El Puerto de Santa María
Sherry cellars, seafood bars and Atlantic beaches across the bay from Cádiz, in Andalusia's sherry country.
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El Puerto de Santa María is a town in the province of Cádiz, on the Guadalete River near its mouth into the Bay of Cádiz. Locals call it El Puerto. It is one of the three towns of the Sherry Triangle, with Jerez de la Frontera and Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where Jerez sherry is aged and produced. Visitors come for the cellars, the seafood and the Atlantic beaches.
The beaches are the main draw, with fine sand, generally calm water, and promenades with bars and restaurants nearby. In the upper town, palaces built by merchants who traded with the Americas in the 17th and 18th centuries stand beside the Iglesia Mayor Prioral, a church documented from 1486. Cádiz is reached by passenger ferry, line 042, with 15 daily departures in each direction. Summers are warm, moderated by ocean winds, and winters are mild, with an average temperature of about 18 °C.
El Puerto de Santa María in five
- Take the ferry to CádizA passenger ferry links the town with Cádiz across the bay. It is a short, scenic crossing, so check the timetable and last return.Cádiz
- Eat on the seafood streetThe riverfront and the old fish quarter hold many seafood bars. Order what is fresh that day rather than a fixed menu.
- Plan a sherry bodega visitEl Puerto is one corner of the sherry triangle with Jerez and Sanlúcar. Book a tour in advance, since many bodegas need reservations.Jerez de la Frontera
- Use Valdelagrana beachThe long sand beach is on the edge of town. Check conditions before you go, since the Atlantic wind can pick up.
- Decide between El Puerto and CádizEl Puerto is calmer, with beaches and bodegas. Cádiz has the cathedral and seawall. Many travelers base in one and visit the other.Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Things to do in El Puerto de Santa María
See all attractions in El Puerto de Santa María
Need to know
- Airport
- Jerez (XRY), about 20 minutes by car; Seville (SVQ) is farther
- Getting there
- Regional train from Seville or Cádiz; ferry from Cádiz
- Getting around
- Walk in town; a car or taxi to the beaches
- Best base
- The old center or near the river
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 days; 3 with Jerez and Sanlúcar
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear7 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Mild, quietJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryClear5 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°MildFebruaryClear
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low12°Spring warmthMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 125 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring warmth
- AprilClear7 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Holy WeekAprilClear
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Holy Week
- MayClear4 rainy daysHigh22°Low17°Warm, calmMayClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh25°Low19°Beach seasonJuneClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 7 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Beach, hotJulyClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach, hot
- AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Hot, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- SeptemberClear2 rainy daysHigh26°Low21°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberClear6 rainy daysHigh23°Low18°MildOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- NovemberClear8 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°CoolNovemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- DecemberClear8 rainy daysHigh17°Low12°MildDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
Average daily high and low in El Puerto de Santa María, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in El Puerto de Santa María
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
21
- Feels like
- 20°
- Humidity
- 65%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
El Puerto de Santa María
09:48 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today26°14°0%Monday: Clear. High 26°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue21°15°20%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Wed22°16°53%Wednesday: Rain. High 22°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 53%.
- Thu21°17°23%Thursday: Fog. High 21°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Fri23°16°13%Friday: Fog. High 23°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Sat24°14°18%Saturday: Fog. High 24°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Sun23°19°69%Sunday: Rain. High 23°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 69%.
Updated 06:01 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
What's on in El Puerto de Santa María
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarComing up
Every year
- Feb–MarCarnival of CádizCádiz, a day trip
Before you go to El Puerto de Santa María
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for El Puerto de Santa María, checked
- Spain is in the Schengen Area. Check entry rules on the Spanish Foreign Ministry site (exteriores.gob.es) before you book flights.Source
- Non-EU travellers may be registered at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). Read the European Commission's EES page for the current process.
- Playa del Almirante lies inside the Rota naval base and is closed to the public. Use Playa de Valdelagrana or La Puntilla instead.
Plan around El Puerto de Santa María
Entry rules, trains and regions across the country
Read the guideCádizOld town and seawall, a short ferry away
Read the guideJerez de la FronteraSherry bodegas and horse shows
Read the guideSanlúcar de BarramedaManzanilla and Doñana river views
Read the guideTourist taxes in EuropeCheck whether a nightly tax applies to your stay
Read the guideEl Puerto de Santa María FAQ
Is El Puerto de Santa María worth visiting?
Yes for seafood, beaches and sherry. It is calmer than Cádiz and easy to combine with Jerez.
How do you get from El Puerto to Cádiz?
By ferry in about 30 minutes, or by train or car around the bay. The ferry is the most scenic.
How many days do you need in El Puerto?
One or two days for the town and beach. Add a day for Jerez or Sanlúcar.
Do you need a car in El Puerto?
Not in town. A car helps for the beaches and Sanlúcar, though trains and buses link Jerez and Cádiz.
When is the best time to visit El Puerto?
April to June and September for warm days and smaller crowds. July and August are hot and busy.