Best tours of Cádiz

Cadiz is a city that stands out mainly in summer, with its beaches, its swimming areas and its terraced beach bars to watch the sunset while tasting the gastronomy of Cadiz, but it also has many attractions in its old town and in the bay to discover at any time of the year.

Among the best things to see and do in Cadiz you can opt for excursions along the coast and through the old town, boat trips on the bay, tastings of local cheeses and wines, guided tours of the Cathedral and the Tavira Tower and horseback riding on the beach.

Cadiz is one of the oldest cities in Europe and therefore has a rich history with a mixed heritage from the periods of Roman, Moorish and Arab occupants, so discovering the old town is one of the best alternatives to get to know the idiosyncrasy of Cadiz.

In these tours along the coast of Cadiz you can visit the Plaza de España, the Casino Gaditano, the Cathedral of Cadiz, which has a mixture of Gothic and Baroque styles, the Roman Theater, which was built more than 2000 years ago and also the Central Market of the city.

In these tours you will also have access to a tasting of cheeses and wines from Jerez, so you will also get to know another of Cadiz's treasures, which is the gastronomy. At the end of the tour you will have time to relax on a terrace and enjoy the sunset. If you plan to visit Cadiz in August you will be able to contemplate one of the clearest skies in the city, which also stands out for its magical sunsets.

Interesting details

• Price... Approximately 26 euros per person including the assistance of a local guide, entrance to the Roman Theater and cheese and wine tasting.
• Duration... Approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... You will be able to see the main sites of the old town in a tour with good value for money.
• Disadvantages of these tours... They only include tours of the old part of Cadiz, so if you want to see other parts of the city you will have to take another guided tour afterwards.

Knowing Cadiz from the water is one of the best alternatives to enjoy the city. In these boat trips around the bay you can relax with a quiet boat ride of about 3 hours that will take you to visit the bridges of Carranza and the Constitution and also the main sites of the coast of Cadiz.

On these rides you will also be able to contemplate a different profile of the old part of the city, which is the same one that the conquistadors and expeditionaries who left from the ports of Cádiz and returned years later. In addition, if you plan to visit Cadiz in summer you will also have time to take a swim during the stops and to practice water sports such as paddle surfing and snorkeling.

A boat ride in the bay is also an ideal alternative if you plan to visit Cadiz with children, because the boats usually include inflatable games and other children's activities so that the kids can enjoy the experience.

Although during the summer months you will be able to see the best sunsets during the ride, you can also take this excursion if you plan to visit Cadiz in winter.

Details of interest

• Price... Approximately 40 euros per person, including the tour, the stop for a swim and water sports and children's activities.
• Duration... Approximately 3 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... It is one of the best to get to know an alternative profile of the city.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... In winter you will not be able to take a bath and during cloudy days you might not be able to see the sunset.

The Cathedral of Cadiz is the most representative building of the old city and in these tours you can visit it to know the mixture of styles that make it a very particular construction, which combines a baroque façade with gothic interiors and neoclassical rose windows. In these guided tours you will be able to know all its corners.

You can also visit the Cathedral Museum, which contains the objects of worship of the Cathedral, including religious ornaments, sculptures and frescoes of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, which coincide with the golden age of Cadiz. In addition, the Clock Tower, which houses the bell tower of the Cathedral, is the tallest building in the city with 58 meters, so from there you can access a wide panoramic view of Cadiz.

On these excursions you will also visit the Tavira Tower, which is the second highest point in the city and from where you can get a 360° panoramic view of the entire Cadiz skyline. In Tavira you will be amazed by the camera obscura, a periscope in which you can see a live and moving projection of everything that happens outside. This striking optical effect makes objects that are located miles away seem close.

Please note that to climb to the top of the Tavira Tower it is necessary to climb a reduced staircase of 173 steps, so if you plan to travel with people with reduced mobility this alternative could be uncomfortable.

Interesting details

• Price... Approximately 32 euros per person, including the assistance of a local guide and entrance to the excursions.
• Duration... Approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... You will see two of the most emblematic buildings in Cadiz.
• Disadvantages of these tours... To reach the top of the Tavira Tower it is necessary to walk up a steep staircase that is not suitable for all visitors.

If you are one of those who enjoy alternative tourism in Cadiz you will find excursions that fit your profile, as it is a city intermingled with myths and legends. You can discover Cadiz's exciting past on guided tours through the old town and learn about the city's most incredible stories, involving sacrifices, murders, betrayals and tales of terror.

On these excursions, which begin after sunset, you will visit the enigmatic Plaza de San Antonio, which is the epicenter of the city's celebrations, the Casino Gaditano, the oratory of San Felipe and the parish of San Lorenzo. The guide will also tell you the legend about the construction of the Cathedral in the Pópulo neighborhood and the tour will end at the San Juan de Dios square, where the Inquisition tribunal was located.

These tours start and end in the old town, so you can make the most of your tour by visiting one of the restaurants in the center of Cadiz or some of the best flamenco shows in Cadiz after the excursion.

