Cádiz Day Trip: Guide to One Day in Cádiz

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Are you doing a road trip through Southern Spain? Or maybe you’re staying in one of the bigger cities like Seville or Granada and are just itching for a day at the beach. Either way, why not go on a day trip to Cádiz? You can’t miss this well-known beach town in the south of Spain. This Andalusian city will charm you with its beaches, beautiful old town, and relaxing seaside atmosphere.

Whether you want to relax on the beach or tour a city rich with history, a Cádiz day trip is the perfect getaway from anywhere in southern Spain!

The Best Time to Visit Cádiz

The best time to visit Cádiz depends on what you want to get out of your trip. If you want to avoid the sweltering heat, then avoid the summer months of June through August. If you love the heat and just want to hang out at the beach, then summertime might be your best bet.

I think the best time to visit Cádiz is during Carnival in February because it’s SO much fun. The city comes alive with music, costumes, and fried food. It’s impossible not to have a great time!

How to Get to Cádiz

The easiest way to get to Cádiz is by bus, train, or if you’re driving your own rental car. There are trains that run to and from Cádiz all day from different cities. I traveled to Cádiz from Seville, and the train ride was a little under 2 hours.

If you’re traveling from farther away, the the train to Cádiz from Madrid takes about 4 hours, and the train between Barcelona and Cádiz takes almost 8 hours. Another option is to fly into the Jerez Airport just 30 minutes outside of Cádiz.

Best Things to do in Cádiz in One Day

Can you really see all the top Cádiz attractions in one day? You sure can! I wasn’t able to because I visited during Carnival, and I got wrapped up in the festivities. The crowds also turned 5 minute walks into 15-minute-slowly-nudge-your-way-through-walks. But if you visit any other time of year, one day in Cádiz is the perfect amount of time to soak up the historical charm of the city and soak up some rays at the beach!

The Plaza de San Juan de Dios

Start your day in Cadiz with the Plaza de San Juan de Dios, a square built in the 16th century. Because of its proximity to the port, this was the heart of the city for a long time. Nowadays the Plaza de San Juan de Dios is not just a mouthful, but also a hotspot for pedestrians. This is such a pleasant place to hangout because it’s lined with fountains and palm trees in the middle and bordered by restaurants and cafes.

In the square, you’ll notice two beautiful buildings: the town hall and the church of San Juan De Dios.

Tip: If you’re getting to Cádiz via car, then I recommend crossing the Constitution Bridge and keep going straight on las cortes de Cadiz avenue and Astilleros avenue. You’ll reach the port and its underground car park. Park there to be close to the historic center, the best starting point for your Cádiz day trip.

Tip: You can find the Cadiz tourist information office at the entrance of the square on Ramon de Carranza Avenue. Grab a tourist map, and you’ll have no trouble navigating the city.

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The Roman Theater

A five minute walk will take you to our next stop: the Cádiz Roman Theater.

Dated from the end of the 1st century BC, this is the oldest Roman Theater in Spain and also one of the largest, since it can hold 20,000 people. Head inside if you’d like because the museum and theater visit is free to the public. The tour is cool because you can walk in an underground hall beneath the bleachers.

Cádiz Cathedral

The Cádiz Cathedral is a mere 2 minute walk away from the Roman Theater. This is the most famous monument in Cádiz, and it can be seen from just about everywhere. You can’t miss that big golden dome!

Construction began in 1722, and it was completed a century later with a mixture of several architectural styles such as Baroque and Neoclassical. Now it’s a big, bright structure that perfectly emulates the sunny Andalusian ambiance of the city.

During your visit to the Cádiz Cathedral, you should definitely go up one of the cathedral’s bell towers, Tower of Poniente. The top offers an impressive panoramic view of the whole city.

The Cádiz Cathedral was nicknamed Catedral Nueva by the locals. The former church, the Santa Maria Church is consequently nicknamed Catedral Vieja, meaning old church. In addition to the new cathedral, you can also visit the nearby Santa Maria Church for free.

Cádiz Market

After the cathedral, take the 5 minute walk down to the Cádiz Market. Markets are one of the best ways to discover a new region or city because you can find all the best local products. Mercado Central is full great-smelling booths with local goods, including produce, pork, cheese, and sweets. The tables in the center are perfect for munching on your recently purchased goodies. It’s definitely not the biggest market in Andalusia, but it’s just right for tasting some of the best and freshest local products.

To get to the market, take the scenic route through Calle Compania to the Plaza de las Flores. It’s called that because of all the flower stalls. Plaza de las Flores is also a great place to stop for a snack. Get a paper cone of fried fish – you can thank me later!

The Tavira Tower

Close to the market is the Tavira Tower, one of the most visited buildings in Cádiz after the Cathedral. It’s also one of the 126 towers in Cádiz. Geez, do you think they’ve got enough towers?

