Getting There and Away

View of Cádiz's white buildings and Torre Tavira against the sea.
Antonio Garcia Prats, Pexels

Cádiz is well-equipped with primary transportation hubs, featuring the Cádiz Railway Station and the Estación de Autobuses de Cádiz. Both are centrally located near the city's port and the historic old town, offering convenient access to and from the destination.

By Air:

The closest major airport is Jerez Airport (XRY), approximately a 30-minute drive from Cádiz. It handles flights from various Spanish and European cities. From Jerez, travelers can take a local train (Cercanías C-1) or a bus to reach Cádiz. Seville Airport (SVQ) and Malaga Airport (AGP) serve as larger international gateways, located about 1.5 hours and 3 hours away by car, respectively.

By Train:

Cádiz Railway Station offers connections to major Spanish cities.

  • From Madrid: Direct Alvia trains typically take 3 hours 55 minutes to 4 hours 40 minutes, with fares ranging from approximately €29 to €140. There are usually around 12-16 services daily, including 3-4 direct options.
  • From Seville: Direct Media Distancia or Alvia trains connect in about 1 hour 24 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes, costing between €2 and €19. Multiple direct services operate daily.
  • From Malaga: Journeys usually involve transfers, often in Seville, taking 4 hours 4 minutes to 5 hours 30 minutes. Ticket prices generally start from €3.45 to €180.
  • Local trains (Cercanías Cádiz) link Cádiz with San Fernando and Jerez de la Frontera (including Jerez Airport) in about 45 minutes, with tickets priced from €1.80 to €4.05. The Trambahía, a metropolitan tramway, also connects Cádiz with nearby towns like San Fernando and Chiclana, with a journey time of just over half an hour for the full line.

By Bus:

The Estación de Autobuses de Cádiz serves various routes.

  • From Madrid: Direct bus services, operated by companies like Socibus/Secorbus, take approximately 7 hours 40 minutes to 7 hours 55 minutes, with costs ranging from €33 to €45. Several direct buses are available daily.
  • From Seville: Direct buses with Transportes Comes/Transportes Generales Comes typically take 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 3 minutes, with fares from €9 to €22. Many direct services run throughout the day.
  • From Malaga: Direct bus journeys with Avanza Grupo or ALSA generally last 4 to 5 hours, with tickets costing between €21 and €40. Services operate a few times daily.
  • From Tarifa: Direct buses usually take 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 37 minutes, with prices from €9 to €21. There are typically 2-3 services per day.

By Ferry:

From Cádiz Port, ferry services are available to the Canary Islands (e.g., Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Arrecife) with Naviera Armas/Trasmediterranea. These longer voyages can range from 28 hours 30 minutes to almost 65 hours, with adult fares starting from around €81 to €427. Local catamaran services also connect Cádiz with El Puerto de Santa María (around 25 minutes) and Rota.

By Car:

Renting a car provides flexibility for exploring the region. The drive from Seville takes approximately 1.5 hours, and from Malaga, about 3 hours. While convenient for exploring Andalusia, navigating and parking in Cádiz's narrow streets can be challenging, with paid parking garages available.