Jerez Travel Guide

Jerez de la Frontera, usually referred to as just Jerez, is situated midway between the sea and the mountains in Andalucia's southwest province of Cadiz.

Since the Phoenicians, Jerez has been famous for sherry and brandy production, horses, flamenco and lately for motorcycles.

There is an airport in Jerez, which is approximately a 15-minute drive from town.
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Summer tourism is mostly beach and water-sport related. Festivals honoring flamenco, sherry, the grape harvest and horses are held in January/February, May, June and September/October.

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Jerez is quite walkable and packed with bodegas to visit, which often include a multi-media presentation and sherry sampling. All of this can be sampled in a day. Read more about Sherry Bodegas in Jerez.

If you'd like to visit the town's non-stuffy museums, you'll need a second day.

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For hotel reservations in Jerez , an excellent, easy-to-use site is Venere. They have hotels to suit all budgets and have a clutter-free Web site for reservations.

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Ever considered a home exchange? A bit like couch surfing for grown-ups, Home Exchange is a website where you post details of your home online and arrange a swap for a week or two, whereby they come and stay in your home and you stay in theirs. A single home exchange will pay for itself in terms of membership fee and you can use the service as often as you want for no extra charge. Check out HomeExchange.com.

If you're visit doesn't coincide with the town's many festivals, the city's main appeal is its sherry bodegas. More: Sherry Bodegas in Jerez.

There is a Turkish-style thermal bath (Hammam) in Jerez. There is also a number of nice little museums.

The "Dancing Horses", a regal equestrian ballet, is performed Tuesdays and Thursdays at The Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art.

Before the show, cross the street to the Museo del Enganche. The 30 carriages of English, French, German and Spanish heritage are complemented with high-tech, touch-screen panels, complete with sounds of whinnying horses and jingling bells.

Jerez itself is typically viewed as a day trip from elsewhere in the region, but if you are here for a few days, check out Cadiz, which is just a short train ride away.

The two could be visited in a single day, though you would need to get your logistics in order to effectively use your limited time. A good way to make sure you get the most out of your day is to do a Guided Tour of Jerez & Cadiz (book direct)

Seville is about an hour's train ride away

There are 80 beaches along its coastline, many worthy of the Blue Flag in Europe's Clean Seas program. Spain's "White Towns" can be seen in this province and are a lovely drive from Jerez.

From Madrid 621km - 5h45 by car, 6h by bus, 4h by train, 1h flight (with Iberia)

From Barcelona 1119km - 11h45 by car, no bus, 10:15h overnight train, 2h flight (with Iberia)

From Seville 103km - 1h11 by car, 1h30 bus, 1h train. No direct flights

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Check Prices on Trains to Jerez or look at getting a Rail Pass.

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easyCar, from the people that brought you easyJet, offer car hire throughout Spain and their prices are pretty competitive. Hire a car with easyCar.Jerez is walkable and for many visitors their visit is centered on sherry. You can't mistake the whiffs coming from the bodegas. The city was a major wine export to the United Kingdom in the 15th century and is where English families founded many of the Jerez cellars, which accounts for the English influence throughout the city. Based in a strong Moorish past, Jerez has an old town and has developed into a modern city with wide palm-lined squares and a quiet elegance.

All things equine have been associated with the Jerez lifestyle since the 15th century, when Andalusian monks bred the extraordinary Carthusian horses here. And with the beat of flamenco coming from the clubs and side streets, Jerez touches the visitor's soul. There are interesting examples of Gothic architecture, especially in the Santiago quarter, which is home to the 15-century Church of Santiago. For people watching from sidewalk cafes and a good shopping experience, visit the Calle Larga, which is the center of town.