A seaport (lat. Portūs "mouth, harbor, wharf, warehouse") is a complex engineering structure and a set of devices for performing a variety of functions from transporting heavy or bulky cargo to servicing arriving and departing passengers. The ports of Spain are mostly universal and occupy a key position in the field of international trade, cruise tourism, and are also the most important economic hub of the country.
What directions does sea tourism in Spain offer?
Picturesque sunny Spain with warm sea and mild climate always attracts many tourists from all over the world, remaining a favorite destination for travelers. 2021 became a record year - 82 million tourists visited the country. Sea tourism is represented by a harmonious combination of proposals in such areas as coastal tourism, excursion tourism, ecotourism, diving, fishing, surfing, sea festivals.
The highest growth rates in 2021 are demonstrated by yachting and cruise types of sea tourism in Spain.
This is a unique opportunity to combine visits to different cities and countries with a rich cultural and educational program, and the sea, sun, beach will be an integral part of an exciting journey across the sea.
What ports are there in Spain and their features
Spain, located in southwestern Europe, is considered a window to the countries of the Americas, Africa and the Old World. The territory of the Mediterranean coast of the country is focused on a tourist destination. The northern coast, especially the territory of Galicia (a region in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula and the autonomous community of Spain), is an important center of foreign trade, which is carried out through sea routes. Galicia's major seaports and shipyards supply ships to countries around the world.
Spain ranks 3rd in Europe (after Germany and the Netherlands) and 11th in the world in freight traffic.
The largest cargo ports are Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tarragona, Gijón. Two ports are located on the African continent (Ceuta and Melilla) and two on the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean (Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Gran Canaria).
Ports in Barcelona
The history of Puerto de Barcelona began about 2000 years ago. Today it is the most important port for freight and passenger transport on the Mediterranean coast. Ranked 5th among the largest European ports and number 1 as the largest cruise port in the Mediterranean, thanks to the rapid growth of the tourism sector. Consists of 10 passenger terminals, 7 of which are cruise. The port entrance is located at the monument to Christopher Columbus (Mirador de Colom). The area is 7.86 km². Due to the rapid growth of the port, its size should be doubled at the mouth of the Llobregat River by 2 km to the south.
It is subdivided into 3 zones: the old port of Barcelona (Port Vell), the commercial port and the logistics (for transport).
Website: http://www.portdebarcelona.es
El Port Vell is the oldest and at the same time picturesque area of the seaport of Barcelona, which has been completely modernized and renovated. The El Port Vell zone begins with the Columbus monument at the very end of the famous Rambla. You can take a boat trip from there on the famous "Golodrinas" (swallows). The Port Vell area has a dock for pleasure craft and a separate area for cruise ships.
Website: www.portvellbcn.com
Puerto de Algeciras
The largest port in the south of Spain with a cargo turnover of over 50 million tons / year. Ranked first in the Mediterranean in terms of container traffic. The only port in its region capable of receiving giant ships, on which twenty-three large-tonnage containers can fit in a row at once.
The container port is operated by two terminals: APM Terminals Algeciras (opened in 1986, provides 76% of container turnover) and Total Terminal International Algeciras (launched in 2021).
For tourists, the port is also remarkable, since only here you can see all the beauties of Gibraltar: admire the migration of birds, look at giant whales and get acquainted with the culture of Spain. This is one of the busiest ports in Europe and the best place for excursions or walks.
Port in Alicante
Puerto de Alicante is a large and picturesque cruise port, with over 80,000 passengers and 30,000 cruise ship crews passing through it annually. Located in the heart of the city, across the street from the famous Esplanade pedestrian boulevard Paseo Maritimo.
Open and open all year round, but the schedule of ships depends on the time of year and season.
The cargo area of the port is small and located far from the city. And the main part along the embankment falls on the main attraction of the port - Yacht Marina (a specially equipped yacht dock, where various services are provided to ship crews).
For tourists at the marina, trips to the open sea and to the nearest islands are organized. The port provides a free shuttle to the city center. Official website: www.puertoalicante.com.
Puerto de A-Coruña
One of the most important in the world for foreign trade, but also one of the most convenient cruise ports in all of Spain. The main terminal is located in the center of the city of A Coruña and offers convenient service to tourists and has spacious shopping areas.
The port's berths are 6 km long. The transatlantic pier was built in 1991 and receives over 90 cruise ships a year, in addition to warships and yachts. The Batería y Calvo Sotelo pier was a symbol of the city's progress in the 60s and 70s of the XX century. The San Diego Wharf was built in the 60s and is used primarily for offloading oil and petroleum products that come to the city's refinery.
Valencia port
The busiest cargo port in Spain in terms of container volumes and turnover. An important transport hub and attraction that the locals are proud of.
It so happened historically that the port is associated with the development of trade, primarily with the export of agricultural products, which has united around itself a huge number of logistics and transport companies. The area is more than 600 hectares, the length of the pier is more than 12 km.
Consists of the city port and the adjacent harbors of Gandia and Sagunto. The cruise terminal is modernly equipped and located in Poniente Quay (4 km. From the city center). There are free tourist maps and detailed information on how and where to get there by public transport.
Since the port is large enough, you can use free buses to get to the passenger terminal from the distant berths. From the port you can take a regular ferry to Ibiza and Mallorca.
Website: www.valenciaport.com.
Vigo ports
One of the most important fishing destinations in the world. Many international companies are based here, fish is supplied to all of Spain, and also exported to Portugal, Italy, France and other countries, even reaching the Asian market. The port of Vigo is over 20 km long and has a large number of berths.
Muelle de Transatlanticos is located almost in the center of the city, it has 3 berths for receiving cruise liners.
