Day trips & activities
Also called the heart of Cadiz, Medina-Sidonia is ideally located for exploring this beautiful region.
The historic port city of Cadiz is a 30-minute drive from Medina-Sidonia. Cadiz is often called 'Little Havana' because of its resemblance to Havana, Cuba. The Malecón, a 7-kilometre-long boulevard in Havana, is almost identical to the one in Cadiz. This is also why the James Bond film Die Another Day, set in Havana, was partly shot in Cadiz. It is Europe's oldest city and offers good food, a beach and a rich culture. Phoenicians settled here as early as 1,100 years BC and traces of antiquity still abound, such as the Teatro Romano. This Roman theatre from the 1st century BC was only discovered in 1980 in the El Pópulo district during the fire of an old warehouse. After the Roman theatre of Pompeii, it is the largest Teatro Romano in the world.
The city's biggest eye-catcher is the cathedral with its beautiful golden and glittering dome. The church building is a mix of baroque, rococo and neoclassical styles and was built over a long period between 1722 and 1838. Near the cathedral is the atmospheric Plaza de la Catedral square with cosy terraces and restaurants. Climb the church tower for great views over the city!
Also be sure to visit the Mercado Central, where you can feast on the smells and tastes of many fresh produce such as fish, meat, vegetables and tapas from the region in the morning. Several bars can also be found here where locals like to enjoy a drink at the end of the afternoon. For a unique flamenco show in a historic venue, we recommend La Cueva de Pájaro Azul.
Jerez de la Frontera, famous for its Sherry, is also half an hour away. A sherry tour is definitely recommended, but the city itself is also really worth a visit. It is a maze of streets, beautiful buildings and cosy squares with terraces. The imposing Cathedral is not only striking for its dome but also for its buttresses. Both Baroque and Gothic building elements adorn the facade. In addition, Jerez is famous for its horses. Fundación Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre is Andalusia's royal riding school. Here, horses are trained following the example of the Vienna Riding School. You can attend horse training or take a tour of the stables on some days during the week. Or go there to watch a show spectacle starring the famous Andalusian horses to music.
The Centro Andaluz de Flamenco is an interesting documentation centre about flamenco with film material, archives, photos, paintings. Here you can better understand the soul of the dance. Jerez de la Frontera has produced many famous flamenco artists. Enjoy can a flamenco show, optionally with lunch or dinner at Tablao Flamenco Puro Arte, a bodega from 1739.
Vejer de la Frontera, also half an hour's drive away, is a beautiful white village on a hill. The village is on the list of Spain's Most Beautiful Villages and rightly so! Walk through the narrow alleys, visit the boutique shops and various artists and enjoy lunch or a drink on the Plaza de España. Historical sights include the castle with remains from the 10th century and the white mills. The hammam in Vejer is also worth a visit.
Medina Sidonia is also ideally located for a day at the beach, the Costa del Luz with its kilometres of sandy beaches are also all just a 30-40-minute drive away. Barossa beach is a kilometre-long sandy beach and is even rated by some as one of the most beautiful beaches in Spain. You can relax on the beach, or take a refreshing dip in the azure Atlantic. Besides the large Playa de la Barrosa, you can also enjoy the Spanish sun at Playa Sancti-Petri. This is a quieter beach and offers perfect conditions for windsurfers. Our favourite is Playa El Palmar, popular among wave surfers and with many trendy beach bars.
The surfing mecca of Tarifa is also only an hour's drive away. Tarifa has a cosy old centre with a warren of narrow streets and white-painted houses where you can stroll around for hours. Or you can also just relax on one of its most beautiful sandy beaches. It is also the ideal destination for kite- and windsurfing! In addition, you can book a boat trip here (April-October) to see dolphins, whales and orcas (July/August) or from where you can take the ferry to Tangier, Morocco in an hour.
A day trip to Tarifa can be combined well with a visit to the archaeological site Baelo Claudia, declared a National Historic Monument. In the 3rd century AD, Baelo Claudia was hit by an earthquake, but a small village managed to survive until the early 7th century, when it was finally abandoned. In 1917, the first excavations began in the area of Bolonia, where researchers discovered the remains of a prosperous city built according to classical Roman tradition. With the Baelo Claudia Archaeological Site, the province of Cadiz retains one of the finest known examples of a Roman city. Entrance is free for Europeans.
