Jerez Area Guide

Jerez occupies a great location half way between the sea and the mountains and offers a great number of tourist attractions. Some of the places that are well worth a visit include Sanlucar de Barrameda with its bodegas where the Manzanilla sherry comes from, and the protected National Park of Doñana which are only at 22km from Jerez. Sanlúcar is also famous for its "langostinos" (king prawns) which come from the mixed waters of the river Guadalquivir and the Atlantic Ocean, and in the main square you will find a number of tapas bars with the best selection of seafood from the area. The Natural Park of Donana is across the river with a ferry that makes a daily crossing from Bajo de guía.

Cadiz is a 20 minute drive to the south of Jerez and is the beautiful historic capital of the province. It is a very lively place to visit with a stunning cathedral and fortress surrounding the old city .

Finally, the picturesque white village of Arcos de la Frontera, known as the gateway to the route of the White Villages, is less than a half-hour drive away.

Located inland 20 km from Sanlúcar, Jerez is the Spanish word for sherry but the city is equally famous for its fine horses as well as Flamenco music and dance

Jerez dates back to Moorish times with a charming old town (casco antiguo) with beautiful palm lined squares. The 11th century Moorish Alcazaba fortress has been partially restored, and there are a number of churches to visit including the Sacristy of the Cathedral del Salvador which is home to a lovely painting by Zurbarán called “The Sleeping Girl”. To find out more take a look at our guide to the local attractions in Jerez.

 

Jerez lies between the sea and the mountains, between the capitals of Cadiz and Seville. The nearest beaches in Jerez are only about 9 km away, and with the completion of the Jerez-Los Barrios highway, Gibraltar, Algeciras or Tarifa can be reached in under an hour

 

Jerez and the surrounding area is a wonderful place to play golf, and we have listed the main golf courses in Jerez for you, together with their contact details

 

 

The restaurants in Jerez are generally of very high standard, with most of them offering traditional cuisine prepared by professional chefs with long standing experience.

Remember that in Spain it is unusual to eat an evening meal before 9.00pm, and the Spanish often eat as late as 11.00pm (especially during the hot summer months). Lunch time starts at around 2.00 pm but diners can arrive as late as 3.30 or 4.00pm.

 

There is some great shopping in Jerez city centre, much of which is pedestrianised. The main shopping streets are between Plaza Romero Martinez and Plaza del Arenal. We have also put together a list of all the local markets in Jerez

 

If you are planning to explore the area outside of the city centre and play some golf or go to some of the more out of the way beaches then you might consider hiring a car. There are a number of car hire firms based at Jerez Airport who will be pleased to have a vehicle awaiting your arrival. This also cuts down on transfer costs for you and your family.

To make sure you get the most from your visit to Jerez, we have written a Jerez Area Guide detailing the best Shops in Jerez as well as Jerez Local Markets and Golf Courses in Jerez.. There is detailed information on the Jerez Beaches and recommended Restaurants in Jerez. If you want to find out something about the local culture and history of the area then visit our Jerez Local Attractions Guide