Things to Do in Cadiz in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Cadiz
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Perfect beach weather without the scorching summer heat - you can actually spend full days on La Caleta or Playa de la Victoria without melting into the sand by 11am. The 23°C (73°F) highs mean you're comfortable in the sun but not desperately seeking air conditioning every hour.
- Cruise ship season is winding down significantly by May, which means the old town's narrow streets around Plaza de San Juan de Dios and the cathedral area are noticeably less congested. You'll actually get decent photos at Torre Tavira without elbows in your frame.
- Spring festival season is still active - you might catch the tail end of local celebrations, and the city has that post-Semana Santa energy where locals are out enjoying their own city. Terrace culture is in full swing with perfect evening temperatures around 19°C (66°F) for lingering over pescaíto frito and manzanilla.
- Accommodation prices drop by roughly 20-30% compared to peak summer months (July-August), while the weather is arguably better for sightseeing. You're in that sweet spot where hotel owners are grateful for bookings but haven't hit desperate low-season pricing yet.
Considerations
- Rain becomes more unpredictable than winter months - those 10 rainy days in May tend to be scattered and hard to predict more than 48 hours out. Unlike the reliable sunshine of July, you might wake up to grey skies that clear by noon, or brilliant mornings that turn drizzly by 4pm.
- Atlantic water temperatures hover around 17-18°C (63-64°F), which is frankly cold for most swimmers. Locals might be in the water, but unless you're used to northern European seas, you'll probably find it bracingly uncomfortable without a wetsuit.
- Some seasonal beach services haven't fully ramped up yet - while the main Playa de la Victoria will have lifeguards and chiringuitos operating, some of the smaller beach bars and water sports rental places are still in shoulder-season mode with reduced hours or limited equipment availability.
Best Activities in May
Old Town Walking and Rooftop Tours
May weather is genuinely ideal for exploring Cadiz's compact old town on foot - the 23°C (73°F) afternoons mean you can comfortably walk the 2-3 km (1.2-1.9 miles) circuit from Puerta de Tierra through the Barrio del Pópulo to the cathedral without the summer heat exhaustion. The UV index of 8 is manageable with sunscreen, and those occasional cloudy periods actually make for better photography at the Torre Tavira camera obscura. Book rooftop access tours that include the cathedral tower and Torre Tavira for panoramic views - the spring light in May gives you that golden quality photographers obsess over. Tours typically run 15-25 euros and last 90 minutes to 2 hours. The reduced cruise ship traffic means you're not queuing behind 200 people at every viewpoint.
Beach Time at Playa de la Victoria
While the water is still cold, the beach itself is perfect in May for long walks, beach volleyball, and sunbathing without the intense July-August crowds that turn the sand into a towel-to-towel carpet. The 4 km (2.5 miles) stretch of sand is mostly yours, especially on weekdays. The humidity at 70% is noticeable but not the oppressive wall you get in August. Morning beach sessions from 10am-1pm are ideal before any potential afternoon clouds roll in. The promenade behind the beach has excellent tapas bars and the seafood is reliably fresh - pescaíto frito portions run 8-15 euros.
Day Trips to White Villages
May is arguably the best month for exploring the pueblos blancos inland from Cadiz - places like Vejer de la Frontera, Arcos de la Frontera, and Medina Sidonia are at their greenest after spring rains, and temperatures in these hilltop villages sit comfortably around 20-22°C (68-72°F). The contrast with the scorching 35°C+ (95°F+) you'd experience in July-August is dramatic. These villages are 40-60 km (25-37 miles) from Cadiz, making them perfect day trips. The wildflowers are still blooming on the hillsides, and you'll have the narrow whitewashed streets largely to yourself since most tourists stick to the coast.
Sherry Triangle Wine Tours
The sherry bodegas in Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and El Puerto de Santa María are significantly more pleasant to visit in May than summer. Walking between bodegas in 23°C (73°F) weather versus 38°C (100°F) is the difference between enjoying the experience and surviving it. Jerez is only 35 km (22 miles) from Cadiz. May is also when you'll see preparations for the vendimia (harvest season) later in summer, and bodega tours are running full programs without the overwhelming tour bus crowds of peak season. Tastings typically include 3-5 sherries and last 60-90 minutes.
Cycling the Bay of Cadiz
The Via Verde de la Bahía de Cádiz is a 55 km (34 miles) coastal cycling route connecting Cadiz with Puerto Real and Chiclana, running through salt marshes and along the bay. May weather is perfect for this - cool enough that you're not overheating on the flat coastal route, but warm enough that early morning starts around 8-9am are comfortable without heavy layers. The route is entirely flat, making it suitable for casual cyclists. You'll pass through the Parque Natural Bahía de Cádiz where flamingos and other wading birds are active in May. Most people cycle 15-20 km (9-12 miles) sections rather than the full route.
Seafood Market and Cooking Experiences
May brings excellent seafood to Cadiz's Mercado Central - ortiguillas (sea anemones), chocos (cuttlefish), and the first summer fish varieties arrive while spring catches are still available. The market itself is less frantic than summer months, and vendors are more willing to chat and explain what's fresh. Morning market visits around 9-10am followed by cooking classes are increasingly popular. The humidity and temperatures make indoor cooking activities actually pleasant, unlike the sweltering July-August period. Classes typically last 3-4 hours and include market tour, cooking instruction, and eating what you prepare.
May Events & Festivals
Feria del Caballo (Horse Fair in Jerez)
While technically in nearby Jerez de la Frontera rather than Cadiz itself, this is the major May event in the region and worth planning around if you're visiting early May. The week-long festival celebrates Andalusian horse culture with daily parades, equestrian shows, flamenco, and casetas (decorated tents) serving sherry and tapas. It's more authentic and less touristy than Seville's April Fair. The fairgrounds transform into a temporary city of tents, and the traditional dress - men in short jackets and flat-brimmed hats, women in flamenco dresses - is spectacular. Day visits from Cadiz are easy via the 35 km (22 miles) train connection.