Best Things To Do in Cádiz

Being such a cultural city with a rich history, there are many interesting places to visit within the city, the Roman Theatre, the Cathedral of Cadiz and the Castle of Santa Catalina are some of the must-see places to visit when you visit Cadiz.

During your visit to this city, you can't leave out places like the neighbourhoods of La Viña and El Pópulo. And of course, its beautiful beaches are magical places that you can't miss during your holidays in this place. Wait for me to tell you in detail about each of these must-see places in Cádiz.

The first thing you have to visit as soon as you arrive in Cádiz, no matter how many days you are staying, is undoubtedly the old city centre. Like many Spanish cities, Cádiz was also a walled city, so the old town and the city centre are well separated from each other.

So, back to the visit to the old town, among the interesting things to see here are the Cathedral of Cádiz, the Roman Theatre and the Pópulo neighbourhood itself. Generally these and other places of great cultural and tourist interest in Cadiz can be visited on one of the best guided tours of Cadiz.

A visit to the old town is a good activity to include among the things to see and do in Cadiz in January because at the beginning of the month the traditional "cabalgata de reyes" takes place, an ideal activity to do with children and the rest of the family.

Cádiz Cathedral

The Cathedral of Cádiz is the first most visited attraction in Cádiz. It is a place of great tourist, liturgical and cultural interest for locals and visitors alike, above all because of the rich history it houses. Cadiz locals often call it "La Catedral Nueva" (The New Cathedral) and it also has a pair of towers from where you can enjoy incredible views of both the city and the ocean.

One of the things you will love about visiting the interior of the cathedral is the extremely carefully preserved architecture of this building. You will be struck by the attention to detail typical of neoclassical and baroque constructions.

But beyond the technical specifications, you can visit the cathedral from Monday to Saturday between 10:00 and 20:00, while on Sundays you can visit it from 13:30 to 20:00, bearing in mind that the last group of visitors enters 45 minutes before closing time.

And as for the price, you should know that general admission costs approximately 7 euros. This price can change according to the age and condition of each person. You can buy your ticket for the Cádiz tourist bus to get to the Cathedral.

Roman Theatre

The figure of the Roman Theatre spread throughout Europe in the glory days of the Roman Empire, clearly. In the case of Spain, there are several cities where you can still see the remains of what in ancient times were places of entertainment: theatres.

In the case of Cadiz, it is still possible to see the great Roman Theatre, which thanks to the large number of excavations that have been carried out, has managed to uncover part of the great theatre, which is considered by many archaeologists and historians to be the oldest in Spain and the whole of Europe.

To visit this Roman Theatre you will have to take into account the season of the year. If you go between April and September, you can visit it from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00 and Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00. If you go from October to March, you can enter from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 16:30 and on Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00. Admission is free.

El Pópulo Quarter

A visit to the Pópulo should also be included in any tour of the historic quarter of Cádiz, but in any case, I must tell you that this place is a must-see. In fact, inside the Pópulo you will find the Cathedral of Cádiz and also the Roman Theatre, but apart from that, it is a very picturesque area that I recommend you not to miss.

The Pópulo went, in a few years, from a degraded place to one of the main places to visit for tourists, so you can't miss it if you are visiting Cádiz. If there is one thing that attracts people to this area, it is that it holds the title of the oldest neighbourhood in the west.

One of the main attractions to see inside the neighbourhood are the arches that surround the city, where in the past there used to be gates that closed and guarded the town at that time, the territory that is now the Pópulo. But besides that, it is in this neighbourhood where you can find many of the best flamenco shows in Cádiz.

La Caleta beach and the Castle of Santa Catalina are located in the same direction, in fact, the Castle is the most striking monument in La Caleta. This beach is one of the most popular beaches in Cádiz, getting a lot of tourists every day, being one of the favourite destinations among the best things to see and do in Cádiz in September, to take your last summer dip.

If there's one thing you'll love about La Caleta, it's that, no matter what time of year it is, you'll always find it full of tourists. The rocky path along the coast will invite you to take a walk around the place, and you can also enjoy the shade that you can find in what is left of the old spa in the area.

The Castle of Santa Catalina, meanwhile, has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest because it is one of the oldest military constructions in Cádiz, and even in the whole of Spain. A curious thing about this castle is that it functioned as a military prison for 200 years, until 1991, where many political and military figures were imprisoned.

Since it was no longer used for these purposes, the castle has remained one of the most interesting places to visit, especially if you expect to do a tour of Cádiz in 4 days, and after the filming of the movie "Die Another Day" used it as part of its exteriors.

