The Port of Ceuta
ABOUT
Ceuta (pronounced thay-oo-ta) nestles along the Strait of Gibraltar. It is an autonomous Spanish town located on a peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean.
It’s history spans many centuries from its origins in ancient Phoenician times. Colonised by Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, and Byzantine Romans it was also held by the Berbers and Arabs. Ceuta was captured by Portugal in 1415 and subsequently by Spain in 1580. It has remained under Spanish sovreignty ever since.
As in ancient times the city is known for its free port status. It is a major port for cargo, bunkering, and passenger traffic, playing a significant role in the local economy.
Population of Ceuta is approximately 83,500
Currency is the Euro
THINGS TO DO
Key sites include:
OUR FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO
Our first visit to Ceuta was aboard Fred Olsen’s Borealis in 2025. To be honest we had never heard of the city so we were keen to see what it had to offer.
We did a some research beforehand and decided the city appeared walkable. We were right. Whilst there was a courtesy shuttlebus from the ship it took us only a short way out of the dock area.
One of the first sights was the statue depicting the Pillars of Hercules. The Pillars of Hercules are a pair of promontories that mark the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. One being the Rock of Gibraltar and the other, historically disputed, possibly in Ceuta.
From here we had a good view of the nearby beaches.
The Spanish Influence
Ceuta is not a huge city so we meandered our way through the inherently Spanish looking streets. The city’s character is evident in its architecture, language, currency, and cultural traditions.
The city centre retains a European-style appearance, with neoclassical buildings, a cathedral modeled after one in Cadiz, and charming plazas. Nicknamed the “Pearl of the Mediterranean” it combines four cultures, with Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Hindu traditions.
It makes for a welcoming, dynamic place and a culinary fusion with surprising ingredients.
The Royal Walls
The Royal Walls are a line of fortifications which have been in place since 962. They have been modified over the centuries but are largely intact. They have been crucial in defending the city and include parapets, moats, groynes, and galleries.
Entry to the fortress is free and we wandered through the courtyard at leisure. Access to the parapets and city wall is either via some steep steps or a ramp.
This fortress is largely unchanged in its original layout and makes for a fascinating walk into history. There is also a museum dedicated to the history of the walls inside the fortification. Although we did not have time to visit, it would be worthwhile on another day.
From the top of the walls we had great views of the city and the harbour.
We also walked some of the outside perimeter which included a view of the quite extensive moat area.
Ceuta is not somewhere that would come to mind for a day stop, or even longer. However, we found it easy to navigate and interesting. We would certainly return and take a closer look at some of the historical areas and cafe culture.
In the meantime here are some more photographs of our time in the city and also a video which includes footage of our time there.
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