Cádiz is a port and city on a peninsula jetting into the Atlantic, in Andalusia in southwestern Spain. It was originally founded by the Phoenicians and is one of the oldest inhabited cities in Western Europe  with archaeological remains of Gadir which date back to 1100 BC. Since then it has been controlled by the Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and even the French!

The town is steeped in history. In 1493 Christopher Columbus set off on his second voyage to the New World from this port.  In the 16th century it was the home of the Spanish Navy. In 1587 Francis Drake led a raid on this port and destroyed 30 ships.  The Golden Age of Cádiz was the period from the 16th to 18th centuries was when Cádiz was the center of trade with the New World.   To protect their riches, Cádiz was encased by a network of formidable walls and forts and had over 100 watchtowers.

Occupied by the French in the Napoleonic Wars (1803 – 1815), the city is the birthplace of the Spanish Constitution of 1812 which was written here.

The Old Town of  Cádiz, which within the old City walls and almost surrounded by the sea is full of narrow winding alleys connecting large plazas.

Visiting Cádiz for the first time and wondering what are the top places to see in the city? In this complete guide, I share the best things to do in Cádiz on the first visit. Top help you plan your trip, I have also included an interactive map and practical tips for visiting!

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This complete guide to Cádiz not only tells you about the very best sights and tourist attractions for first-time visitors to the city but also provide insights into a few of our personal favorite things to do.

This is a practical guide to visiting the best places to see in Cádiz and is filled with tips and info that should answer all your questions!

The Museum of the Cádiz Parliament

The remodelled Museum of the Cádiz Parliament which consists of three floors, takes you through the city’s 18th- to 20th-century history. The first floor houses one of the museum’s most valuable items: a 1:250 scale model of the city of Cádiz made in the late eighteenth century, made in mahogany, silver and ivory by Alfonso […]

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Location: Calle Santa Inés, 9. Cádiz | Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. | Website | Distance: 0.10km

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Visiting The Museum of the Cádiz Parliament

Gran Teatro Falla

The Gran Teatro Falla is a 19th-century  theater in Cádiz. It was built between 1884 and 1905 on the site of the previous Gran Teatro which had burned down in 1881. The exterior of the building is of red bricks in the Mudéjar style or Moorish-Spanish style, and the interior notable for its richness and […]

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Location: Plaza de Falla, s/n, 11003, Cádiz | Website | Distance: 0.20km

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Visiting Gran Teatro Falla

Torre Tavira

La Torre Tavira is an 18th century lookout tower, in the Baroque style, which is located on the highest point of the old city of Cadiz. The tower is the most emblematic of the watchtowers of Cadiz. The tower stands 45 meters above sea level, and you can climb its ten flights of stairs and […]

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Location: Torre Tavira, Calle Marqués del Real Tesoro, 10 11001 Cádiz Spain | Hours: October – april: 10.00 – 18.00 hrs. May – september: 10.00 – 20.00 hrs. | Price: 7 Euro | Website | Distance: 0.30km

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Visiting Torre Tavira

Gadir - Archaeological Site

The Phoenicians from Tyre, in southern Lebanon were among the greatest Mediterranean traders from approximately 1,500 to 600 BC. It is thought that they founded the city of Gadir which is now known as Cádiz in Spain in about 800 BC. There are very few architectural remains from Phoenician settlements in the Western Mediterranean,which makes Gadir […]

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Location: Calle San Miguel, 15, 11001 Cádiz, Spain | Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. Visit every hour. Closed on Mondays. | Price: Free entrance | Website | Distance: 0.30km

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Visiting Gadir - Archaeological Site

Parque Genovés

The Parque Genovés is a historic botanical garden located in Cádiz. The park has tree and plant specimens from all over the world including Maple trees, poplars, Indian laurels, Canarian pine and Cycads from southern India. There is also an ornamental lake stalked by sculptures of dinosaurs. Its origin dates back to the 18 century […]

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Location: Parque Genovés Av. Dr. Gómez Ulla, s/n 11003 Cádiz Spain | Hours: Every day from 8:00a.m. to sunset. Summer from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. | Price: Free | Website | Distance: 0.40km

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Visiting Parque Genovés

Cádiz Mercado Central de Abastos

The Mercado Central de Abastos in Cádiz is Spain’s oldest covered market.  It was originally a Doric porticoed plaza, located on the site of the orchard of the Discalced convent, built in 1838.  In 1928 the large central space was occupied with two market pavilions. It was remodeled in 2009, although maintained the the original design […]

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Location: Plaza de la Libertad, S/N 11005 Cádiz Spain | Hours: Central Market Hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Gastronomic Corner Hours: Monday: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Tuesday to Friday: from 9:00 a.m. at 3.30 pm and from 19.00. at 00.00 Saturday: From 09.00. at 4:00 pm and from 8:00 pm at 01.00 | Price: Free | Distance: 0.40km

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Visiting Cádiz Mercado Central de Abastos

Museum of Cádiz

The site of the museum of Cadiz is on a land from the Convent of Saint Francis. Since 1935 it was housed the city’s archaeological finds. At first, the fine art and archaeology museums were two separate entities. However, in 1970 they joined to form what is today known as the Museum of Cádiz. In 1980, […]

