10 Things to Do in Cádiz in December

Cadiz is one of the pearls of the Andalusian coast, especially for its beaches, summer attractions and sunset boat trips in the bay during the summer season, but it is also an ideal place to discover during the winter months, especially in December when the streets of Cadiz are dressed up in a Christmas theme.

Some of the best things to see and do in Cadiz in December include the Christmas markets in the old town, the living nativity scene in Prado del Rey, the zambombas in Jerez, the guided tours of the Catacombs of Beaterio and the ice rink in Plaza de San Antonio that will delight young and old alike.

In December Cadiz prepares for Christmas and one of the typical attractions is the picturesque Christmas market in the Plaza de San Antonio, in the old town. There you can visit the stalls and buy gifts and presents, but also food and Christmas decorations made of ceramics, resin and other materials.

On Christmas Eve, the market is the main attraction of the Plaza de San Antonio, which also has an ice-skating rink for young and old, a giant Christmas tree and a playroom with children's activities, where the children can stay while the adults do their shopping.

The flea market also has one of the best things to do in Cádiz during the winter and consists of carol singing and Christmas story reading. Another flea market in the city that you can visit is the one at Casa Aramburu and in Chiclana the Besugo Market.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission to the market is free.
• When... The market is open throughout the month of December.
• Where... In the Plaza de San Antonio, in the old town.

The Christmas zambomba is part of the typical folklore of Jerez de la Frontera and is a custom of the festive days before Christmas Eve that has remained unchanged since the 18th century. These festivities are celebrated in the patios of the neighbours, where tradition dictates that ham and wine sandwiches are shared while a group of people sing flamenco carols using zambombas and tambourines as instruments.

To visit a zambomba is to attend one of the best flamenco shows in Cádiz and every year in Jerez there are guided tours of the city's streets, brotherhoods, peñas, clubs and bars, where visitors can join in the festivities.

In Jerez, solidarity zambombas are also common, where you need to bring a food item to get in, or you can also attend the patios of the locals who allow tourists to enter and usually charge an entrance fee equivalent to the price of a typical local dish.

The Plaza de San Antonio is the Christmas epicentre in the historic centre of Cadiz and in addition to the Christmas Market and the giant tree, you can also visit the ice rink for young and old which the Town Hall has installed in the centre of the square and which remains open from the first days of December until the weekend of Epiphany.

Entry to the ice rink is free and you can either bring your own skates or hire a pair from the stalls at the Christmas market. Visiting the rink is one of the best alternatives to consider if you plan to visit Cádiz with children but also if you are a fan of ice skating. Moreover, the easy access to the old town area by public transport or on the Cádiz tourist buses will simplify your plan.

In December, the square also hosts other children's attractions, such as the Christmas train, the storytelling stop where Christmas stories are read and the Professional Craft Fair of Cádiz, which offers ornaments and toys for children.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to the rink is free.
• When... From the first week of December until the Epiphany weekend.
• Where... Plaza de San Antonio, Cádiz.

Prado del Rey is a picturesque village in the interior of the province of Cadiz that attracts the attention of the people of Cadiz during December with a living na tivity scene that takes place in the Plaza de la Constitución and which is inaugurated on the 8th of December every year, coinciding with the date of the Immaculate Conception.

The Living Nativity Scene of Prado del Rey has become famous for its realism and for the number of actors who take part in the dramatisation, including the Three Wise Men, the shepherds, the bakers, the farmers, St. Joseph, the Virgin Mary and many other characters in the different scenes of the Nativity Scene.

Initially, the Living Nativity Scene was only held once a year, but due to the number of people who attend every Christmas for the last few years, in addition to the presentation every 8th December, the Town Hall of Prado del Rey also plans other dates so that no one misses it. Without a doubt, visiting the Living Nativity Scene is one of the best things to do in Cádiz.

Interesting details

• Price... Witnessing the Living Nativity Scene is free of charge.
• When... The first performance is on 8 December every year.
• Where.... In the Plaza de la Constitución, Prado del Rey.

If you are planning to visit Cadiz with children during December you can't miss the Playmobil Expoclick exhibition in Chiclana, which has become a tradition on Christmas Eve. In this event for the whole family you can find dioramas and recreations made with plastic dolls.

The theme of each edition is varied and not only deals with Christmas but also includes the recreation of famous series such as The Walking Dead or Disney films and real scenarios of wars and battles or sports stadiums, so that in the exhibition you can find attractions for all audiences.

The exhibition opens every year during the last days of November and remains open until the Epiphany weekend, but the main activities take place in December.

Interesting details

• Price... General admission costs approximately 2 euros.
• When... From the last days of November until Epiphany weekend.
• Where... Avenida del Comercio 27, Chiclana.

One of the great prides of Sanlúcar de Barrameda is that the expedition led by Sebastián Elcano and Fernando de Magallanes set sail from its port in 1519 on the First Round the World voyage The town now offers an excursion to visit the route followed by the expeditionaries during their stay in the city.