These towers typically served as watchtowers for the port, and Tavira Tower was the highest and main one. That’s why we’re visiting this tower and not the other 125, because it’s the head honcho!

The main attraction of the tower is the Camera Obscura, one of only about a dozen left in the world. The room is equipped with a set of optical lenses and mirrors, showcasing the entire bay of Cádiz in a magnificent panorama. This is the highest point in old-town Cádiz, and it definitely has the best view of the city. A climb to the top is 6 euros per person, and for a little extra you can stick around to see real-time images from the Camera Obscura projected on a screen in a dark room.

There are also exhibition halls and audiovisual projections inside the tower. You can find more information for on Tavira Tower official website.

San Sebastian Castle

Is it time for the beach yet?? Almost! For our longest walk of the day, walk along Campo del Sur for about 20 minutes until you reach the entrance of the paseo Fernando Quinones. This path will take you straight to the San Sebastian Castle.

San Sebastian Castle is located on a small island and only connected to the city by a pier. Legend has it that this is where the temple of Cronos stood, one of the Titans from Greek mythology. Thus, Venetians named it “San Sebastian” to call for his protection.

San Sebastian Castle is now a place for taking a beautiful walk along the ocean just to admire the Cádiz seafront. There are free exhibitions inside the castle, and the courtyard sometimes hosts concerts and other events.

Fun fact: this castle should look familiar to any James Bond fans. It’s famous for being a filming location for the movie Die Another Day.

La Caleta Beach

Cádiz has lots of gorgeous beaches. They’re all a little different, but all great options for some fun in the sun. These beaches have even won awards for being the best in Europe.

My personal favorite and recommendation to you is La Caleta Beach. It’s located between two castles; how cool is that?! This beach isn’t very big though, and it can get crowded due to it’s proximity to the historic center. If you’re just coming to cool off then this is a great choice, but maybe opt for another beach if you want to spend the whole day there.

Another reason La Caleta is great is because there’s never a shortage of amenities. It’s got restaurants, bars, bathrooms, and showers. Plus, those two castles act as a sea wall, protecting it from strong waves.

Here are some other options for great beaches in Cádiz.

• Santa Maria Del Mar Beach: Did someone say bodyboarding? Sign me up!
• La Victoria Beach: This is a local hotspot, and it’s very popular because it’s the closest to shops, restaurants, and hotels.

Santa Catalina Castle

Remember how I said La Caleta Beach was between two castles, well at the other end is Santa Catalina Castle. But it’s more than a castle; it’s actually a fortress that used to be part of the city’s defense system. The king ordered it to be built to strengthen a vulnerable point of the city after Cádiz was plundered by Anglo Dutch troops.

Santa Catalina Castle is star shaped – neat, huh? Because it was a fortress, it has several defensive bastions, too. The ground area is surrounded by different pavilions and a chapel dedicated to Saint Catalina.

Genoves Park

Five minutes from Santa Catalina Castle is the entrance to Genoves Park, the largest public garden in the city.

I LOVE this park. It’s absolutely gorgeous, mainly because of the man-mad cave, waterfall, and lake, which is always filled with some happy quaking ducks. Be on the lookout for different little monuments, like the popular children under an umbrella fountain.

This park is perfect for a stroll, picnic getaway, or just a short break in the shade, which is what I needed after nonstop sun at the beach! So sit down, relax, and just admire the different species of birds and botanicals from around the world.

Alameda Apodaca park

While it’s tempting to never leave Genoves Park, there’s actually a second park in Cádiz that’s worth checking out, and it gives Genoves a run for its money. Alameda Apodaca has trees, fountains, iron lamp posts, sculptures, colorful ceramic benches, and checkerboard tiles. Many people consider this park to be the most beautiful in this city, but I think I’m still a little partial to Genoves. This would definitely be a great place to end your Cádiz day trip by watching the sunset.

The Museum of Cádiz

If you somehow managed not to doze off at the beach or on a park bench, then you’re a lot stronger willed than me! It also means you should have some extra time for a bit of culture to balance out all that beautiful scenery.

If you’d like to visit the Cádiz museum, you’ll find it at the end of Alameda Apocada walk. Turn right onto calle Zorrilla to reach the Plaza Mina, and the Cádiz Museum is in that square. There are 3 floors  for 3 different periods:

• Phoenician and Roman archaeological remains on the ground floor
• Spanish painters from the 16th to the 20th century on the first floor
• Cádiz folk customs on the second floor (including the famous puppets of Tia Norica)

Definitely swing by if you’re a European citizen, because it’s free for you!

