10 Things to Do in Cádiz in August

Summer is the ideal season to discover Cadiz and its paradisiacal beaches and August collaborates with that goal because it is the hottest month of the year in the city, but it is also the time of festivals, patron saint festivals and other events that set the pace for visitors.

Among the best things to see and do in Cadiz in August are the Horse Races on the beaches of Sanlúcar, the soccer matches of the Ramón de Carranza Trophy, the Fiesta de los Cañonazos and the magical sunsets that the clear summer skies provide.

The beaches of Sanlúcar de Barrameda are also known as the Hippodrome of Sanlúcar, because in addition to the crystal-clear waters and golden sands that glitter on the coast, they are used as a track for the Sanlúcar Horse Races, a local tradition that takes place every year during the month of August.

This centenary event gathers the best Andalusian horses in each edition, which compete between the beaches of Bajo de Guía and Las Piletas, when the sun begins to fall and on dates delimited by the tide calendar of each year. If you want to attend the races you can buy a box or visit the beach, where the show is free.

At the end of the races, prizes are awarded to the winners and the winning horse is immortalized in a photograph that is placed in the Town Hall. The Sanlúcar Horse Races are very important because they mark the formal beginning of summer on the coast of Jerez and an unavoidable summer tradition for all the people of Cádiz.

Details of interest

• Price... The show is free from the beach or you can buy boxes that have an initial cost of approximately 120 euros per person.
• When... In August of each year according to the tide calendar.
• Where... On the beaches of Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

The Tío Pepe Festival is one of the best wine tourism experiences in Cádiz and is held every year in August to combine music and gastronomy in an open space and in a party organized by the González Byass Winery, which is one of the most traditional wineries in Jerez de la Frontera.

This event proposes an exclusive sensory experience that combines wine, culture, art, gastronomy and leisure to attract all audiences, in a party that has become an emblem of the Cadiz summer. You can buy tickets that include access to the shows every night and wine tasting in one of the best wineries in Cadiz.

If you plan to visit Cadiz in August this option could be interesting and to make the most of your visit to Jerez you can also tour the coast, Puerto de Santa Maria and visit and taste at local family wineries.

Interesting details

• Price... Tickets for the shows with wine tasting have an initial cost of approximately 38 euros.
• When... August each year.
• Where... Bodegas González Byass, Calle Manuel María González 12, Jerez de la Frontera.

Cadiz CF is one of the most traditional teams of La Liga Española and every year organizes in its stadium the Ramón de Carranza Trophy, a friendly competition in which guest clubs participate. This summer competition has been held since 1955 at the end of August and is a celebration for the city, as it attracts thousands of visitors to the coastal area.

Attending one of the matches of the Ramón de Carranza Trophy is one of the ideal activities to do in Cadiz in August if you are a soccer fan, especially because in each edition some of the main European clubs are usually invited, so you will have the chance to follow closely some of the top stars of the sport.

The Ramón de Carranza Trophy is also an activity for the whole family, so it is ideal if you are planning to visit Cadiz with children. In addition, you will be able to be part of a historic event that has been held uninterruptedly for more than 60 years.

Details of interest

• Price... Tickets for the games have an initial cost of approximately 50 euros for adults and 19 euros for children up to 12 years old.
• When... End of August each year.
• Where... Nuevo Mirandilla Stadium, Plaza de Madrid s/n, Cádiz.

The Bay of Cadiz offers some of the best sunsets in the world and during the summer watching the sunset is one of the best activities you can do in the city, although the best month to contemplate this spectacle is August, when the sky is completely clear, the days are longer and the weather stays sunny until late.

The Cadiz sunset can be experienced from the terraces of the beach bars on the coast of Cadiz in the Caleta Beach or in the tall buildings such as the Clock Tower of the Cathedral of Cadiz or the Tavira Tower.

In August you can also witness a very unusual phenomenon in which during sunset a green flash produced by the bright objects on the horizon is manifested on the west, although it does not occur every year. Other places from where you can watch the sunset are the beaches of Tarifa and Puerto de Santa Maria.

The Fiesta de los Cañonazos is a summer celebration held every year in the neighborhood of Puntales to commemorate the resistance of the volunteers who defended the Castillo de San Lorenzo del Puntal from the Anglo-Dutch invasion of 1596. During the week of the celebration there are activities organized by a Neighborhood Association.

If you plan to visit Cadiz in August you can attend the Fiesta de los Cañonazos, where you can tour the castle and participate in sports tournaments, theatrical performances, musical shows and cultural activities in a full program that is free for all attendees.

An amusement park with roller coaster, bumper cars and food stalls is also usually set up in the neighborhood and there are also tours with local guides who tell the history of the neighborhood's battle. Puntales is located above La Cortadura and you can get there by public transport or on Cadiz's hop on-hop off tourist buses.

Details of interest

• Price... Participation in the activities is free of charge.
• When... In August of each year.
• Where... Puntales neighborhood, Cádiz.

There is no summer in Cadiz if you do not visit the beaches of the city, which holds some of the most beautiful in Spain, and thanks to the mild climate of Cadiz you can take a swim during several months of the year, but in August is when the Caleta Beach, in the area adjacent to the historic center, reaches its splendor with warm water and gastronomic services.

