Cádiz in 1 Day: all you need to know

Cadiz has many attractions to offer and many of them require a transfer to the outskirts of the city, so touring the Cadiz coast in one day can be very difficult, although with the right travel plan and an intensive tour you can visit some of the main sites in as little as 24 hours.

Among the best things to see and do in Cadiz in a day trip you can walk through the old town to see the Cathedral, observe the panoramic view of the city from the Tavira Tower, have lunch at the Central Market, get lost in the coastal circuit of Santa Barbara and watch the Cadiz sunset on a boat ride in the Bay of Cadiz.

Cadiz is one of the oldest cities in Europe and the old town is a representative site of the Cadiz coast, because some of the main points of Andalusia are located there. The first stop will be at the Plaza de San Antonio, the epicenter of the old town and also the most visited place at Christmas, because if you plan to visit Cadiz in December you will see that there is located the flea market and the giant tree.

In the areas near the Plaza de San Antonio you can also find some of the best restaurants and bars in the city and from there you will continue to the next stop, the Cathedral of Cadiz, located seven blocks away that you can walk in a 10 minute walk.

The Cathedral will catch your attention because of the mixture of styles that converge on the facade and inside, which gives a clue of the importance that Cadiz had during the Muslim invasion and the subsequent Spanish reconquest.

In the Cathedral you can also visit the Cathedral Museum, which keeps religious ornaments, Renaissance frescoes and sculptures of the golden age of Cadiz and also climb the Clock Tower, the bell tower of the building which is the tallest building in the city with its 58 meters and from where you can get a wide panoramic view of Cadiz.

If you wish you can also take a guided tour of the Cathedral of Cadiz and its surroundings, to visit the Plaza de España, the Plaza Mayor and the Roman Theater, which is one of the main attractions of the old town.

Interesting details

• Price... Entrance to the Cathedral and the Clock Tower has an initial cost of approximately 6 euros per person.
• Opening hours... Open from 10.00 to 20.00 every day.
• Location... Plaza de la Catedral s/n, Cádiz.

El Pópulo is the oldest area of Cádiz and is home to the Tavira Tower, which after the Clock Tower is the tallest building in the city, but it is also the most visited to contemplate the panoramic view of Cádiz because it offers a 360° view and faces the coast. Tavira is only four blocks away from the Cathedral, so you can get there in a 5-minute walk.

In the Tavira Tower you can also access the camera obscura, a periscope in which you can observe a live and moving projection of everything that happens outside, thanks to an optical effect that makes objects that are located miles away seem close.

The one in Tavira is also famous because it was the first camera obscura in Spain and because it is one of the few still operating in Andalusia.

Please note that if you want to climb to the top of the Tavira Tower to access the panoramic view and the camera obscura you will have to climb a reduced staircase of 173 steps, which can be an uncomfortable alternative if you plan to visit Cadiz with people with reduced mobility.

Interesting details

• Price... Entrance to the Tavira Tower has an initial cost of approximately 7 euros per person.
• Opening hours... Open from 10.00 to 18.00 every day.
• Location... Calle Marqués del Real Tesoro 10, Cádiz.

After seeing the city from the heights I suggest you stop for lunch at the Central Market of Cadiz, which is located one street away from the Tavira Tower. In this market you can visit the stalls with vegetables, fruits, fish, meats and sausages and mingle with the locals in the places where the locals do their daily shopping.

You can also have lunch at the food stalls inside the market in the chiringuitos that overlook the street and offer tapas, fresh fish, pastries, bakery and hot drinks. There you can take a break and relax before continuing your tour. If you plan to visit Cadiz in winter you can also make the most of the market to take shelter from the cold.

Once you finish your lunch at the Central Market of Cadiz you can head towards the coast of Cadiz passing through the fishermen's quarter of La Viña, which is one of the most colorful of the city with its small houses and winding streets.

Interesting details

• Price... Entrance to the Cadiz Market is free.
• Hours... Open from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 16.00 and from 20.00 to 00.00 hours.
• Location... Plaza de la Libertad s/n, Cádiz.

The Genoves Park, located on the coast and very close to the Punta de la Candelaria, is one of the most representative sites of Cadiz and the largest green lung of the old part of the city. In it you can find a lot of shrubs, trees and local flowers and also monuments, palm trees, a grotto with a pond inhabited by ducks and a children's play area, making it an ideal plan if you plan to tour Cadiz with children.

The grotto area also includes a waterfall surrounded by dinosaur sculptures, so you can take some of the best pictures of Cadiz, especially from the profile overlooking the bay of Cadiz. Parque Genovés also includes a food and drink stand and a concrete skating rink.

