For travellers who have already spent a few days in Seville and managed to fit in a day to trip Cordoba, then a Jerez or Cadiz day trip from Seville is a great option if you still have time remaining.
Both these cities offer travellers a taste of a unique part of Andalucian culture which they might not have experienced if sticking to the main cities in the region.
Offering a unique culture, outstanding cuisine and both located within easy reach of Seville, you can’t go wrong with a visit to either city. And if you have time for both – all the better!
Table of Contents
Getting to Cadiz and Jerez from Seville
By Organised Tour
If you prefer to enjoy Cadiz on a day tour from Seville then this full-day tour is a good option. It includes visiting the main sites of Cadiz with an experienced guide and transfers from your accommodation.
And if you’d like to head to Jerez, this 7-hour day tour is a great option. It includes a tour of the city, a horse show and wine tasting. You can also book a similar private tour that includes door-to-door service to and from Seville.
For those who want to visit both Cadiz and Jerez in a single day, then this guided tour and this guided day tour are good options. They include transport from your hotel, sherry tasting in Jerez and time to explore in Cadiz.
By Train
I recommend taking the train for the most efficiency during your day trip. Journey time from Seville to Cadiz is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes and trains leave around every hour.
The train station in Cadiz is located only a few minutes walk from the centre of the city.
The Seville to Jerez train takes approximately 1 hour each way with trains leaving around once per hour in the morning. Regardless of which city you’re travelling to, I recommend booking in advance to secure better rates. View train timetables here.
The train station in Jerez is approximately a 10 to 15-minute walk into the centre of the city.
If you want to visit both Jerez and Cadiz in one day, then there are trains that run frequently between the two cities. They take about 35-40 minutes so it can be an option for a busy day, however, we would recommend choosing just one city to dedicate a day to.
By Bus
The bus to Cadiz takes a little bit longer than the train however there are fewer services available so you need to make sure to plan accordingly. Buses take about 2 hours to reach Cadiz. It is a similar schedule when returning to Seville from Cadiz so I recommend booking in advance if you prefer to take the bus.
The bus station in Cadiz is just next to the train station and it will take about ten minutes to walk into the city centre.
There are a couple of buses leaving Seville in the morning that arrive in Jerez approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes later. You can browse bus timetables here.
Like Cadiz, the bus station in Jerez is right next to the train station so it will also take about 10 to 15 minutes to walk in the centre of the city.
By Car
Especially if you’re keen to visit both Cadiz and Jerez in one day, then going via car is your best bet as you can set your own schedule and not be beholden to train and bus timetables.
Driving time from Seville to Cadiz will be approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes along the main highway. It takes about an hour to reach Jerez from Seville.
I recommend first travelling to Jerez in the morning, visiting the Alcazar and enjoying some sherry tasting before heading to Cadiz for lunch and exploring the city during the afternoon.
We recommend using Rentalcars.com to find great deals on car rental in Spain.
Cadiz Day Trip Itinerary
Once you’ve decided on your preferred mode of transport for getting to Cadiz, it’s time to start making the most of your one day in Cadiz! If you’d like to have a guide for some historical context in the city, then consider booking a guided walking tour or, if you’d like to get a bit more active, this bicycle tour could also be a great choice.
Cadiz Cathedral
If you’re walking around Cadiz, climbing to a viewpoint or have seen pictures of the city before, then chances are the Cadiz Cathedral is the monument that is most recognisable to you.
The Cathedral’s construction began in 1722 and took 116 years to complete before it was finally finished in 1836. Due to its lengthy construction period, the Cathedral utilises a number of architectural designs from Baroque to Neoclassical.
If arriving, by train or bus, the Cadiz Cathedral is one of the first monuments you will encounter when walking into the city and it’s definitely worth stopping to admire the architecture!
Entry into the Cathedral is ticketed and includes access to all sections of the Cathedral including a climb up the Clock Tower for panoramic views of the city, including the incredible beach and the adjacent partially-excavated Roman theatre.
Torre Tavira
If you don’t make it up the Clock Tower in the Cathedral but still want to enjoy a scenic view of Cadiz, then visiting Torre Tavira is a great option!
