Cádiz in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

La Caleta beach, the historic centre of Cádiz, Santa Catalina Castle and the Tavira tower are some of the places to include among the best things to see and do in Cádiz, whether you travel for one, two or three days.

In this three-day itinerary of Cádiz, you'll be able to do everything from family and children's plans, to the most popular nightlife among Cádiz locals. You will probably also have time to discover some of the villages in the outskirts, because if there is one thing that Cádiz and its surroundings have, it is places to visit and activities to do.

The first day of your itinerary will begin with a walk through the streets of the city of Cádiz. This itinerary is supposed to start early in the morning, meaning that you should have arrived in Cadiz the night before, to get up very early in the morning and set off to explore some of the city's most popular sights.

During this first day you will get to know the historical and archaeological side of the city, so among the places you will visit are: the Puertas de Tierra, the Museum of Cadiz or the Tower of Tavira. You will also visit the Gadir Archaeological Site, the Roman Theatre and two of the busiest squares in the city, ending with dinner in the La Viña neighbourhood.

Land Doors

Your day will start very early, around 8:00. You can have breakfast at the hotel where you are staying, or you can eat breakfast near Puertas de Tierra which is the first place on your list of places to visit during day one in Cadiz. You can reach this place by private car from your accommodation.

This place is interesting because it is the very gates of the walled city of Cadiz. It is installed in this place with the purpose of separating the old city from the actual city of Cadiz. This monument is open between 9:30 and 13:30 in the morning, which is when you will visit it, and I estimate that it will take you about an hour to see it in its entirety.

The tour won't take much more than an hour. Admission is free to the public, so you won't have to pay anything to see the place. It's a good place to take lots of photos and also to see the sea and the city from another angle.

Museum of Cádiz

Five minutes from Puertas de Tierra is the next place to visit on your first day in Cádiz. This time it is the Museum of Cádiz, a good place to start discovering the history and archaeology of the city.

The museum is open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, although this tour can take about two hours to complete. As for the price of visits, you can pay around 1.5 euros to enter the complex. In the case of European Union citizens, there is generally no entrance fee.

Among the most interesting things you can see in the museum are some of the most valuable baroque jewels and of course priceless pieces from the Roman period. One thing you will love about this museum is that it is divided into archaeological and fine art pieces.

In the former you will be able to see perfectly preserved pieces from prehistory and the Middle Ages. While in the second you will be able to see Baroque works and also some examples of art from the Spanish Golden Age.

Tavira Tower

Leaving the Museum of Cádiz, it should be about 12:00, the perfect time to have some lunch before going up to the next destination: the Tavira Tower. You can have lunch on the way to the tower, in fact, one of the restaurants where you can stop for lunch is La Freiduría Europa, which is almost on the way to Tavira.

Assuming you take about an hour for lunch, by 13:00 you will be in time to go up to Tavira to see the spectacle of the city before your eyes. As this place is open from 10:00 to 18:00, 13:00 is a perfect time to enter and enjoy the view under a clear Cadiz sky.

Through a camera obscura system, the Tavira tower offers locals and visitors a breathtaking view of the whole city and also of the Atlantic Ocean, so it is definitely one of the best visits you can make in the city. Visits last 45 minutes, while the price is around 6 euros for general admission and 5 euros for reduced admission.

Gadir Archaeological Site

Walking, once you leave the Tavira Tower, you can get to the Gadir Archaeological Site because they are located almost opposite each other. Here your tour could start around 14:00, the perfect time to enter one of the daily passes to this archaeological jewel. The entrance is free of charge.

As in the case of the Tavira Tower, visits last no more than 45 minutes, the perfect time to enjoy a tour of this place that will transport you to the Phoenician past immediately. Visits are for a maximum of 25 people, and during the tour you will see an audiovisual presentation about the complex and then listen to the tour guide's explanation.

Plaza de Las Flores

As the visit to the archaeological site will be brief, you will have time to visit the Plaza Las Flores, and this will be at approximately 15:00. This is a curious and touristic place thanks to its colourfulness. It is an excellent place to include in the list of places to visit in Cádiz in winter thanks to its climate and atmosphere.

This is not to say that you can't visit the square in summer. It is a very nice and relaxing place to walk around with the family, take some pictures and even have a snack at the Central Market of Cádiz, which is very close and is also a place of tourist interest to visit and have a very nice time.

San Juan de Dios Square

Leaving about thirty minutes to visit the Plaza las Flores, it is time to move on to the Plaza San Juan de Dios, which is located about three minutes away by car. By this time the clock should read approximately 15:30.

