Jerez de la Frontera

Day 1: Historic Jerez, sherry and flamenco Ease into Jerez’s compact old town, where Moorish walls, baroque churches and lively tabancos set the rhythm. Today balances heritage sights with your first deep dive into sherry and an atmospheric flamenco night.

• Morning: Coffee and tostada on Plaza del Arenal, then wander to the Alcázar for towers, baths and gardens before stepping over to the cathedral. Note the cathedral steps host the grape‑treading ceremony during Vendimia in early September; keep this spot in mind if you’re here then.
• Midday: Take a guided bodega tour (González Byass/Tío Pepe or Fundador). Pre‑book peak seasons (Festival de Jerez in late Feb–early Mar, Feria week in May) and pace your tasting: start dry (fino) and work darker (amontillado, oloroso, PX); sip water between pours.
• Afternoon: Long tapas lunch at a tabanco such as El Pasaje; try chicharrones, tortillitas de camarones and a copita en rama. Stroll Calle Larga and Plaza de la Asunción, then swing by the Teatro Villamarta box office for last‑minute returns if the Festival de Jerez is on.
• Evening: Flamenco time: book Villamarta during the festival or head to a peña (Peña La Bulería, Peña Tío José de Paula). Arrive 30–45 minutes early, keep phones pocketed and follow locals’ palmas; in December, choose a traditional zambomba and join the choruses with a glass of fino and pestiños.

Day 2: Horses, fairgrounds and neighbourhood soul Jerez wakes to the clip‑clop of hooves; today centres on equestrian arts and, if you’re here in May, the Feria del Caballo. Outside Feria week, you’ll still get your horse fix, then explore flamenco barrios at an easy pace.

• Morning: Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre for the show or morning training; book ahead and allow time for the Museo del Enganche. Dress smart‑casual, bring water and choose shaded seats in warm months.
• Midday: If it’s Feria week (May), take the shuttle bus to Parque González Hontoria and position yourself for the paseo de caballistas y enganches (roughly 13:00–19:00). Many casetas are private—look for public ones run by institutions; order rebujito and share raciones. Not Feria? Lunch at the Mercado Central or on Calle Corredera and sample local fish.
• Afternoon: During Feria, keep exploring casetas, learn a basic sevillanas step and set a meeting point—crowds are dense. Otherwise, amble through Santiago and San Miguel barrios, visit the Basílica de la Merced and browse hat or guitar workshops; smart but comfy shoes are best for the cobbles.
• Evening: If it’s Semana Santa (Mar/Apr), choose a single procession and watch from a narrow street like Calle Tornería—stay silent, no flash photography and don’t push through nazarenos. Other nights, book a bodega‑courtyard dinner; in December, pick a peña‑run zambomba where participation, not performance, is the point.

Day 3: Vineyards, slow food and a finale under lights Your last day blends countryside terroir with any in‑town highlights you’ve missed. Take it slow, taste widely and end with a concert, fireworks or one last flamenco surge.

• Morning: Head out to a vineyard in the pagos (Macharnudo/Carrascal) for a field‑to‑bodega visit; pre‑book and wear sturdy footwear. Prefer to stay central? Choose a contrasting bodega to explore long ageing (old olorosos and palo cortados). Harvest‑time walks are best in early September.
• Midday: Light tabanco lunch—cabrillas en salsa in season, payoyo cheese—and coffee at Plaza Plateros. Fancy the sea? Hop to Sanlúcar de Barrameda (30–40 minutes) for manzanilla and langostinos, then return mid‑afternoon.
• Afternoon: Culture hour at the Alcázar (if skipped) or the Museo Arqueológico; shoppers can pick up flamenco accessories for future Feria trips. During Vendimia, time your return to the cathedral steps for the Pisa de la Uva and blessing of the must; plan a short rest before the evening.
• Evening: Choose your finale: an Off‑Festival flamenco recital or tablao; in May, the Feria alumbrado or closing fireworks; in summer, a Tío Pepe Festival concert; in December, a final zambomba. Toast your trip with a small copita of palo cortado and start plotting your return—book accommodation 6–12 months ahead for festival weeks.

By Air

• Jerez Airport (XRY): 10–12 km from the centre; 10–15 minutes by taxi. Has a rail station on the Cádiz–Seville line; trains to Jerez centre take about 9–12 minutes. Limited domestic and seasonal international routes.
• Seville Airport (SVQ): about 85 km; roughly 1 hour by car. To reach Jerez by public transport: airport bus EA to Sevilla Santa Justa, then Renfe train to Jerez (overall 1 h 45–2 h, depending on connections).
• Málaga Airport (AGP): about 220 km; 2 h 15–2 h 45 by car. By rail: Cercanías/metro to Málaga María Zambrano, AVE/Avant to Sevilla Santa Justa, then MD to Jerez (typically 3 h 30–4 h+ total).
• Gibraltar (GIB): about 120 km; 1 h 30 by car. Public transport requires bus changes via La Línea/Algeciras.

By Train

• Main station: Jerez de la Frontera (Estación de Jerez), next to the bus station.
• Key Renfe routes:
  • Seville (Santa Justa): Media Distancia; around 1 h–1 h 15, frequent.
  • Cádiz: Cercanías (C-1) or Media Distancia; about 40–55 minutes.
  • Madrid (Chamartín–Clara Campoamor): Alvia services via Seville; roughly 4 h 10–4 h 30.
• Jerez Airport rail stop connects directly to Jerez, Cádiz and Seville on the same line.

By Coach/Bus

• Main terminal: Estación de Autobuses de Jerez (adjacent to the rail station).
• Regional links (Comes and others) to Cádiz, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, El Puerto de Santa María, Chiclana, Algeciras, and Seville. Frequencies vary by season; check timetables in advance.

By Car

• Primary routes: AP-4/A-4 corridor between Seville and Cádiz (toll-free), plus A-381 towards Algeciras.
• Typical drive times: Seville ~1 h; Cádiz 30–40 minutes; Málaga 2 h 15–2 h 45; Córdoba ~2 h 45–3 h; Madrid 6–6 h 30.
• Parking: limited in the historic centre; use signed underground car parks or peripheral lots. Car hire available at the airport and rail station.