TOP 7 Things To Do In Cadiz Spain

We have compiled the best things to do in Cadiz for you. On both of our trips to Andalusia, we of course visited the exciting coastal city of Cadiz. Cadiz is located on a headland and is surrounded by the turquoise-blue sea and could therefore just as well be an island. On your round trip through Andalusia, Cadiz must not be missed. Therefore, we have summarized our top highlights and sights of Cadiz in our travel report.

But you don’t have to go through them point by point, you can just let yourself drift in this city. In Cadiz, hectic and stress quickly fall away from you anyway. The fresh sea air, the mild wind that always seems to blow, and the bright Andalusian sun are the best medicine against Central European restlessness. Here you will get to know the southern serenity.

What to know about Cadiz

Cadiz, in the southwest of Andalusia, is located on a promontory (almost completely) enclosed by the sea. The city is one of the oldest in Europe and has just over 100,000 inhabitants. Cadiz can be roughly divided into the modern new town and the beautiful old town with its neighborhoods El Pópulo, La Viña and Santa María.

If you are traveling to Cadiz, you will probably want to go only to the old town and also look for your hotel there. Then you are in the middle of the hustle and bustle and not far from the numerous things to do in Cadiz. A great opportunity to explore all the best things to do in Cadiz is also to get a ticket for a hop-on-hop-off bus*. We have done this several times at different locations and this is always an easy way to explore a city.

Hop-On-Hop-Off-Bus in Cadiz | Get a Ticket*

However, the combination of the historic old town of the provincial capital, the immediate location by the sea and the sights make Cadiz also a great and varied destination for a day trip. We had researched the following things to do in Cadiz before our visit…. but unfortunately we didn’t manage to do all of them.

Hotel Recommendation in Cadiz

In Cadiz we can recommend the apartments at Plaza Mina Suites*. It’s best to book 2 nights here. Here you can expect modern, bright apartments in which you can provide yourself. In the evening you can relax on the roof top terrace and enjoy the view over Cadiz in the sunset.

Apartments Plaza Mina Suites on Booking.com*

The Best Things To Do In Cadiz

#1 Catedral de Cadiz

One of the best things to do in Cadiz, the Catedral de Cádiz, serves as a landmark. The cathedral was built between 1720 and 1830 and its white facade offers a perfect contrast to the sea behind it. The special highlight of the cathedral is that you can not only visit it from the inside, but also climb the bell tower and enjoy the view over Cadiz. The visit to the cathedral costs 5 Euro, which also includes the visit to the bell tower.

️Can be found here on Google Maps

#2 Teatro Romano

If you are into excavation sites you will also find them in Cadiz. In 1980, the Roman theater in Cadiz was rediscovered during construction work. The theater is located next to the church of the Holy Cross and at that time had room for 20,000 people. If you want to have a look at the old Cadiz and you are interested in the history of the place, you are right here.

Can be found here on Google Maps

#3 Torre Tavira

The Torre Tavira is another lookout point in Cadiz, from which you can view the city from above. Besides the wonderful panoramic view, you can also experience the first camera obscura installed in Spain at Torre Tavira. Unfortunately, this lookout tower is not free of charge either. The entrance fee per person is 6 Euro.

All further information can be found on the tourism page of Torre Tavira: Torre Tavira – Camera Obscura

#4 Parque Genovés

If you want to escape the narrow streets and have some greenery around you, you can take a break at Parque Genovés. The botanical garden with over 100 species of trees, plant beds and fountains is located right by the sea and offers you tranquility and plenty of shade, especially at lunchtime. The lush green of the trees offers a great contrast to the old town and shows how varied Cadiz is. ️

Find it here on Google Maps

#5 Cadiz Mercado Central

Every time we go on a city trip, we research whether or not there are markets. We just love discovering what makes a place tick as well as the hustle and bustle of people between stalls. At such markets you can find many locally made souvenirs and try culinary what the country’s cuisine is all about.

The Mercado Central in Cadiz is located in a large indoor market selling fish, meat, fruit and vegetables. Here you can stock up on many delicacies and experience the local cuisine of Andalusia. ️

Can be found here on Google Maps

#6 Castillo de San Sebastián

Another historic building in Cadiz is the Castillo de San Sebastián. This is a castle fortress that was built into the sea from Cadiz. The fortress in the bay of Caleta offers an excellent view of Cadiz and the sea and is even free of charge. Especially beautiful is a walk at sunset on the promenade up to the Castillo de San Sebastian.

Tip for James Bond fans: The fortress served as a backdrop for the movie “Die Another Day”

️Can be found here at Google Maps

#7 Playa de la Caleta

Another tip to escape the narrow streets in Cadiz after some time is the Playa de la Caleta. If you are surrounded by the sea all the time in Cadiz you should not miss it to dip your feet into the cool water. Playa de la Caleta is located between the fortresses of Castillo de San Sebastián and Castillo de Santa Catalina.

Here you can take a break either on the beach itself or in one of the numerous restaurants or bars. Especially at lunchtime it gets quite crowded here. The best time to visit the beach is at sunset. Then it is much emptier and you can enjoy the impressive play of colors of the setting sun in peace. ️

Can be found here on Google Maps

Tips for your Trip to Cadiz

Finally, we want to give you some good tips for Cadiz that will hopefully make your trip to this gorgeous coastal city easier. You can find our complete itinerary for Andalusia here:

• Road Trip Andalusia | The Perfect Itinerary for 1-2 Weeks

When to visit Cadiz in Spain

Because of the location at the southern tip of Europe and the great location at the sea, the climate is very pleasant all year round. In the summer months, the thermometer here often rises above the 30 degree mark, but due to the constantly blowing wind, the temperatures usually feels more pleasant. In the summer it also almost never rains and the city and also its beaches are accordingly full.

More pleasant is the shoulder season with the months of May, June, October and November. The temperatures are somewhat lower, rain is still hardly present and the city is simply much emptier and quieter. Hotels are also somewhat cheaper at this time. In winter (December to March), it doesn’t really get cold in Cadiz either, but temperatures naturally feel a bit cooler due to the wind. Nevertheless, you will never experience temperatures below 0 degrees or even snow and frost in Cadiz.

Conclusion

Cadiz can be visited at any time of the year. But it is best (and cheapest) in the shoulder season (May, June, October and November).

Cadiz Sightseeings – Arrival & Parking

Is there an airport in Cadiz?

No, unfortunately not. But about 40 kilometers away there is the airport Jerez de la Frontera. This is an international airport and is served by several German airports. From there you can rent a car and explore Cadiz and Andalusia.

How to get to Cadiz by car

As already mentioned above, you can rent a car at the airport and drive to Cadiz and then spend a few days in beautiful Andalusia. You can get rental cars for as little as 5 Euro per day, although we would recommend going with a larger rental company (like Sixt, Avis, Budget, etc.) rather than a small local provider.

When renting a car, a small problem can quickly become expensive and we just think that you are then better off with large rental companies than with smaller providers with fighting prices.

Parking in Cadiz

This is of course possible, but not cheap. Free parking as in many other cities in Andalusia does not exist in Cadiz. At least not in the old town. But there are some paid (and also guarded) parking lots in the north and also in the south of the headland. Parking in Cadiz costs about 15 Euro per 24 hours. Prices for individual hours are even more expensive in comparison.

What were your favorite things to do in Cadiz? Or do you have any questions about our list of the best Cadiz sights? Write a comment below our travel report.