Best tours of Cádiz

Cadiz is a city that stands out mainly in summer, with its beaches, swimming areas and terraced beach bars to watch the sunset while you sample Cadiz's gastronomy, but it also has many attractions in its old town and in the bay to discover at any time of the year.

Among the best things to see and do in Cadiz you can opt for excursions along the coast and through the old town, boat trips around the bay, local cheese and wine tastings, guided tours of the Cathedral and the Tavira Tower and horseback riding along the beach.

Cadiz is one of the oldest cities in Europe and therefore has a rich history with a mixed heritage from the periods of Roman, Moorish and Arab occupants, so discovering the old town is one of the best alternatives to get to know the idiosyncrasy of Cadiz.

On these Cadiz coastal tours you can visit the Plaza de España, the Casino Gaditano, the Cathedral of Cadiz, which has a mixture of Gothic and Baroque styles, the Roman Theatre, which was built more than 2000 years ago and also the city's Central Market.

On these tours you will also have access to a cheese and sherry tasting, so you will also get to know another of Cadiz's treasures, which is its gastronomy. At the end of the tour you will have time to relax on a terrace and enjoy the sunset. If you plan to visit Cádiz in August you will be able to contemplate one of the clearest skies in the city, which also stands out for its magical sunsets.

Interesting details

• Price... Approximately 26 euros per person including the assistance of a local guide, entrance to the Roman Theatre and cheese and wine tasting.
• Duration... Approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... You will be able to see the main sites of the old town in a tour with good value for money.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... They only include tours of the old part of Cádiz, so if you want to see other parts of the city you will have to take another guided tour afterwards.

Getting to know Cádiz from the water is one of the best ways to enjoy the city. In these boat trips around the bay you can relax with a quiet boat trip of approximately 3 hours that will take you to the Carranza and Constitución bridges and also to the main sites of the coast of Cadiz.

On these trips you will also be able to contemplate a different profile of the old part of the city, which is the same as the one seen by the conquistadors and expeditionaries who set off from the ports of Cádiz and returned years later. Moreover, if you plan to visit Cádiz in summer, you will also have time to take a swim during the stops and to practice water sports such as paddle surfing and snorkelling.

A boat trip around the bay is also an ideal alternative if you plan to visit Cádiz with children, because the boats usually include inflatable games and other children's activities so that the kids can enjoy the experience.

Although during the summer months you will be able to see the best sunsets during the trip, you can also take this excursion if you are planning to visit Cadiz in winter.

Interesting details

• Price... Approximately 40 euros per person, including the walk, the stop for a swim and water sports and the children's activities.
• Duration... Approximately 3 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... One of the best ways to get to know an alternative profile of the city.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... In winter you won't be able to take a swim and on cloudy days you might not be able to see the sunset.

The Cathedral of Cádiz is the most representative building of the old city and on these tours you can visit it to see the mixture of styles that make it a very particular construction, combining a baroque façade with gothic interiors and neoclassical rose windows. On these guided tours you can get to know all its nooks and crannies.

You can also visit the Cathedral Museum, which contains the Cathedral's objects of worship, including religious ornaments, sculptures and frescoes from the 17th and 18th centuries, which coincide with Cadiz's golden age. In addition, the Clock Tower, which houses the Cathedral's bell tower, is the tallest building in the city at 58 metres, giving you a panoramic view of Cadiz.

On these excursions you will also visit the Tavira Tower, which is the second highest point in the city and from where you can get a 360° panoramic view of the entire Cadiz skyline. In Tavira you will be amazed by the camera obscura, a periscope in which you can see a living, moving projection of everything that is happening outside. This striking optical effect makes objects located kilometres away seem close.

Please note that to climb to the top of the Tavira Tower it is necessary to climb a short staircase of 173 steps, so if you plan to travel with people with reduced mobility this alternative may be uncomfortable.

Interesting details

• Price... Approximately 32 euros per person, including the assistance of a local guide and entrance to the excursions.
• Duration... Approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of these tours... You will see two of the most emblematic buildings in Cádiz.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... To reach the top of the Tavira Tower it is necessary to walk up a steep staircase which is not suitable for all visitors.

If you are one of those who enjoy alternative tourism in Cadiz you will find excursions to suit your profile, as it is a city intermingled with myths and legends. You can discover Cadiz's exciting past on guided tours of the old town and learn about the city's most incredible stories, involving sacrifices, murders, betrayals and tales of terror.

On these tours, which start after sunset, you will visit the enigmatic Plaza de San Antonio, which is the epicentre of the city's celebrations, the Casino Gaditano, the oratory of San Felipe and the parish church of San Lorenzo. The guide will also tell you the legend about the construction of the Cathedral in the Pópulo neighbourhood and the tour will end in the Plaza San Juan de Dios, where the Inquisition tribunal was located.

These tours start and end in the old town, so you can make the most of your tour by visiting one of the restaurants in the centre of Cádiz or some of the best flamenco shows in Cádiz after the tour.

