10 Things to Do in Cádiz in Summer

With its picturesque historic centre, famous cuisine, colourful local festivals and ancient history, Cádiz is one of Andalusia's top destinations. It is also a destination for the whole family and, thanks to its ports and beaches, it is also an ideal city to visit during the summer.

Among the best things to see and do in Cádiz during the summer are boat trips, bike tours, magical Cádiz sunsets, medieval markets and other eclectic experiences such as discovering the wild side of the city in its natural parks or sleeping in a yurt. Here's everything you need to know about the best things to do in Cádiz during the summer.

If you visit Cadiz during the summer, you will find that the weather is very hot and that the city's coastline is gearing up to welcome tourists. One of the best activities you can do from the port is to take a boat trip around Cadiz Bay to discover the area from the sea.

During summer boat trips, you will usually also have free time to go for a swim and enjoy water sports such as paddle surfing or snorkelling, as the waters of the Bay of Cádiz are crystal clear. During the trip, you will also see the Constitución and Carranza bridges and enjoy a picture-postcard view of the city's architecture from the water.

Boat trips around the Bay of Cádiz are usually half-day trips lasting between 3 and 4 hours, making them an ideal option if you are planning a short stay in the city as they do not take up too much time. If this is the case, here is a list of activities for discovering Cádiz in 2 days.

Cadiz has some of the most beautiful buildings in Andalusia, and its thousand-year history has resulted in a mix of styles in its buildings, which you can discover on a walk through the old town and along the city's coastline. If you are planning to visit Cadiz in summer, when the temperatures are pleasant and you can enjoy the open views of the bay, you can take a tour to discover the attractions of Cadiz.

During these walks, which you can do on your own or with a guided tour, you can immerse yourself in the city's past by visiting the Plaza de España, the Plaza de la Mina, the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral of Cadiz, which is the only one in the world that combines four different architectural styles, and the Roman Theatre, which was discovered just over 40 years ago and has become one of the city's main attractions.

If you choose to take a walk through the old town on an excursion, you can usually also opt for a wine and cheese tasting to discover some of the local cuisine, and when you visit the Cadiz coast, don't miss the unobstructed views of the sea.

Cadiz is one of the oldest cities in Europe and its historic centre, beaches and ports attract much of the attention, but the surrounding area also has many places worth discovering, especially during the summer when the weather is ideal for exploring on foot or by bicycle.

If you are a fan of cycle touring, in Cadiz you will find some of the best routes among the mountains and pine forests that surround the city. You can explore Los Toruños, Laguna de Torrox, La Algaida, Ruta de los Acantilados, Cerro del Tambor, Arroyo Mondragón, Las Pedrizas and Pinar de Hierro, among other places that you can visit on your own by renting a bicycle or with the assistance of a local guide.

Exploring the outskirts of the city by bicycle during the summer is a great way to make the most of your visit to Cádiz, as you can enjoy the outdoors and also discover some of the most beautiful spots on the Andalusian coast.

Visiting the beaches of Cadiz is one of the best things to do in the city during the summer. If you don't want to stray too far from the old town, you can visit La Caleta, one of Cadiz's most famous beaches, which is divided in two by the castle of San Sebastián, or Santa María del Mar Beach and La Victoria Beach.

If you want to discover the best beaches on the Andalusian coast, you will have to venture a little further away from the centre of Cádiz to visit the beaches of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, among which Playa de la Calzada stands out . This area of crystal-clear waters and golden sands is where Andalusian horse races are held, which is why it is also known as the Sanlúcar Racecourse.

Close to Playa de la Calzada is also Playa de las Piletas, which stands out for its natural rocks and the boat trips that can be booked on site. You can also visit summer resorts in Conil de la Frontera, Barbate, Zahara de los Atunes and Tarifa, where you will find Bolonia Beach, known for its length, its wild nature and for having been voted the most beautiful beach in Spain

The city of Cádiz played a leading role in the Battle of Trafalgar and occupies a strategic position in the defence of the Andalusian coast. That is why the architecture of the old town is full of towers from which it is now possible to enjoy panoramic views of the city and the sea, especially on sunny summer days, which offer a dry and clear climate.

One of the best excursions in Cadiz is to visit these towers to get the best views, although you can also do it on your own if you visit the famous Tavira Tower, the House of the Four Towers, the House of the Five Towers or the House-Palace of the Marquises of Recaño, which at 58 metres high is the highest point in the historic quarter.

Most of these towers offer 360° views and on summer days you can even see other nearby places such as Tarifa and Jerez de la Frontera. In the Torre Tavira you can also visit its camera obscura and glimpse the entire Cadiz skyline from there.

If you plan to visit Cadiz during the summer, you can enjoy one of the city's most eclectic experiences by visiting the Medieval Market, which takes place during the month of June in Puerto de Santa María. At this market, you can discover the city's past during the Middle Ages, with period dance shows, medieval cuisine and craft stalls.

