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Is it worth it? How long?
Yes. Cádiz is one of the best day trips from Seville: about 1 hour 45 minutes by direct train, with a compact old town almost surrounded by the sea, a gold-domed cathedral, beaches you can walk to and some of the best fried fish in Spain. One day is enough to see the highlights. Stay a night if you want to watch the sunset over La Caleta, or combine it with Jerez.
- Best option: the regional train from Santa Justa, around €12–20 each way.
- Time needed: a full day (leave around 8:00, back in the evening).
- Good all year: in summer it is cooler than Seville; in winter it is mild and quiet.
Options: tour vs train vs car
Seville to Cádiz: comparison
| Option | Time | Price (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train (Media Distancia) | 1 h 45 | €12–20 | Direct from Santa Justa; stops at Jerez. Best option |
| Bus | 1 h 45–2 h | €12–18 | From the Plaza de Armas bus station |
| Car | 1 h 30 | Fuel + parking | AP-4 motorway, toll-free; parking in the old town is hard |
| Day tour from Seville | 10–11 h in total | varies | Usually combines Cádiz and Jerez |
By train
The train is the easiest way from Seville to Cádiz. Regional trains (Media Distancia) leave Santa Justa roughly every hour or two and run direct, stopping at Jerez on the way. The last stretch crosses the salt marshes and runs along the narrow strip of land into the city. Cádiz station is at the edge of the old town, about 10 minutes’ walk from the cathedral.
You don’t usually need to book far ahead, but trains fill up on summer weekends and during Carnival. Compare times and fares on Omio or on the Renfe website. The trip back, Cádiz to Seville, works the same way; check the time of the last train before you go.
By bus
Buses leave from the Plaza de Armas bus station and take about the same time as the train. They are a good backup when trains are full, and usually a little cheaper.
By car
Cádiz is about 125 km from Seville, around 1 hour 30 minutes on the AP-4 motorway, which has been toll-free since 2020. Driving makes sense only if you continue to Jerez, Vejer, Tarifa or the white villages. Park in one of the underground car parks at the entrance to the old town rather than driving into its narrow streets. See car hire in Seville.
Guided day tour
A tour saves you planning and usually adds a sherry bodega in Jerez, which is hard to fit in by public transport on the same day. Cádiz and Jerez day trip from Seville.
One-day plan
- 8:00: train from Santa Justa. Arrive around 9:45 and walk into the old town.
- Cathedral. The Catedral Nueva, with its gold-tiled dome, took more than a century to build (1722–1838). See the crypt, where the composer Manuel de Falla is buried, and climb the Torre de Poniente for views over the rooftops and the sea. Allow 1 hour.
- Barrio del Pópulo: the oldest quarter, just behind the cathedral, with the medieval arches and the Roman theatre.
- Torre Tavira. The tallest of the old watchtowers, from which merchants once looked out for their ships. Its camera obscura projects a live, moving image of the city onto a dish; the sessions run in turns, so check the next one when you arrive.
- Mercado Central. The covered market is busiest in the late morning, with fish stalls and a ring of food stands around it. Good for an early lunch or a snack.
- Lunch in the Barrio de la Viña. The old fishermen’s quarter, around Calle Virgen de la Palma, is the place for pescaíto frito (fried fish) and tortillitas de camarones (shrimp fritters). Or take a cone of fried fish from Freiduría Las Flores, near the market.
- La Caleta and Castillo de Santa Catalina. Walk down to the small beach between two castles, with its fishing boats and old bathing huts. The Castillo de Santa Catalina, a star-shaped fortress on one side, is usually free to visit.
- The seafront: follow the Campo del Sur, the sea wall with the view back to the cathedral, or the gardens of the Parque Genovés.
- 18:00–20:00: train back to Seville.
In summer, swap some sights for the beach: La Caleta in the old town, or the long Playa de la Victoria in the new town. In February, Cádiz holds the most famous Carnival in Spain, full of satirical songs and costumes (the main week ends around Ash Wednesday, which falls on 10 February in 2027). It is great fun, but trains and hotels fill up fast.
Combine it with Jerez
Jerez de la Frontera is on the same train line, about an hour from Seville and 40 minutes from Cádiz. Go to Cádiz first, then stop in Jerez on the way back for:
- A sherry bodega tour, such as Tío Pepe (González Byass) or Lustau. Book ahead.
- The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, with its horse show on certain mornings of the week.
- Zambombas in December, the Christmas singing gatherings Jerez is famous for. See Christmas in Seville.
Doing both well in one day is tight by train. A tour, or a night in Cádiz, makes it easier.
Tickets for the main sight
The cathedral is the only sight most people pay for, and you can buy tickets at the door.
| Cathedral (with crypt and Torre de Poniente) | about €7–8 |
| Torre Tavira (camera obscura) | about €7–8 |
| Castillo de Santa Catalina | usually free |
| Opening hours | cathedral about 10:00 to 19:00 (shorter on Sundays, for services); Torre Tavira about 10:00 to 18:00 in winter, later in summer |
Buy the cathedral ticket on its official website or at the ticket office. You don’t need to book either sight in advance, except on summer weekends and Carnival days.
Stay over instead?
Yes, if you can spare a night. Day-trippers leave in the evening, and Cádiz is at its best at sunset over La Caleta and at dinner in the old town. A night also lets you do Cádiz and Jerez without rushing, or continue south along the coast to Vejer and Tarifa. See our guide to Cádiz and things to do in Cádiz.
- Hotels in Cádiz old town
- Parador de Cádiz, a modern parador by the Parque Genovés with sea views and a pool.
For other ideas, see all day trips from Seville and our Andalusia road trip.
FAQ
How long is the train from Seville to Cádiz?
About 1 hour 45 minutes on the direct regional trains from Santa Justa. They stop at Jerez, about an hour from Seville.
How much is the train from Seville to Cádiz?
Usually about €12–20 one way. Prices vary less than on high-speed trains, so booking weeks ahead is rarely necessary.
Is Cádiz worth a day trip from Seville?
Yes. It is easy by train, and the old town, the cathedral, the market and La Caleta fit well into one day. It is also a good escape from the heat of Seville in summer.
Should I visit Cádiz or Jerez from Seville?
Cádiz for the sea, the old town and the food; Jerez for sherry and horses. They are on the same train line, so you can do both, ideally with a tour or a night in Cádiz.
How do I get from Cádiz to Seville?
The same ways: direct regional trains to Santa Justa (about 1 hour 45 minutes), buses to Plaza de Armas, or about 1 hour 30 minutes by car on the AP-4.