The province of Cadiz can be divided into different regions, each one of them with their tourist attractions and places that we can visit. The centre of the province is dedicated essentially to the agriculture and has several very important towns, amongst these towns Jerez stands out, as it is internationally well-known for its wines, horses and race tracks.
The regions in which the province of Cadiz is divided are: Bahia de Cadiz, Campiña de Jerez, Northwest Coast, Sierra de Cadiz, La Janda and Campo de Gibraltar.
The region of Bahia de Cadiz is made up of varios municipalities: Chiclana de la Frontera, Puerto Real, Puerto de Santa Maria and San Fernando. Its name comes from the bay of Cadiz in which several rivers end up.
In the past, the municipalities that are part of the Bahia de Cadiz belonged to the kingdom of Seville. This region hosts the Bahia de Cadiz natural park with a great variety richness of species of birds and fish.
The Campiña de Jerez is made up of the municipalities of San José del Valle and Jerez de la Frontera, famous for its wines and with a great population density.
This region, made up of Sanlucar de Barrameda, Trebujena, Chipiona and Rota, includes territories of the Marismas del Guadalquivir and a fishing Reserve in the mouth of the Guadalquivir.
Also known as Sierra de Grazalema, where part of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park is located. In the olden days it belonged to the Kingdom of Seville and the Kingdom of Granada.
In the Sierra de Cadiz we’ll find the route of the white villages, a touristic route that covers great part of the villages of the region and of the Serrania de Ronda where we’ll be amazed by a beautiful natural landscape and enjoy the great typical rural Andalusian food.
This region is made up municipalities that offer the visitor top quality natural beaches, part of the Natural Park of Los Alcornocales enters into the region of La Janda.
The municipalities that we’ll find in La Janda are: Benalup, Conil de la Frontera, Medina-Sidonia, Alcalá de los Gazules, Barbate, Paterna de Rivera and Vejer de la Frontera.
Campo de gibraltar is made up of 7 municipalities: Algeciras, Los Barrios, La Linea, San Roque, Tarifa, Castellar de la Frontera and Jimena de la Frontera. Municipalities such as Tarifa are ideal places for those lovers of the natural and nudist beaches where the hand of mankind has still not reached and from where one can spot the African coast while we cool off in the sea.
The province of Cadiz is relatively young, it arose on the 30th of November 1833 with localities of the Kingdom of Seville, of Huelva of the Kingdom of Granada. Although the province is young, the humans that have lived there or passed through there date back to the prehistoric period.
Around the 9th century before our era there is knowledge of the first settlements, these settlements were produced by the Phoenicians and Tartessians, who began creating colonies and factories using the natural resources that the province offered. The first population nucleuses formed the current towns of Puerto de Santa Maria, Medina-sidonia or Gadir (Cadiz).
During the Roman period the commercial activity concentrated on the exportation of wine, oil and wheat. The area was of great importance, connecting even with the Via Augusta, one of the main roads of the Roman Empire.
After the arrival of the Arabs to the south of the peninsula in the year 711, appeared Sidonia y al-Yazirat, which today are Medina-Sidonia y Algeciras, the occidental area of Andalusia was one of the first in falling under the weight of the Christian armies, when after the year 1264 it was completely conquered by the Christians who expelled great part of the Muslim population.
The marked cultural difference with the rest of Spain and the constant abuses that the south suffered who saw how they were getting poorer and poorer and ended up trying an attempt of independence that originated in Cadiz thanks to the so-called conspiracy of the duke of Medina Sidonia, a fact that occurred simultaneously to the independence of Portugal and the revolt of the Catalans, although it ended up being discovered because of the traitors who betrayed him for money.
In Cadiz we’ll find several different reserves and natural parks that consists of places like the Bahia de Cadiz Natural Park, Marismas de Barbate, Doñana, Los Alcornocales and Sierra de Grazalema amongst others.
If what you’re looking for are natural trekking routes, in Cadiz you’ll find a wide variety of places to visit and enjoy throughout the whole year.
Cadiz has a long history that has left monuments, churches, buildings and archaeological remains that are well worth visiting. Its culture extends to the numerous typical festivities throughout the whole year, from the famous Cadiz carnivals to the fair of Jerez or the famous horse races along the beach of Sanlucar.
It’s very common that many tourists that visit Malaga in summer decide to spend a day on the beach in Tarifa, a place of great natural beauty where to enjoy one of the best beaches in Spain.
The city of Cadiz stands out for its long and varied history. Located in the Bay of Cadiz region, it is the oldest Phoenician city in all of Europe, with archaeological remains that have survived for over 3,000 years. Cadiz is situated on an islet connected to the mainland by a canal called 'Cano de Sancti Petri'.
