962 AD, and that are now a major tourist attraction.
Walking the cafe-packed center, you’re likely to stumble upon the House of Dragons––no, it’s got no connection to the HBO hit show, but it is a Moorish Revivalist ensemble topped with menacing bronze dragons that could easily belong in the fictional Dorne.
Verdant Plaza de Africa (or Africa Square) is the beating heart of Ceuta, flanked by local businesses and churches, such as the Renaissance-style Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, dating back to the 16th century, and the yellow-washed Shrine of Our Lady of Africa.
A short 3-minute walk from the square, Paseo de las Palmeras is a promenade lined by palm trees and oceanfront developments––other than the big choice of bars and restaurants it offers, it is where you’ll find the perfectly-preserved, 12th-century Arab Baths.
The columns and mosaics inside have stood the test of time nearly intact, and not visiting is simply not an option when it’s free to enter.
Incredible North African Food
Speaking of restaurants, no trip to Ceuta is complete without casual Moroccan dinner in OASIS, a laid-back eatery overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar serving North African delicacies like beef couscous, lamb tajine, and fresh pastillas––chicken pie dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon.
Ceuta is a Mediterranean exclave, so it’s no surprise seafood is at the top of its culinary offers: for delicious grilled octopus, freshly-caught fish, and $3 beer, head to El Muelle––as for the best mariscos in town, El Camaron is not to be missed.
Other points of interest include ‘Hercules and the Union of the World’, a monumental sculpture symbolizing Ceuta’s unique status between Europe and Africa, the pond-dotted Mediterranean Maritime Park, a leisure complex dotted with artificial salt-water lakes, and Monte Hacho:
Incredible Coastal Hikes
A popular hike leading up to a fortress, it rewards climbers with panoramic views of both Ceuta, Morocco, and mainland Spain across the sea.
Ceuta is the perfect destination for getting your walking shoes on and escaping into nature: it may be tiny, but it suffers from no shortage of nature reserves.
The trek from ‘Puerto’ to the Portuguese-built Desnarigado Castle visits untouched patches of Mediterranean vegetation, hidden coves and scenic viewpoints, and it’s a circular, 6.5 mile route taking just over 3 hours to complete.
If you’re a mountain biking enthusiast, then you can’t miss this famous biking path running along the outline of Ceuta’s territory, covering a distance of 25.1 miles at an elevation gain of 3,631 feet.
Coming for the beaches instead? No pasa nada!
Unspoiled Mediterranean Beaches
Ceuta has beautiful swimming spots, most notably Playa de la Ribera, a sand-and-gravel stretch lining turquoise waters, Playa del Chorrillo, adjacent to the sea fortifications, and Playa de Calamocarro, a pleasant surprise found at the end of a scenic, one-hour long nature trail starting from the city.
As it’s part of Africa, Ceuta boasts warmer temperatures year-round, ranging from 70°F to 73°F in the fall.
Despite being beautiful, sunny in the fall and winter, and even playing host to a handful of beachfront hotels, Ceuta is mostly crowd-free:
Out of the Spanish territories in Africa, which include the trendy Canary Islands and fellow North African exclave Melilla, Ceuta is the second least-visited destination, having welcomed around 65,000 guests in 2023, according to Spain’s National Statistics Institute.
A majority of those will be coming from Madrid and nearby Andalusia, so international tourists make up an even smaller percentage.
Let us rephrase that: this is one of those coastal Mediterranean gems boasting unspoiled beaches, stunning nature trails, and historical sights that the tens of millions of tourists flocking to Spain every year are yet to discover.
For that reason, Ceuta stays affordable––and far more welcoming towards foreigners––than its overtouristed counterparts:
How Expensive Is Ceuta To Visit?
An overnight at the Oh Nice Revellin Ceuta, a 3-star listing within walking distance to all the main sights, will set you back by $67 a night, while the iconic Parador de Ceuta, a resort attached to the historic walls, costs from $91 upward to book.
Cheap eats are just as plentiful: a basic lunchtime menu including a drink averages $12.28 in an inexpensive restaurant, as reported by Expatistan, and for those on a strict budget, combo meals in fast food chains start from $6.43.
Is Ceuta Safe To Visit?
Seeing that Ceuta is located in Africa, just how safe is it to visit?
The answer is very safe: it may be in a different continent altogether, but as we pointed out before, this is a Spanish territory, governed by Spanish law, and protected by Spanish law enforcers.
There is a highly-surveilled border line separating Ceuta from Morocco, and no one gets in or out, or even travels onward to mainland Spain, without getting screened first.
How To Get To Ceuta
Last but not least, on to the most important question of all: how can you get to Ceuta from mainland Spain?
Though the city does have a small heliport, the easiest and most convenient way to travel is taking a ferry from Algeciras, on the Andalusian coast, to Ceuta.
Adult tickets cost from only $31.27, and the crossing takes between 1h and 1h30, depending on the chosen route and weather conditions, and you can book them directly through transportation provider Balearia’s official website.
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