It gets redundant typing in “Things to do in (insert city here)” and the first thing on one of the many travel guides out there is to “Admire the _______________ architecture.” That’s code for there isn’t anything interesting to do in this city whatsoever. And that’s exactly how I felt about Cadiz. February is carnival season in Cadiz, so you’d assume there’d be fun carnival festivities happening during the biggest Spanish celebration of the year… but not really. Although I came to the city to celebrate my 24th birthday, for a Spanish seaside town I was mildly surprised at how dull the city is. Granted it’s still winter, but I expected the city to be a tad bit livelier. If you’re passing through Cadiz, regardless of the season, here is what you will end up doing to pass the time in Spain’s oldest city.

Admire the Moorish architecture

In case you didn’t know, Spain was occupied by the Moors in 711 AD to 1492 (more or less). With Africa being a ferry ride away, the Moorish impact in the Andalusian region is heavily seen in city’s architecture and Cathedral.

Visit the Castillo de Santa Catalina and Castillo de San Sebastián

These two castles, conveniently located on Playa de Caleta, are a beautiful walking distance from one another and grant free entry. The castles of Santa Catalina, built in the 17th and 18th centuries, functioned as defense fortresses throughout Spanish history

Sunbathe at Playa de Caleta

Sunny, mid-February days are a reflection of prime Andalusian weather. While it’s still too chilly to swim, the city’s main beach will give you ample time to photosynthesis while watching the waves. The tide is beautiful in the morning, and by afternoon you can check out the many sailboats awaiting sail along the shore.

Shop at the Mercado de Central Cadiz

Ignore the huge Carrefour nearby and instead support the locals at the city’s local market. Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM locals gather to sell all sorts of goods and produce, ranging from fish to freshly-picked olives. There are also dozens of food stands to grab a quick, authentic lunch.

Explore the (limited) nightlife

I searched “best nightclubs in Cadiz” on Google and nothing came up apart from a few bars. There are also no pub crawls in Cadiz, so going out means making friends with the people in your hostel (I reccomend Casa Caracol for solo travelers looking for a chill atmosphere) and bar hopping. I went to one nightclub called Soho, which was a little bit small, but did the trick for after-hours partying, and there was a nice blend of locals and tourists. There was no entrance fee and drinks were relatively cheap, which was a plus!

Book an Airbnb Experience

Most of the Airbnb Experiences (at least during off-season) were food and drink tours, which was definitely out of my interest and budget. If you’re looking for a unique and quick day-trip, I’d reccomend this horseback riding experience for only 20 euros. The farm is run by a super nice couple in the outskirts of Chiclana de la Frontera, where they take you riding for an hour in the countryside.

Eat fried seafood!

Andalucia, particularly the costal towns, is heaven for seafood lovers like me. While you can opt for a nice dozen of calamari, the gambas frita con limon also hits heavyyyyyyyyyyy. I love Andalucia just for the seafood alone and it’d be a sin not to indulge while in Cadiz.

Consider Cadiz as a backpacking destination

In bigger cities like Madrid and Barcelona you’ll need several days just to see the basic monuments and landmarks. That is why Cadiz can make for the perfect, backpacker town in Spain if your aim is to not do anything besides lay on the beach. Regardless, the weather and proximity to the ocean transforms this small city into a paradise of quick relaxation worth visiting.