You can also visit the beaches of Sanlucar de Barrameda, where in August you can also attend the Horse Races of Sanlúcar. In Playa de la Calzada on the coast of Jerez you will find golden sand and crystal clear waters and nearby you can also visit Playa de las Piletas, which stands out for its natural rocks.

In Cadiz you will also find summer resorts in August in Conil de la Frontera, Barbate, Zahara de los Atunes and Tarifa, where you can visit Bolonia Beach, chosen as one of the most beautiful beaches in Spain.

The Guadalquivir River Exaltation Festival is one of the most traditional in Andalusia and is celebrated every year in Sanlúcar de Barrameda to pay homage to the river, coinciding with the Horse Races of Sanlúcar, with whom it shares the condition of being one of the typical Cadiz festivities.

The celebration began with floral offerings to the Guadalquivir River and soon it was adding activities. Currently, the same celebration includes parades through Sanlúcar, the Fiesta del Mantón and the Fiesta Rociera. It also includes literary evenings, musical concerts, regattas on the river and competitions of typical food elaboration. Participating in the festival is one of the best activities you can do if you plan to visit Cadiz in summer

The Guadalquivir River Exaltation Festival closes with fireworks on the coast, in a unique spectacle that is surpassed every year and that attracts the attention of all the people of Cadiz and also of the visitors, who gather to see the closing of the celebration.

Details of interest

• Price... Participation in the activities is free.
• When... In August of each year.
• Where... Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz.

Nuestra Señora de La Palma is one of the most striking patron saint festivities in Spain because of its rich history. Legend has it that an Italian ship carrying the image of the Virgin of La Palma docked in the port of Algeciras during a storm and could not leave until they lowered the religious statue, which since then occupies the position of patron saint of the city.

Every August 15 the statue of the Virgen de la Palma is rescued from the depths in the Bay of Algeciras, where she wanted to stay, in a tradition that gathers thousands of people in the Rinconcillo Beach. During the patron saint celebrations the statue goes on pilgrimage through the churches of the city and once finished it returns to the sea until the following year.

The Fiesta Patronal de Nuestra Señora de La Palma is the characteristic event of Algeciras and also one of the most famous celebrations in Andalusia. If you visit Cadiz in August you can participate in the religious festivities, which also include local food markets, craft stalls and a tide of people taking to the streets of the city to celebrate their patron saint.

One of the best excursions in Cadiz is to take a boat ride in the bay and if you plan to visit the city in August you will do it in the ideal month for tours by the sea, because it is when the waves are calmer, when there is less wind and when the weather is warm.

On a boat trip around the Bay of Cadiz you can discover the city's skyline from the sea and during the summer tours you will have free time to take a swim at the stops and to practice some water sports such as paddle surfing. In August, with a clear tide, the waters of the bay are crystal clear so you can also enjoy a snorkeling experience.

During the tour you will see the bridges of the Constitution and Carranza and you can take some of the best pictures of the architecture of the city from the sea, so you can discover the beauty of Cadiz from the water. If you opt for the afternoon excursion you will also be able to witness the sunset, which in August is clear and clear.

Details of interest

• Price... Approximately 40 euros per person.
• Duration... Approximately 3 to 4 hours.

If you are a fan of bullfighting in Cadiz you will discover in August one of the most traditional fairs of the discipline. In the Real Plaza de El Puerto de Santa Maria are held every year bullfights, bullfights with picadors and practical classes involving the most famous bullfighters in Spain.

The celebration of the Bullfighting Fair also coincides with other events in the Sanlucar de Barrameda area, so you can make the most of your visit by also attending the Sanlucar Horse Races and the Guadalquivir River Exaltation Festival. This is ideal if you are planning a short stay in the city because you can save time. If that is your case here is a list of activities so you can discover Cadiz in 3 days

The Bullfighting Fair takes place during the first week of August, so you can attend the whole event or buy a ticket for a single day.

Details of interest

• Price... The ticket for a single day has an initial cost of approximately 28 euros.
• When... During the first week of August each year.
• Where... Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz.

Summer in Cadiz is hot but rarely sweltering, with average temperatures of 24°, highs of 30° and lows of 18°. August is the hottest month of the year and is generally a dry season, with virtually no rain and temperatures rarely drop below 20°.

The summer temperature of Cadiz, however, will allow you to perform all walking activities without any inconvenience, although I advise you to use sunscreen and sunglasses. The weather remains mild also during the following months, although if you visit Cadiz in December you will see that temperatures drop drastically.

Summer is the high season and August is the busiest month in Cadiz, so you should be aware that the beaches and summer excursions will have a large influx of visitors.

If you want to secure your place on the excursions and avoid last minute price increases or sell out, you can book in advance online.

August is the busiest month of the summer so prices, especially for accommodation, are the highest of the year. Keep in mind that there are excursions, such as bike tours, that are usually cheap all year round, but the high season in Cadiz is not an economical time to vacation.

You can save some money by booking excursions in advance online to avoid last minute price increases, although you will notice a substantial difference in costs, which will be higher than if you visit Cadiz during the winter.

August is one of the hottest months in Cadiz and most of the days are sunny, so I recommend that you include the following items in your suitcase:

• Swimsuit
• Sunglasses
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Beach shoes
• Light coat
• T-shirts
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Lightweight pants