Visiting the Medieval Market is also a good option if you plan to visit Cádiz with children, as the programme usually includes children's activities, circus shows and performances by jesters and other characters typical of the Middle Ages. The market is held every year in the Plaza del Castillo, which adds to the atmosphere.

The Medieval Market is held every year in Cádiz at the beginning of summer and is one of the activities that kicks off the summer season. You can also make the most of your visit to Puerto de Santa María by exploring the beaches of Levante and Valdelagrana, and if you are planning a stay of several days, you can also visit Jerez de la Frontera.

One of the best things to do in the city during the summer is to watch the sunset, as Cádiz's sunsets are considered some of the best in Spain, especially if you plan to visit Cádiz in August, when the sky is clearest and the weather stays sunny until late in the day.

You can watch the sunset from many places in the city, but some of the best are La Caleta Beach, because it is the area where the sea descends, the Torre de Levante, which offers a wide panoramic view from Cadiz Cathedral, and Playa del Chato, which is located away from the historic centre and is one of the best-kept secrets of the locals.

You can also watch the sunset from the water on a boat trip around the Bay of Cádiz, from the beaches of Tarifa or from Puerto de Santa María, on the coast of Jerez de la Frontera.

If you plan to explore the city in summer at your own pace by rental car, public transport or Cadiz tourist buses, you can choose to spend the night in a yurt, an option that has become popular in recent years. Yurts are typical dwellings of Asian nomadic peoples that gained fame in Europe through the Silk Road.

Currently, in mountain and beach destinations, yurts are used, especially during the summer, as an alternative form of accommodation in the heart of nature or facing the sea, allowing visitors to connect with the environment. These transportable, round tents are made of wood and wool.

In Cadiz, you can find yurt accommodation options on the coast, in Los Alcornocales Park, in Tarifa, Barbate, Chiclana or Vejer, and also in some places near natural parks, as yurts are considered eco-friendly tourism alternatives .

Cadiz is the Spanish province with the most natural parks in the country and, therefore, in addition to its beaches, it offers a natural environment of mountains and forests that can be visited during the summer for long hours to enjoy the activities offered by the protected areas and to discover some of the best landscapes in Cadiz.

The Estrecho Natural Park is possibly the most famous and interesting of the parks in Cadiz because it is located between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, bordering beach areas and also the picturesque island of Tarifa, so during the summer you can also take a dip in the underground caves and visit the archaeological ruins in the park.

You can also visit other nearby natural parks such as Los Alcornocales, where you can stay in a yurt, Sierra de Grazalema, Entorno de Doñana, La Breña y Marismas del Barbate and Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park, which is one of the best known. All of them contain unspoilt and little-explored sites that you can visit during your stay.

You can't leave Cadiz without enjoying the local cuisine, and if you plan to visit the city during the summer , you can enjoy the beach bars on the coast, where you can sample Cadiz's delicacies while watching the sunset from the terrace or the sun setting over the sea.

At the beach bars, you can try quick tapas dishes such as marinated dogfish, shrimp omelette, fried Cadiz fish, boiled prawns, sea anemones and roasted peppers with bluefin tuna, which is one of the area's fishing specialities, so it is common for many recipes to include it among their ingredients.

Some of the places I recommend visiting are Nahú Beach, on Cortadura Beach, Tirabuzón, on Santa María del Mar Beach, Feduchy, on La Fontanilla Beach , and La Manuela, in Chipiona. At all of these beach bars, you can try delicious Cadiz dishes at a good price, accompanied by local wine and sherry.

The climate in Cadiz in summer is warm , with average temperatures of 24°C, highs of 30°C and lows of 18°C. The hottest month is August, when it usually doesn't rain at all and the temperature doesn't tend to drop below 20°C.

However, even on the hottest days of summer, the temperature in the city is not usually stifling, so it is possible to go for walks, bike rides and other outdoor activities without any major inconvenience. If you visit Cádiz in December, you will find that temperatures drop substantially, with lows below 10°C.

Summer is the high season in Cadiz, which is when the city receives the most tourists, especially on the beaches and at summer attractions. I recommend that you plan an itinerary for your visit and book excursions in advance to avoid them selling out or last-minute price increases.

If you want to avoid the crowds of tourists, you can opt for places that are further away from the centre of Cadiz, such as the beaches on the road to Tarifa or Puerto de Santa María. You can also choose to go on excursions first thing in the morning and during the week.

As these are the high season months, you will notice that prices are higher than if you visit Cadiz during the winter or in the low season. Although there are excursions that are generally inexpensive, such as bike tours or bus rides, you will notice the difference in prices if you book at the time of your visit.

An alternative way to save money on excursions is to book in advance online, as you can often get discounts and lock in the price of the tour, as well as securing your place on the excursion.

If you decide to visit Cádiz in summer, here is a list of essentials to pack in your luggage:

• Swimsuit
• T-shirts
• Comfortable footwear
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Sun hat
• Beach footwear
• Lightweight trousers