JUST a few hours from the UK is a vibrant Spanish city that holds an uncanny resemblance to Cuba’s Havana.
Cadiz, that sits on the coast of southern Spain, is the perfect mix of city by sea, not to mention it’s seeing soaring temperatures this week.
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Cadiz is nicknamed the “Cuba of Europe” thanks to its tall, colourful architecture and narrow cobbled streets.
It has a vibrant carnival culture too, holding one of Spain’s ‘most vibrant’ festivals with street parties, music, and elaborate costumes.
Meanwhile, Havana annually holds the second largest carnival in Cuba.
Cadiz has its sea-facing promenade Campo del Sur, and Cuba has El Malecón – both have similar looks with pastel-coloured buildings and of course sit by the ocean.
For Brits, Cadiz is much easier to explore with it being in Spain and as little as two and a half hours way rather than as many as 16 hours to Havana.
The city in Spain gets weather too – this week, it’s seeing highs of 25C.
In peak summer months, Cadiz gets average highs of 28C and usually no rain.
When it comes to dining out Cadiz is a great spot as it’s pretty cheap – you can get a beer from €3 (£2.61), coffee from €2.17 (£1.89) and a meal at an inexpensive restaurant from €14.50 (£12.61), according to numbeo.
A few years ago, Cadiz was named one of the cheapest places in Spain for a city break.
And when one Travel Writer visited, she hopped on public transport for as little as €1 (87p) and picked up bottles of wine for less than €4 (£3.48) at the supermarket.
As for the city’s food scene, visitors will often find restaurants serving traditional Andalusian tapas like tortillitas de camarones – crispy fritters made with tiny local shrimp.
Or if you fancy living like the locals do, head to Mercado Central de Abastos which is Spain‘s oldest covered market where you’ll find lots of fresh food.
Earlier this year, Cadiz was even named as one of the top 25 places to visit across the globe by Lonely Planet.
It said: “Cádiz’s Carnaval is Spain’s biggest annual party, bringing extravagantly costumed revelers to its streets for 10 days of parades, fireworks, singing and dancing in February or March, to the accompaniment of more than 300 local murgas (bands).
“Pack a costume and book your accommodations months in advance or commute from nearby El Puerto de Santa María.”
For more on Spain – here are some of our favourite holiday spots…
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Hotel Best Punta Dorada, Salou
The Spanish resort is a popular destination near PortAventura World, a theme park with over 40 attractions and huge rollercoasters. It’s also close to sandy beaches like Platja de Llevant, and the scenic Camí de Ronda coastal walk.The hotel itself has an outdoor swimming pool to enjoy, as well as two bars along with evening entertainment and shows.
Sun Club El Dorado, Majorca
With its palm tree-lined pool and Mediterranean backdrop, it’s a miracle this Majorca resort is so affordable. Expect a classic family holiday feel – where days revolve around soaking up the Spanish sunshine, chilling by the spacious pool and sipping on frozen cocktails. Set away from the busier resorts, it’s a good option if you’re after a more out-of-the-way escape.
Magic Aqua Rock Gardens, Benidorm
The Magic Aqua Rock Gardens Hotel is African-themed and less than a mile from the beach. It has two outdoor pools, including a children’s freshwater pool with a waterfall and a tipping water bucket for the little ones. There’s also an aquapark with slides, and a kids club for both younger children and teens.
Globales Montemar, Ibiza
For a calmer side of Ibiza, this hillside resort has two pools, a kids’ splash zone, and an all-inclusive buffet with a poolside bar. It’s a 10-minute walk from Cala Llonga’s shallow turquoise bay, offering a scenic, family-friendly base away from the island’s main party zone.
When it comes to what to see, Travel Reporter Jenna Stevens who recently visited the city, gives her verdict.
She said: “In Spain’s quieter Costa de la Luz, sunny Cadiz is where the locals like to holiday – and has even been compared to the likes of Cuba.
“The southern Spanish city has the best of Andalusian culture, with charming narrow streets overlooked by the impressive 18th century Cádiz Cathedral.
“The cathedral itself is well worth a visit, with an £7 ticket granting you access inside, as well as the top of the tower, the crypts and exhibitions.
“Plus this area comes alive in the evenings, with a vintage carousel in the same plaza and buskers playing the guitar.
“When you’re not strolling the narrow streets lined with tapas bars and cafes, you must make sure to tick off the beaches in Cadiz.
“Playa la Caleta is a small stretch of sand that sits between two castles (and was used to film that Halle Berry moment in James Bond) whilst Playa Victoria has white sand and a lengthy promenade to stroll.”
For those who want to organise a getaway to Cadiz you can get flights from £38 departing from London Stansted in May with Jet2.
The cost is slightly more expensive it you want to go immediately with one-way flights this week starting from £54 from Birmingham (involving a long stop-over in Majorca).
You can’t fly directly to Cadiz, but the nearest airport, Jerez, is just a 35-minute drive away.
For anyone heading on holiday soon, here’s the cheapest family summer holiday destination from every region of the UK – from Costa Brava to Morocco.
And here is Spain’s best all-inclusive resort where EVERYTHING is included from complimentary Mini cars to poolside cocktails.