Cádiz is one of the oldest cities in Europe, and it sits almost like an island out in the Atlantic. According to the Andalusian Tourist Board, the city was founded by the Phoenicians under the name Gadir, and today the Old Town is a dense maze of narrow streets, squares and old watchtowers with beaches right on the doorstep. If you’re wondering where to stay in Cádiz, this guide will help you choose.
The city is small, but where you stay makes a big difference. Here are my five picks for areas, with three hotels in each across different price ranges, from the Old Town to the beach and El Puerto de Santa María on the other side of the bay.
Contents
Where to Stay in Cádiz: The Best Areas
- Casco Antiguo (Old Town) - best area for first-time visitors
- El Pópulo & Santa María - best area for history and flamenco
- La Viña & La Caleta - best area for tapas, the beach and sunsets
- Playa de la Victoria - best area for beach holidays and families
- El Puerto de Santa María - best area for sherry, lower prices and road trips
Below, I go through the areas one by one with a map, transport, price level and three hotels in each. The prices come from a search for a weekend in November for two people. In summer and during the carnival before Lent, expect considerably higher prices, and the best hotels sell out quickly.
1. Casco Antiguo (Old Town) - best area for first-time visitors 🏛️
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re staying right in the Old Town. From Plaza de las Flores it’s about a 5-minute walk to the cathedral and 10 minutes to La Caleta beach.
- 🚶 Transport: The Old Town is flat, and you can walk everywhere. The railway station is at Plaza de Sevilla on the eastern edge of the Old Town, a 10 to 15-minute walk from Plaza de las Flores, and the city buses to the beach leave from Plaza de España.
- ✈️ Time from Jerez Airport: About 50 minutes by train from the airport station to Cádiz station, then a 10 to 15-minute walk. From Seville Airport, allow about two and a half hours by bus and train.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€. The three hotels below cost around 81 to 159 euros (roughly £70 to £135) per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and busy until late in the evening. Keep an eye on your bag at the market and in the busiest streets when cruise ships are in port.
Casco Antiguo is the Old Town of Cádiz, and it covers almost the whole outer part of the peninsula. The northern and central part around Plaza de las Flores, Plaza de San Antonio and Plaza de Mina is the most convenient place to stay, as most things are just a few minutes’ walk away. On Plaza de las Flores, the flower stalls stand in front of the old post office, and right next door is Mercado Central, the city’s 19th-century covered market, where you can eat fried fish and tapas at the stalls around the edge.
From here, you walk up Calle Ancha to Plaza de San Antonio and on to Plaza de Mina, where Museo de Cádiz displays finds from the Phoenician and Roman city. Above the rooftops rise the old watchtowers that merchants built to look out for ships arriving from the Americas, and from Torre Tavira you can see the whole city through a camera obscura. If you want the history from the start, you can join a walking tour with a local English-speaking guide for around 13 to 15 euros (about £11 to £13).
See hotels in the Old Town of Cádiz here.
I’d stay here if it’s your first trip to Cádiz. You can walk to the cathedral, the market and La Caleta beach within a quarter of an hour, and in the evening you can eat out on the squares without having to think about buses or taxis.
The downside is that the hotels are mostly small boutique hotels and apartments in old houses, so a pool is a rarity, and many places don’t have a 24-hour reception. There’s virtually no street parking for visitors, so if you have a hire car, it will end up in one of the public car parks, which charge every day. On Fridays and Saturdays there can also be noise from the bars until late at night.
Hotels in Casco Antiguo
Áurea Casa Palacio Sagasta - palace hotel with a spa and hammam in the northern part of the Old Town
Áurea Casa Palacio Sagasta is on Calle Sagasta, about a three-minute walk from the car park at Plaza de San Antonio. The hotel is in a restored palace and has a lift, a gym, a sauna and a hammam, but the spa costs an extra 25 euros (around £20) per person, and breakfast isn’t always included. Several guests feel the extras are expensive.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “A wonderful hotel full of charm, with real attention to detail when it comes to guests’ comfort.”
See photos and book Áurea Casa Palacio Sagasta here.
Tandem Palacio Veedor de Galeras Suites - suites in an old palace close to Plaza de San Antonio
Tandem Palacio Veedor de Galeras is on Calle Veedor, a few minutes’ walk from Plaza de San Antonio and Plaza de Mina. You stay in suites in a former palace with a lift and soundproofed rooms, and it scores highly for cleanliness. There’s no restaurant, and several guests mention that the nearest public car park is expensive.