Not only is Torre Tavira the highest lookout point in the Old Town of Cadiz but when visiting you can also explore a couple of exhibition halls and their Camera Obscura exhibit
The Camera Obscura projects an image from a lens on top of the tower onto a white screen in the building. As the lens moves around, visitors are able to get a real-time 360-degree view of Cadiz reflected onto the screen.
By moving the screen up and down, the screen is able to focus on different distances to ensure that you are able to see all of Cadiz clearly on the white screen!
Approximately every 30 minutes, one of the guides at Torre Tavira will do a 15-minute tour using the Camera Obscura technology that will give you a brief history of Cadiz and more details of how the camera works. It’s very entertaining to be able to see the people enjoying the market or basking in the Plaza de San Juan de Dios through the camera.
Entry to the Tavira Tower includes the Camera Obscura tour as well as access to the lookout point.
Lunch
Visitors in Cadiz have a number of great lunch options to choose from. If you’re trying to minimise your overall Spain trip cost, then consider heading to Cadiz Central Market – the Merccado Central de Abastos de Cádiz.
At the market, you can buy everything you need for a quick lunch direct from the vendors including bread, cheese, sliced meat, fruit and much more. There are also a few places here selling prepared lunches if you prefer the convenience.
Also consider exploring the adjacent flower market in the Plaza de los Flores if this is something that interests you. There are also several cafes and bars around this area.
Another option if you want to enjoy a sit-down meal is to head to one of the many tapas bars in the city. You could also find a great restaurant and indulge in a menú del dia (a daily set menu) where you can get a lot of food for a great price.
If you want to learn more about the food scene here in Cadiz, consider booking a guided tapas tour so you can try an array of local specialities.
Castillo de San Sebastian
There are a number of castles that you can visit in the city, however, if you’re on a Seville to Cadiz day trip then you might not have time to make it to all of them! While Castillo de San Sebastian is currently closed to visitors, I recommend visiting this castle due to the lovely walk you can take along the breakwater to the castle.
The walk to the castle is a little under a kilometre long and is a fantastic place to enjoy the waves crashing along the breakwater on a sunny day. Furthermore, as the castle is the most westerly point of the city, you can enjoy views of other landmarks such as Castillo de Santa Catalina which you may not get a chance to visit.
During the warmer months, there is also the lovely La Caleta beach where the path begins where you can dip your toes in the water or go for a swim!
Walk Around the Harbour
A great way to finish off your day trip to Cadiz is to take a walk along the harbour from Castillo de San Sebastian. Not only can you enjoy more lovely seaside views but you’ll also get some unique vantage points of the Cadiz Cathedral.
Walking along the harbour really took us back to the time we spent in Malta due to the unique architectural style of Cadiz that combines European and North African elements. If heading back to Seville via bus or train, then the walk from Castillo de San Sebastian will take about 25 minutes.
This, of course, doesn’t include the numerous stops you are likely to make on the way to enjoy the views and to take a picture!
Jerez Day Trip Itinerary
Below are a number of stops to include on a day trip to Jerez de la Frontera! If you’d like to get more historical context with some of these sites, then consider booking a guided walking tour of the city.
Alcázar of Jerez de la Frontera
While arguably not as impressive as the Alcazars in Seville or Córdoba, a visit to the Alcázar of Jerez de la Frontera will nearly certainly have the advantage of you being able to enjoy the surroundings with a fraction of the crowds that can be found in the larger cities.
Built originally in approximately the 12th century (there is some uncertainty about the actual date), the Alcázar is incredibly well preserved and visitors are able to enjoy the large gardens, visit the Mosque turned Chapel and marvel at the impressive Arabic Baths.
Go Sherry Tasting
The city of Jerez de la Frontera is one of only three cities where genuine sherry can be made. This means that one of the must-do activities during a Seville to Jerez day trip is to go sherry tasting!
While you can enjoy a glass or two of sherry at essentially any of the bars in the city, a fantastic way to develop a greater appreciation for the drink is to visit a Bodega to learn more about how sherry is made.
Bodegas Diez Mérito offers tours every day except Sunday and includes a tour of the production facility, an in-depth explanation on how different types of sherries are made and a tasting of 5 different sherries at the end of the tour.
The tour really expanded our knowledge of sherry and broke previous misconceptions that sherry is only a sweet drink to be enjoyed for dessert!
You can make reservations for a tour on their website however we were also able to show up the day and take a tour without any problems though this was when travelling in the offseason.