Interesting details

• Price... Approximately 15 euros per person, including the assistance of a local guide.
• Duration... Approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... You will learn about the alternative side of Cadiz, which is an ancient city with streets that hide mysteries and secrets.
• Disadvantages of these excursions...

The Castle of Santa Catalina is one of the favourite destinations for couples visiting the city, because from its esplanade it is possible to contemplate one of the best sunsets in Cadiz, although it is also an attraction visited by most tourists looking for the best panoramic views of the magical Cadiz sunsets.

On these excursions you can take a tour of the castle to see the parade ground, the promenade, the sentry boxes and the defensive towers of the fortress which was built by King Philip II in the 16th century. During the tour you will be assisted by a local guide who will tell you about the period when the Castle of Santa Catalina was a military prison or when Charles II took refuge in the site to resist a palace uprising.

At sunset, the guide will gather visitors on the main esplanade of the castle to watch the sun set over La Caleta Beach, one of the city's main beaches, which is tinged with the unmistakable orange tones of Cádiz.

These excursions last approximately one hour, so they are ideal if you are planning a short stay in the city and don't want to leave the Cadiz coast without watching the sunset. If this is your case, here is a list of things to see and do in Cádiz in 2 days.

Interesting details

• Price... Approximately 8 euros per person, including the assistance of a local guide.
• Duration... Approximately 1 hour.
• Advantages of these excursions... You will be able to see one of the best sunsets in Spain.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... It may not be very interesting for children.

If you want to save walking time and visit the main attractions of Cádiz, you can opt for a bike tour that in approximately 3 hours will allow you to discover the old town, the beaches of Cádiz and the bridges that connect the coast with the neighbourhood of Río San Pedro.

On these tours with a local guide you will learn about the history of the city through its monuments and the daily life of the locals, as you will also visit the Mercado de Abastos and the places where the locals do their daily shopping. These excursions include stops for you to rest and take some of the best photographs of your trip.

A bike tour is also an activity for the whole family, so if you are travelling with children you can make use of this alternative. Bicycle tours are available at all times of the year although you should bear in mind that in Cadiz in December and January the temperature drops substantially, so we advise you to wrap up warm and check the weather to avoid the rainy days.

Interesting details

• Price... Approximately 35 euros per person, including the assistance of a local guide, the bicycle and the obligatory safety elements to ride.
• Duration... Approximately 3 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... It is a quick and fun way to see a lot of the main sites of Cádiz in a short time.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... During the winter months it can be an uncomfortable option due to low temperatures and rain.

The coast of Cadiz is a place with a long tradition of horse riding and one of the alternatives for exploring the beaches of the bay is to go on a horseback ride. On these tours along the Mangueta Beach you can take a relaxing ride along the coastline until sunset, which is one of the best experiences in Cadiz.

These small group tours have the permanent assistance of a local rider and you don't need any experience to be able to do the ride, as there are horses for all levels. You can also make stops to take some of the best photographs of Cádiz.

Mangueta Beach is located in the south of Cádiz, in a slightly remote area, so you can opt for a return transfer with hotel pick-up at extra cost in a private vehicle, which is ideal if you're planning a short stay in the city. If that is your case, here is a list of activities to discover Cádiz in 3 days.

Interesting details

• Price... Approximately 75 euros per person, including the assistance of a local rider. The transfer to and from Mangueta Beach with hotel pick-up is extra.
• Duration... Approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... You will be able to enjoy a different kind of ride along the beach and the sunset.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... It can be a tiring alternative.

You can book an excursion in Cadiz online or you can book any of the tours once you are in the city, although if you plan to tour the city in summer I advise you to book in advance to secure your place and also to avoid last minute price increases.

Please note that some excursions such as the bike tours and horseback rides along Mangueta Beach are usually done in small groups, so if you have a short itinerary and a short stay in the city planned, I recommend you book in advance to avoid delays.

On these excursions you will be able to discover all the profiles of the city, from the old town, which has some of the architectural jewels of the rich local history, to the most representative beaches, monuments and castles of the coast of Cadiz.

If you plan to visit Cádiz in October or in the summer months, you will also be able to witness the city's best sunsets and enjoy the ideal weather for swimming.

Cadiz is a city with a large influx of tourists in summer, so if you are planning to visit in high season or during the summer months I advise you to book your excursions in advance and organise an itinerary to get the most out of your visit and avoid delays.

I also recommend that if you have the chance, don't miss out on a tour of the old town, the Caleta Beach and a boat trip around the Bay of Cadiz, as discovering the city's skyline from the water is a very interesting experience.

Cadiz is a city that you can discover on your own on a walk or a bike ride, but it is also a place that hides a millenary history, secrets and mysteries, and that has a very prosperous past, so a local guide will help you to better understand the legacy of Cadiz.

On the other hand, some of the best experiences in Cádiz, such as the boat trip around the bay, can only be done as part of an excursion with the assistance of a guide and I don't advise you to miss out on this.