A pretty little town on the coast of Spain has been dubbed the ‘Bali of Europe’. The Spanish town of Tarifa, near Cadiz, is a gem of culture, food, and sea views. The town boasts an Andalusian flair and picturesque beaches.
The strong winds that blow off the coast of Cadiz make the sandy beaches a popular destination for windsurfers. Visitors can walk the historical backstreets of the old town with buildings in the Spanish colonial style, painted in vivid colours. According to travel influencer, Travel with Rafa, Tarifa “feels like a tropical paradise in the middle of the Mediterranean. It feels like the Bali of Europe!” For food, the fishing traditions of the small town have made for amazing local cuisine. Freshly caught fish and crab can be found at many of the town’s restaurants. The town also has a good nightlife with lively clubs, beachfront tiki bars and surfing haunts.
Playa de Bolonia was named the second best beach in Spain by TimeOut in 2024, for its incredible dune, its soft white sands surrounded by crystal clear waters and a forest of majestic trees.
But it’s not just a dune and a beautiful beach. The massive dune also hides the ruins of an ancient town that dates back to the 2nd Century BCE. Visitors will be able to observe the ruins of a forum, a marketplace, thermal baths, aqueducts,a theatre, and a basilica right by the beach.
Over seven species of dolphins and whales are present in the clear waters of Tarifa, which is just 8.7 miles off the African coast, making it an ideal spot for marine sightings and snorkelling.
One TripAdvisor review says: “What a wonderful little town to stay at least one day/night in. This is an especially good place to stay if you are going to take a ferry from Spain into Morocco.
“There is an old section (a walled portion within Tarifa) that is filled with a maze of narrow streets and alleys that provides a terrific place to wander for hours. There are little shops and some fabulous restaurants as well as some very small hotels and hostels.
“Make sure you see the Castillo Guzman el Bueno – a fortification that is part of the old city; from there you can see right across the Mediterranean to North Africa.”