Cádiz Spain Travel Guide:
A Must for Travelers Seeking Pure Andalucía
Originally published October 31, 2020. Updated April of 2023
All images are courtesy of the Spain Less Traveled team, unless otherwise stated.
Cádiz Spain from the bell tower of the cathedral
Spectacular Cádiz Spain province
In Andalucía Spain’s far southwestern corner, Cádiz province has it all. From charming coastal villages on Costa de la Luz, where those Atlantic winds can get fierce. To so many charming pueblos blancos (whitewashed villages) it is impossible to list them all. All of that with one of the oldest cities in Europe as its regional capital, Cadiz City.
Read on for some of our favorite tips. And remember, here at Spain Less Traveled we can help you plan and personalize your dream trip to Cádiz Spain (or anywhere in the country) based on your unique travel style and budget.
(Be sure to have a look at our list of reasons why you should use a travel advisor to plan your trip to Spain)
Where is Cadiz Spain?
Cadiz Spain is located in Spain’s far southwestern corner. It is one of the provinces of Andalucía Spain in the south of the country.
Map of Andalucía, Southern Spain showing Cadiz province (light green, lower left). Image: VectorStock
Cadiz Spain Travel Guide: sites to see Spain Less Traveled
Cadiz City: Europe’s oldest
Cádiz Spain’s charming historic center.
Cádiz’s provincial capital, Cádiz city is located on the Costa de la Luz. In the far southwestern corner of Spain, some consider Cádiz out of the way and don’t include it on their itinerary. But it’s one of Southern Spain’s most lively cities. Set on a peninsula, surrounded by the Bay of Cádiz, the 360 views of the water make for gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. Many claim that Cádiz is Europe’s oldest city, which of course makes it one of the oldest cities in Spain.
It is from here where Columbus set off to discover the New World. It makes for a great base to explore Cádiz province.
Cádiz’s centro historico has a charm that can only come with being one of the oldest European settlements. With sort of a Caribbean flavor, the sea walls and forts can easily remind visitors of La Habana, Cuba or San Juan, Puerto Rico. At the center of the historic center is the cathedral, built in both Baroque and Neo-Classical styles. Don’t miss a climb up to the bell tower for the amazing views of Cádiz city, the port, and of course the Atlantic Ocean.
For visitors wanting to sample some of Cádiz Spain’s delicacies, head to the Mercado Central. With nearly 60 stalls selling everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to seafood, with all the local products in between, the market is worth a stop on any foodie’s itinerary. This is one of our favorite markets in Spain!
And speaking of food, El Faro is a renowned restaurant. But intrepid travelers skip the expensive dinner and head to the bar located on the premises for the same food for a fraction of the price. This is the place to sample Cádiz’s best seafood, some of the best food in Spain!
Playa de la Caleta is Cádiz’s urban beach, and one of Spain’s most charming beaches set in a city. There is an mock Moorish bathhouse. James Bond fans might recognize the beach from the film Die Another Day. Beach goers will want to remember that this is the Atlantic Ocean and is much windier than the Mediterranean Sea on the other side of Andalucía.
Pueblos Blancos, beautiful whitewashed villages in Cádiz provinces
Setenil de las Bodegas.
Arcos de la Frontera is the most touristic of the pueblos blancos in Cádiz province. It’s worth a quick stop, but we do not recommend lingering there.
Far off the beaten path, and where the organized tours don’t go is the town of Olvera, one of the most visually stunning towns in the region. Surrounded by three billion olive trees (yes, really!), the views from the top of the castle are impressive. Be sure to also walk around the impressive Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación.
Also worth is a visit is Setenil de las Bodegas, with its whitewashed houses built right into the cliffs. Be sure to also check out the views from above the town, and not only on the streets under the caves.
The town of Zahara de la Sierra is another whitewashed hilltop town with a castle. What makes Zahara different is that right below it, is a manmade lake in the middle of some of Southern Spain’s prettiest landscapes.
This whitewashed village of Grazalema is stunning. This pueblo is located right in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park and has beautiful views surrounded by green mountains. With some great dining and lodging options, Grazalema makes for a great overnight or multi-day base to explore the pueblos blancos or Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park.
The craggy green mountains of the Sierra de Grazalema & Sierra de Cádiz
Beautiful Grazalema, Spain, one of the most recommended pueblos blancos of Spain
The Sierra de Grazalema is a beautiful natural park. With miles and miles of hiking trails, backroads perfect for cyclists, and gorgeous scenery, anyone craving nature shouldn’t miss the Sierra de Grazalema area.
Hiking, biking, birdwatching, rock climbing, and caving, for those who just want to be outside the Sierra de Grazalema has it all. A car is very helpful to get to the start of the trails or to these spots, but for those without their own wheels, there are several guided tour options. The information center in the town of El Bosque has trail maps and information about all of these activities.
Cheese lovers rejoice: Cádiz Province’s famous Payoyo cheese comes from these parts. There are places to taste it and even a cheese museum in the town of El Bosqe.
Spend the night in the walls of a castle
The exterior walls of the castle in Castellar de la Frontera
For a unique pueblo blanco, be sure to visit the village of Castellar de la Frontera. Divided into two separate parts - a newer part and an older part. Castellar Viejo, the older part is entirely surrounded by a well-preserved Moorish castle.
Constructed between the 12th and 15th centuries is one of the few castles where a town still fully exists within its walls. Surrounded entirely by the castle complex, you will find a small town with winding streets and whitewashed houses typical of Andalucía.
If you want to literally spend the night in a castle, this is the place to do it. Though not a luxurious parador, a simple three-star hotel, and restaurant are built right into the castle.
