Town · Bahía de Cádiz · Cádiz province

El Puerto de Santa María

A sherry town on the Bay of Cádiz, with historic bodegas, a castle, seafood along the river and long sandy beaches.

Why visit El Puerto de Santa María

El Puerto de Santa María forms one corner of the sherry triangle with Jerez and Sanlúcar, and its quiet streets are lined with whitewashed bodegas and the palaces of eighteenth-century merchants who traded with the Americas. Columbus's ship the Santa María is linked to the town, and the poet Rafael Alberti was born here. It has a relaxed riverside centre on the Guadalete, a famous seafood strip and a string of beaches along the bay. It suits food and wine lovers, families and anyone wanting a base with easy access to Cádiz by ferry.

What to see and do in El Puerto de Santa María

Tour a bodega such as Osborne, home of the famous bull silhouette, or the small, family-run Gutiérrez Colosía by the river. The Castillo de San Marcos, a fortified church built over a mosque, offers guided visits. Walk the Ribera del Marisco, where seafood shops sell shellfish by weight, and the Plaza de Toros, one of the largest bullrings in Spain. Beaches range from the town's La Puntilla to Valdelagrana, Levante, Las Redes and La Muralla. Families have the Aqualand Bahía de Cádiz water park, and golfers the Real Club de Golf Vista Hermosa. A catamaran crosses to Cádiz in about half an hour.

A day in El Puerto de Santa María

Tour a sherry bodega in the morning and visit the Castillo de San Marcos. Lunch on shellfish bought by weight on the Ribera del Marisco. In the afternoon, head to Valdelagrana or La Puntilla beach, then take the catamaran to Cádiz for an evening walk.

Food and local life

Buy prawns, langoustines and crab by weight on the Ribera del Marisco and eat them at the tables outside, with a chilled fino from the town's bodegas. Fried fish, tortillitas de camarones and tuna are also local favourites.

Around El Puerto de Santa María

El Puerto de Santa María is in the Bahía de Cádiz comarca. Cádiz is a short boat ride away, Jerez is 15 minutes inland, Rota and the Costa Noroeste beaches lie to the west, and the salt marshes of the bay are excellent for birds. In summer, the town's beaches and riverside bars stay lively until late.

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Getting there and around

El Puerto de Santa María is in the Bahía de Cádiz comarca, about 15 minutes by train or car from Jerez and Jerez airport, and 30 minutes by catamaran from Cádiz. Trains connect with Seville. The centre is walkable. Summer is busiest; spring and autumn are good for bodega visits and the beaches.