10 Things to Do in Cádiz in Summer

With its picturesque old town, its famous gastronomy, its colorful local festivals and its millenary history, Cadiz is one of the main sites of Andalusia. 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 Cadiz during the summer season are boat trips, bike tours, magical Cadiz sunsets, medieval markets and other eclectic experiences such as getting to know the wild side of the city in the natural parks or sleeping in a yurt. Below I tell you all about the best activities in Cadiz during the summer.

If you visit Cadiz during the summer you will see that the weather is very hot and the coast of the city is getting ready to receive tourists. One of the best activities you can do from the port is to take a boat trip around the Bay of Cadiz, to discover the site from the sea.

Usually during the summer boat trips you will also have free time to take a swim and to practice water sports, such as paddle surfing or snorkeling, as the waters of the Bay of Cadiz are crystal clear. In addition, during the tour you will see the bridges of the Constitution and Carranza and a postcard from the water of the architecture of the city.

The boat trips in the Bay of Cadiz are usually half day and usually last between 3 and 4 hours, so it is also an ideal option if you have planned a short stay in the city because it will not take up much time. If that is your case, here is a list of activities to discover Cadiz in 2 days.

Cadiz has some of the most beautiful buildings in Andalusia and its millenary history caused a cross of styles in its buildings that can be discovered on a walk through the old town and along the coast of the city. If you plan to visit Cadiz in summer, when the temperatures are friendly and you can enjoy the open views on 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 getting to know the Plaza de España, the Plaza de la Mina, the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral of Cadiz, which is the only one in the world to mix four different architectural styles, and the Roman Theater, which was discovered just over 40 years ago and became 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 gastronomy and when touring the coast of Cadiz don't miss the unobstructed views out to sea.

Cadiz is one of the oldest cities in Europe and its old town, beaches and ports get most of the attention, but the surrounding areas of Cadiz also have many places worth discovering, especially during the summer when the weather is perfect for you to discover them on foot or by bike.

If you are a fan of cycling, in Cadiz you can find some of the best routes through the mountains and pine forests surrounding the city. You can visit Los Toruños, the Laguna de Torrox, the Algaida, the Route of the Cliffs, the Cerro del Tambor, the Arroyo Mondragón, Las Pedrizas and the Pinar de Hierro, among other sites that you can visit on your own by renting a bike or with the assistance of a local guide.

Cycling around the outskirts of the city during the summer is a great option to make the most of your visit to Cadiz, as you can enjoy the outdoors and also get to know some of the most beautiful places 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 do not want to go far from the old town area you can visit La Caleta, which is one of the most famous beaches in Cadiz and is divided in two by the castle of San Sebastian, or also the beach of Santa Maria del Mar and Playa de la Victoria.

If you want to discover the best beaches of the Andalusian coast you will have to move a little away from the center of Cadiz and you can know the beaches of Sanlucar de Barrameda, among which stands out the Playa de la Calzada, an area of crystal clear waters and golden sands in which Andalusian horse races are held, so it is also known as Hippodrome of Sanlúcar.

Near Playa de la Calzada you can also find Playa de las Piletas, which stands out for its natural rocks and for the boardwalks that can be hired on site. You can also visit summer areas in Conil de la Frontera, Barbate, in Zahara de los Atunes and in Tarifa, where you can find Bolonia Beach, characteristic for its extension, for its condition of wild area and for having been chosen as the most beautiful beach in Spain.

The city of Cadiz was a protagonist during the Battle of Trafalgar and occupies a strategic place in the defense of the Andalusian coast. That is why the architecture of the old town is full of towers from which it is currently possible to contemplate panoramic views of the city and the sea, especially during the sunny days of summer, which offers a dry and clear weather.

One of the best excursions in Cadiz consists of touring 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 meters high is the highest point in the historic center.

In most of these towers you can get a 360° view and during the summer days you can even discover other nearby places like Tarifa or Jerez de la Frontera. In the Tavira Tower you can also visit its camera obscura and glimpse from there the entire Cadiz skyline.

