Cadiz is a beautiful city with much to offer. Be it on a cruise ship, or just passing by; you will undoubtedly find something to see and do in this the capital city of the region. Here you will find beaches, restaurants, monuments, tourist places; in short, Cadiz has it all. This historic city is truly a gem right by the sea. From its rich and extensive history, to its welcoming shore ready to host any visitors, this marvelous place will charm you from the get go.
Let’s say you came here to spend a weekend by the sea, visiting some friends, or backpacking on your way to other places; whatever your trip is about, allow us to help you spend two unforgettable days here.
We at TUDESTINO will help you enjoy your stay and maximise your trip by giving you the best guide of how to spend your time here, which places to see and experiences you can’t miss. Prepare yourself to have a wonderful time in a place that will surprise you from the very first dawn all the way to the last sunset.
-
- Paseo Maritimo
- Playa de Santa Maria del Mar
- Muralla Puertas de Tierra
- Cadiz Cathedral
- La Caleta
- Castillo de Santa Catalina
- Parque Genoves
- Baluarte de la Candelaria
- Torre Tavira
- Gran Teatro Falla
- Cadiz Museum
- Mercado Central de Cadiz
- El Populo
Day 1: Culture
Muralla Puertas de Tierra
You should start your first day by going sightseeing through the city; checking all the most iconic monuments and buildings off your list. With this in mind, there’s no better place to start with than the iconic entrance to the city: theMuralla Puertas de Tierra. This impressive fortified entrance to the city is emblematic of what makes the old part of town so special and a perfect place to start. You can also take a walk on top of the city walls all the while absorbing all its rich history; if you’re lucky, you might even stumble upon a free walking tour. Before moving on, you can stop by the Museo del Titere located just past the entrance to your right.
Catedral de Cadiz
Now that you’ve gone through the Muralla Puertas de Tierra you can visit the next important and must-see place in our list: the Cadiz Cathedral. This huge building is so vast that it can be seen from miles away. Here you can marvel at the structure; be it outside or inside, your choice. Its exquisite baroque architecture, high ceiling and impressive views from its two massive towers; every bit of it is breathtaking. Since it’s the most visited site in all of the city, don’t be surprised to find massive crowds at and around the church. Right in front of it as well as all throughout the surrounding area, you will find plenty of tapas bars; you might also be lucky to find yourself witnessing a local street performance.
Torre Tavira
Towards the center of town you will find the Torre Tavira. This tower is well known for its singular attraction: the Camera Obscura. With this peculiar technology, you can treat yourself to an impressive real-time view of the city. Given that it’s a popular city attraction, there will likely be a queue to get up to the tower; nonetheless, the wait is more than worth it since there are so few other Camera Obscuras that you could find anywhere else.
Mercado Central de Cadiz
Before moving on, by now you’re surely starting to get hungry as it should be close to lunchtime, so let’s make a quick stop at the Mercado Central de Cádiz. In this local street market, you will find all kinds of tapas, local food, produce and much more brought to you by local merchants; all of it at a budget-friendly price and great quality.
Castillo Catalina & San Sebastian
Once you reach the northernmost part of town, you will find yourself in one of the most frequented parts of Cadiz; here you will spend time in three places you can’t miss. First on our list is the San Sebastian fort. To get there, you must first walk across the Paseo Fernando Quiñones; after crossing this narrow stone walkway you will reach the island on which the fort lies. Once at the castle, you can enjoy a great view of the sea and the city. Once again, if you’re lucky, you can attend one of the many musical and artistic shows that are regularly held on this island fort. Once we exit the San Sebastian fort, you can head over to the Castillo Catalina fort located almost right across the one we just visited. At this other fort, apart from the views, there is also an art gallery within its walls that you can access free of charge.
Parque Genoves & Baluarte de la Candelaria
Quite close to the forts, right in front of the University of Cadiz, you will find the Parque Genoves. Here at this beautiful little park you can take a stroll through it, enjoy the bit of nature it offers and then continue on thePaseo Santa Barbara stretching all the way up to the Baluarte de la Candelaria where you can gaze upon the Puerto de Santa Maria at the distance.
Gran Teatro Falla
To cap off our culture-filled day, you could purchase a ticket to one of the many amazing shows featured on this historic theatre. This majestic and centuries-old theatre was built in 1884 and it’s an exquisite example of Neo Mudejar architecture. El Gran Teatro Falla is a theatre like no other; here you can enjoy many national and international performances. On the other hand, in times of Carnaval, it is the main setting to the signature artistic competitions that draw crowds from all over the world. A visit to the Gran Falla is a must; even if only to gaze upon it from the outside. This is truly a special place with no equal in all of Cadiz.
With this, we conclude our first day filled with art, history and culture making way to a more relaxed second day. Now at dinner time, There will be plenty of restaurants and bars to choose for you to relax in while getting ready for the next day.
Day 2: Relaxation
Paseo Maritimo y Playa de la Victoria
Start off this second day with a slow, relaxed walk through the Paseo Maritimo to the north of the city while you look for a good place to spend some time at the Playa de la Victoria. It won’t matter how many people are at this beach when you get there, it is so long that you will for sure find a nice and tranquil place to spend a nice sunny morning by the sea.
Playa Santa Maria del Mar
For all those surf enthusiasts, the Santa Maria beach is the place to be. It doesn’t matter if you’re using a traditional surf board, a longboard, bodyboard or any other variation, this is the best spot to spend some time practicing or just having fun.
La Caleta
We can’t talk about Cadiz beaches without mentioning its most popular: La Caleta. This is a perfect family friendly beach with great views of the Catalina & San Sebastian forts. The beach is conveniently located right next to the La Viña neighborhood. This well-known neighborhood is home to many great tapas bars; also a fishing quarter rich in art and history. The beach has also been the setting of many films throughout the years as well as a key spot in the city-wide festivities during Carnaval.
Cadiz Museum
After spending a nice morning and afternoon at the beach, how about a bit of culture to balance out the day? With this in mind, for all those museum lovers, you should stop by the Cadiz Museum. Located at the Plaza de la Mina, The Cadiz Museum offers a wide array of different pieces ranging from: fine arts, archeology and ethnography. This really is a great place to spend an hour or two basking in the art and history that this great city has to offer.
El Populo
Now that you’ve reached the end of this awesome adventure, head over to the El Populo neighborhood for a fun-filled last night. This neighborhood is renowned for its many restaurants, tapas bars, live music and overall artistic flair. It truly is the perfect place to say goodbye to this wonderful city with a glass of wine, multiple delicious tapas, relaxing music and much more; here you will surely find yourself planning your next trip to Cadiz.