The Best Hotels in Cádiz, Spain, for Every Traveller

Set on the tip of the Cádiz peninsula, this shimmering slab of contemporary architecture is a far cry from what most think of as a Spanish parador. There’s glitzy 21st-century chic throughout, matched by a slew of excellent facilities such as a glamorous multi-pool area and sleek wellness zone. Most of the guest rooms offer sea views through floor-to-ceiling windows and from spacious balconies. There’s even a kids’ club at which you can drop the sprogs.

If you’re looking to live like a local in Cádiz, La Posada del Mercado has apartment-style accommodation that will fit the bill. It’s located down a small side street in the centre of the city, just steps from the bustling open-air market after which it is named. Apartment sizes range from studio to two-bedroom, each decked with modern furniture, cooking facilities and washing machines – super-handy for longer stays.

A sandstone-effect façade lends something of the casbah to this converted 18th-century building, while inside Moorish touches further add to the North African vibe. Room decor varies wildly, from old Spain to Arabian mosque to breezy beachscape. The main draw is the rooftop terrace with a cocktail shack, a popular nightspot for locals with a lively atmosphere and views over Cádiz.

Hotel Convento is situated in the heart of the old Santa Maria district in a stunning 17th-century convent in which the modern blends effortlessly with the classical. There is really nothing to fault here: the welcome is exceptionally charming, and the superior doubles are spacious, spotless and superbly equipped. The accommodation surrounds a central courtyard that is, in its own right, one of the barrio‘s architectural gems, and the facilities include some beautiful meeting rooms, a gym and a well-stocked library.

This hotel’s name is in no way misleading: it is located right opposite the city’s great Santa Cruz cathedral on one of the most beautiful squares in old Cádiz. Even better, Hotel La Catedral boasts a spectacular rooftop solarium from which you can cool off in the infinity jacuzzi pool whilst gazing straight across at the cathedral’s façade. The rooms are smart and modern and are all individually themed around a famous person, work of art or monument from Cádiz. There is also a sleek in-house bar with a terrace outside on Plaza de la Catedral.

Hotel Patagonia Sur offers stylish, contemporary accommodation that is within easy strolling distance of all of Cádiz’s key historical attractions, including the elegant town hall building and the Santa Cruz cathedral. It also boasts two attic rooms (one single, one double) with their own private terraces overlooking the city’s rooftops – perfect for romantic weekend getaways. All rooms are tastefully decorated with oak furniture, wooden floors and watercolours depicting scenes from Patagonia, and a full breakfast buffet is served every morning.

If you’re heading to Cádiz for a beach holiday, then Hotel Monte Puertatierra takes some beating. It is located just a two-minute walk from Playa de Santa Maria or 10 minutes on foot from Playa de la Victoria, both of which offer wonderful swimming and untarnished yellow sands. The rooms are spacious and get plenty of natural light, opening as the majority do, onto the bustling Avendida Andalucía below. Facilities include a TV room, a bar/café and a gym, and the old town is about a 10-minute walk away.

The charming Hotel Argantonio is located on the edge of the classy San Carlos neighbourhood and a two-minute stroll away from the Plaza España and Monumento 1812. The singles and doubles are housed in a traditional Andalusian building with a pretty fountain in the ground-floor courtyard and a rooftop terrace offering fantastic views of the Cádiz skyline. The hotel also offers apartments for families or large groups, which are elegantly decorated and feature fully equipped kitchens and their own private terraces.

Senator Cádiz Spa Hotel should be top of your list if you’re after a spot of pampering during your stay: between 10am and 12pm every day, guests are not charged to use the in-house Senzia Spa & Wellness Centre, which offers Turkish and Indo-Roman baths, an ice cave, spray rain, saunas and cold-water wells (there’s a 50% discount outside these hours). The accommodation is above the spa and is housed in a tastefully restored former palatial home just opposite the city’s port. All of the old town’s attractions are within a 10-minute walk.

If you’re planning a trip to Cádiz that revolves around Playa de la Victoria, its biggest and best beach, book a room at Hotel Regio, which is just 200 metres (650ft) from the bright blue waters. The hotel is situated in one of the more modern, residential parts of the city, and there are plenty of bars and restaurants on the central thoroughfare of Avenida Andalucía; the old town, meanwhile, is about a 20-minute walk or short bus ride away. Guests praise the warm service, the varied breakfast and the price-quality relationship.