Again, you don't need to spend much time walking around the Plaza San Juan de Dios. Although it is a good place to take photos and see the fountains that decorate it, it is also true that a quick visit to the square will leave you with a chance to get to your next tourist and archaeological site in time.

Roman Theatre of Cadiz

The Roman Theatre is also very close to the Plaza San Juan de Dios, just a short three minute drive away. You will arrive just in time to get into the last group of visitors to the theatre, as it is open in winter from 10:00 to 16:30 and in summer until 17:00.

This archaeological site is one of the most impressive in the city because it is partially excavated. The most imposing part of the structure, which dates back to the Roman period, is still under the El Pópulo neighbourhood and has not yet been excavated. What I recommend is to hire a guided tour, which will teach you everything you want to know about the theatre.

Dinner at La Viña

Leaving the Roman Theatre no later than 17:00, I recommend you continue on to the La Viña neighbourhood, an ideal place to stroll through its streets and, above all, to have dinner there once you have done your night-time tour. But before going on to La Viña, you can't miss the opportunity to visit Café Pay-Pay.

This café is located very close to the Roman Theatre and is one of the best places in the city of Cádiz to see a good flamenco show. After leaving the place, it is time to go straight to La Viña.

In the afternoon and evening La Viña becomes a place to enjoy the nightlife of the city, from places to eat, to pubs where you can have a few drinks to keep the party going. Among the places I recommend you to visit in La Viña to eat are: Taberna El Tío de la Tiza, Casa Pepe and Bar la Casapuerta.

On this second day of our itinerary of the best things to see in Cadiz in three days, it's time to see some of the most emblematic tourist sites related to parks, beaches and the outdoors. I recommend leaving very early in the morning so that you have enough time to see the many sites on the itinerary.

To start with good energy you can have breakfast at the hotel where you are staying, or you can do it very close to the first place you will visit in the morning, which is none other than the great Monument of the Constitution. If you choose the second option, places like the Restaurante El Artesano are ideal for breakfast.

Constitution Monument

Located in the Plaza de España, the Monumento de la Constitución is the first place to visit on this second day of your itinerary around Cádiz. It is a public place, so it can be seen at any time of the day, making it the perfect place to start the day.

It is a historical monument designed by the architect Modesto López Otero and sculpted by the artist Aniceto Marina in 1912. This exemplary city monument offers an exemplary look at war and peace, agriculture and industry.

One of the things that will strike you most about it is its relief of the Cadiz resistance during the War of Independence fought between 1808 and 1814.

Alameda Apodaca

No more than three minutes away by car is the Alameda Apodaca, an ideal place to go for a walk just after visiting and contemplating the Monument to the Constitution. Assuming you leave the Plaza de España around 9:00, this would be an excellent time to visit the Apodaca.

As it is a place open to the public, you can visit it at any time you want and with no time limit. I recommend you to visit it in the morning, thanks to the incredible view of the ocean that will let you peek into this so called "Balcony of the Atlantic". It is a very nice and cool walkway located right next to the sea, ideal for taking pictures.

Genoves Park

If you have more than three days to see the whole city of Cádiz, I would recommend spending a whole day in Parque Genovés. But assuming you don't spend more than half an hour at each of the places you started this second day's tour, 9.30am would be a good time to lose yourself for about two and a half hours in Parque Genovés.

In the summer the park is open from 8am until 10pm, so starting in the morning is the best alternative if you want to enjoy this green lung in the middle of the city. Although it is not a well-known or busy park, it is a good place to see a large number of plants from all over the world, especially those of American origin.

Such is the variety of plants in the park that it is considered a botanical garden. It is also adorned with walkways in its interior and a lake with a waterfall, where you will be able to see a large number of birds. It is an ideal place to include among the best things to do in Cadiz with children.

La Caleta Beach

After a two and a half hour walk through Genovés Park, it's time to continue on your way, this time to Playa La Caleta. At midday, La Caleta beach is one of the best places to visit in summer, but in case you don't want to swim or it's winter, I recommend you to take a walk along the coast, to breathe some fresh air.

It is an ideal place to get in touch with nature and to feel the sea breeze. When you arrive at Playa La Caleta it is probably around 12:00 noon, so it is a good time to take a short walk and go straight to the beach to taste some of the local dishes of the coast par excellence.

On the shore of the beach you can find good places to enjoy the gastronomy of Cádiz such as Quilla Restaurante Café y Terraza. Lunch shouldn't take more than an hour, so once you've regained your strength, it's time to move on to the next destination.

Santa Catalina Castle

It will only take you about four minutes by car to get to the Castillo de Santa Catalina, an exemplary place to visit in Cádiz. The car park is very close to the castle, so you can get there by private car. There is also a viewpoint nearby to see it from a distance and take pictures.

