Andalusia · Spain
Almería
Almería is where Spain sails to Africa. Four operators share the crossing to Morocco from one terminal on the Andalusian coast, and in summer the port handles the annual movement of hundreds of thousands of people heading home and back. One detail catches almost everyone out: of the two African destinations served from here, one of them is still Spain.
Getting to Almería by ferry
Direct crossings serving Almería — open one for its full timetable.
Almería to Melilla
- Fastest crossing
- 6h
- Operators
- 3 operators
See schedule
Almería to Nador
- Operators
- 4 operators
See schedule
Almería ferry crossings at a glance
| Route | Crossing | Sailings | Operators | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almería → Nador | — | 6 / wk | 4 | Spain |
| Almería → Melilla | 6h | 1 / wk | 3 | Spain |
⚠ Melilla is in Africa and is not abroad
Almería to Melilla is about 6 hours with 5 sailings in our timetable. Melilla sits on the North African coast — and it is a Spanish autonomous city, so the sailing is domestic.
That changes the trip completely: no passport control on arrival, no customs declaration, the same currency and the same phone tariff. Travellers book Nador when Melilla would have done the job, or the reverse, without realising the two land within a few kilometres of each other.
Nador is the Moroccan crossing
Almería to Nador carries 7 sailings in our data and is shared by Baleària, GNV, Naviera Armas and Trasmediterránea — an unusually crowded route for a single corridor.
This one is a full international crossing: passports, vehicle documentation, Moroccan entry formalities. See the Nador guide for what waits on the other side, because the port there is not where the name suggests.
Check-in is not the same for every operator
Four companies on one route means four sets of rules, and they diverge sharply. Some close check-in an hour before departure; others ask vehicle passengers to present themselves many hours ahead in peak season.
Do not carry an assumption over from a previous crossing, and do not rely on an aggregator's summary. Read the deadline on your own booking, and in July and August add time on top of whatever it says.
The summer crossing operation
From roughly mid-June to mid-September the Spanish ports facing Morocco run a coordinated operation for the seasonal movement of the Moroccan diaspora between Europe and home. Almería is one of the main embarkation points.
The practical effect for an ordinary traveller: peak-week sailings fill months ahead, vehicle decks are the constraint rather than seats, and the port approach roads carry queues you will not see in May. If your dates are flexible, avoid the last week of July and the first two of August.
The terminal
Ferries use the Estación Marítima on Muelle de Ribera, on the city waterfront — close enough to Almería's centre to walk, which is rare for a port handling this volume of vehicles.
That convenience disappears in peak season, when vehicle marshalling extends well outside the gates. Foot passengers keep the short walk; drivers should plan for the queue.
Algeria, on paper
Almería also appears in the network as a departure point for Oran and Ghazaouet in Algeria — long crossings of ten to eleven hours.
We hold no current sailings for either. Algerian services have been intermittent for years, and the routes come and go with policy rather than with season. Treat them as something to verify with the operator directly rather than to plan around.
Why Almería rather than Algeciras
Algeciras, at the Strait, is the famous one and handles far more traffic to Tangier and Ceuta. Almería's argument is geometry: it faces the eastern Moroccan coast, so for Nador, Melilla and the Rif it is the direct route rather than a long drive along the Mediterranean after landing.
If your destination is Fes, Oujda or the eastern Rif, Almería saves several hours of Moroccan road. For Marrakech or the Atlantic coast, the Strait ports win.
When to go
The Morocco and Melilla services run year round — these are working routes for residents and freight, not holiday products. Frequency peaks in the summer operation and eases from late September.
Spring and autumn are the practical windows: full timetable, real availability on the vehicle decks, and no queue at the gate.
Almeríaferry & travel FAQ
Where do ferries from Almería go?
To Nador and Melilla in North Africa, with Oran and Ghazaouet in Algeria also appearing in the network though we hold no current sailings for them.
Is the Almería to Melilla ferry an international crossing?
No. Melilla is a Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast, so the sailing is domestic — no passport control, no customs, same currency.
How long is the ferry from Almería to Melilla?
About six hours, with five sailings in our timetable.
Which companies sail from Almería to Nador?
Four share the route: Baleària, GNV, Naviera Armas and Trasmediterránea. Their check-in deadlines differ significantly, so read the one on your own booking.
Where is the ferry terminal in Almería?
The Estación Marítima on Muelle de Ribera, on the city waterfront and within walking distance of the centre. Vehicle queues extend outside the gates in peak season.
When is the busiest time at Almería port?
Roughly mid-June to mid-September, during the coordinated summer crossing operation. The last week of July and the first two of August are the peak — vehicle decks sell out months ahead.
Should I use Almería or Algeciras for Morocco?
Almería faces the eastern Moroccan coast, so it is the direct route for Nador, Melilla, Oujda and the Rif. Algeciras at the Strait is better for Tangier, Marrakech and the Atlantic side.
Are there ferries from Almería to Algeria?
The routes to Oran and Ghazaouet exist in the network but we hold no current sailings. Algerian services have been intermittent, so check directly with the operator.
Reviewed by Serhat Özçelik, Founder & Editor of Ferry Schedule Hub · Last updated August 8, 2026.