10 Things to Do in Cádiz in October

Cadiz is a popular destination during the summer, when the beaches and boat trips around the bay are most popular, but it's also a place you can visit at other times of the year. In October, during the autumn, you can explore the attractions of Cádiz with fewer tourists, good weather and cheaper prices than in high season.

Some of the best things to see and do in Cádiz during October include attending the Theatre Festival, taking part in the Flamenco Festival, enjoying the Sanlúcar prawn season and visiting the beaches of Cádiz to make the most of the last of the hot days.

October is a month of festivals and celebrations in Cádiz but without a doubt the most representative event is the Ibero-American Theatre Festival, which takes place every year during the second half of the month and brings together hundreds of Spanish-speaking artists in plays in different parts of Cádiz.

The epicentre of the festival is the Gran Teatro Falla but you can also see plays at the Sala Central Lechera, the Town Hall, the Teatro del Títere and the Aulario La Bomba. This dramatic arts event is one of the most renowned of its kind in the world and attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Tickets for the shows are individual, meaning that you can choose the plays you want to attend and buy tickets for each show, which have an initial cost of approximately 8 euros. During the festival, public transport between the venues of the shows operates with discounts and the hop-on-hop-off tourist bus of Cádiz also includes stops at each theatre.

Interesting details

• Price... Tickets for each show are individual and start at approximately 8 euros per person.
• When.... During the second half of October.
• Where... At the Gran Teatro Falla, the Sala Central Lechera, the Town Hall, the Teatro del Títere and the Aulario La Bomba.

In October, when the city's beaches begin to empty and the hottest days dissipate, the Jerez Wine Route recovers all its splendour and touring it becomes one of the best excursions in Cadiz because the decrease in the number of tourists coincides with a climate that remains warm and with the predisposition of the wineries, which do not go through periods of sowing or harvesting and focus on tastings.

The Sherry Wine Route is the most visited in Spain and includes some of the best landscapes in its triangle formed by Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Puerto de Santa María, although it also involves other towns such as Chiclana, Chipiona, Puerto Real, Rota, Trebujena and Lebrija.

If you plan to visit Cádiz in October, your visit will coincide with the best month for tastings on the Wine Route and for enjoying the scenery along the route, which is one of the most beautiful in Andalusia. You can do the tour on a guided tour or on your own in a rented car or by public transport, but I advise you not to miss the wineries.

If you want to witness one of the best flamenco shows in Cádiz, during October you can attend the San Roque Flamenco Festival, which pays tribute to the singer Canela de San Roque and presents the best local artists of this Andalusian musical genre par excellence.

The festival takes place in different parts of San Roque, as in addition to the concerts and live performances it includes plays, art exhibitions in the Town Hall and lectures and drawing exhibitions in other venues around the town. Access to all activities is free of charge and San Roque is also stocked with food stalls and stalls selling gifts for visitors.

The main event of the San Roque Flamenco Festival is the awards ceremony at the Teatro Juan Luis Galiardo, which recognises local artists and chooses the winner of the edition and closes the festival with a performance by an international star.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to the festival activities is free.
• When... Throughout the month of October.
• Where... In San Roque, Cádiz.

October opens the prawn season in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, so if you visit the Mercado de Abastos during your visit to the town you can try some of the best dishes of Cadiz's gastronomy, which is known for its fresh fish, tuna, seafood and tapas.

You can also try prawns in other parts of the city and usually at a lower price than during the high season, but in Sanlúcar, which is the main fishing spot, they will always be fresher and you will have the best options. You will also be able to accompany them with sherry wine.

In Sanlúcar you can also try manzanilla, which is the typical local wine that usually accompanies Cadiz recipes.

Every 12th October, Spain celebrates Columbus Day , which commemorates the Discovery of America. In Cádiz this day is particularly important because the caravels of Christopher Columbus ' third voyage set sail from Sanlúcar de Barrameda and since then the ports of Cádiz have been linked to Spanish history.

On each Día de la Hispanidad in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, activities take place on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, including parades, horse races on the beach, food stalls and guided tours to commemorate the history of the Discovery of America. There are also children's activities such as plays and puppet shows, making it a good alternative if you plan to visit Cadiz with children.

The five ships of Ferdinand Magellan and Sebastian Elcano set sail from Sanlúcar de Barrameda to sail around the world in 1519, so you can also hear about their exploits. You can also explore the coast of Jerez on one of the best excursions from Cádiz.

The beaches of Cadiz are the main attraction of the city during the summer and although in autumn the temperature drops and the influx of tourists decreases, if you plan to visit the coast of Cadiz during October you can enjoy the last warm days, which except on rainy days, will offer good weather for walking along the bay and taking a swim.

