Things to do in the province of Cádiz
A province that fits into one trip and is not exhausted in ten: an ancient city, sherry, horses, wild beaches, Africa across the Strait and mountains dotted with white villages.
Key points
- In under 7,500 km², the province of Cádiz combines a Phoenician capital, the home of sherry, some 260 km of Atlantic and Mediterranean coast and the mountains of the white villages.
- Must-sees: Cádiz city, Jerez, Sanlúcar, Vejer, Tarifa with Bolonia and Baelo Claudia, Arcos and Grazalema.
- It has six natural parks, including the Sierra de Grazalema, Spain’s first Biosphere Reserve (1977).
- Distances are short: Jerez is about 35 km from the capital, Tarifa about 100 km and Grazalema about 130 km.
The areas of the province of Cádiz
Cádiz city, surrounded by the sea
Start with the city of Cádiz: an island joined to the mainland by an isthmus, with an old town of straight streets, watchtowers, the golden dome of the cathedral and city beaches such as La Caleta and La Victoria. It was the Phoenician Gadir, Roman Gades and the port that monopolised trade with the Americas in the 18th century.
Jerez and Sanlúcar: the sherry triangle
Sherry is aged between Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa María and Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Visit a bodega, watch a show at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art and end the day with prawns facing Doñana in Bajo de Guía.
- Jerez bodegasTours with tastings of fino, amontillado, oloroso and Pedro Ximénez.
- Equestrian artThe “How the Andalusian horses dance” show in Jerez.
- Bajo de GuíaManzanilla and prawns with views of Doñana in Sanlúcar.
- FlamencoPeñas and tabancos in the Santiago and San Miguel quarters of Jerez.
The Costa de la Luz
South of the capital begins the Atlantic coast: La Barrosa beach in Chiclana, the fishing town of Conil, Vejer de la Frontera on its hilltop, the cliffs of Los Caños de Meca, the Trafalgar lighthouse, Barbate and Zahara de los Atunes, home of almadraba tuna.
Tarifa and the Strait
In the Campo de Gibraltar lies Tarifa, the southernmost point of continental Europe, the capital of kitesurfing and the port for whale watching or crossing to Tangier. Nearby, the cove of Bolonia hides a giant dune and the Roman town of Baelo Claudia, one of the best preserved in Spain.
The Bay of Cádiz
Around the capital, the Bay links El Puerto de Santa María, Rota, Puerto Real and San Fernando among marshes and salt pans. You can cross it by catamaran, and it is the best place to try estero fish and seafood.
The sierra and the white villages
To the north-east, the Sierra de Cádiz swaps the sea for limestone mountains, Spanish fir forests and whitewashed villages: Arcos de la Frontera, Grazalema, Zahara de la Sierra, Setenil de las Bodegas and Olvera.
Suggested routes
- WeekendCádiz city and an afternoon in Jerez or El Puerto.
- Four daysAdd Sanlúcar and Vejer with sunset at Los Caños de Meca.
- One weekCarry on to Tarifa and Bolonia and head up to Arcos and Grazalema.
- Ten daysThe whole coast, the white villages route and the Campo de Gibraltar.
When to go and how to get there
The practical details (airports, trains, car, weather and the levante wind) are in Plan your trip. For sand and sea, see our guide to the beaches of Cádiz.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for the province of Cádiz?
A week lets you see the capital, Jerez, Sanlúcar, Vejer, Tarifa and a couple of white villages at an easy pace. For a weekend, pick one area: the Bay and Jerez, the Costa de la Luz or the sierra.
Do I need a car?
For the coast from Vejer to Tarifa and for the sierra, yes. Commuter trains link Cádiz, San Fernando, Puerto Real, El Puerto and Jerez, and the Bay catamaran connects Cádiz with El Puerto and Rota.
What is the best time to visit Cádiz?
Spring (Holy Week, the Horse Fair, flowers in the sierra) and autumn (warm sea, fewer people) are ideal. Summer is beach season and winter brings Carnival.