NadorMorocco · Ferry Destinations

All About Nador

The palm-lined boulevards of Nador wrap elegantly around a natural saltwater lagoon that separates it from the Mediterranean Sea while magical mountain vistas rise around the city’s inland perimeter. Founded by the Berber population of Morocco in the 19th-century, it became part of Spanish Morocco from 1912 until the independence of the country in 1956. As a result, Nador has a beguiling mix of Spanish-influences and Berber culture, together with a flurry of modern architectural wonders.

The second-largest city in the east of the country, Nador has an enviable natural position. It lies close to the border of Algeria, but also just ten kilometers south of the Spanish-owned city of Melilla, makes buying ferry tickets to Nador a great alternative to this port. Laidback and filled with authentic Moroccan charm, Nador makes a great gateway destination to all that Morocco has to offer.
 

Routes and Ferries to Nador

The traditional way to reach Nador from Europe is by sea, and buying ferry tickets to Nador with Ferryscanner remains one of the most evocative ways to reach Morocco. Nador is able to boast connections with both Barcelona in Spain and Sète in France, putting the city within easy reach of much of Europe. Italian ferry company Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) operates each of these routes with vehicle ferries at least once a week throughout the year. The journey to and from Barcelona lasts around 30 hours, and that between Nador and Sète around 40 hours. Alternative services operate from neighboring Melilla.

Nador (Arwi) International Airport receives flights from Royal Air Maroc and low-cost carriers that connect the city with destinations in Spain, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The airport is approximately 25 kilometers from central Nador, however, there is no public transport connecting the two.

Morocco’s excellent road network means that Nador is also readily connected with other cities within the country. Regular daily privately-operated coach services depart for a range of cities within Morocco. They start from the city’s Gare Routière bus depot and take around four hours to reach the stunning Imperial City of Fez. By contrast, Spanish Melilla is only a few minutes north. Train service has connected Nador with the city of Tauorirt since 2009, thereby connecting Nador with not only Fez but also Meknes, Tangier, Casablanca, and Rabat by rail.
 

Port of Nador

The Port of Nador is located in the suburb of Beni Enzar (also called Beni Ansar and Ait Nsar) at the northern end of the city’s saltwater lagoon, on the international border with Melilla. In fact, its facilities are even shared with the Spanish city. A multi-use port, it is not only used by the ferries between Nador, Barcelona, and Sète, but also by the Moroccan navy and a significant proportion of the country’s fishing fleet. Trains to Nador terminate at the port, making the ferry terminal a better option than the airport.
 

Best Beaches of Nador

Nador’s Mediterranean location means the city has a number of stunning beaches. What’s more, for those buying ferry tickets to Nador from further north, it has an excellent year-round climate too. Warm weather lasts from late spring in April until the beginning of fall in September or even October. These months see very little rain, leaving clear bright skies – the perfect weather for a day on one of Nador’s best beaches.

Plage de Nador

Plage de Nador, or Nador Beach, is the closest of a series of beaches in and around Nador. A favorite of locals looking to escape the city streets for a couple of hours, this beach boasts several hundred meters of orange-yellow sand, divided into two sections by a breakwater. Partly protected on each side by sea walls, Plage de Nador is also suitable for a dip. The promenade that runs alongside it is a popular spot for families to take an evening walk or find a bite to eat at pretty much any time of day.

Charrana Beach

Roughly an hour north of Nador Beach by road, you’ll find the delights of Charrana Beach. Facing west into the deep blues of the Mediterranean, Charrana Beach is the perfect place to admire the stunning Moroccan sunset. Beforehand, it’s a small area of shingly sand and rocky coves that make for a dramatic place to splash about in the shallows or check out the marine life inhabiting the rock pools.

Plage de Boquerones

Plage de Boquerones (or Bocana Beach) has a situation that’s difficult to match, lying as it does on the thin sliver of land that separates Nador’s lagoon from the Mediterranean. Its sweeping extent of soft pale sand is beautifully studded with natural rock formations. It provides a gentle slope into its clean lapping waters that are ideal for smaller children thanks to its sheltered position.

Plage d’El Kallat

On the opposite side of the peninsula to Nador, Plage d’El Kallat is predominantly frequented by Moroccan families, giving it a welcoming and relaxed overall ambiance. Here you’ll find a ribbon of fine sand that stretches for several hundred meters. Plage d’El Kallat also has a whole range of facilities, from water sports rentals to restaurants.
 

Things to Do in Nador

Nador Souk

Whether it’s your first time in Morocco or you’ve taken the opportunity of buying ferry tickets to Nador previously, Nador’s souk (marketplace) is not to be missed. There’s nothing that can match the lively atmosphere of its narrow streets or the heady scents that drift through the warm air from stalls stacked with huge sacks of spices. The souk also makes for a great place to head in search of souvenirs, with much of the metalwork available simply staggering to behold.

Mont Gourougou

For an alternative view of Nador, head to Mont Gourougou, the mountain that forms the theatrical backdrop to the city. Its summit is home to spectacular viewpoints and an old Spanish fortress. Its slopes form an important expanse of native forest dotted with paths, waterfalls, and native species of Moroccan wildlife.

Melilla

Being so close to Melilla, it would be a real shame not to visit and discover its unique history as one of two Spanish-owned enclaves surrounded by Moroccan territory. Packed full of historic fortifications built of pale stone that seems to sparkle in the sunlight, Melilla is an almost fairytale world of defensive positions and tiny Spanish cafes. Remember though that you’ll be crossing an international frontier and will need your passport and visas or other permissions to enter Melilla and return to Nador.
 

Transportation Around Nador

In addition to the railway station at Beni Enzar, Nador has two other stations serving the city, although they are not of a great amount of use to visitors staying within the confines of Nador itself. The center of Nador is easily and enjoyably walkable, allowing you to fully absorb the sights and sounds of Morocco’s Berber population.

Should you need to travel slightly further afield, you can opt between private taxis and shared or petit taxis. The latter takes some of the pressure of the local bus network, so you’ll be sharing it with others heading in roughly the same direction as you. There’s something of an art to be learned in successfully hailing petit taxis, and some French or Arabic is useful. You should always ensure you agree on a price before getting in. The local buses are cheap to use, but again you’ll generally need a little local help to make the best use of them.