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Latest update: 27 July 2023
If you have crossed all the highlights of the Cádiz province off your list, it is time for the lesser-known places. Like El Puerto de Santa María. A lovely town for a detour and, how could it be otherwise, a visit to a sherry bodega. But there is more!
Spanish beach town of El Puerto de Santa María
During a short break in Andalusia, El Puerto de Santa María probably doesn’t make it into your itinerary. So much to do, so much to see, and always too little time, right? But if you are ready for the lesser-known places in the Cádiz area, El Puerto de Santa María is an excellent option. Not that El Puerto de Santa María has no tourism, on the contrary. But it is mainly the Spaniards who discovered this town, especially the beaches. Quite a few Spaniards from the surrounding cities even have a holiday home here.
The beaches of El Puerto de Santa María
If you look at the whole of El Puerto de Santa María on a map, it is a relatively widespread area. The city has several beaches (Playa de las Redes, Playa de la Muralla, Playa de la Puntilla, Playa de Santa Catalina, Playa Fuentebravía, and Playa de Valdelagrana), but your visit mainly takes place along the Guadalete river. This is the center of El Puerto de Santa María, with restaurants and sights.
City walking tour through El Puerto de Santa María
At the time of writing, you can do a city walking tour with a guide in El Puerto de Santa María for only five euros. At that rate, you don’t even have to think about it; book it. The walking tour only takes an hour because the center of El Puerto de Santa María is not that big. This way, you get a good idea of what is where and you hear fun facts about the town’s history. For example, did you know that explorer Columbus stayed here for a while? At the end of the tour, you get a glass of sherry. Cheers!
Stroll along the river
The Avenida de la Bajamar quickly fills with people, especially in the summer and on weekends. It’s a pleasant stroll along the river with some outdoor cafes for a little break. But unfortunately for me: during my visit in early spring, almost the entire boulevard is under construction. They are preparing the Avenida de la Bajamar for summer. Hopefully, it will be finished during your visit to El Puerto de Santa María!
Sherry bodegas in El Puerto de Santa María
Ever heard of the Sherry Triangle? In the Cádiz province in Andalusia, there is an area where plenty of sherry is produced. Draw a line between Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and El Puerto de Santa María: the Sherry Triangle. In this area, you will find many, many sherry bodegas.
A visit to such a bodega is highly recommended. With most tours, you walk through the cellar, get an explanation about the production process, and you can taste different sherries. You have several options, so check what suits you best regarding date, time, and language. Try one of El Puerto de Santa María’s sherry bodegas:
- Osborne
- Caballero (in the San Marcos castle)
- Gutiérrez Colosía
Sherry tour at Bodegas Osborne
I choose to visit Bodegas Osborne in El Puerto de Santa María. They offer tours in English, German, and Spanish almost every day. It is a large sherry bodega and is apparently famous in Spain. As a non-sherry connoisseur, I had no idea, oops! The guide explains the production process and the different types of sherry in the cellar full of barrels. Then we walk through the museum: the Toro Gallery.
The Osborne logo is a bull (a toro). And you may have already seen that bull next to the highways. I thought they were a campaign from the Spanish tourism board or something, but no. The bull belongs to Osborne. The guide explains that the bulls along the road are up to 14 meters tall and that the bodega rents the land and maintains the bulls themselves.
The tour takes about an hour, and you get to taste four sherries. That is the ‘basic tour‘. You can expand it with snacks and brandy.
Visit the San Marcos Castle
The Castillo de San Marcos is a medieval castle with a sherry bodega inside. The Caballero brand is located here, and you combine your castle visit with a sherry tasting. If you want to do the sherry tasting too, please reserve ahead.
Otherwise, you can buy a ticket at the castle of El Puerto de Santa María. You will also receive an audio guide. This one is well put together and not too long – with some audio guides, they chatter endlessly, not here – me like. The castle is built on a mosque, and when you walk in, you immediately see the beautiful remains of it. The open foyer has beautiful horseshoe arches and ornamentation. But in the castle, you will also find references to Christianity. You can see inscriptions on the towers of the castle. Those are prayers to the Virgin Mary. So this castle offers a unique mix of both religions.
Bullring Real Plaza de Toros
Only the bullfighting arenas in Madrid and Seville are larger than the one in El Puerto de Santa María. I have mixed feelings about it: so much animal suffering, but it’s also Spanish tradition. I definitely don’t want to see a real fight, but I can also visit the arena with an audio tour if there is no fighting. Since I have already seen the bullring in Seville, I skip visiting this one.
Tip! If you have the time and money, go to the 3-star restaurant Aponiente. Aponiente is Andalusia’s first three-star restaurant. Book on time!
Plaza de España and the Basilica of El Puerto de Santa María
On the Plaza de España is the massive Basilica de Nuestra Señora de los Milagros. Unfortunately, the basilica cannot always be admired from the inside but is also beautiful from the outside. You will find several bars and restaurants on the square and the streets around it.