Behind the Parque Genovés you can access the Mirador de Santa Bárbara, located on the coastal promenade of the same name, from which you can get a wide view of the bay, especially on clear days if you plan to visit Cádiz in summer

In the park area you can also visit the Plaza Mentidero, which is surrounded by bars and restaurants, and the Jardines del Paseo de Carlos III. As you will see, the old town of Cadiz is a place to walk around as the attractions are very close to each other.

Details of interest

• Price... Entrance to the park is free.
• Hours... The park is open daily from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm.
• Where... Av. Dr. Gómez Ulla s/n, Cádiz.

The next stop on the tour includes a visit to La Caleta Beach, which is one of the most famous beaches in the city and is located in an area close to the old town. La Caleta is also a favorite of visitors, so if you plan to tour Cadiz during the high season you will find it with many tourists, although it is a very long beach, so you can walk and even place an umbrella.

If you want to visit Cadiz in August or during the summer you can take a swim in the warm and crystal clear waters of the beach and if not, you can take a walk along the coast of Cadiz and then continue the itinerary through the Castle of Santa Catalina or directly making a bike tour to see the beaches south of the city.

After touring La Caleta you can visit the Castle of Santa Catalina which is located next to the beach. There you can take a tour to see the parade ground, the sentry boxes, the defensive towers of the walled fortress, the promenade and the esplanade from which you can see the coast of Cádiz.

The guided tour of the Castle of Santa Catalina lasts about an hour, so it is ideal if you have planned a short stay in the city, as in this case, since you will not be delayed for the rest of the excursions.

Details of interest

• Price... The entrance to the Castle of Santa Catalina has an initial cost of approximately 8 euros per person.
• Hours... Open daily from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.
• Where... Calle Campo de las Balas s/n, Cádiz.

If you are planning to visit Cadiz in January or during the colder months and you are not planning to take a swim in La Caleta you can visit the beach and the Castle of Santa Catalina and then make the most of your visit to the coast of Cadiz by taking a bike tour along the promenades of Santa Maria del Mar.

Santa Maria del Mar is one of the beaches on the way to the south of Cadiz, located in the bay opposite the Puente de la Constitucion and is also one of the most beautiful in the city, with white sand and paths for cycling around the area.

These tours usually start at the Roman ruins of La Tacita de Plata and you can get there from the Castillo de Santa Catalina on line 2 buses or on the hop on-hop off tourist bus of Cadiz. During these tours you will also get to know the new part of the city and the Playa de la Constitución.

Interesting details

• Price... Approximately 35 euros per person, including the assistance of a local guide, the bicycle and the obligatory safety elements to ride.
• Duration... Approximately 1 hour and a half.

Watching the sunset in Cadiz, which is one of the most beautiful and cleanest in Spain, is one of the best activities to do in the city and live the experience of doing it from the water during a boat ride is the best alternative. These excursions depart from El Puerto de Santa Maria, 20 kilometers north of the old town, an area you can reach by cab or on the M-040 bus line.

During these excursions you can sail for about 2 hours in the Bay of Cadiz and visit the bridges of Carranza and the Constitution. If you do the tour during the summer the boat trip will also include a stop to take a swim and to practice water sports such as paddle surfing and snorkeling experiences, although the best will come at the end of the tour, when you see the sunset on the Cadiz horizon.

These tours are also compatible if you plan to visit Cadiz with children, as the boats usually include inflatable games and children's activities, so that the kids do not get bored during the tour.

Towards the end of the tour the boat will return to El Puerto de Santa Maria and from there you can take a cab or bus lines M-040, M-060, M-961 or M-0967 to return to the old town of Cadiz to finish with dinner at the restaurants in the Plaza de Mina your intensive 24-hour tour of the coast of Cadiz.

Details of interest

• Price... Approximately 40 euros per person, including the ride, the stop for a swim and the elements to practice water sports.
• Duration... Approximately 2 hours.

The Plaza de Mina is located in one of the most picturesque areas of the old town, near the Clara Campoamor Gardens and surrounded by some of the most characteristic restaurants of Cadiz, so one of the best ways to close the day's tour of the city is to dine in one of the nearby places.

If you prefer tapas you can opt for the Balandro restaurant, located near the coast in Caletilla de Rota, or the Taberna de Anteojo, which is located one street further south. If you want meat, empanadas or fish you can choose La Marmita de Buenos Aires, Casa Lazo or Mesón Casa Antonio and if you are one of those who crave a signature dish I recommend La Curiosidad de Mario Barreiro.

In all these restaurants you can enjoy the gastronomy of Cadiz, which stands out for seafood and fish in summer and soups and stews in winter, but that will surprise you at any time of the year.