You can also book a guided tour and sherry tasting here and this sherry tasting and tour is also a great option!
Lunch
Similarly to Cadiz, there are a number of fantastic places to have lunch during your one day in Jerez. One of our favourite spots to eat in Jerez is Tabanco Las Banderillas – a traditional bullfighting tabanco.
They have an extensive menu as well as a wide range of daily fresh seafood to choose from and is packed to the brim with locals during lunchtime. There is also a large selection of sherries to try.
Another great spot located just off the main square on Calle Pescadería Vieja is Bar Juanito. The restaurant is over 60 years old and offers a range of traditional Andalucían dishes to try that utilise local ingredients. They are particularly famous for their artichokes which are definitely worth ordering!
You can also visit the local market if you prefer just to pick up some basic ingredients for lunch and there are also a number of supermarkets in the centre of the city for the budget-conscious traveller.
And if you’re interested in learning more about the culinary culture of Jerez, then consider booking a guided tapas tour where you can eat and learn at the same time!
Jerez Cathedral
The other main monument that is worth seeing during your day trip to Jerez is the Jerez Cathedral. Built in the 17th century, it is similar to the Cadiz Cathedral in that it combines several different architectural styles including Baroque, Gothic and Neoclassical.
For a small entry fee, adults can visit the Cathedral, climb the tower and also visit the Church of San Miguel which is another historically important landmark in Jerez. For great views of the Cathedral, make sure to keep your eyes peeled when visiting the Alcázar!
As the Cathedral is open to visitors in the afternoon, it is best to visit this attraction after lunch as both the Alcázar and sherry tasting is only possible to do in the morning for most of the time.
Should You Visit Jerez or Cadiz?
If you only have time to visit to spend one day in Cadiz or Jerez on their own, then the choice of which city to choose is really dependent on which part of each city’s unique characteristics interests you most.
Cadiz is arguably the more beautiful town and if you’re travelling during the warmer months, you have the option to go swimming in the sea along with exploring its historical attractions. This can make choosing Cadiz an appealing option.
Jerez is definitely the more off-the-beaten-path option and if you’re interested in sherry tasting and learning how it is made, then I would definitely suggest choosing Jerez over Cadiz.
Both cities are, luckily, blessed with a number of great restaurants. so whichever city you choose you will be sure to enjoy some fantastic Andalucian cuisine during your day trip from Seville.
Where to Stay in Jerez and Cadiz
If you have some additional time on your Andalucian itinerary then a great option is to base yourself in either Jerez or Cadiz and then take a day trip to the other city.
Jerez
Hotel Palacio Garvey – A fantastic boutique hotel set in a 19th-century palace that offers guests large private air-conditioned rooms, a great breakfast and hydromassage baths.
Apartamentos Jerez Plaza – If you prefer more of your own space, this one-bedroom apartment is perfect for couples who might want to cook some of their own meals or planning a longer stay in the city.
Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other hotels in Jerez
Cadiz
Hotel Casa de las Cuatro Torres – This hotel is also located in the Old Town and offers guests a range of comfortable rooms to choose from, some of which have lovely views of the area.
Casa Caracol – Located in the heart of Cadiz’s Old Town, this highly rated hostel is one of the best places to stay as a solo traveller in the region. They have a great rooftop terrace, free breakfast and can organise day trips.
Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other hotels in Cadiz
A Cadiz or Jerez day trip from Seville are fantastic additions to any Spanish itinerary! Both cities offer unique sites and experiences that cannot be found in other parts of Andalucía and are very much worth visiting!
Are you planning to visit Cadiz and Jerez? Have any questions? Let us know in the comments!
I cannot find a daily bus timetable for March 2024 from seville to jerez can anyone help?
Hi Carol, Bus timetables aren’t always available far in advance particularly for shorter routes.
I love to explore on your website, I will be traveling next year in May when I retire to Europe and Spain is my main stop.
Great posting, thanks!
how can you get back from seville to jerez after the european cup final, as trains will have stopped then?
Hi, I love your website! We have retired to Andalusia and intend to explore. Just one problem: a medical condition (coeliac) with food intolerances is very restricting. Could your website please include restaurants which provide gluten-free options and/or apart-hotels as it is often safer to go self-catering, especially for breakfasts and light meals? Thank you.