Ferries from France to Morocco in 2026
A ferry from the south of France to Morocco is not the quick option. It is the option that saves you a long drive: from Sète to Algeciras is about 1,450 km, or around 13 hours behind the wheel. On the boat you spend that time eating, sleeping and watching the coast of Spain slide past. Here is what actually sails at the moment.
| Route | Crossing time | Operator | When | From (one way) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sète – Tanger Med | about 42 hours (some sailings call at Barcelona) | GNV | all year, about 1 to 3 a week, more in summer | about €97 |
| Sète – Nador | about 38 to 40 hours | GNV | all year, about 1 to 2 a week, more in summer | about €80 |
| Marseille – Tanger Med | about 42 to 45 hours | La Méridionale | summer only, mid-June to mid-September | prices for 2027 not yet published |
Fares are the lowest published one-way prices for a passenger in October 2026. With a car and a cabin you pay a lot more, especially in summer.
What changed recently
Marseille – Tanger Med stopped for the low season on 15 September 2026; La Méridionale plans to sail again from summer 2027. Marseille – Nador no longer runs, and Baleària has stopped sailing from Sète. So outside the summer, Sète is your only French port for Morocco.
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Map: ferry routes from France to Morocco
Sète, Marseille or drive on to Spain?
From Calais to Sète is about 1,000 km, roughly 10 hours of driving. From there you have two options: put the car on the ferry to Morocco, or drive on through Spain to Algeciras or Tarifa and take a short crossing of an hour or two.
- Take the ferry from Sète if you want to arrive rested, travel with children or a dog, or are heading for Nador and eastern Morocco anyway. Two nights on board replace more than a day of driving and at least one hotel night.
- Drive on to Spain if you want flexibility, would like to see a bit of Spain on the way, or are travelling outside the few weekly sailings from Sète. The Strait crossings run all day.
- Marseille only works in summer, so for most of the year Sète is the French port to use.
Coming from the UK? Then also look at the ferry from Portsmouth or Plymouth to northern Spain: it skips France altogether and leaves you about ten hours’ drive from the Strait.
Check times and prices
The sailings from Sète don’t run every day, so start with the date. Use the booking module below to see which crossings fit your trip and what they cost with your car and cabin. We would always compare the price with driving on to Spain and taking the short crossing from Algeciras or Tarifa.
Travel tip: also consider departure from Barcelona
You can also choose one of the ferries that departs a bit further south: Barcelona-Nador or Barcelona-Tanger. Just like the ferries from France, this is a long night crossing.
Also on this page
Before you go
- Cabin or seat? GNV also sells reclining seats, but for two nights on board we would book a cabin. In summer, cabins and outside cabins sell out first, so book early (April or May for the school holidays).
- At the port in Sète: French police and customs check passports and tickets before you board. Each car needs a driver with a passport and the vehicle registration document (V5C for a UK car). The waiting area opens about four hours before departure.
- Moroccan border: on these long crossings, Moroccan police usually check passports and register cars on board, so you can drive off fairly quickly on arrival. Keep your passport and car papers within reach.
- Coming back: since the new EU entry system (EES) your fingerprints and photo are taken on your first entry to the EU, which can add some time at the port. See our EES and ETIAS guide.
- Summer: between mid-June and mid-September many Moroccans living in Europe travel home, and the ferries are busy. In that period you need a ticket for a fixed sailing.
- Car and insurance: the rules for driving in Morocco are the same as via Spain: a 1968 International Driving Permit and insurance valid in Morocco. We explain it in our Spain to Morocco guide.
Our verdict
If you are driving down from the UK or northern Europe and Morocco is the goal rather than Spain, the GNV ferry from Sète is a relaxed way to do the last stretch, especially with children. Just plan around its timetable: with only a few sailings a week, the boat sets the date, not you. If you would rather keep the freedom to choose your day, drive on to Spain and take the short crossing.
France ⇔ Morocco
Ferry from France to Morocco: FAQs
Is there a ferry from France to Morocco?
Yes. GNV sails all year from Sète to Tanger Med and Nador. La Méridionale sails from Marseille to Tanger Med, but only in summer (mid-June to mid-September).
How long is the ferry from France to Morocco?
About 38 to 40 hours from Sète to Nador, about 42 hours from Sète to Tanger Med, and about 42 to 45 hours from Marseille to Tanger Med.
How much is the ferry from France to Morocco?
In October 2026 one-way fares started at about €80 (Sète – Nador) and €97 (Sète – Tanger Med) for a passenger. With a car, a cabin and in summer you pay considerably more.
Is it better to take the ferry from France or from Spain?
The ferry from Sète saves you about 1,450 km of driving through Spain, but sails only a few times a week. Driving on to Algeciras or Tarifa takes longer on the road, but the crossings to Morocco take only one to two hours and run all day.
Do I need a cabin on the ferry to Morocco?
It is not compulsory: GNV also sells reclining seats. For a crossing of around 40 hours with two nights on board, we would book one.
Ferry talk: Share your questions and opinions
Ask, answer, and explore ferry routes with the community’s expertise!
38 hours seams like such a long time for a standard ferry, do cruise ships operate these routes?
Hi Niahm,
Unfortunately: No, these ships are not that luxurious. For that you have to Northern Europe. (Kiel-Oslo for example). The ships on these routes are mainly older ships, some are large though and do provide nice huts & restaurants.
~ Jochem