Puerto de melilla
Melilla is a city on the Mediterranean coast of Africa, on the border with Morocco. It is a trading port focused on import-export of products. Cruise ships can also call, they dock at the pier in the city center, next to the promenade.
Website: http://www.puertodemelilla.es/.
Port in Malaga
One of the oldest cities on the Mediterranean coast, located south of the Iberian Peninsula, Malaga was founded by the Phoenicians in the 9th century BC. NS.
Puerto de Malaga has an area of 7,095 hectares for flotation and a land area of 1,150,884 m².It operates as a cargo port (mainly for import operations, export of olive oil, grain, etc.) and a fishing port.
In addition, it is a large passenger port (the second cruise port of the Iberian Peninsula after Barcelona), where the largest cruise liners in the world can call. It annually receives more than 0.6 million passengers, of which about half are from cruise ships.
The cruise port is located on the Mediterranean coast in the heart of the coastal strip of Malaga, 800 meters from the historic city center. There is a promenade along the port - the Paseo del Muelle Uno - a beautiful place for evening walks with museums and several architectural sights.
Part of the boulevard (Muelle 1) is a whole shopping and entertainment area with many cafes and restaurants, shops and a shopping center (Muelle Uno), there is a boat tour agency. The second part of the boulevard (Muelle 2) is a picturesque promenade with Palmeral De Las Sorpresas, a palm grove of surprises, interesting sculptures, shady seating areas, a small fountain and playgrounds for children.
In the harbor of the cargo-passenger port is the port of El Candado for sports ships, where the oldest Royal Mediterranean Yacht Club of Spain (opened in 1873) and a marina for yachts are located.
Website: www.malagaport.eu/.
Puerto de Tarragona
Tarragona is a city with a large seaport, which is divided into three zones: a commercial part, a fishery, an external passenger port. More than 2,000 cargo ships come here annually.
The cruise direction began to develop 3 years ago and is now popular. It is mainly visited by small vessels and sailing ships of premium companies. Large liners rarely enter the port due to the considerable distance from Barcelona (98 km). In 2021, 22 liners and more than 14,000 passengers visited it.
Tourists will be interested in the historical and cultural heritage of the city, which is not numerous, but worthy of attention. Near the port there are well-groomed clean beaches that attract tourists from different countries.
Website: www.porttarragona.es/.
Saplaya Port
A small town with colorful houses along the canal looks very picturesque and is located 4 km from Valencia. Puerto de Saplaya is a harbor with canal streets for parking small yachts, boats, boats. There is a beach with a developed infrastructure on the promenade.
Tourists can visit a large shopping area, do any kind of water sports and visit palm parks with bars, coffee shops, restaurants. This picturesque place, "little Spanish Venice", is undoubtedly suitable for relaxation and great pastime.
Puerto de Ceuta
The seaport of Ceuta, one of the largest in the Mediterranean, is an important link in cargo transportation from the Atlantic Ocean (Asia, Africa, America) to the interior of the continent.
There are two container terminals, fixed cranes and two cruise ship terminals. In recent years, the port has handled more than 80 million tons of cargo. Due to its excellent location - in the north of the African continent right in the Strait of Gibraltar with the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea - Ceuta is ideal for cruise ships passing through the Western Mediterranean, the Atlantic Peninsula and Morocco, connecting routes to Madeira and the Canary Islands. For tourists, a transfer to the city is provided, there is a constant monitoring of security and control, excursions, organized tours are conducted, there is an opportunity to visit the nearby cities of Morocco - Tangier, Tetouan or Chefchaouen.
Website: www.puertodeceuta.com/.
Marina de Denia
The expensive resort of Denia with beautiful beaches, well-equipped infrastructure, mountainous climate attracts tourists from all over the world.
Marina de Denia is a large and important port of the country. Here you can see hundreds of yachts and boats moored, breakwaters, breakwaters, and in the southern part of the port there is a large fish market. There is a small pier for boats and yachts no more than 8 meters long and 2 sports ports for larger vessels (Club Náutico accepts vessels up to 20 m, Puerto Deportivo La Marina - up to 60 m). Ferries to the Balearic Islands leave from Marina de Denia every day. The boat trip to Ibiza takes 3.5 hours, to Mallorca - 7.5 hours.
Website: www.marinadedenia.com/.
Puerto de Bilbao
One of the largest cargo ports in the country. The length of the mooring front is 15 km. Cruise ships dock at the terminal in the seaside town of Getxo, 20 km away. from Bilbao.
In March 2021, a new passenger terminal, OLATUA, was opened in Bilbao, and in the same year, 61 cruise ships with 83,674 passengers entered the port.
Website: https://www.bilbaoport.eus.
There are 47 ports in Spain, which can be viewed on the map for clarity.
How to buy or rent a yacht in Spain
Such direction of sea tourism as yachting is interesting and profitable for investors. Confirmation is the fact that in Europe there are about 1.5 million anchorages for yachts, and in the waters of the Eastern Mediterranean, yacht transit a year averages 2 million ships. From a financial point of view, this is about 12 billion euros.
In Spain, sea borders cover more than 90% of the territory, so it is not surprising that this country is the birthplace of yachting.
If you prefer to rent, then today you can find both motor and sailing yachts.
When choosing a place to conquer water spaces, you need to understand what you prefer to do on land: Ibiza, Menorca or Mallorca are suitable for outdoor activities; for privacy from the hustle and bustle, it is better to rent a boat to the quietest of the Balearic Islands - Formentera. Buying a yacht requires not only professional knowledge in this area, but also practical experience.
Conclusion
Since ancient times, seaports have been major intermediaries in the communication of peoples. Three of the five continents of the Earth are giant islands, the exchange of goods between which is possible only with the help of sea vessels.
The ports of Spain play an important role in providing the inhabitants of the whole world with goods, food, and also annually receive tens of millions of sea tourists.
