A coastal town in southern Spain where sherry wine cellars line cobblestone streets. Local seafood restaurants and 15th-century castles dot the Guadalete riverfront.
El Puerto de Santa María sits on the Atlantic coast of southern Spain, where the Guadalete River meets the Bay of Cádiz. Walk through centuries-old sherry bodegas at Osborne, swim at Valdelagrana's golden beach, or watch flamingos wade through the salt marshes of Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park. Stop by the 13th-century Castillo de San Marcos, then catch a catamaran across the bay to explore neighboring Cádiz.
Getting to El Puerto de Santa María
The nearest airport is Jerez de la Frontera, 12 kilometers away, with daily flights to Madrid and Barcelona. Regular trains connect El Puerto to major Spanish cities, and a catamaran service runs between El Puerto and Cádiz across the bay. The 30-minute catamaran journey gives you views of the coastline.
Beaches Along the Atlantic
Eight beaches stretch along 22 kilometers of coastline. Playa de la Muralla in Puerto Sherry has shallow, calm waters ideal for families with children. The 3-kilometer Valdelagrana Beach has lifeguards from June to September, with beach bars every 200 meters serving grilled fish and cold drinks. The water temperature ranges from 18°C in spring to 24°C in late summer.
Sherry Production and Wine Tourism
El Puerto sits within Spain's Sherry Triangle alongside Jerez de la Frontera and Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Visit the cellars at Osborne and Terry bodegas, where sherry ages in oak barrels stacked to the ceiling. Take a guided tour to see the traditional solera system and taste fino, amontillado, and other varieties. Many bars in the old town serve sherry directly from the barrel.
Natural Areas and Wildlife
Walk through Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park's salt marshes, pine forests, and lagoons. From September to March, you'll see flamingos feeding in the shallow waters. The 5-kilometer trail through Los Toruños passes through salt pans and pine groves. Stop at the three lagoons - La Salada, Juncosa, and La Chica - to spot herons and storks.
Local Food Scene
Restaurants along Ribera del Marisco specialize in seafood caught daily in the bay. Try pescaito frito (fried fish) or tortillitas de camarones (shrimp fritters) paired with chilled fino sherry. The narrow streets around Plaza de España have small bars serving pescado en adobo (marinated fish) and local shellfish.
Historical Buildings
The Castillo de San Marcos dates from 1264, built on a former mosque's foundation by King Alfonso X. Gothic arches and Arabic inscriptions decorate its walls. The Basilica de Nuestra Señora de los Milagros faces Plaza España with its 18th-century Baroque facade and Gothic interior. Visit Spain's third-largest bullring, an 1880 structure that seats 15,000 people.
Local Festivals
The town's festival calendar starts with February Carnival's street parties and costume parades. During Holy Week, religious processions move through candlelit streets. At the Feria del Vino Fino in May, local bodegas set up tasting stands in Plaza de España. On June 23, locals light bonfires on Valdelagrana Beach for the Hogueras de San Juan festival.
