Tarifa
TownWalk out along the causeway at Tarifa and you run out of Europe. Punta de Tarifa, on the tip of the Isla de las Palomas, is the southernmost point of continental Europe, and the Strait narrows to 14.2 kilometres in front of it.
What it actually is
A walled old town of white lanes above two coasts. The Castillo de Guzmán el Bueno was raised by order of the caliph Abd al-Rahman III in the tenth century.
The wind that made a kitesurfing town
Two winds run the place: the hot easterly Levante funnelling through the Strait, and the milder Atlantic Poniente. Between them they turned a garrison town into a kitesurfing centre.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really Europe’s southernmost point?
Of continental Europe, yes. Islands further south are another matter.
Can you reach Morocco from here?
Yes, by fast ferry from the port to Tangier.
Who was Guzmán el Bueno?
The castle’s commander in 1294, who refused to surrender it even to save his captive son.
Explore more of the Costa de la Luz
Tarifa is one of many destinations on the CostaMap interactive map — browse beaches, coves, castles and viewpoints across the coast.