The beaches in Cadiz, Spain, are any adventure traveler’s favorites! Wild and untamed by all the wind that hits the Atlantic Ocean, perfect for any water sports like surfing, kite surfing, and windsurfing.
On quieter days, the paddleboards come out and the beaches are freckled with people sunbathing and taking walks. Some beaches are situated among the cliffs and make for fantastic snorkeling spots!
There’s nothing Not to like about the beaches in Cadiz, except the sand between your teeth on a windy day, but that’s why it’s super important to always check the wind forecast before you go depending on the activities you have planned.
After living over 10 years in Andalucia you can say I’ve spent quite a lot of time along this mesmerizing coast and I’ve picked out the absolute best beaches in Cadiz for you so that you can enjoy the best this coastline has to offer.
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Table of Contents
Best beaches in Cadiz Spain
La Caleta beach
Facilities:
- Sunbed and shade for rent in summer
- Lifeguard in summer
- Changing rooms in summer
- Toilets in summer
- Showers
- Drinking fountains above the beach
- Wheelchair accessibility
- Bar on the beach
- Restaurants next to the beach
- Kayak rental
The most beautiful and popular of the urban beaches in Cadiz is no doubt La Caleta beach. This is also one of the most convenient beaches close to Seville if you’re staying there.
Dominated by the unique former Spa of Our Lady of La Palma and Real building arching out onto the beach, it’s also the connecting point between two of Cadiz’s parks and most visited landmarks.
With Santa Catalina Castle on one side and San Sebastian Castle on the other, it’s a natural beach to stroll past even with one day in Cadiz. However, in the summer months, it’s a busy hub for tourists and locals alike.
The easy walking access from the old town and many of the city’s hotels makes it a first choice, not only for the picturesque fishing boats dotted in the bay.
How to get there: As an urban beach, La Caleta Beach is situated right off Cadiz’s old town and is best reached by foot. From Cadiz train station it’s about 30 minutes to walk. If you drive to Cadiz, leave your car at Santa Catalina paid parking which is only a few minutes’ walk away.
Los Caños de Meca
Facilities:
- Bars and restaurants near the beach
- Parking (paid in high season)
Los Caños de Meca is a locally super popular beach in the summer months, but not so much frequented by tourists as it’s harder to get there by public transport.
It’s situated right next to Barbate and is one of my favorite beaches in Cadiz due to the chill Bohemian vibes that you can still find there, even though it’s becoming more and more popular.
The sand-blown beach sits back to back with Faro de Trafalgar beach on Cabo Trafalgar which is dominated by the Trafalgar lighthouse. Close to the beach, you also find La Breña Natural Park with pine-covered trails lining the top of the coastal cliffs.
How to get there: The easiest way and recommended way to get to Los Caños de Meca is by car. From Cadiz, it’s 1 hour, from Seville it takes 2 hours, and from Malaga 2 hours and 40 minutes. Arriving early will make it easier to get a parking place at one of the paid parking grounds by the beach. The buses from Cadiz are not very frequent and take 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Bolonia beach
Facilities:
- Bars and restaurants on the beach
- Parking (paid in high season)
- Paddleboard rental
- Sunbeds and shade for rent
- Toilets
- Showers
Another stupifying Cadiz beach is the wild child of Tarifa, Bolonia beach. Recognized by a substantial sand dune cascading down to the beach, Bolonia beach is one of the best off-beat beaches for active travelers.
On one side of the beach, you have the sand dune and coastal hiking trails going around the natural area. This is also a good snorkeling spot and generally fewer people walk that far down.
For those who like to rent a beach bed and parasol and have cold drinks served nearby, the other side of the beach is a better alternative. There is a handful of beach bars and paddleboard rentals on that side and you can take windsurfing lessons if you want to get active.
Back to back with the beach, you find some of the most important Roman ruins in Andalucia – the Baleo Claudia ruins.
How to get there: 1st of July to the 31st of August, Monday-Friday, there is a shuttle bus running 3 times a day between Tarifa and Bolonia Beach. See more information here. I highly recommend driving. You find a big parking space by the beach where you can expect to pay (cash) in the busiest months.
El Palmar beach
Facilities:
- Bars and restaurants near the beach
- Parking
El Palmar beach is a popular beach among locals which makes it one of the busiest beaches near Cadiz. The strip of bars and restaurants completely fills up at lunchtime and boast a vibrant nightlife throughout the summer months.
In the winter months, this is a popular surfing location due to the waves that produce there. The sand dunes are preserved by wooden walkways taking you down to the golden beach. There are no facilities like sunbeds and shade for rent at El Palmar beach, so make sure you bring your own.
If you are up for mingling with locals from southern Spain, this is the place to be.
How to get there: To get to El Palmar Beach, you need a car. It’s easily reached along the coast and only takes 45 minutes from Cadiz. There is parking along the beach, though you might have to pay (cash) in the summer months.
Los Alemanes beach
Facilities:
- Free parking on the road
Los Alemanes beach has to be mentioned on any list of Cadiz best beaches. Named after the number of Germans settling in the area back in the 1940s after the beach had served as surveillance and supply for German ships during World War II. You can still see some bunkers on the beach.
Its history apart, this is a stunning beach overlooked by Camarinal lighthouse on one side and luxury villas along the backside.
There are no facilities on the beach, which includes no beach bars so make sure you bring enough water, food, and shade for the day.
