‘The Bali of Europe’: This quiet destination has £42 flights and over 300 days of sunshine

Dreaming of beach days in Bali but can’t afford the flight? There’s a destination dupe much closer to home.

Tarifa, on the southernmost tip of Spain, has been nicknamed the ‘Bali of Europe.’ Along with miles of sandy beaches and world-class watersports, it has a solid mix of buzzy nightlife and laid-back vibes.

On a clear day, you can see the north coast of Morocco from your sun lounger.

Getting there is both easier and cheaper than jetting 7,000 miles to Indonesia. Metro found a one-way fare from London Gatwick to Gibraltar, Tarifa’s closest airport, for £42 on Monday, September 29, when temperatures hover comfortably around 24°C.

Tarifa sits in Andalusia, a popular destination for British holidaymakers. In 2024, 13.6 million people flocked there, up 12% on the previous year.

But most went to Malaga, Marbella or Seville. Just over 79,000 made for Tarifa.

What to do in Tarifa

Cementing its ‘Bali of Europe’ reputation, Tarifa is widely considered to be the continent’s kitesurfing capital. In other words, it’s windy.

Kitesurfing is great fun, but it’s pricey. According to the local Addict Kite School, a four-hour session is €100 (£86). Before you start to feel comfortable surfing independently, it’s estimated that the average person needs 10 to 15 hours worth of lessons, so keep that in mind.

Snorkelling and scuba diving are also on offer here, for a fraction of the cost. On Get Your Guide, we found a £39 90-minute snorkelling experience in Strait Natural Park, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean.

If the ocean doesn’t do it for you, Tarifa is also known for its relaxing lifestyle. PR consultant Victoria Watson, who is based in Malaga but has spent many summers in Tarifa, says it’s where Spaniards holiday — that’s how you know it’s good.

‘It was definitely off-the-beaten-track,’ she says. ‘It’s only recently become popular with international tourists.’

According to Watson, Tarifa’s beaches are its crowning glory. She says they’re nothing like the organised beaches in Malaga or Marbella — they’re a lot wilder.

‘There’s one beach road that you can take just outside of Tarifa that has two amazing spots,’ she says. One of these is Playa Valdevaqueros, 10 minutes from the Old Town. She recommends setting up shop at Chiringuito Tanagana for the day. It’s right on the beach, great for people-watching.

Playa de Bolonia is another beach worth checking out. With fine white sand and turquoise sea, there are Roman ruins nearby to explore. Playa de Los Lances is the place for kite surfing, while Punta Paloma offers a more secluded experience.

Watson describes Tarifa as a ‘mini version’ of Ibiza Old Town: no chains, just independent boutiques and restaurants.

Her top picks are Tarifa Soul Concept Store, a boho clothing and homeware joint, and 7 Days a Week, which sells natural beachwear.

For grub, Watson recommends Casa Explora, a shop-cum-restaurant on the beachfront. In the Old Town, she suggests MalCriado and Santai, for Asian-Mediterranean fusion tapas.

A higher-end choice is Atxa, which serves local produce with a contemporary tasting menu. And for sundowners, Watson raves about Waikiki Beach.

A twin-city break

Tarifa doesn’t have an airport. Gibraltar is the closest, around one hour away by car. So after you land, it’s worth spending a day or two exploring the British Overseas Territory.

There’s plenty to see here, including the Mediterranean steps, and the famous Rock of Gibraltar, a limestone promontory complete with a nature reserve and a warren of tunnels used as bomb shelters in WWII.

Just a nine-minute walk from the airport is Ocean Village, a stunning waterfront resort between two marinas and the Rock. With over 20 oceanfront restaurants and bars, it’s the ultimate place to unwind.

Alternatively, look south. Tarifa is 19 miles from Tangier, a major port city in northwestern Morocco.

Its proximity to the Spanish coast makes it a popular day trip and road route for adventure seekers, travelling from Europe down into Africa.

Metro reader Matty Townsend, 30, completed this leg of the trip late last year, having driven through France, Portugal and Spain to board the ferry to Tangier.

He said the drive to Tarifa is easy, with lots of free places to park up overnight. (Insider hack: Spanish Lidls let you park overnight for free and use their toilets, as long as you buy something from the supermarket.)

From Tarifa’s ferry terminal, located near the city centre, Matty headed to Tangier in his van and spent three days exploring the Moroccan city. He warns that ferry prices with a vehicle are expensive (a one-way trip can cost you around £150 to £250).

But, if you go as a foot passenger, it’s much cheaper. On Friday, August 1, Direct Ferries has one-way tickets available for £37. The journey time is one hour.

Once on Moroccan soil, Matty said getting through customs was a breeze. Just show your passport to border control, get a stamp, and off you go.

The main port is a five-minute walk from the medina (Old Town), which Matty said was ‘buzzing with life.’ Complete with a huge market and maze-like streets, there are vendors selling mint tea and traditional food on every corner. However, if you don’t like crowds, it might not be for you, as Matty described the atmosphere as ‘chaotic.’

Other notable moments included a visit to the famous Caves of Hercules, which were featured in Taylor Swift’s ‘Style’ music video. Sol Beach, Achakkar Beach, and the Beaches of the Strait were coastal highlights.

‘Overall, I’d recommend Tangier,’ Matty says, adding that you only need to spend a few days in the city and its surrounding areas to get the feel of the place. ‘We enjoyed gorgeous food, including lamb, olives, and homemade bread, and met the kindest people. It was a wholesome trip I’d definitely take again.’