Interesting details

• Price: If you want to visit La Caleta or the Castle of Santa Catalina on your own, you don't have to pay, neither to enjoy the beach, nor to enter the Castle, because the entrance is free.
• Opening hours: There are no opening hours to visit La Caleta. You can visit the Castle of Santa Catalina from Monday to Sunday from 11:00 to 19:30 in winter and from 11:00 to 20:30 in summer.
• How to get there: To get to the castle and the beach, you can go by car or by public transport, as there are several lines that go to the beach and to the castle.

The church of Santo Domingo is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Cádiz. From 1639 it began to function as the first convent to be founded in Cádiz. The church in question was built around 1666 and partially rebuilt after the fire that almost destroyed it in 1936.

You will love the large amount of ornamentation inside, which includes marble pieces throughout almost the entire structure; in fact, the sculpture in this church is considered to be one of the best Italian Baroque altarpieces in Spain. Besides, this kind of church visits are always an excellent activity to include in the list of things to see and do in Cádiz in winter.

In the end it is much more than a liturgical experience, it is an incredible multi-sensory and cultural visit that transports you to the best years of the European Baroque period. In the centre of the church you can see an image alluding to the Virgin of the Rosary, which emulates the image that was lost in the fire of 1936.

Interesting details

• Price: Admission is free, although if you hire a guided tour of Cadiz, you may have to pay around 90 euros for the whole tour, including the Cathedral of Santo Domingo.
• Opening hours: Visiting hours are Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 13:00 and 18:30 to 21:00. Mass takes place from Monday to Saturday at 20:00 and on Sundays and public holidays at 12:00 and 20:00.
• How to get there: You can arrive by private car and park near the church, or you can arrive by public transport.

One of the best trips from Cádiz to the outskirts of the city is to the town of Jerez de la Frontera, where you can visit the Alcazar and the Cathedral, which are among the most interesting and touristic places in the town. To make this trip, you can do it on your own, or you can take an excursion that will take you to this place with an expert guide.

In the second case, the tour guide will tell you the time when you can leave Cádiz to continue the tour to Jerez, a town that I recommend you to include among the places to visit in Cádiz in December. The first thing you will see when you arrive in Jerez is the old Alameda and from there you can continue on to the Alcázar, one of the oldest fortifications in the city and in the whole of Spain.

After seeing the whole complex in which the Alcázar stands, you can continue on to the Plaza Encarnación, where the town's Cathedral is located, which is one of the most important monuments in the city. This is a good day trip, so I recommend this destination especially for Cadiz itineraries in 3 days or more.

Interesting details

• Price: The guided tour to this location can cost around 30 euros per person. In case you go on your own, you won't need to pay anything, except for fuel and tolls on the way.
• Timetable: The timetable for this tour can be decided by you if you are travelling on your own. If you take a guided tour, the timetable will be determined by the tour guide.
• How to get there: You can get there by private car or on a guided tour, where you will board a bus with all facilities.

One of the biggest attractions you can visit in Cadiz is undoubtedly the Torre de Tavira, a place from which you can see the whole city of Cadiz without any filter. It is definitely one of the best viewpoints in the city thanks to the inclusion of camera obscura technology. This attraction is not to be missed, especially in the summer season, which is why I would include it among the best things to see and do in Cádiz in August.

On the penultimate level is this camera obscura, which is nothing more than a darkened room with black painted walls, from where you can see the whole city of Cádiz in real format, with movement and completely clear colours. In other words, through this camera obscura you will be able to see the city from a practically photographic perspective.

This attraction is always open to the public, although visitors are asked to make a reservation in advance to guarantee the quality of the experience when they climb the tower. It is one of the best things to see and do in Cádiz with children because they love the idea of being able to see the whole city from this system.

Interesting details

• Price: The fare can cost between 5,50 and 7 euros, depending on the condition of each person.
• Opening hours: Between October and April it is open between 10:00 and 18:00. From May to September it is open from 10:00 to 20:00.
• How to get there: You can get to this camera obscura by private car or on foot if it is close to your accommodation.

Like almost all places of tourist relevance in Cádiz, this square of San Juan de Dios has a history that goes back a few centuries. At the beginning of its history, this place was laid out in an irregular shape because it took into account the mouth of the ancient Millenary Sea that passed through the whole of Cádiz.

As time went by, it became a popular place where merchants used to sell all kinds of exotic products brought from the West Indies, this at the time of the conquest of America. Later on in time this place became a square.

Nowadays it is one of the most visited urban centres in Cádiz, and in its surroundings you can even see other buildings that are also worth visiting, such as the church of San Juan de Dios and the Pazos Miranda. This square is one of the places where the Virgen del Rosario passes by every year on her feast day, which is one of the activities not to be missed if you visit Cádiz in October.

