09 Apr Andalusia Travel Guide (Part 2) – Cadiz, Cordoba, Ronda & Setenil
Now that Seville is done and so is the first part of this guide, today I will speak to you about an old place, a beautiful place, a place easily reached from Seville that can make a great day trip—or even a half-day trip if you want to squeeze another town in.
That place is…
Cadiz
Now, before telling you what I saw and enjoyed in Cadiz, you must know that this place is old. It is regarded by many as the oldest continuously inhabited city in Western Europe, founded by the Phoenicians more than 3000 years ago.
The hand of time is present in Cadiz. The streets are lined with old houses, their colors faded under thousands of years of sun and rain.
It is not as colorful as Seville, but it is a beautiful place. It is a stretch of land you can walk across, explore the maze of streets, eat a good meal, head towards the beach and see the ocean.
Life moves at a different pace here in Cadiz. Time feels slower and people are even more relaxed.
As usual, I bought my train tickets from Loco2 and traveled for 1:46 hours for a price of 16.05 euro.
You have to be careful when selecting your destination because you want to reach Cadiz, not Cadiz Estadio. Choose a train that gets you to Cadiz and from there you can reach the old town in under 10 minutes on foot.
If I had to choose only two things to see in Cadiz, I would choose….
Torre Tavira
Cadiz has many towers, but this one is the most famous.
For only 6 euros you can climb to the top and get a magnificent view of the city. Since it is an open tower, you can see in all four directions and enjoy the maze of old streets from above, plan your next steps or simply admire the ocean.
The tower opens at 10:00, so when choosing your train from Seville, you can take this into account and plan accordingly.
I was there at 10:00 and managed to climb first, enjoying more than 5 minutes completely alone, trying to find the best photo spots and simply enjoying the view.
When you are done admiring the town or gazing at the ocean, descend and walk about 500 meters to your next stop…
The Cadiz Cathedral
Another 6 euros well spent. You can visit the Cathedral, the Crypt and, most importantly, the Torre del Reloj.
The Cathedral is beautiful and I took my time exploring it, but what truly impressed me was the tower.
After exiting the Cathedral, go right and start climbing until you reach the top.
The view from Torre Tavira is great, but the view from Torre del Reloj is even better.
I understand now why people say this offers the best panoramic view of Cadiz—it really is something special.
So these are my top two spots in Cadiz, but as with Seville, I believe the real beauty lies in the streets.
Walking among ancient buildings, through narrow alleys, watching daily life unfold, eating in a small tavern—all these experiences create a unique atmosphere.
My advice: visit these two places, then just wander. The city is not big and you will definitely enjoy it.
If you don’t want to spend a full day in Cadiz, you can continue your journey to…
Jerez de la Frontera
Just 36 minutes by train from Cadiz and around 6 euros for the ticket, Jerez can be the perfect final stop for your day trip from Seville.
And regardless of what you may have heard, don’t go there just for the sherry or brandy.
Let me tell you about a place that truly deserves a visit in this small white town, famous for its sherry, flamenco and horses.
Alcazar de Jerez
A beautiful and compact place overlooking the city. The entrance costs 5 euros and it is definitely worth it—I took one of my favorite photos of the trip here (see below).
Like in Seville, the complex is divided into different areas—baths, a mosque, patios, gardens—and you can explore everything in about 30 minutes.
It is not as large as the Alcazar in Seville, but it is absolutely worth your time if you visit Jerez. And don’t just stop for a drink—try some tapas in one of the city’s many restaurants and bodegas.
From Jerez you can take a train back to Sevilla Santa Justa for about 11 euros, and the journey takes around 1 hour and 10 minutes.
After Seville, I moved on to a new city—one of my favorites in Andalucia.
That city is…
Cordoba
While Cordoba is best known for the famous Mezquita, I will try to cover more of what makes this place special.
I already covered the food here, so now I will focus on what to see.
Cordoba can easily be visited as a day trip from Seville, or you can spend the night like I did.
I paid 25.55 euros for the train from Loco2 and arrived early in the morning after a 43-minute ride.
From the station to the hotel, I took a cab to save time since I had a full day planned.
It was actually difficult to write this part because I took so many great photos and choosing between them was not easy.
There are more places to see in Cordoba, but I will focus on what I consider essential.
So here are the must-see places in Cordoba…
The Mezquita
Of course, we start here.
At the time, tickets could only be bought on-site, but here you can find updated information.
The ticket costs 10 euros and is absolutely worth it. The building is impressive both in size and detail.
Rows upon rows of columns that leave you in awe, especially considering how old the structure is.
You can also add access to the Bell Tower for 2 extra euros, and I highly recommend it. Cordoba is very flat, so the views stretch far into the distance.
I was also sorry I missed the “Soul of Cordoba” night visit. If you plan to stay overnight, you can find more details and tickets here.
From the Mezquita, I continued to…
Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos
Smaller than the Alcazar in Seville but larger than the one in Jerez, this is another place you should not miss.
Like the Mezquita, it can be visited both during the day and at night.
If you stay overnight, the show “Magical Night at the Alcazar” is worth attending. The ticket costs 6.50 euros and the experience is very enjoyable.
The only downside is that you need to print your ticket after purchasing it online.
Still, I strongly recommend it. The combination of light, sound and storytelling makes for a memorable evening.
The Roman Bridge
Another beautiful spot, both during the day and at night. I was a bit disappointed that the tower at one end closed too early, as it would have been perfect for sunset photos.
The flower patios
I highly recommend visiting the patios of Cordoba. These are small courtyards decorated with colorful flowers, and there is even a yearly competition for the most beautiful one. 
There are two main patio routes. When I say “tour”, don’t think of a guide—just a route that gives you access to several houses.
Each route gives access to different patios (with some overlap), and for 5 euros, it is definitely worth it.
Ronda
When it comes to Ronda, things are simple.
If you don’t plan to stay overnight, you can easily see it in a few hours. I chose to stay there to make it easier to reach Setenil de las Bodegas.
So, if you are short on time, the main attraction is the bridge. There are two bridges, but only one is world-famous—and you cannot miss it.
Take your time. See it from every angle, go down into the gorge and admire it from below—it is absolutely worth it.
This is one of those places you will always remember.
The second place to visit is the bullring. I know, it is controversial, but it is open to the public and you can walk inside.
You can explore the arena, imagine how it once was filled with spectators and get a sense of its history.
These two are the main attractions in Ronda.
If you have more time, you can explore the old town, visit La Casa del Rey Moro or the Arab Baths.
Ronda is a charming town and, as expected, the food is excellent.
Setenil de las Bodegas
Setenil is very close to Ronda. So close that when I forgot to set my alarm and woke up at 9:30, I grabbed a cab, paid around 28–30 euros and arrived in about 35 minutes.
So if you are visiting Ronda by car or staying there, Setenil is a must.
There are no major sights to tick off, but the entire place is special because of how it looks.
A town built under massive rocks? Sounds great—and it is.
I strongly recommend visiting and even stopping for a drink while the huge rocks hang above you.
It would be ideal to rent a car because you won’t spend more than 2–3 hours here, and the bus schedule is not very convenient. However, you can also share a cab like I did when returning to Ronda.
And that’s it for the second part of my guide.
Join me next time for more beautiful places in Andalucia.
This was the middle part of my Andalusia trip. If you’re just starting, read Part 1 (Seville), or continue with Part 3 where I explore Granada, Nerja and Malaga.
You can also find all my experiences across Spain in my Spain Travel Guide.
No Comments