Melilla
Melilla [1] is a Spanish exclave in North Africa, on the Moroccan side of the Mediterranean. In some ways, it's kind of like Ceuta… but in other ways, it's a very unique place. It is very beautiful!
Other destinations
Culture and History
- Tourist information office, calle Fortuny 21, 952-67-54-44, [2]. Near the Plaza de Toros, but far from everything else.
Talk
You are in Spain. People speak Spanish. But you are also in North Africa, and many people speak Tarifit (Spanish: rifeño, a variety of Berber).
Travel to Melilla, visa requirements
By car (or on foot)
From Morocco. Melilla is completely surrounded by Moroccan territory (and the sea), and this is obviously a very sensitive border. Many try to cross illegally into Spain, with dire consequences. Crossing legally (in either direction) is also an eye-opening experience, but presents no particular difficulties if you are not transporting counterfeit goods or hashish.
Don't forget that Spain and Morocco are in different time zones, so crossing the border into Melilla you will lose one hour, or two hours in summer (Morocco does not observe daylight savings time).
Flights to Melilla, airtickets
Air Nostrum (Iberia Regional) flies from Málaga (8 flights daily), Madrid (3 flights), and one flight from Almería, Granada, and Barcelona. There is also a helicopter service from Málaga.
By boat
There are ferry services run by Acción Trasmediterránea.
- from Málaga: 8 hours, with a fast ferry (5 hours) in the summer
- from Almería: 6.5 hours
Get around
Melilla attractions and sightseeing
- Melilla la Vieja, the fortified old town, on a hill overlooking the port. There is an elevator built into the restored city wall.
- Plaza de España surrounded by monumental buildings such as the local assembly building, the Casino Militar, and the Bank of Spain.
- Modernismo architecture, throughout the city, but especially on calle López Moreno and calle del Rey Juan Carlos
- Or Zoruah Synagogue, calle López Moreno 8. Arabesque architecture, designed by Enrique Nieto in 1924. Now a tacky bargain store, but the façade is well-preserved.
Itineraries
City tours
Shopping, Melilla souvenirs
Melilla (like Ceuta) is a territorio franco, which means no VAT or other taxes.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
- Cafetería Los Arcos, calle López Moreno, next to the Sagrado Corazón church. Spanish churros and café con leche, or Moroccan mint tea.
Melilla nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
Stay safe
Get out
Walking into Morocco
Catch a bus from the Plaza de España to the Moroccan border, 2km to the south. Cross the border into the Moroccan customs and security area and line up at the police kiosk to get your passport stamped. This can take a while. Be sure to go up to the window and ask for an entry form to fill out (in French) while you wait.
When you get out you will be in the port of Nador, where you can find banks, a ferry to France, or a bus to downtown Nador. Remember to turn your watch back one or two hours!
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