Visiting hours are from 11:00 to 20:00, so it would be ideal if you enter around 14:00. Entrance is free, so you won't have to pay anything to see inside. I recommend you to use at least one hour to visit it.

Cathedral of Cádiz

Around 15:00 it's time to leave the historical fortification of the Castle of Santa Catalina to continue to another of the best tourist attractions in Cadiz: its Cathedral, which I recommend you to spend at least an hour to visit in its entirety. This place is included in the Cádiz tourist bus route, so you can get there that way.

Known as "La Nueva", this Cathedral stands out for its different construction styles: Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical, given its 116 years of construction and multiple architects. It is open to the public from 10:00 to 20:00 and the entrance fee varies between 3 and 7 euros.

Cádiz Promenade

10 minutes from the Cathedral is the Paseo Marítimo de Cádiz, an ideal place to enjoy the other side of the coast of Cádiz. It is a very lively place that is usually classified as part of the new area of the city, where you will find a large number of cafes and pubs, perhaps for a coffee and a snack.

The Paseo Marítimo is a good place to walk or cycle along. In fact, this is one of the most popular places for tourists to visit on one of the best tours of Cádiz, especially by bike.

Constitution Bridge

On your way out of Cádiz city, towards the mainland, you have to pass the Puente de la Constitución bridge and you can't miss the chance to take some pictures of the incredible view that can be seen here.

This bridge crosses the bay of Cádiz and is of the cable-stayed type, which makes it a great tourist attraction. It is also the longest road bridge built in Spain, so it is a real architectural gem that you have to see.

San Marcos Castle

After passing the Constitution Bridge and about 20 minutes from the Paseo Marítimo, you will reach the next destination on the itinerary for day 2, which is none other than the Castillo de San Marcos. The entrance fee is around 10 euros for general admission and at least 5 euros for children and young people from 5 to 18 years old.

Depending on the day you choose for your trip, you can take a tour inside the castle because they usually have guided tours at 18:00 on some days during the summer. If you can't go inside, you can also tour the outside of the castle and admire the fortification it represents.

Dinner and accommodation in Puerto de Santa María

In the lively area of Puerto de Santa María, you can find a place to eat dinner and have a few drinks before going to your accommodation, which I recommend to be in the same area for this second day.

Among the places to have dinner and enjoy the nightlife for an hour or two, I recommend: Restaurante Romerijo, Aponiente and María Castaña. For accommodation, the Hotel Soho, the Hotel Dunas Puerto and Crisol Monasterio de San Miguel are nearby.

On this third and last day of your itinerary in Cádiz, you will do some of the best excursions from Cádiz. Vejer and Jerez de la Frontera, and Medina Sidonia will be the places you'll visit so you won't leave out any of the most popular places in and around the city.

Remember that you will leave from Puerto de Santa María, where you stayed the night of the second day of the itinerary. So before leaving you can have a snack at the hotel and continue to Vejer de la Frontera for breakfast and sightseeing.

Vejer de la Frontera

As soon as you arrive in Vejer de la Frontera, after an hour's drive, I recommend you stop for lunch at a local restaurant such as La Tetería del Califa, Canela & Miel Conil or La Desayunería de Floren. By this time it should be 9:00.

After recharging your energy it's time for a nice tour around the area to see some of the most interesting tourist sites. Not to be missed as an activity to do in this town are the sevillanas classes, where you will learn a bit about the history of this dance and of course, you will also learn some dance steps.

Medina-Sidonia

Once you have toured Vejer de la Frontera for at least three hours, continue on your way to Medina Sidonia, a beautiful town located half an hour from Vejer, where you will be able to appreciate a beautiful view of the Atlantic, as well as stroll through the streets of the town to breathe in its medieval atmosphere.

The tour of the town will leave you in the mood for lunch at around 13:00, so there are a few restaurants you can visit to try the traditional gastronomy of the area, such as Bar Cádiz or Restaurante La Fábrica.

Jerez de la Frontera

After spending at least three more hours in the town of Medina Sidonia, it's time to move on to the last place on this itinerary, which is none other than Jerez de la Frontera, located about 30 minutes from Medina and a must on this list of places to see in Cádiz. You should arrive in the town around 17:00.

At this time it is ideal to take a guided tour around the town to see some of the most important places in this place, such as the Alcázar of Jerez de la Fron tera or the Cathedral itself. As night falls, you can take the opportunity to enjoy one of the best flamenco shows in Cádiz, at none other than the Puro Arte venue.

In Jerez de la Frontera you will be staying on the last night of your tour of Cadiz, as it is the closest place to Cadiz Airport. Early in the morning you can arrange your transfer to Jerez Airport, where you can board your flight back home.