10 Things to Do in Cádiz in September

If you prefer to visit cities with fewer tourists then September is the ideal month for you to visit Cadiz, as it marks the end of summer and with it the departure of most of the tourists who come to the city to visit the beaches, but still maintains a pleasant climate that will allow you to see the attractions and even take a swim during the sunny days.

Among the best things to see and do in Cadiz in September are the Fiesta de la Vendimia in Jerez de la Frontera, the Feria de Bornos, the Fiesta del Aceite de Oliva in the picturesque village of Setenil de las Bodegas and surfing lessons in Conil de la Frontera.

Viticulture is the main industry in Jerez de la Fron tera, and in September each year the city council organises the Fiesta de la Vendimia (Grape Harvest Festival), which features activities with wine and the idiosyncrasies of Cádiz as the main protagonists, such as the Pisa de la Uva (grape treading), the Fiesta de la Bulería, flamenco concerts and guided tours of the cooperages.

The Grape Harvest Festival is the main celebration in Jerez de la Frontera and is also notable for the Gastronomic Fair that takes place at the same time to accompany the wine tastings, the night-time visits to the wineries, the literary presentations, the live performances and the music festival that opens and closes the Grape Harvest.

In addition, as this festival is an opportunity to promote local culture, during the Grape Harvest you can also attend the International Puppet Show and other activities promoted by the city's tourist offices. Without a doubt, visiting Jerez during the Grape Harvest is one of the best things to do from Cádiz.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission to the fair is free.
• When... Every year for two weeks in September.
• Where.... In different parts of Jerez de la Frontera.

Bornos is a small town in the interior of the province of Cadiz but during the second half of the year it has a packed calendar of activities including the Beer Festival in October and the Feria de Bornos, which is the typical local celebration and is noted for a large number of activities.

During the second weekend in September, Bornos sets up its fairgrounds, as well as the food, drink and local wine stalls, and the dance floors for the sevillanas. In addition, it also includes dance shows with Andalusian horses, horseriding, musical performances and flamenco shows.

The Bornos Fair reserves for the closing of each edition one of the best experiences in the province of Cadiz as it offers a fireworks display that lights up the sky of one of the most festive towns in Cadiz.

Useful details

• Price... Admission to the fair is free.
• When... Every year during the second weekend in September.
• Where.... Bornos fairgrounds.

The Ubrique Fair is concentrated in the Plaza de Las Palmeras, which during the third weekend of September becomes the fairground. There every year the town welcomes this event which is characterised by the "casetas", the "farolillos", the colourful lighting, the good gastronomy and the "sevillanas" dances.

Sevillanas are considered an essential part of Andalusian folklore and one of the typical dances, which is why they are the main protagonists of the Ubrique Fair, which is held both day and night and which begins each day with the parades of giants and big-heads through the different local neighbourhoods.

The Ubrique Fair is also a perfect excuse to enjoy the local gastronomy, which stands out for its soups, stews and rice dishes. Ubrique's geography also stands out for its mountains and natural parks, so if you want to make the most of your visit to the town you can take a tour of Ubrique's attractions.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission to the fair is free.
• When... Every year during the third weekend in September.
• Where... Plaza de Las Palmeras, Ubrique.

World Tourism Day is an event promoted by the Cadiz City Council with the aim of promoting the city as one of the favourite tourist destinations in Europe and if you are planning to visit the Cadiz coast in September you can take part in the activities proposed by the organisers.

During World Tourism Day, which usually covers a full weekend at the end of the month, Cadiz City Council offers free guided tours of the old town, the main sites of the city and also inside the government building. During the event you can also use the free hop on-hop off tourist bus of Cádiz.

As part of the World Tourism Day you can also take part in the cycling route along the Paseo de Canalejas and the area outside the city walls, as well as art and photography competitions with cash prizes for the winners.

Setenil de las Bodegas is one of the most beautiful villages in the interior of Cádiz. Nestled in the rocky hinterland, with walkways jutting out of the mountains and houses and shops built into the rocks, it has become a popular tourist destination and if you plan to visit in September you can take part in the Olive Oil Festival, one of the most popular fairgrounds in Andalusia.

During the festival you can take guided tours of the village to learn about the local way of life of the producers of olive oil, which they call green gold. The celebration includes millers' breakfasts, gastronomic tastings, leisure activities for visitors and also commercial stalls to buy products. The festival is held in September to coincide with the first olive milling of the season.

This festival, which is a vindication of one of the regional products of Cádiz, also includes days of dancing and festivities during the week of the event, making Setenil de las Bodegas one of the favourite destinations in Andalusia.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission to the fiesta activities is free.
• When... Every year in September.
• Where... Different parts of Setenil de las Bodegas.

The beaches are the main protagonists of Cádiz during the summer, but also when the number of visitors begins to dwindle during the first weeks of autumn, because these are the dates that offer an ideal climate for a quiet swim in the bay of Cádiz. If you don't want to go too far from the old town you can visit La Caleta beach, which is one of the most famous seaside resorts in the city.