From one review: “Fantastic location, very clean and well equipped.”
See photos and book Tandem Palacio Veedor de Galeras here.
Plazuela del Carbón Suites - bright apartments on Plaza de España at a good price
Plazuela del Carbón Suites is on Plaza de España in the north-eastern part of the Old Town, close to the harbour and the buses to the beach. There’s a lift and a sun terrace, and the apartments are modern and bright. It was the cheapest of the three, but the ground-floor rooms can be noisy, so ask for one higher up.
One guest highlights: “The place was clean, bright and well located, with good-quality furniture and fittings, and it was really good value for money.”
See photos and book Plazuela del Carbón Suites here.
2. El Pópulo & Santa María - best area for history and flamenco 💃
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re staying in the eastern part of the Old Town, between the port, the cathedral and the sea. Plaza de las Flores is a 5 to 10-minute walk away.
- 🚆 Transport: The railway station is right next to Santa María, so it’s a 5 to 10-minute walk from the platform to your hotel. Taxis wait at Plaza de San Juan de Dios.
- ✈️ Time from Jerez Airport: Around 50 minutes by train plus a short walk from Cádiz station. It’s the easiest area to reach by train, including from Seville.
- 💰 Price level: € to €€€. The three hotels below cost around 55 to 146 euros (roughly £45 to £120) per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: El Pópulo is safe and busy during the day. Santa María is an old working-class neighbourhood where some streets are quiet and dark at night, so stick to the well-lit streets late in the evening.
El Pópulo is the oldest part of Cádiz, and according to Andalusia’s tourist board it’s the city’s original medieval centre, dating from the 13th century. You enter through one of the three old gates, Arco de la Rosa, Arco del Pópulo and Arco de los Blancos, and behind them lie narrow streets with little bars. Right next door is Plaza de San Juan de Dios with the town hall, and the cathedral with its golden dome.
In the middle of the neighbourhood is the Roman Theatre, which was built in the first century BC and wasn’t discovered until 1980. Entry is free, but only a limited number of visitors are let in at a time and parts of the site may be closed, so check the website before you go. If you’d like to hear the history, join a guided tour of medieval Cádiz for around 29 to 32 euros (around £25).
South of El Pópulo lies Santa María, the flamenco quarter, with small flamenco clubs known as peñas. Its streets lead down to Campo del Sur, the seafront promenade lined with colourful houses that remind many people of Havana.
See hotels in El Pópulo and Santa María here.
I’d stay here if you’re arriving by train, or if you’re mainly interested in history and want to hear flamenco in the evening. If you land in Seville, you’ll find the bus to the railway station in my guide to getting from Seville Airport, and if you want to spend a couple of nights in Seville first, I’ve also written about where to stay in Seville.
The downside is that the area around the cathedral is packed with day-trippers from the cruise ships, and the restaurants on Plaza de San Juan de Dios are expensive. There’s no beach in the neighbourhood, and some streets in Santa María can feel a bit run-down.
Hotels in El Pópulo and Santa María
Hotel Boutique Convento Cádiz - boutique hotel in a 17th-century convent by the station
Hotel Boutique Convento is on Calle Santo Domingo in Santa María, a couple of hundred metres from the railway station and the port, in a former convent dating from 1635. There’s a lift, a terrace and a gym, and breakfast is available as an extra. Parking nearby costs around 16 euros (around £13) a day, and some guests mention poor soundproofing between the rooms.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything about our stay was perfect, and we’ll definitely be back.”
See photos and book Hotel Boutique Convento Cádiz here.
Santa María 12 Boutique Apartamentos - studios with kitchenettes in the heart of the flamenco quarter
Santa María 12 is on Calle Santa María, a few minutes’ walk from the cathedral and the station. You stay in studios with kitchenettes in a historic building, and there’s a shared terrace, but no lift and no breakfast. A few guests mention a slightly odd smell in the kitchen.
From a review: “A beautiful apartment in a historic building.”
See photos and book Santa María 12 Boutique Apartamentos here.
Hostal Colón Don Miguel - cheap and cosy hostal by Plaza de San Juan de Dios
Hostal Colón Don Miguel is on Calle Marqués de Cádiz, right by Plaza de San Juan de Dios, and has one of the highest ratings among the budget places in the Old Town. The rooms are simple and there’s a shared terrace, but no lift and no breakfast. A couple of guests have found small ants in their room.