Cadiz was known in ancient times as Gadir, a name given by the Phoenician civilization which means fortress or walled area. It was the most important city on the entire peninsula, from where trade was conducted throughout the Mediterranean. According to Greek mythology, the name comes from Gadiro, the first Atlantean king, who ruled the region of Gadeira, a small archipelago of islands in the Bay of Cadiz. Some theories suggest that Cadiz might be the location of the lost city of Atlantis, as described by Plato. He mentioned that Atlantis was beyond the Pillars of Hercules, which is believed to be the Strait of Gibraltar. This theory is supported by some archaeological findings and historical accounts.
Hannibal is said to have set out from Cadiz to conquer Roman Italy, crossing the Pyrenees and the Alps with a large army. This city prospered greatly during the Roman era, with amphitheatres and aqueducts built to meet the needs of a growing population. After the Visigoth conquest, Cadiz entered a dark period in its history where commercial relations disappeared, and it transformed from a great open city to a small walled town. Later, it was conquered by the Byzantine Empire and then by the Muslims in 711, who settled until 1264 when Cadiz was taken by the Christians and added to the Kingdom of Castile. Famous figures like Christopher Columbus and other explorers of the colonial period set sail from the ports of Cadiz.
The tourism sector in Cadiz has benefited from its excellent climate and the beaches along the Cadiz coastline, as well as its good gastronomy and cultural heritage, including popular festivals and historical monuments.
Another major attraction is the beaches. With fine golden sand in the city area, the following are particularly noteworthy:
Another major attraction in Cadiz, and a legacy of the Roman civilization, is its carnivals. Although they have evolved significantly from their original form, they remain one of the city's main attractions, being the most important in Spain and well-known worldwide.
The origins of the carnival are Roman, adopted from the Egyptians, who possibly inherited them from the Sumerians. It is a festivity with a long historical tradition but with a special significance and distinctiveness in Cadiz. Do not miss it.
Want to know more about Carnival in Andalusia? Read our complete guide and get ready for this festivity.
Seafood dishes are, as expected, the star cuisine in Cadiz and its most popular dishes. The presence of fry shops and seafood cookeries is common in this part of Andalucia. Among the recommended dishes are fried fish roe, prawns, and seafood in general.
Typical dishes in the province include tuna with onions and fish meatballs.
The province of Cádiz is well connected by road from Seville and Malaga along the Mediterranean motorway. If you are arriving at Malaga Airport, you can conveniently rent a car in Malaga and enjoy a comfortable journey while taking in the beautiful scenery along the way. The drive offers the opportunity to explore charming towns and stunning landscapes as you make your way to Cádiz. Additionally, Cádiz is situated near the Jerez Airport, the only airport in this province.
You can access Cadiz via the road from Puerto Real or San Fernando. If travelling by road from Malaga, head towards Gibraltar and then take the direction that crosses the Los Alcornocales Natural Park, through which you will reach Cadiz after passing through Puerto Real and crossing Medina-Sidonia.
Another option is to follow the coast, passing through Tarifa, Zahara de los Atunes, Barbate, Vejer de la Frontera, Chiclana and finally Cadiz after passing through San Fernando.
The Cadiz train station is the main station in the city, with local trains, medium-distance trains to Cordoba, Jaen and Seville with stops in Jerez and Puerto de Santa Maria, and long-distance trains that reach Madrid.
If we want to take a train from Malaga, we must first go to Seville, stopping at Santa Justa or Dos Hermanas, and from there take a train to Cadiz as there are no direct trains between Malaga and Cadiz.
The nearest airport is Jerez Airport, just 35 kilometres away; Malaga Airport is 255 km away.
You can get to Cadiz by bus with a stop at the Cadiz bus station, by boat through the port, by train or by car as mentioned earlier. If you are on holiday in Malaga and would like to try the seafood of Cadiz or enjoy the beach of Tarifa, do not hesitate. If you need a vehicle to get there, you can check our car hire prices or chauffeur service to any location in Cadiz.
The railway line connects Cadiz with Seville and has stops in several municipalities on a journey that lasts approximately 2 hours: Cádiz, San Fernando, Puerto Real, Puerto de Santa María, Jerez de la Frontera, Las Cabezas de San Juan, Utrera, Dos Hermanas, and Sevilla Santa Justa.
The train line from Algeciras to Granada stands out for its great scenic beauty, and the train line from Cádiz to Jaen has stops in Córdoba, Andujar, and Jaen.
Cádiz has three major ports: Puerto de Algeciras, Puerto de la Bahía de Cádiz, and Puerto de Tarifa. In the province, there are also other seaports and harbours.
The port of Algeciras is the largest port in Spain and one of the main connections with Africa. The Bahía de Cádiz port is an important stopover for cruise ships and transatlantic vessels. The port of Tarifa has historically been an important fishing port, although today it is characterised by its leisure boats and ferry connections with Ceuta and Tangier.
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