Beautiful Seville is a 1-hour 20-minute drive away. The Plaza de España is one of Seville's most distinctive sights. It was built for the Ibero-American exhibition in 1929, along with the María Luisa park. The nearly 50,000 square is decorated with painted ceramic tiles, fountains, bridges and Baroque arcades. The royal Alcazar Palace, built in mudéjar style with a mix of Arabic and Christian architecture is also well worth a visit. Seville Cathedral is the third largest cathedral and the largest Gothic building in the world. The cathedral was built on the site where the city's mosque used to stand. Many details have been preserved and the minaret, now called La Giralda, is undoubtedly the most important element. In addition, you can enjoy great shopping and culinary delights in Seville!
Arcos de la Frontera is a picturesque village and part of the "Pueblos Blancos" (white villages). It is located on a cliff overlooking the Rio Guadalete river. The village has a rich history dating back to prehistoric times. Originally inhabited by Phoenicians, it later became an important Roman settlement. In the Middle Ages, the town flourished as a strategic fortification on the border between Moorish and Christian Spain, which explains why it bears the addition 'de la Frontera'. For centuries, Arcos de la Frontera was disputed between Muslim and Christian dominions. Its historical charm is reflected in its architecture, which bears witness to Moorish influences. Arcos' castle, built in the 11th century, also testifies to its strategic importance. During the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of Spain, the city came under Christian control. All these influences are reflected in the village's architecture.
Ronda is 1 hour 45 minutes' drive away and is located in a mountainous area and lies at an altitude of 750 metres. The city is split in two by the river Guadalevín, which has left a deep gorge. This deep gorge, the Tajo de Ronda, is also where Ronda became famous. Ronda's history as a city dates back to prehistoric and Celtic times, and under the Romans, the lively trading spot was given the name Arunda; 'all around', a fitting name as you could look around the entire surrounding area from the upper town strategic. Like the rest of southern Spain, Ronda was also dominated by the Moors. Many of the city's historical buildings still date from this period. In 1485, the city came back into the hands of the Christians and many old buildings adapted to a new Christian role. A visit to Ronda can be combined well with Setenil de las Bodegas, famous for its streets built under large rock formations.
Parque Natural Los Alcornocales is the southernmost protected nature reserve in Spain and is a 20-minute drive away. It stretches from El Bosque in the north to the Strait of Gibraltar in the south. Its location makes the park a true paradise for birdwatchers. In spring and autumn, millions of birds fly over here on their migration to and from Africa; eagles, egrets, storks and kingfishers. It is a humid area, so many flowers and plants grow here. Large parts of the natural park are covered with dense forests. The unusual cork oak in particular grows here in abundance. The name 'Los Alcornocales' means 'cork oak forest'. It is a mountainous area with several rivers and streams as well.
For nature lovers, a 40-minute drive away is the beautiful Parque Natural Bahia de Cádiz. This natural park is mainly known for its vast salt marshes and wetlands, which are of great importance for migratory birds and other animal species. The park is home to numerous birds, including flamingos, cormorants, herons and numerous other waterbirds. You will also find other animals such as otters, foxes, rabbits and hedgehogs. The park's location on the Bay of Cadiz creates a unique combination of flora and fauna. The presence of salt pans and estuaries provides a unique habitat for various plant and animal species that have adapted to salt water. Among others, you will find glasswort, sea aster and saltmarsh. Many eucalyptus trees, pine trees and cork oaks also grow in the park. The park offers numerous hiking trails and there are also several vantage points from which you have a beautiful view of the bay and the surrounding nature.
Doñana Natural Park
Located north of Cadiz, an hour's drive from Medina Sidonia, this park is a paradise for birdwatchers.
Doñana is one of the most beautiful and important wetlands in Europe. What makes this national park so special is that you can see very different ecosystems in one day: marsh, lagoons, pine forests, aloe veras, moving dunes, cliffs, 30 kilometres of pristine white beaches... A natural spectacle that is different every season, between the Andalusian provinces of Huelva, Seville and Cadiz. It was declared a National Heritage Site by Unesco in 1994.
Golf
There are several golf courses in the Medina Sidonia area.
1. The IBEROSTAR Novo Sancti Petri Golf Club is 36Km away. The golf course has two 18-hole courses, both designed by Spanish legend Severiano Ballesteros.
2. Villanueva Golf is 33KM away, this course is not too difficult and therefore very enjoyable for beginner golfers.
3. Barceló Montecastillo Golf Club is 43 KM away, an 18-hole course with over 160 hectares of native flora and fauna. It is considered one of the Top Ten golf courses in Spain and was designed by Jack Nicklaus.
4. Benalup Golf & Country Club is 21Km away. Belgian golf course architect Paul Rolin designed this 18-hole course 2001. The course lies on gently rolling terrain, with many trees and artificial lakes.
Other activities in or near Medina-Sidonia:
- Horse riding
- Padel
- Cycling
- Surf lesson