One guest highlights: “The truly authentic decor and the atmosphere of the house.”
See photos and book Hostal Colón Don Miguel here.
3. La Viña & La Caleta - best area for tapas, the beach and sunsets 🌅
- 📍 Distance to the centre: You’re staying in the western part of the Old Town. It’s about a 10-minute walk to Plaza de las Flores and about 15 minutes to the cathedral.
- 🚶 Transport: You can walk everywhere, and La Caleta is at the end of the street. The train station is at the opposite end of the Old Town, about a 20-minute walk away, so take a taxi if you have suitcases.
- ✈️ Time from Jerez Airport: About 50 minutes by train, then 5 to 10 minutes by taxi from the station, or about 40 minutes by taxi all the way.
- 💰 Price level: € to €€€€. The three hotels below cost around 63 to 199 euros (roughly £55 to £165) per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and full of locals in the evening. During the carnival the streets are packed with people until late into the night, so keep a close eye on your pockets.
La Viña is the old fishermen’s quarter in the western part of the Old Town, and it’s where Cádiz feels most local. The neighbourhood is the heart of the city’s famous carnival, and the main street, Calle Virgen de la Palma, is lined with tapas bars where you eat deep-fried fish, prawns and tortillitas de camarones at tall tables out in the street.
At the end of the neighbourhood, La Caleta beach sits between two fortresses, Castillo de Santa Catalina and Castillo de San Sebastián, with the white Balneario de la Palma bathhouse behind the sand. Small fishing boats lie at anchor in the bay, and in the evening people gather on the beach and on the causeway out towards San Sebastián to watch the sun set over the Atlantic. A little further north, Parque Genovés runs along the seafront and is lovely for a shady stroll.
See hotels in La Viña and by La Caleta here.
I’d stay here if you’d rather eat and drink with the locals than look at monuments, or if you want to be able to walk down to the beach in your swimwear. It’s also a good choice for couples, because the sunset over La Caleta is one of the most beautiful sights the city has to offer.
The downside is that La Caleta is a small city beach that gets very crowded in summer, and the streets are noisy at weekends and during the carnival. It’s a long way to the station and there’s almost no parking, so if you’re coming by car, you’ll have to pay for one of the public car parks. If you want a big beach with room for the whole family, Playa de la Victoria is a better choice.
Hotels in La Viña and by La Caleta
Parador de Cádiz - modern seafront hotel with a pool and spa
Parador de Cádiz is on Avenida Duque de Nájera right by Parque Genovés, with the sea across the road and La Caleta just a few minutes’ walk away. There’s an outdoor pool, a spa and a restaurant, guests praise the balconies with sea views, and parking at the hotel costs 21 euros (around £18) per day. The pool is only open in season, and the spa costs extra, which several guests aren’t happy about.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Comfortable rooms and a fantastic sunny balcony with an excellent view.”
See photos and book Parador de Cádiz here.
La Caleta QE Hotels - city hotel with a rooftop infinity pool in the middle of La Viña
La Caleta QE Hotels is on Calle Pericón de Cádiz in the middle of La Viña, a few minutes’ walk from the beach. There’s a lift, a breakfast buffet and a small rooftop infinity pool, which is only open in season. The rooms are fairly basic, and some guests find the layout impractical.
From a review: “The staff were super friendly, both at reception and the cleaning staff, and everyone was lovely and very hard-working.”
See photos and book La Caleta QE Hotels here.
Dormir en Cádiz - small guesthouse with top ratings and a helpful host
Dormir en Cádiz is on Calle Hermano Ignacio in La Viña, about a 5-minute walk from La Caleta, and has one of the highest scores in the whole city. It’s a small guesthouse with a sun terrace, and the host sends tips and parking information on WhatsApp. There’s no lift, and several guests mention street noise at night.
One of the guests highlights: “An excellent host, full of knowledge, super helpful, welcoming and friendly.”
See photos and book Dormir en Cádiz here.
4. Playa de la Victoria - best area for a beach holiday and families 🏖️
- 📍 Distance to the centre: The beach is in the new part of the city, around 3 to 4 kilometres south of the Old Town. By bus or taxi, it takes 10 to 15 minutes to reach Plaza de San Juan de Dios.