If you plan to visit Cadiz during the summer you can live one of the most eclectic experiences of the city by visiting the Medieval Market that takes place during the month of June in Puerto de Santa Maria. In this market you can discover the past of the city during the Middle Ages, with dance shows of the time, medieval cuisine and craft stalls.

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

The Medieval Market is held every year in Cadiz 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 Maria by visiting the beaches of Levante and Valdelagrana, and if you have planned a stay of several days you can also visit Jerez de la Frontera.

One of the best activities you can do in the city during the summer is to watch the sunset, as the Cadiz sunset is considered one of the best in Spain, especially if you plan to visit Cadiz in August, when the sky is clearer and the weather stays sunny until late.

You can discover the sunset from many places in the city, but some of the best are the Playa de la Caleta, because it is the area of the descent of the sea, the Torre de Levante, which offer a wide panoramic view from the Cathedral of Cadiz and the Playa del Chato, which is away from the old town and is one of the best kept secrets of the locals.

You can also watch the sunset from the water on a boat ride in the Bay of Cadiz, from the beach area of Tarifa or from Puerto de Santa Maria, on the coast of Jerez de la Frontera.

If you plan to tour the city in summer at your own pace by rented car, public transport or on Cadiz' s tourist buses, you can opt 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 lodging option in the middle of nature or in front of the sea that allows visitors to connect with the environment. These transportable and round tents are made of wood and wool.

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

Cadiz is the Spanish province with more natural parks in the country and, therefore, has to offer, in addition to the beaches, a natural environment of mountains and forests that during the summer can be visited at extended hours to enjoy the activities offered by the protected areas and to know some of the best landscapes of Cadiz.

The Parque Natural del Estrecho is possibly the most famous and the most interesting of the parks of Cadiz because it is located between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, it borders with beach areas and also with the picturesque island of Tarifa, so during the summer you can also take a swim in the subway caves and visit the archaeological ruins of 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 the Natural Park Bahía de Cádiz, which is one of the best known. All of them contain unspoiled and little explored sites that you can explore during your visit.

You can not leave Cadiz without enjoying the local cuisine and if you plan to visit the city during the summer you can enjoy the chiringuitos on the coast, the beach stalls where you can taste the delicacies of Cadiz while watching the sunset from the terrace or the sunset over the sea.

In the beach bars you can try quick tapas dishes such as marinated dogfish, shrimp omelette, fried fish from Cadiz, boiled prawns, ortiguillas and roasted peppers with bluefin tuna, which is one of the specialties of fishing in the area, so it is common that many of the recipes include it among its ingredients.

Some of the places I recommend you to visit are Nahú Beach, in La Cortadura Beach, Tirabuzón, in Santa María del Mar Beach, Feduchy, in La Fontanilla Beach and La Manuela, in Chipiona. In all these chiringuitos you will be able to taste good Cadiz dishes at a good price, accompanying the experience with local wine and sherry.

The summer weather in Cadiz is warm and reaches average temperatures of 24°, with highs of 30° and lows of 18°. The hottest month is August, when it usually does not rain any day and the temperature does not usually drop below 20°.

However, even during the hottest days of the summer, the temperature in the city is usually not sweltering, so it is possible to go for walks, bike rides and other outdoor activities without major inconveniences. If you visit Cádiz in December you will see that temperatures drop substantially and register minimum temperatures below 10°.

Summer is the high season in Cadiz so it is when the city receives more tourists, especially on the beaches and summer attractions. I recommend that you organize an itinerary for your visit and that you book your excursions in advance to avoid being sold out or price increases at the last minute.

If you want to avoid the accumulation of tourists you can opt for sites that are away from the center of Cadiz, such as the beaches located on the way to Tarifa or Puerto de Santa Maria. You can also opt for excursions early in the morning and during the weekdays.

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

An alternative to save on excursions is to book in advance online, as many times you will be able to access discounts and freeze the price of the tour, in addition to securing your place on the excursion.

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

• Swimwear
• T-shirts
• Comfortable shoes
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Sun hat
• Beach shoes
• Lightweight pants