Details of interest

• Price... Approximately 15 euros per person, including the assistance of a local guide.
• Duration... Approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... You will learn about the alternative side of Cadiz, which is an ancient city with streets that hide mysteries and secrets.
• Disadvantages of these excursions...

The Castle of Santa Catalina is one of the favorite destinations for couples visiting the city, because from its esplanade it is possible to contemplate one of the best sunsets in Cadiz, although it is also an attraction visited by most tourists looking for the best panoramic views of the magical sunsets of Cadiz.

On these excursions you can take a tour of the castle to see the parade ground, the promenade, the sentry boxes and the defensive towers of the fortress that was built by King Philip II in the sixteenth century. During the tour you will be assisted by a local guide who will tell you about the period when the Castle of Santa Catalina was a military prison or when Charles II took refuge in the site to resist a palace uprising.

At sunset the guide will gather visitors on the main esplanade of the castle so they can watch the sunset over La Caleta Beach, one of the main beaches of the city, which is tinged with orange tones unmistakably Cadiz.

These excursions have an approximate duration of one hour, so they are ideal if you have planned a short stay in the city and do not want to leave the coast of Cadiz without watching the sunset. If that is your case, here is a list of activities you can see and do in Cadiz in 2 days.

Details of interest

• Price... Approximately 8 euros per person, including the assistance of a local guide.
• Duration... Approximately 1 hour.
• Advantages of these excursions... You will be able to see one of the best sunsets in Spain.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... It can be an uninteresting plan for children.

If you want to save walking time and visit the most attractions of Cadiz you can opt for a bike tour that in approximately 3 hours of travel will allow you to discover the old town, the beaches of Cadiz and the bridges that connect the coast with the neighborhood of Rio San Pedro.

In these tours with a local guide you will learn about the history of the city through its monuments and the daily life of the locals, as you will also visit the Mercado de Abastos and the places where the locals do their shopping every day. These excursions include stops for you to rest and take some of the best pictures of your trip.

A bike tour is also an activity for the whole family, so if you are traveling with children you can use this alternative. Bicycle tours are available during all times of the year although you should keep in mind that in Cadiz in December and January the temperature drops substantially, so I advise you to wrap up warm and check the weather to avoid rainy days.

Details of interest

• Price... Approximately 35 euros per person, including the assistance of a local guide, the bicycle and the mandatory safety elements to ride.
• Duration... Approximately 3 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... It is a fast and fun way to get to know a lot of the main sites of Cadiz in a short time.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... During the winter months it can be an uncomfortable option due to low temperatures and rain.

The coast of Cadiz is a place with a long equestrian tradition and one of the alternatives to tour the beaches of the bay is to take a horseback ride. On these Mangueta Beach tours you can take a relaxing ride along the coastline until sunset, which is one of the best experiences in Cadiz.

These small group tours have the permanent assistance of a local rider and you don't need any experience to be able to do the ride, as there are horses for all levels. You will also be able to make stops to take some of the best pictures of Cadiz.

Mangueta Beach is located south of Cadiz, in a slightly remote area, so you can opt for a round trip transfer with hotel pick up at extra cost in a private vehicle, which will be ideal if you are planning a short stay in the city. If that is your case, here is a list of activities to discover Cadiz in 3 days.

Details of interest

• Price... Approximately 75 euros per person, including the assistance of a local rider. The transfer to and from the Mangueta Beach with pick up at the hotel has an extra cost.
• Duration... Approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... You will be able to enjoy a different kind of ride along the beach and the sunset.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... It can be a tiring alternative.

You can book an excursion in Cadiz online or book any of the tours once you are in the city, although if you plan to tour the city in summer I advise you to book in advance to secure your spot and also to avoid last minute price increases.

Keep in mind that some excursions such as bike tours and horseback riding on Mangueta Beach are usually done in small groups, so if you have an itinerary and a short stay in the city planned I recommend you book in advance to avoid delays.

In these excursions you can discover all the profiles of the city, from the old town, which has some of the architectural jewels of the rich local history, to the most representative beaches, monuments and castles of the coast of Cadiz.

If you plan to visit Cadiz in October or in the summer months you will also be able to witness the best sunsets in the city and enjoy an ideal climate for swimming.

Cadiz is a city with a large influx of tourists in summer, so if you plan to visit in high season or during the summer season I advise you to book excursions in advance and organize an itinerary to make the most of your visit avoiding delays.

I also recommend that if you have the possibility do not miss a tour of the old town, the Caleta Beach and take a boat ride on the Bay of Cadiz, as discovering the city's skyline from the water is a very interesting experience.

Cadiz is a city that you can discover on your own on a hike or a bike ride, although it is also a place that hides a millenary history, secrets and mysteries, and that has a very prosperous past, so a local guide will help you to better understand the Cadiz legacy.

On the other hand, some of the best experiences in Cadiz, such as the boat ride in the bay, can only be done as part of an excursion with the assistance of a guide and I do not advise you to miss it.