To explore the beaches of Cadiz you don't need to go far from the old town, as you can visit La Caleta, which is the most famous beach in Cadiz in the area of the Castle of San Sebastian and which is not very crowded in October, the beach of Santa Maria del Mar and the beach of La Victoria.

If you want to discover the best beaches on the Andalusian coast you can visit Playa de la Calzada, in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Playa de las Piletas, which is very close by, or Playa de Bolonia, which was chosen as the most beautiful beach in Spain.

Cadiz is one of the oldest cities in Europe and its history and architecture are reminiscent of Roman times, which is why Chipiona hosts the annual Roman Festival, which aims to enrich the city's cultural legacy and rescue the points of contact that link the city with its past.

The festival consists of conferences, exhibitions, plays, workshops, costume parades and wine tastings that try to recall the times in which Chipiona depended on the Roman Empire, so it is very common that if you visit the town during the event you will come across characterised warriors and Roman food stalls.

You can participate in this festival during the second week of October every year. Most of the activities are free, so it is not an expensive activity and Chipiona, on the coast of Jerez, is within easy reach of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, so you can combine both visits.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission to most of the festival activities is free.
• When... During the second week of October.
• Where... In Chipiona, Cádiz.

October in Cádiz is the feast day of the Virgin of the Ros ary and Los Barrios has found a very peculiar way to pay homage to her, as every year an amusement park is set up in honour of the Virgin, which aims to raise funds for different donations.

The amusement park includes a roller coaster, bumper cars, children's games and food stalls and also has some interesting initiatives such as a time slot where the rides have no music or noise of any kind so that children with autism can attend.

This amusement park is set up every year during the second week of October and is one of the best alternatives for you to consider if you are planning to visit Cádiz with children.

Interesting details

• Price... Entrance to the park is free and each attraction has an initial cost of approximately 3 euros.
• When... During the second week of October.
• Where... In Los Barrios, Cádiz.

In Cádiz, sherry and manzanilla are the leading drinks, but in Bornos they are overshadowed by beer, as there are a dozen local breweries that organise the annual Feria de la Cerveza, an event that usually coincides with Columbus Day and brings together the main producers.

The Feria de la Cerveza de Bornos does not have an epicentre, but is held in every bar in town, which with the collaboration of the Town Hall offers a pint of beer with tapas at a cost of approximately 3 euros and also times with drinks at discounted prices. Some of the participating breweries are Cafetería Vaymar, Vicente Oca, Azuquita, El Embarcadero and Mesón Los Olivares.

Bear in mind that Bornos is inland from Cádiz, passing even Jerez de la Frontera, so it's not an ideal choice if you're planning a short stay in the city. If that is your case, here is a list of options to discover Cádiz in 2 days.

Interesting details

• Price... The beer and tapas menu during the festival costs approximately 3 euros.
• When... During October.
• Where... In Bornos, Cádiz.

The Strait of Gibraltar, for its beauty and historical importance, is one of the main points of Cádiz and one of the places you can't miss during your trip along the coast of Cádiz. If you plan to visit Tarifa beach in October, you can also opt for a whale and dolphin watching excursion.

Whale watching boats leave every day from Tarifa and in October, which is the migration season, you can spot whales and dolphins during the boat trip. Some of the marine species that live permanently in the strait can also be found if you visit Cadiz in January, although this is a time of cold weather and a lot of rain, which makes navigation difficult.

Moreover, during these excursions you can experience sailing between two continents and on clear days you can even see the Rock of Gibraltar and the coast of Morocco on the horizon.

Temperatures start to drop in Cadiz in October compared to the summer, although the weather remains warm, with average temperatures of 18° degrees, with highs of 25° and lows of 14°.

Please note that although the weather is mild in October, it is also a time when the rains start, so be sure to check the weather before your excursions. If you plan to stay in Cádiz in December you will find that temperatures drop substantially thereafter.

Summer is the city's high season, so from September onwards the number of tourists decreases, which will make your visit to Cadiz in October a much quieter experience.

However, bear in mind that October is a month of festivals in Cadiz, so it may happen that the city registers in some places a higher number of visitors than usual, although it won't reach the influx of the summer months.

October is one of the best times to visit Cádiz because prices, specifically accommodation prices, drop dramatically and the low season begins. This is important because you will be able to visit the city with a mild climate at an economical cost.

From October onwards you will find that prices are practically the same as if you decide to visit Cadiz during the winter but with the benefit that the weather still remains mild and you can even go for a swim at the beaches with few visitors.

The following items should not be missing from your suitcase in Cadiz in October:

• Swimming costume
• Beach shoes
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Lightweight trousers
• Wool socks
• Wool jumpers
• Lightweight, waterproof coat
• Waterproof boots
• T-shirts
• Comfortable footwear