Interesting details

• Price: There is no charge to visit this square.
• Opening hours: You can visit it at any time of the day, although I recommend you to see it at night.
• How to get there: To get to this square you can use the train or go by bus. If you go by private car, you can find parking nearby. And if you go on a guided tour, you will probably go by bus with all the comforts.

The Parque Genovés is the second largest green space in Cádiz and in fact, it is the largest located within the urban area of Cádiz. This is an extensive piece of land that was inaugurated in 1892 as a park within the city and since then it has become one of the most iconic places in Cádiz.

In this park you can find peace, tranquillity and serenity, but above all it is a place where you can enjoy with the children, or if you are going on a romantic plan, it is a good place to go with your partner to spend a quiet moment.

On top of everything else, this park was decreed as an Asset of Tourist Interest thanks to its varied biodiversity of trees, palms, shrubs and other plants. Among them are the cypress trees at the entrance, which give the park an ornamental image and an elegant entrance.

But the park is not only natural spaces, but these are also combined with some elements of urbanity such as lampposts, kiosks, gates and paths, which adorn each of the areas of the park. In the end, it is an excellent option to include in short itineraries such as trips to Cadiz in 2 days.

Details of interest

• Price: Admission to this park is free.
• Opening hours: You can visit the park from 8:00 to 23:00.
• How to get there: You can go by bus or private car, because there are parking places nearby. You can also take a guided tour to the park, where you will go by bus with all facilities.

This is one of the experiences you definitely can't miss in Cádiz. The promenade is one of the tourist sites with the highest number of visitors every day. In this area of the city you will be able to enjoy the buildings where most of the city's high income population lives.

It is a centre of tourist and economic interest, as you will be able to see a large number of shops of all kinds. But beyond the commerce, in the tourist area in this promenade you can have beautiful views of the coast of Cadiz and it is also something like the border between the sea and the city.

On Victoria beach, which is one of the beaches along the length and breadth of the promenade, you will see different beach bars that are open not only in summer, but also in winter, making it an excellent option for a bite to eat while you make your way around the area. Walking along the promenade is one of those activities that you can't miss even if you travel to Cádiz in one day.

Interesting details

• Price: You don't have to pay anything to walk along the promenade of Cádiz.
• Timetable: There is no timetable for visiting the promenade of Cádiz but daytime is definitely the best time to do it.
• How to get there: You can get to the Cádiz promenade by car and park nearby, or on foot. You can even get there on a bike tour.

La Viña is another of the places you have to visit when you visit Cádiz. Together with El Pópulo, it is one of the most historic neighbourhoods in the city. The history of this neighbourhood is interesting, given that it is a place that from its beginnings was inhabited by people from the working classes.

It did not generate great interest among the merchants of the Indies when this area began to be populated, where there used to be vineyards, due to its remoteness from the city's port. Since the area began to be populated, it has become a great urban centre for the middle and lower classes.

Some of the places not to be missed if you pass through the La Viña neighbourhood are: the Church of La Palma, the old Provincial Hospice, the Spa of Nuestra Señora de La Palma, the Castle of San Sebastián and La Caleta beach itself.

Interesting details

• Price: You don't need to pay to visit and walk around this neighbourhood, but if you take a tour of the area, you will probably have to pay a fee depending on the number of sites you visit on the tour.
• Hours: You can visit La Viña at any time, although I recommend visiting it during the day to appreciate its colourful atmosphere.
• How to get there: You can get to La Viña by private car, bus and train. If you are staying near this neighbourhood, it is also a good idea to walk there.

If there is a village that enjoys great charm in the vicinity of the city of Cadiz, that is Medina Sidonia. This village is located between the white villages and the coast of Cadiz. One of the things you will love about this place are the impressive views it offers of the whole coast.

Thanks to its elevated location, you have the opportunity to look beyond the white houses to appreciate the whole ocean. The climate is another of the highlights of this town, not to mention the many monuments and buildings that you can visit in its interior to further enrich your cultural visit to Cádiz.

Some of the must-see places in this town are: the Arco de la Pastora and the Convento de Arriba, the Church of Santa María Mayor La Coronada, the Arco de Belén or the Castle of Medina Sidonia. In particular, I would recommend you to dedicate a whole day to visit this town. It is one of the places I would visit as part of the best things to see and do in Cádiz in summer, to take the most colourful and clearest photographs and postcards.

Interesting details

• Price: There is no cost to visit this place on your own, except for the cost of fuel and the like. In case you take a guided tour, it may cost more than 100 euros per person.
• Timetable: You can visit this village at any time you want, but if you go on a guided tour, you will have to adjust to the timetable proposed by your tour guide.
• How to get there: You can get there by car going up towards the white villages. In the village there are many places to park your car.