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Location: Plaza de Mina, s/n, 11004, Cádiz. | Hours: Tuesdays to Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Sundays and public holidays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Closed on Mondays. | Price: Free | Website | Distance: 0.50km

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Visiting Museum of Cádiz

Playa La Caleta

Playa La Caleta is a small beach located far end of the Cádiz peninsula, Spain. It is located between two old castles: Castillo de Santa Catalina and Castillo de San Sebastián. Although it can get quite busy during the day,  it is still one of the most beautiful beaches in Cádiz and has been regularly awarded a […]

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| Hours: 24 Hour | Distance: 0.60km

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Visiting Playa La Caleta

Santa Catalina Castle

Located at the other end of La Caleta beach, this fortress was part of the city defense infrastructures. After the Anglo-Dutch attack and plunder of Cadiz  in 1596, Phillip II sent a military engineer, Christobel de Rojas, to Cadiz to build the fortress to strengthen one of the most vulnerable points of the city and is […]

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Location: Avenida Duque de Nájera, 11002, Cádiz | Hours: Every day from 11 am. to 7 pm. | Price: Free | Distance: 0.70km

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Visiting Santa Catalina Castle

Cádiz Cathedral

Cádiz Cathedral  is a Roman Catholic church in Cádiz, in Spain. The cathedral took 116 years to build, it was started in 1722 and not complete until 1838 and a consequence of this is that a mix of styles can be seen from Baroque, rococo to neoclassical. The towers and the sacristy were the last […]

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Location: Plaza de la Catedral, s/n 11005 Cádiz Spain | Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-4:30pm | Distance: 0.70km

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Visiting Cádiz Cathedral

Roman Theatre

On the seaward edge of the Barrio del Populo is Cadiz’ Roman Theater.  Although the ruins can be seen from the Av. Campo del Sur the entrance is actually through a narrow door on Calle Mesón, 11-13. The Carthage Empire occupied Gadir (present day Cádiz) beginning in 500 BC until 206 BC when they were […]

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Location: Calle Mesón, 11-13, 11005 Cádiz, Spain | Price: Free | Distance: 0.80km

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Visiting Roman Theatre

Arco del Pópulo

The Almohads – (Moroccans) built a city wall in the 12th century around Cadiz. During the reign of Alfonso X (1252 – 1284), the  Puerta del Mar (Sea Gate) was created to be the main entrance into the city from the port. In 1587, a painting by Antonio Franco of the Virgin of Pópulo was […]

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Location: Arco Del Pópulo, S/N, Calle Pelota, 11005 Cádiz, Spain | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Website | Distance: 0.80km

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Visiting Arco del Pópulo

Castle of San Sebastián

The Castle of San Sebastián is located in Cádiz, Spain, although originally built in the built in the fifteenth century, the current defensive structure dates back to 1706.  It was designed to defend the north of the city but for much of its life the Castle was used as a prison or for quarantine. It […]

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Location: Paseo Fernando Quiñones, Cádiz | Hours: Monday to Sunday from 09:00 till 13:00 | Price: 2 € | Website | Distance: 1.40km

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Visiting Castle of San Sebastián

Playa Santa María del Mar

This beach is located next to Playa de la Victoria and is separated from it by a series of ramps and spiral staircases.  Although small at 650 m long the beach is made up of fine golden sand, held in place by two breakwaters at either end. It is popular with body boarders and families. […]

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Location: Calle Guadix, 1E, 11008 Cádiz, Spain | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 1.90km

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Visiting Playa Santa María del Mar

Playa de la Victoria

Playa Victoria is an urban beach located, running up the western side of Cádiz, on the Costa de la Luz. It has about 3  kilometers of sandy beach along on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. At the rear of the beach is the city’s Paseo Marítimo, a long promenade with plenty of hotels, bars and […]

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Visiting Playa de la Victoria

Playa de la Cortadura

Playa de la Cortadura is located just south of the city of Cádiz. It is regularly awarded blue flag beaches and is a continuation of La Victoria and El Chato beach with fine sandy dunes The beach is very close to the dual-carriageway.

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Visiting Playa de la Cortadura

Playa del Chato

Playa del Chato is a 70m-wide beach located on the exterior side of the arm of land connecting San Fernando and Cádiz City. Similar to Playa de la Cortada the beach lies alongside the road into Cádiz which it is separated by a line of golden sand dunes. The beach is a little more basic […]

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Visiting Playa del Chato

Castle of San Marcos

The Castle of San Marcos was was commissioned by Alfonso X “The Wise” after he took the town in 1260. It was originally a fortified church from the 12th century which was built on top of an old Mosque from the 9th century, on the banks of Guadalete River, in the historical center of El […]

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Location: Plaza Alfonso X el Sabio, 3, 11500 El Puerto de Sta María, Cádiz, Spain | Hours: Tours hourly 11.30am-1.30pm Tue, 10.30am-1.30pm Wed-Sat, closed Wed & Fri Nov-Apr | Price: €8, Tue free | Website | Distance: 9.60km

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Visiting Castle of San Marcos