- 🚌 Transport: City bus number 1 runs along the main road from Plaza de España, and local trains stop at several stations in the new town, including Segunda Aguada and Estadio, just a few minutes’ walk from the beach.
- ✈️ Time from Jerez Airport: Around 45 minutes by train from the airport to Estadio or Segunda Aguada, or around 35 minutes by taxi.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€. The three hotels below cost around 87 to 149 euros (around £75 to £125) per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: Safe, with lots of families and joggers on the promenade. It’s quieter than the Old Town in the evening, but the promenade is well lit.
Playa de la Victoria is Cádiz’s big city beach, stretching along the new part of the city south of the Puerta de Tierra city gate. According to the city’s tourist office, the beach is 2.8 kilometres long and up to 185 metres wide, and it has Blue Flag status. Behind the sand runs the Paseo Marítimo promenade with palm trees, a cycle path and beach bars, and during the bathing season there are lifeguards, toilets and sunloungers to hire.
This is where the people of Cádiz themselves go swimming, and the beach is wide enough that there’s room even when La Caleta is packed. In the streets behind the promenade, especially around Calle Brasil, you’ll find fish restaurants and freidurías with lower prices than in the Old Town. To the south, the beach continues out to Cortadura, where there’s more nature and fewer people. From here you can also take a day trip to Tarifa and the Roman ruins on the coast for around 65 euros (around £55).
See hotels near Playa de la Victoria here.
I would stay here if you’re a family who wants the beach right outside the door, or if you want to swim every day and only head into the Old Town in the evening. The hotels are bigger and newer than in the city centre, and several have a pool and their own parking, so it’s also the easiest area if you have a car. If you’re dreaming more of resorts and golf than of a city by the beach, I’ve written about where to stay in Marbella.
The downside is that the new town is made up of tall apartment blocks from the second half of the 20th century, so there isn’t much charm once you walk away from the beach. It’s also quite a way into the Old Town, and many beach bars close in winter.
Hotels near Playa de la Victoria
Hotel Playa Victoria - beach hotel with a large pool right on the sand
Hotel Playa Victoria is on Plaza Ingeniero La Cierva with direct access to the beach. There’s a large outdoor pool, a restaurant and a bar, and private parking costs 25 euros (around £20) per day. Several guests feel the hotel seems a little worn, and some have had problems with the plumbing.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “An excellent location for a seaside holiday.”
See photos and book Hotel Playa Victoria here.
Cádiz Bahía by QHotels - four-star hotel with an infinity pool and spa by the beach
Cádiz Bahía is on Glorieta Ana Orantes, a few metres from the beach, and has almost 7,500 reviews on Booking.com with a high score. There’s an infinity pool, a spa, a gym and a breakfast buffet with local specialities, and parking costs 18 euros (around £15) per day. The spa costs extra, and the pool is only open in season.
From one review: “You won’t find anything better in the area when it comes to quality and value for money.”
See photos and book Cádiz Bahía by QHotels here.
Hotel Regio Cádiz - simple, friendly hotel 200 metres from the beach
Hotel Regio is on Avenida Ana de Viya in the new town, around 200 metres from the beach and close to the city buses along the main road. Breakfast is served, and parking costs 12 euros (around £10) per day, but there’s no pool. Some guests mention that they can hear the neighbouring rooms.
One guest highlights: “Friendly staff, a good room and a fantastic breakfast.”
See photos and book Hotel Regio Cádiz here.
5. El Puerto de Santa María - best area for sherry, lower prices and road trips 🍷
- 📍 Distance to the centre: El Puerto is a town in its own right on the other side of the bay. The catamaran takes around 30 minutes to Cádiz, and it’s about 25 minutes by car.
- ⛴️ Transport: The catamaran runs from the port terminal in El Puerto to the port terminal in Cádiz, and the town also has a railway station on the line between Jerez and Cádiz.
- ✈️ Time from Jerez Airport: Around 20 minutes by train or taxi, making it the area in this guide closest to the airport.
- 💰 Price level: € to €€€. The three hotels below cost around 52 to 167 euros (roughly £45 to £140) per night when I searched.
- 👮 Safety: Quiet and safe in the centre. In summer, the partying around the harbour and beaches goes on late into the night.
El Puerto de Santa María is one of Andalusia’s three sherry towns, and it’s home to big bodegas such as Osborne, whose black bull you’ll know from the roadsides of Spain. In the centre stands the Castillo de San Marcos, a castle built on top of an old mosque, and along the Guadalete river you’ll find the seafood restaurants of Ribera del Marisco, where you buy shellfish wrapped in paper and eat it at the tables out front.
