Tarifa to Cadiz and Jerez de la Frontera: Private day trip

Spain’s oldest city, and likely the oldest in Western Europe, Cadiz is a sun-soaked explosion of history and culture. Famous for its 10-day-long Carnival every February, the city is filled with delights year round. History lovers won’t want to miss the Gadir Archaeological Site - a singular 9th century BC settlement where you can see two streets and eight homes, as well as everyday tools used by the Phoenician settlers. In the Old Town’s jumbled streets you’ll stumble on buildings in a slew of architectural styles, but the crown jewel is undoubtedly the 18th century cathedral and its mish-mash of architectural styles. If you need a break, stop by one of the city’s many seafood restaurants for some tapas and sherry before heading to the Castle of San Sebastián at the very end of the isthmus. Only accessible by a stone causeway, the fort offers great views of the city.

Starting as a Phoenician colony called Xera about 3,000 years ago, the city was Ceret under Roman rule, and Sheres or Xeres when it became an Arabic fortress. Under Catholic rule, it prospered greatly by trading its famous wines with England. The Muslims left a deep mark on the town, as the medieval Alcázar and the Mosque attest. Within the walled enclosure of the Mosque, visitors can also find the Arab Baths and the Olive Garden, with its cisterns and fountains. The Baroque palace of Villavicencio, built upon the ruins of an Islamic palace, has the city's tallest tower, which allows visitors to view landmarks through a camera obscura. The 15th century Church of Santiago houses works attributed to La Roldana. Visitors can get a closer look at the local culture at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, or lunch with tapas and sherry.