10 Things to Do in Cádiz in Summer

With its picturesque old town, famous gastronomy, colourful local festivals and ancient history, Cadiz is one of Andalusia's main attractions. It is also a family-friendly destination and thanks to its harbours and beaches, it is also an ideal city to visit during the summer.

Some of the best things to see and do in Cadiz during the summer season include boat trips, bike tours, magical Cadiz sunsets, medieval markets and other eclectic experiences such as exploring the wild side of the city in the natural parks or sleeping in a yurt. Here are some of the best things to do in Cádiz 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 welcome 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 place 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 snorkelling, as the waters of the Bay of Cadiz are crystal clear. In addition, during the trip you will see the Constitution and Carranza bridges and a postcard view of the city's architecture from the water.

The boat trips around the Bay of Cadiz are usually half-day trips and usually last between 3 and 4 hours, so it is also an ideal option if you are planning a short stay in the city because it won't take up too much of your time. If this is your case, here is a list of activities to discover Cádiz in 2 days.

Cádiz 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 Cádiz in summer, when the temperatures are friendly and you can enjoy the open views of the bay, you can take a walking tour to discover the attractions of Cádiz.

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 Cádiz, which is the only one in the world to mix four different architectural styles, and the Roman Theatre, which was discovered just over 40 years ago and became one of the city's main attractions.

If you opt for 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 Cádiz don't miss the unobstructed views out to sea.

Cadiz is one of the oldest cities in Europe and its old town, beaches and harbours get most of the attention, but the surrounding area is also home to many places worth discovering, especially during the summer when the weather lends itself to exploring on foot or by bike.

If you are a fan of cycle touring, in Cádiz you can find some of the best routes through the mountains and pine forests that surround the city. You can explore Los Toruños, the Torrox Lagoon, La Algaida, the Cliffs Route, 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.

Cycling around the edges of the city during the summer is a great way to make the most of your visit to Cadiz, as you can enjoy the great out doors and also see some of the most beautiful spots along 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 go far from the old town 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 the beaches of Santa Maria del Mar and Playa de la Victoria.

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

Close to Playa de la Calzada you will also find Playa de las Piletas, which stands out for its natural rocks and the promenades that can be hired 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, which is characteristic for its length, its wilderness 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 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 contemplate panoramic views of the city and the sea, especially during the sunny days of summer, when the weather is dry and clear.

One of the best excursions in Cádiz 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 metres high is the highest point in the historic quarter.

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. At the Tavira Tower you can also visit its camera obscura and get a glimpse of the entire Cadiz skyline.

If you are planning to visit Cadiz during the summer you can live one of the most eclectic experiences in the city by visiting the Medieval Market that takes place during the month of June in Puerto de Santa Maria. At this market you can discover the past of the city during the Middle Ages, with dance shows of the period, medieval gastronomy 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 visiting the Levante and Valdelagrana beaches, 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 the Cádiz sunset is considered one of the best in Spain, especially if you plan to visit Cádiz in August, when the skies are at their 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 the Playa de la Caleta, because it is the area where the sea goes down, the Torre de Levante, which offers 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 trip in the Bay of Cádiz, from the beach area of Tarifa or from Puerto de Santa María, 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.

Nowadays, in mountain and beach destinations, yurts are used, especially during the summer, as an alternative accommodation option in the middle of nature or in front of the sea that allows visitors to connect with the environment. These transportable, round tents are made of wood and wool.

In Cádiz you can find yurt accommodation options on the coast, in Los Alcornocales Park, in Tarifa, in Barbate, in Chiclana or in Vejer and also in some places close to natural parks, as yurts are considered ecological tourism alternatives.

Cádiz is the Spanish province with the most natural parks in the country and, therefore, has to offer, apart from the beaches, a natural environment of mountain ranges and forests that during the summer can be visited at extended hours to enjoy the activities offered by the protected areas and to get to know some of the best landscapes of Cádiz.

The Parque Natural del Estrecho is possibly the most famous and the most interesting of the parks in Cádiz because it is situated 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 swim 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 the Bay of Cadiz Natural Park, which is one of the best known. All of them contain unspoilt and little-explored sites that you can explore during your visit.

You can't leave Cádiz without enjoying the local gastronomy and if you plan to visit the city during the summer you can enjoy the chiringuitos on the coast, the stalls on the beach where you can taste the delicacies of Cádiz while you watch the sunset from the terrace or the sunset over the sea.

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

Some of the places I recommend you visit are Nahú Beach, in Playa de la Cortadura, Tirabuzón, in Playa Santa María del Mar, Feduchy, in Playa La Fontanilla and La Manuela, in Chipiona. In all these chiringuitos you can try good Cadiz dishes at a good price, accompanied by 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 doesn't rain a day and the temperature doesn't 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 any major inconvenience. If you visit Cádiz in December you will find that temperatures drop substantially, with lows below 10° Celsius (50° Fahrenheit).

Summer is the peak season in Cadiz so this is when the city receives the most tourists, especially on the beaches and at the summer attractions. I recommend that you organise an itinerary for your visit and book your excursions in advance to avoid last minute sell-outs or price increases.

If you want to avoid crowds of tourists you can opt for places that are away from the centre of Cádiz, such as the beaches on the way to Tarifa or Puerto de Santa María. You can also opt for excursions early in the morning and on weekdays.

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

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

If you decide to visit Cádiz 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 trousers