These excursions, which take place in December in commemoration of the first time the expedition made landfall after leaving Spain, propose a tour of the Equatorial Clock, the Chapel of Nuestra Señora de Guía, the model of the Nao Victoria located in the town's old Ice Factory, and the Church of La Trinidad.

In all the places along the route the sailors carried out some activity during their stay in the city or are tributes to the voyage, which lasted more than 3 years. The guided tour also includes a visit to the Convent of the Capuchins and to the churches of the city that participated and made donations to finance the expedition.

Interesting details

• Price... General admission costs approximately 15 euros.
• When... Daily guided tours in December.
• Where... Tours start at the Portico de Bajo de Guía, in Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

Medina Sidonia is a town in the interior of the province of Cadiz that lives from tourism but also from the confectionery industry. During December thousands of locals come to the town to visit its medieval architecture and enjoy the local confectionery, which is considered one of the best in Andalusia.

Tortas pardas, amarguillos, piñonates, yemas and pastas are the typical sweets of the town, but at Christmas they are joined by mantecados and alfajores of Arab tradition, made with dried fruit and honey, which can be bought in bars of up to a kilo and which have become one of the founding myths of Medina Sidonia.

There are several companies in Medina Sidonia that make and sell the local alfajores throughout the province, but if you walk around the town you will see that it is also possible to buy handmade sweets in the streets or in the squares.

Cadiz is the city of the sun, the coast of light and its beaches amaze with their golden sands, but it is also a place of mysteries and secrets. Local legend has it that there is a hidden circuit of tunnels running through the lower parts of the city, and some time ago the myth became reality when the City Council opened the Beaterio Catacombs.

These Franciscan catacombs were used in the Middle Ages as a refuge for the Templars and Freemasons and during the first half of the 20th century they were redefined as a hiding place for the victims of the Civil War. The Beaterio Catacombs are open to the public only during the winter months and only in December it is possible to visit them on free guided tours.

Access to the catacombs is restricted because the City Council tries to preserve the state of the catacombs and during the summer months conservation work is usually carried out to keep the tunnels away from the summer heat.

Details of interest

• Price... In December guided tours of the catacombs are free of charge to encourage tourism.
• Where... Valverde 3, Cádiz.

Grazalema is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Spain and one of the best kept secrets of the people of Cadiz. In its medieval streets, nestled in the mountains, thousands of people spend Christmas and New Year's Eve, as it has a great atmosphere, excellent gastronomy and a large number of festive plans.

In Grazalema on Christmas Eve you can find a living Nativity scene, spend New Year's Eve in the forest dining in rural houses and enjoy a fireworks display with the mountains in the background, so if you plan to visit Cadiz in December, booking one of the holidays to spend them in this village can be a good alternative.

Bear in mind that Grazalema is in the interior of the province, about 100 kilometres from Cádiz and in the area of Zahara de la Sierra, so it may be an inconvenient option if you are planning a short stay in the city. If that's your case, here's a list of things to see and do in Cádiz in 2 days.

Juvelandia is a children's and youth leisure fair which is held every year in the González Hontoria Park in Jerez de la Frontera and which stands out for its activities for children, so visiting it is an ideal alternative if you are planning to visit Cádiz with children.

The fair includes workshops, games libraries, sports competitions, inflatable games, fairground attractions, food stalls, circus performances and children's music shows, making it a perfect recreational space for children to have fun and interact with other children, as Juvelandia also receives contingents from different schools.

The best time to visit the fair is when it opens, at 12.00 hours, or closer to closing time, at 21.00 hours, as this is when there are fewer visitors. Please note that minors must be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult. The fair is open until the Epiphany, so you can also visit it if you are planning to visit Cádiz in January.

December is one of the coldest months of the year in Cadiz, with an average temperature of 12°C, with lows of 7°C and highs of 16°C, so bear in mind that if you plan to visit the city during Christmas Eve the temperatures can drop dramatically.

December is also one of the rainiest months of the year, so I recommend that you bring a mackintosh, umbrella and waterproof boots on excursions, as the rains are often sudden. If you are planning to visit Cádiz in winter, I also advise you to bring warm clothes.

December is one of the quietest months to visit Cadiz, except for Christmas and New Year's Eve. The arrival of winter, the drop in temperature and the rainy season deters many tourists from touring the city during the winter,

. On the other hand, if you choose to visit Cadiz in December you will be able to enjoy the city's attractions with few tourists, affordable accommodation and you won't have to worry about excursions, as they are rarely sold out.

December is one of the best months to visit Cádiz from an economic point of view, as it is low season and a cold and rainy time, so prices for accommodation and excursions drop drastically, so you can save money during your visit to the attractions.

Also, if you want to get extra discounts a good idea is to book excursions in advance online, which will also help you to put together an itinerary, especially if you plan to visit Cádiz in 3 days or during a short stay.

To combat the rain and cold during your visit I advise you to include the following items in your suitcase:

• Waterproof jacket
• Woollen jumpers
• Woollen scarf
• Wool socks
• Light coat
• Cotton T-shirts
• Umbrellas
• Rain jacket
• Waterproof boots
• Thermal T-shirt
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Lightweight trousers