Cádiz Plaza de Espana

Sadly, our Cádiz day trip is coming to an end. To end our one fabulous day in Cádiz, exit the museum and take Antonio Lopez street to get to our last stop: Plaza de España. Once here, you can admire the famous Monument to the Constitution of 1812 or “Monument a las Cortes.” The monument was built in 1912 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Spanish Constitution. 

Fun fact: the Spanish Constitution was signed in Cádiz in 1812.

The monument is very symbolic. The lowest part is actually an empty presidential chair, and the figures of horses on the sides symbolize peace and war.

Carnival in Cádiz

If you are visiting Cádiz during Carnival, then you’re in for a real treat! Carnival is probably the closest thing Spain has to Halloween. It’s a week long fiesta of costumes, performances, and nonstop partying in the streets!

I saw at least 10 groups of singers, all in their own unique matching outfits. Some were just standing in groups, and others slowly made their way through the streets in makeshift floats (one group was even riding on a tractor, giving me flashbacks to my hometown).

The norm for Carnaval is group costumes, whether that be families, friends, or groups of couples. I saw a group of six that formed a six pack of beer. Ha! I also saw a group of about 20 guys that formed a boxing ring around two fighters and their coaches. Now that’s dedication!

Plus, Carnival is probably the only time of year that the beaches aren’t crowded because everybody’s busy frolicking in the streets. I took a bunch of pictures there because there was practically nobody around!

Where to stay in Cádiz

If you’re just doing a Cádiz day trip then you probably aren’t planning to stay the night, but I’ve got some recommendations just incase you decide to extend your one day in Cádiz to two, three, or however many you’re feeling! There is somewhere to stay in Cádiz for every budget. You can even find some cheap accommodation right in the city center.

• Cadiz Inn Backpackers: This hostel is located 10 minutes from the Cathedral. There’s a gorgeous roof terrace, and the staff is very friendly and welcoming. Like with most hostels, there’s lots of different options for rooms depending on your budget and how comfortable you are with strangers!
• Hotel La Catedral: This hotel is (obviously) right next to the Cathedral. You can get a modern and elegant room starting at about €60 per night. It’s a great value because you’ll get breakfast included, an outdoor pool, another rooftop terrace, and amazing cathedral views!
• Parador de Cadiz: This is your luxury hotel option in Cádiz as it’s an oceanfront property just 5 minutes from La Caleta Beach. Breakfast is included and there’s great views at the outdoor pool. If you’re not pinching pennies on this trip, then €138 rooms is a small price to pay for a luxurious stay in Cádiz.

What to Eat in Cádiz

The best and most traditional way to eat in Spain is to order lots of tapas, which are small portions of food. Get lots of little sampler plates at different restaurants instead of one big meal at one place. It’ll feel like your own personal Spanish food tour! Here are some of my suggestions, all of which are in walking distance.

I think a great breakfast is chocolate con churros, a Spanish classic. Another favorite of mine is to get some fresh fruit juice or a smoothie at a local shop.

• Casa Manteca: This famous bar is very popular with the locals, so you know it must be good! It has traditional Spanish decor and very close quarters. You might have to push your way through the hustle and bustle of the crowd, but it’ll be worth it for a delicious sip of that tinto de verano (what Spaniards drink in favor of sangria).
• Taberna La Bombilla: Bring your own fish from the market, and you can get it cooked however you like! Want some paella? Grab some shrimps and mussels from the market and La Bombilla will take care of the rest.
• Sopranis: This trendy restaurant is great for a sit-down glass of wine and a diverse range of dishes. Try to get a table outside; it’s perfect for people watching.
• La Candela: This hole-in-the-wall restaurant is a little tricky to find, but it’ll be worth it when you taste the freshest ingredients in Cádiz off the farm-to-table menu. Do yourself a favor and start with the cheese board!
• Balandro: Beautiful ocean views and delicious seafood? Say no more!
• Dessert: A day in Cádiz isn’t complete without dessert! Cádiz is known for traditional little cookies which can be found in bakeries all over the city. Just pop into a bake shop or two to pick up a delicious assortment of sweets. You can find something to satisfy any craving from almond cookies to chocolate-dipped shortbread and even some jelly-filled pastries.

If You Have More Than One Day in Cádiz

If you’re lucky enough to extend your Cádiz day trip a little longer, consider a day trip to the nearby Jerez. Jerez is most famous for its sherry wine. It’s definitely an acquired taste, so if you’re not much of a wine drinker you might want to skip Jerez and opt for a beach day instead!

Jerez is also famous for its annual horse festival. The horse riding school in Jerez is world famous, putting on shows all year round. I’m not so sure wine and horse riding are a good combo, but Jerez makes it work!

To get to Jerez from Cádiz, head to the train station near the port. You’ll be in Jerez in an hour.

Are you ready for your day trip to Cádiz yet?