The best beaches on the Andalusian coast can be found in the area of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where you can take a swim in the Plaza de la Calzada and in the Playa de las Piletas, which stands out for its natural rocks, golden sand and crystal clear waters where you can practice water sports such as paddle surfing and snorkelling.

In the south of the Cadiz coast you will find the most extensive beaches, in Conil de la Frontera, Barbate, Zahara de los Atunes and above all in Tarifa, where you will find Bolonia Beach, which is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Spain.

Cadiz with its millenary tradition is one of the most cultural cities in Spain and in addition to the theatre, jazz and flamenco festivals it organises every year in September the Muestra Cinematográfica, in which hundreds of directors and producers participate with their films and documentaries.

The festival also hosts other parallel activities during its duration, such as presentations of books on film, art exhibitions, tributes to outstanding authors and a cycle of short films in the Castillo de Santa Catalina and the Gran Teatro Falla. It also includes children's activities in its editions, making it one of the best alternatives if you are planning to visit Cádiz with children.

During the festival you can access the film cycles free of charge and also the awards, which choose the best director in the categories of short, medium and feature films, and also award the Audience Award to the work with the most votes from the audience.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to the film cycles and the awards ceremony is free of charge.
• When... Every year in September for one week.
• Where... Various locations in the city, including the Castillo de Santa Catalina and the Gran Teatro Falla.

On the border between Algeciras and Los Barrios you can visit the forest of the Natural Park of Los Alcornocales, which stands out for its lush vegetation, for its own ecosystem that is alien to its location and for the permanent humidity of its microclimate, which transforms it into a Forest of Mist during the month of September, combining the humidity of the beginning of autumn with the easterly winds.

You can visit the park all year round but in September you will have the chance to live this experience of getting lost in the fog, with reduced visibility and an adventure experience that includes several hours of trekking, because you can only get by car to the area of El Bujeo and from there walk for half an hour to enter the forest and enjoy the autumn mist that will make you feel like you are in a horror movie.

The Alcornocales Natural Park is one of the great attractions of the southern part of the Cadiz coast and also a unique experience in the Cádiz Mist Forest that you can't miss during your visit to the province.

Interesting details

• Price... Tickets to the park have an initial cost of approximately 18 euros per person.
• Where... Algeciras, Cádiz.

The Fiesta de las Cortes is the official celebration of Cádiz and is held on 24 September every year. This festival commemorates the initial meeting of the deputies who shaped the Spanish Constitution of 1812, the first in the history of the country, which also makes it one of the main national celebrations.

During the day of the celebration the Cádiz City Council organises cultural events, gastronomic stalls, sporting activities and in the city there is a parade of the Armed Forces featuring members of the Spanish Royal Household. There are also guided tours of the main points of the city and re-enactments of the battles of the period.

The activities are free of charge and are distributed throughout the city, such as the Cádiz coast, the cobbled streets of the old quarter, the Gran Teatro Falla and the Cádiz City Hall.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to the activities is free.
• When... 24 September every year.
• Where... Different parts of the city, including the old town, the Cádiz coast and the Gran Teatro Falla.

September is one of the ideal months to take a swim in the beaches of Cadiz with few tourists and also to surf in the beaches of the south of the coast of Cadiz, because in addition to the pleasant weather there is one of the best times of the year with the best waves and also the easterly wind, which creates the ideal conditions for surfing in Conil de la Fron tera.

Whether you have previous experience or not, you can go to the beach and rent a board and equipment, as well as take surfing lessons with specialised instructors. Conil de la Frontera is, together with Tarifa, one of the favourite surfing spots in Cadiz, especially in the area of Playa de la Fontanilla.

Conil de la Frontera is located in the southern part of the coast of Cadiz, but it is easily accessible from the old town, so it is compatible with your tour if you are planning a short stay in the city. If this is your case, here is a list of things to see and do to discover Cádiz in 3 days.

Interesting details

• Price... Surf lessons depend on each instructor but start at around 20 euros per person.
• When... In September each year to make the most of the best waves in town combined with the easterly wind.
• Where... La Fontanilla Beach in Conil de la Frontera.

The temperature in Cadiz in September reaches a maximum of 26° degrees and a minimum of 17°, with average temperatures of 20°, making it an ideal time to explore the city in good weather and free of tourists.

It is also a dry season with very few rainy days, so you can swim at the beaches on sunny days and enjoy the adventure excursions in peace and quiet.

September marks the end of summer and with it the withdrawal of most tourists, so it is a good month to explore the city in a relaxed way, with a wide range of events and affordable prices.

It is also an ideal time for weekend tourism in Cádiz, so if you plan to visit Cádiz in 2 days, September will offer you many plans and a relaxing stay.

August is the end of the high season in the city so prices drop significantly and you can find accommodation for similar costs to those in Cadiz in winter

If you want to get extra discounts or more beneficial prices you can book your excursions in advance online and in addition to securing your place on the tours you can take advantage of the offers offered by the tourist providers for online purchases.

September is a warm but windy month, so I recommend that you include at least the following items in your suitcase:

• Swimming costume
• Sunglasses
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Beach shoes
• T-shirts
• Light jacket
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Lightweight trousers
• Waterproof jacket for adventure excursions
• Waterproof boots for adventure treks