The best thing about El Puerto is the catamaran across the bay. According to the Bay of Cádiz transport authority, the crossing takes around 30 minutes, and there are plenty of departures on weekdays but fewer at weekends. The last boat doesn’t leave particularly late, so check the timetable before you plan dinner in Cádiz. Near the town are the beaches of Valdelagrana and La Puntilla, and the train to Jerez de la Frontera takes about 15 minutes.
See hotels in El Puerto de Santa María here.
I’d stay here if you’re travelling by car and want to use the Bay of Cádiz as a base for a tour of Andalusia. From here you can drive to Jerez, Arcos de la Frontera and the white villages, and you can compare prices on car hire at Booking.com and pick up the car when you land in Jerez. Without a car, you can take a day trip to the white villages from Cádiz, Jerez or El Puerto for around 68 euros (about £55).
The downside is that you’re not staying in Cádiz itself, and you’ll have to plan around the catamaran or the train every time you want to go over. In winter the town is quiet, and several of the beach restaurants close outside the season.
Hotels in El Puerto de Santa María
Soho Boutique Duques de Medinaceli - five-star palace hotel with a garden and pool
Duques de Medinaceli sits on Plaza de los Jazmines in an 18th-century palace with a garden, less than a kilometre from the catamaran. There’s an outdoor pool, a restaurant and a bar, breakfast is served à la carte, and parking costs 12 euros (around £10) per day. The hotel is recommended for adults, and some rooms can be noisy, depending on where they are.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “What a remarkable experience! The former palace has been transformed into a hotel with great care.”
See photos and book Duques de Medinaceli here.
Crisol Monasterio de San Miguel - four-star hotel in an old monastery with a pool
Monasterio de San Miguel is on Calle Virgen de los Milagros in a restored monastery, around a 15-minute walk from the catamaran. There’s an outdoor pool, a breakfast buffet and a bar, and indoor parking costs 10 euros (around £8) per day, which is cheap for the area. Several guests mention that the bathrooms could do with a refurbishment.
From one review: “A former monastery, now beautifully restored.”
See photos and book Crisol Monasterio de San Miguel here.
Hotel Chaikana - cheap and clean hotel right in the centre
Chaikana is on Calle Javier de Burgos in the heart of El Puerto, a 10 to 15-minute walk from the catamaran and close to the restaurants. It’s a simple hotel with a lift and a 24-hour reception, and the price was the lowest in this entire guide. There’s no pool, and some guests mention thin walls.
One guest highlights: “I was really pleased with how clean the place was and with the quiet rooms.”
See photos and book Hotel Chaikana here.
Where not to stay in Cádiz?
I’d avoid hotels that call themselves Cádiz but are actually in San Fernando, Chiclana or Puerto Real, unless you have a car and know what you’re letting yourself in for. They’re often cheaper, but you’ll face long journeys back and forth, and it’s a long way home from the Old Town in the evening. The same goes for the hotels by the main approach road and the industrial port, where there’s neither beach nor atmosphere.
Also be careful with ground-floor flats in the Old Town. The streets are narrow, and many ground-floor flats have small windows facing the street, so they’re dark and can be noisy. If you’re travelling during the carnival, avoid staying in the middle of La Viña if you want to sleep, and book well in advance wherever you stay.
If it’s your first trip to Cádiz, I’d stay in Casco Antiguo around Plaza de las Flores, where you can walk to everything. If you’re arriving by train or want to hear flamenco, El Pópulo and Santa María are the obvious choice, and if you want to eat tapas with the locals and watch the sunset, stay in La Viña by La Caleta. If you’re travelling as a family and want the beach, Playa de la Victoria is your best bet, and if you have a car and want more for your money, El Puerto de Santa María is the smartest choice.
If you fly into Jerez, according to the airport’s own website the train runs directly from the airport to Cádiz in around 47 to 57 minutes, and you’ll find the timetables at Renfe. Cádiz is also a good base for a tour of the region. By car it’s around 35 minutes to Jerez de la Frontera, around 45 minutes to Vejer de la Frontera and just over an hour to Tarifa, and the train to Seville takes under two hours, so you can combine the beach with the sights of Seville. If you’re heading further east, I’ve also written about where to stay in Málaga and where to stay in Granada.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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