Get a sandwich from Manolo
In El Puerto de Santa María, you have plenty of restaurant choices for lunch and dinner. But if you want to get a quick sandwich, please stop by La Cabaña de Manolo Cruz. Owner Manolo runs a shop with anything and everything and a small cafe with sandwiches. For € 2.50, I buy a generously filled sandwich with Serrano ham. The bun is prepared with great attention and care. A little olive oil, a little love. I leave with a smile on my face and a tasty sandwich in hand.
Parking in El Puerto de Santa María
Are you coming to El Puerto de Santa María by car? You can park your car for free at the bullfighting arena. Sometimes men with a vest walk around and show you to a parking spot. You then pay them 1 euro. This is the location: Google Maps.
If you still need to arrange a rental car, take a look at Sunny Cars and EasyTerra. I think they are both trustworthy car rental companies because you arrange all insurance in advance. So no hassle with the overactive sales staff at the counter.
Hotels in El Puerto de Santa María
You also have a wide choice of hotels along the beach, but these are some friendly hotels and apartments in the center of El Puerto de Santa María:
- Casa Portus Gaditanus s XVIII Patio Andaluz: spacious apartments in Andalusian style.
- Casa de Huéspedes Santa Maria: bright rooms, also budget rooms available.
- Soho Boutique Puerto: four-star hotel with a beautiful design and swimming pool.
- Crisol Monasterio de San Miguel: sleeping in a former monastery with a swimming pool.
More Spain inspiration?
Helpful links for your Spain trip
- Accommodation. All-time favorites: Booking.com and Campspace. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. You book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide and Viator. Another good option is WithLocals. And Freetour.com and GuruWalk both offer ‘free’ walking tours, while Baja Bikes has bike tours.
- Attractions and museums. Get a 5% discount at Tiqets on museums and attractions with the discount code: KIMOPREIS22
- Boat. You can catch a boat to Mallorca from Barcelona, for example. Book your ticket at Balearia. You can also get to the other Balearic Islands with Balearia. Compare ferry prices at Direct Ferries.
- Bus and train. Travel to Spain with NS International or Flixbus. Other useful companies are Busbud, 12go, and Omio, also for buses and trains within Spain.
- Car rental. My go-to car rental companies are EasyTerra and Sunny Cars as they have all-inclusive / worry-free offers. Want to compare more prices? Check out Discover Cars.
- Flights. Have a look at Transavia and Vueling, but do compare prices! Definitely check out Momondo, Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Money. Your debit and credit cards may not get accepted everywhere. You could opt for a Revolut card as an additional card when you travel.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? From The Netherlands, there is plenty of choice. ANWB vakanties, Tui, Shoestring or Sawadee, of rather D-reizen, Sunweb, Corendon or Vakantie Discounter?
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high calling and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Travel gear. Buy your gear at Bever or Decathlon, or simply at Bol.com.
- Travel guides. Let’s get you ready for your trip! Order a travel guide to browse through. For example, at Bol.com or Amazon.
- Yoga retreat. Or why not treat yourself to a yoga retreat in Spain!
Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, I might receive a small commission.
More Spain inspiration?
Helpful links for your Spain trip
- Accommodation. All-time favorites: Booking.com and Campspace. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. You book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide and Viator. Another good option is WithLocals. And Freetour.com and GuruWalk both offer ‘free’ walking tours, while Baja Bikes has bike tours.
- Attractions and museums. Get a 5% discount at Tiqets on museums and attractions with the discount code: KIMOPREIS22
- Boat. You can catch a boat to Mallorca from Barcelona, for example. Book your ticket at Balearia. You can also get to the other Balearic Islands with Balearia. Compare ferry prices at Direct Ferries.
- Bus and train. Travel to Spain with NS International or Flixbus. Other useful companies are Busbud, 12go, and Omio, also for buses and trains within Spain.
- Car rental. My go-to car rental companies are EasyTerra and Sunny Cars as they have all-inclusive / worry-free offers. Want to compare more prices? Check out Discover Cars.
- Flights. Have a look at Transavia and Vueling, but do compare prices! Definitely check out Momondo, Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Money. Your debit and credit cards may not get accepted everywhere. You could opt for a Revolut card as an additional card when you travel.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? From The Netherlands, there is plenty of choice. ANWB vakanties, Tui, Shoestring or Sawadee, of rather D-reizen, Sunweb, Corendon or Vakantie Discounter?
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high calling and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Travel gear. Buy your gear at Bever or Decathlon, or simply at Bol.com.
- Travel guides. Let’s get you ready for your trip! Order a travel guide to browse through. For example, at Bol.com or Amazon.
- Yoga retreat. Or why not treat yourself to a yoga retreat in Spain!
Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, I might receive a small commission.