On a clear day, from the viewpoint, you can often see the Rock of Gibraltar and the African (Moroccan) coastline, making this the perfect vantage point for protection from centuries past.
Or look for goats meandering around castle grounds
Goats hanging out at the castle in Jimena de la Frontera
Goats at a castle!? You can often see these cute creatures meandering around the castle grounds in Jimena de la Frontera. Maybe you will get lucky too.
But even if you don’t, the town itself is quaint and full of history. At varying points in time, the Phoenicians, Romans, and Moors once called it home. Though these days, many foreigners in Spain live in Jimena de la Frontera giving it a Spanish and non-Spanish vibe.
Take some time to wander its whitewashed streets. And if you are there in July, be on the lookout for the town’s music festival - Festival de Música de Jimena de la Frontera.
The sandy beaches of the coast of the light, Costa de la Luz
Punta Paloma with its sand dunes is just one of the sandy beaches on Spain’s Costa de la Luz
Cádiz Spain has some of the best hidden beaches in the country. Here the coastline is called la Costa de la Luz, which translates into “the coast of the light”
There are several beach towns on this coast, or just slightly inland. Make sure to stop in the village Vejer de la Frontera
Make sure to stop in the village of Vejer de la Frontera. This whitewashed village (pueblo blanco) that’s also on the list of most beautiful villages in Spain, has so much history! It even has a historic Judería (old Jewish quarter) for those interested in Sephardic Spain.
Zahara de las Atunes s a stylish and chic village on the coast, with beautiful beaches to the south. Even though it is trendy, it doesn’t see mass tourism.
To explore some Roman ruins, head to Bolonia. The nearby beach is beautiful. Nearby be sure to also stop by Punta Paloma to explore the sand dunes and long sandy beach.
And at the end of the peninsula lies the hippie-vibe surf village of Tarifa. With so many vegan and vegetarian food options for a small town, Tarifa has a Spanish element too with a beautiful old walled historic center and castle. The southernmost point of mainland Europe, Tarifa is where the Mediterranean and Atlantic meet. And that land across the water? That’s the Moroccan coast, so you are truly looking at another continent. Just 13 km (8.1 miles) of sea separates Europe from Africa.
Jerez de la Frontera: horses, flamenco and sherry
Show at the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre
Jerez de la Frontera is most famous for two (really three) Andaluz staples: horses, sherry, and flamenco. It is textbook Andaluz but remains one of Southern Spain’s best-kept secrets. It is not a stop on most “Andaluz whistle-stop tours,” and those who do visit normally do it as a day trip from Seville. That is a pity as Jerez de la Frontera deserves at least a few days on a southern Spain travel itinerary.
(And note: due to time schedules, it is nearly impossible to visit many of Jerez’s attractions in a single day!)
Even if you are not a horse buff, attending an authentic Andalucían equestrian show is a must. The Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre (the royal school of Andaluz equestrian arts) puts on a show called “Cómo bailan los caballos andaluces” (how the Andaluz horses dance) It is a spectacular ballet and is so intrinsic to Andaluz culture. The show has limited capacity and normally sells.
Speaking of intrinsic to Andalucía sultry sherry wine comes from this area. In fact, Jerez means “sherry” in English, so it is the city’s namesake! There are plenty of options for tastings at bodegas, but making reservations is required. The bodegas have limited hours and capacity limits. With over 20 bodegas in the city itself, there is something for everyone. Tío Pepe is the most accessible and most popular bodega to visit and gives a great overview. If you want a more intimate bodega, it requires more planning. Bodegas Tradición, for example, is a wonderful option for its collection of aged sherries. The bodega even features works by Goya and Velázquez.
For flamenco be sure to pop by the Centro Andaluz de Flamenco. Not only can you catch a live show, but you can learn a lot about flamenco.
Finally, Jerez could not be an Andaluz city with two more things: some sort of Moorish castle or fortress and a cathedral. And it has both. The gothic cathedral, which looks almost like a miniature of Sevilla’s immense cathedral, is worth a visit. If you are willing to climb up to the top of the bell tower, the views of Jerez are great. And don’t miss the Alcázar of Jerez de la Frontera, a well-restored Moorish fortress with an ancient mosque, arab baths, and aljibe water system.
Jerez’s historic center is abundant with rich architecture. Full of palaces and tree-lined streets, the city has that feeling of old wealth in the air. And that it is.
Did our Cadiz Spain Travel Guide fuel your wanderlust?
Now you can see why Cadiz Spain is one of our favorite provinces in all of Spain. It really has it all!
So why not visit Cadiz province as part of your trip to Spain?
Here are some ways to weave Cadiz Spain into your Spain travel itinerary
There are several ways to make Cadiz a part of your Spain travel itinerary during a short trip to Spain
Spend the entire time in Cadiz . This is a great option for those who really want to explore the region in depth and love slow travel. Especially if this is not your first visit to Spain.
Plan few days in Cadiz province as part of an Andalucían itinerary. If you are already in Andalucía, adding some time in Cadiz can easily be done. It can be combined with a trip to Córdoba, Granada, Málaga, Seville and more. And we can help! (Here is an example of what you can do with 14 days in Andalucía Spain!)
Spend part of your “tour of Spain travel itinerary” in Cadiz. There are trains and busses to Cadiz from Madrid and other points in Andalucía.
These are just a few options and we’d love to help explore them all with you!
While there is some public transportation, especially between the cities, it is strongly recommended to have a car in Cadiz for flexibility as well as for getting off the beaten path. We can help you rent one and plan your own Cadiz itinerary.
You also might like our other in depth guides by region.
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