How to get there: The only way to reach Los Alemanes beach is by car. It takes 1 hour and 15 minutes. There is limited parking along the road that goes along the luxury villas lined above the beach.
Fuente del Gallo beach
Facilities:
- Restaurant on the beach
- Parking
Past Conil de la Frontera you find another one of the best Cadiz Spain beaches, Fuente del Gallo. Neatly set under a curtain of golden cliffs, the picturesque beach is popular among the local crowds. It is possible to walk there along the beach and on the cliff walk from Conil.
This beach might be the best beach in Cadiz for a romantic sunset walk with the golden light giving a warm light to the cliffs and the pink sky coloring the wet beach at low tide.
There are no facilities on the beach other than a beach restaurant so make sure you bring your own parasol.
How to get there: There are local buses from Conil de la Frontera bus station to Calle de Sevilla bus stop which is a 4-minute walk from Fuente del Gallo beach. Driving takes 10 minutes and you can park above the beach. Coming from Cadiz it takes around 40 minutes to drive.
Playa de Los Bateles (Conil de la Frontera)
Facilities:
- Bars and restaurants on the beach
- Free parking
- Parasols and sunbeds for rent in summer
- Toilets
- Showers
- Lifeguard in the summer
- Kayak rentals
Playa de Los Bateles is one of the most outstanding urban beaches in Cadiz spanning 850 meters on the coast and being up to 130 meters wide.
This is the main beach of Conil de la Frontera, one of the hippest beach towns in southern Spain, and it has all the facilities you might need. There are sunbeds and parasols for hire, a myriad of beach bars and restaurants, toilets, showers, and kayak rentals.
Its proximity to Conil de la Frontera gives the opportunity to combine beach life with sightseeing.
How to get there: Since there are no direct buses from Cadiz to Conil de la Frontera, it takes anything from 3 to 4 hours one way with a change of buses in Barbate. Thus it’s highly recommended to drive unless you’re staying in Conil for a few days exploring the surrounding Cadiz beaches. It only takes 40 minutes to drive and there is plenty of parking along the beach.
Calas de Roche
Facilities:
- Parking on the street above the coves (paid in high season)
Among the astounding beaches of Cadiz, you find a series of small beaches carved into the steep cliffs creating small picturesque bays. We are talking about the captivating Calas de Roche.
No questioning one of the most beguiling settings among the beaches in Cadiz. Set below a natural park of pine trees and sand dunes, you wouldn’t expect to find access to such beaches.
Not exactly surprisingly, you won’t find any services at these beaches, so make sure to bring enough water and food to spend the day. There is also limited natural shade so you should bring a parasol.
How to get there: Calas de Roche is only reached by car. It takes 40 minutes to drive from Cadiz and 15 minutes from Conil de la Frontera. There is parking along the road on top of the cliffs, but you must expect to pay (cash) in the high season. From the road, you have to take one of the forest paths to the edge of the cliffs and look for the stairs taking you down to the different beaches.
Valdevaqueros
Facilities:
- Bars and restaurants
- Parking
Valdevaqueros beach, Cadiz, is one of the popular kitesurfing and windsurfing beaches near Tarifa. Its blinding beauty brings me back time after time, year after year.
On a wind-free day, it is perfect to go for a dip, a stroll up the sand dunes cascading down to the beach (much like Bolonia beach which is a little further up the coast), and soak in the sun while watching the colorful kites floating above the water.
There are no facilities on the beach, so bring your own parasol if you plan on staying there for a while.
How to get there: The only way to reach Valdevaqueros beach is by car. It is an easy 12-minute drive from Tarifa and just over an hour to drive from Cadiz. There is a multitude of parking spots by the beach, but make sure you go early as this is an extremely popular beach.
Los Lances beach
Facilities:
- Bars and restaurants on and near the beach
- Showers
- Toilet
- Sunbed and shade rental in summer
- Life guard in the summer months
Another spectacular urban beach is Los Lances in Tarifa. Due to its proximity to Tarifa’s center, it deserves a spot on this list of the best Cadiz beaches. There is a beach bar on the beach where you can eat and drink, yet it is within walking distance from all the bars and restaurants in the old town.
You can rent parasols and sunbeds in summer and there are showers and toilets available. On a windy (yet not too windy) day the beach is a great place to go for a stroll while observing kitesurfers playing in the waves.
Due to the frequent high winds from the Atlantic Ocean even the best beaches Cadiz has to offer can be impossible to visit some days. For this reason, an urban beach can be a good option as you can easily leave the beach and other cool things to do in Tarifa if it picks up during the day.
How to get there: Tarifa is easily reached by bus from Cadiz. The journey takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes. By car, it takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to drive from Cadiz to Tarifa and 2 hours from Malaga.
MORE FROM CADIZ
⭐Things to do in Jerez de la Frontera
⭐Things to do in Arcos de la Frontera
Reflections on Cadiz beaches
It’s hard to imagine that your Cadiz Spain beach holiday will be a flop when you see all the amazing beaches Cadiz hides. In my opinion, it’s hard to find better beaches in Spain than the ones in Cadiz – as well as the Huelva beaches.
With such a variety of urban and remote beaches, Cadiz Spain is a top summer destination, especially among lovers of action-filled water activities. Yet, if you’re looking for a quiet day on the beach, the vast sandy beaches can give you that even in high season – as long as you don’t mind walking a bit away from the crowd.
Read next: The most beautiful beaches in Andalucia