Seville and then the beach - but which one?

We're planning a trip to Seville at end of August but have a few queries perhaps someone could help us with. Its a two week holiday and we're thinking of a few days in Seville and then moving on to the beach. How many days do you think Seville merits? We will be flying from there, so its "topping and tailing" our holiday. Also, where best to find the beach? We went to Nerja last year and found it too commercialised (and too full of Britains and Germans) for our taste. We were told Nerja was "very Spanish", and we know its not as commercialised as, say, Torremolinos, but will we find anything else more Spanish on the coast? A Spanish pal recommended Cadiz - does anyone know of it? Any ideas for an itinerary? Anyone? Help????

Lizzie - try the Search function - 1) Sevilla - tons and tons of comments, tecommendations, etc.
2) Cadiz - not as much info - but all highly positive + suggested hostels, etc. 3) Beaches.
You'll find a wealth of information -

I second, third, whatever Cadiz. I spent 6 weeks there last summer and was ready to buy a house there I loved it so much! If you actually stay in Cadiz you have the best of both worlds, Spanish city and good beaches. Along the coast is very nice as well but not much else to do but go to the beach, all depends on what you wanted. I highly recommend it and know you won't regret it.

Lizziee writes: Sevilla merits 3 to 4-days: If you find a hotel with air conditioning & swimming pool you can do your tourism in the AM, relax at the hotel in the heat of the afternoon, then come out again around 7 PM for a bit of tasca-hopping.
Last summer, I spent several days at el Puerto de Santa Maria (Cadiz) and (another trip) at Mazagon (Huelva). Mostly Spanish people at the beaches although there was a busload of Germans at my hotel in el Puerto (Hotel Santa Maria). Mazagon was strictly a Spanish resort!
If you are driving, I would recommend a stop at el Santuario de la Virgen del Rocio near Almonte in the Province of Huelva. You could combine that with Doñana, Europe's largest national park / wildlife refuge.

Thanks for the replies. Go away in six weeks - can't wait - and will let you know where I managed to see.

Lizziee -
You seem to have pulled the Cadiz fans out of the woodwork here! As said - its a wonderful place - the best of two worlds - city and beach.
For some reason not that many foreign visitors seem to go to Cadiz (at least in proportion to many other places) - and that can be a blessing.
Let us know what you decide and have a great trip!

I've never been to Cádiz, unfortunately, but have ONLY heard wonderful things about this seaside town/province. My ladyfriend dreams about retiring there someday. I'd like to visit. Anchovy Front, have anything to say about Cádiz?

Saludos, MadridMan

Cadiz is a place I've only ever stayed at once, MM, at the parador, which is right on the seafront. I found the city to be a place worth visiting, but I've never stayed there again.

It seemed to me to be just a bit shabby and run down and a poor relation to other Andalucian cities. However to be fair, other than the one weekend and a couple of three hour visits when the weather has been a bit dodgy and we didn't get to the nearby beaches, I haven't possibly had time to discover what appeals to others about the place.

Regards the beaches Lizziee, all the beaches along that western coast are really good. Anywhere north or south of Cadiz is a good bet. However, bear in mind that accommodation is at a premium in August and you will be well advised to book somewhere if you can in advance or you may find yourself buying a tent..... ask me about camp sites if it is a serious option for you, won't you?

A friend in Madrid told me that the beaches around Cadiz were some of the best in the world for windsurfing - Senor Front, perhaps you can confirm and/or correct that statement?
In other words - tell me if I'm wrong before I get the red-faced razz ....

Correct, Puna! No need for the red face! In fact many regard Tarifa as the European Mecca for windsurfers.

We are now camping there most weekends, although I hasten to add that I am not a windsurfer, as I can stand on a board in a gale force ten wind and not move - it defies the laws of nature! No the sandy beaches, cosmopolitan town and cool - sometimes described as fresh - breezes make it a paradise for someone escaping the crowded hot Costa del Sol!

Have a peep at this website, as it tells you a little more than I can and also it may interest anyone thinking of a quick trip to Tangier, as there is an ad on it giving details of the 35 minute crossing of the Strait.... you never know, you may see some action by the Spanish navy on the way!! Step this way for close up views of Invasion Parsley!!!

http://www.windtarifa.com/index1.html

Cheers, Anchovy Front, but camping . . . I like my home comforts too much.

Seriously, will the last week in August be very busy hostel-wise. I was hoping we could book for first couple of nights then just travel around and find somewhere. August is starting to ease off in Britain holiday-wise, but I take it Spain is still go, go, go . . .

And I think I'll leave the invasions for a wee while. Blood just doesn't look good with a tan

MadridMan writes: Believe it or don't MM, I was in Cadiz this past Monday. I actuaslly went on the Rapido ferry from el Puerto de Santa Maria where I was staying (cost: 4.30 Euro r/t - 25-min each way). Cadiz has some beautiful pedestrian-only shopping streets about 4-blocks from the port and the Cathedral 'anchors' one of those streets.

What really impressed me was the number of new, high rise buildings along the Costa de la Luz north of Cadiz. The beaches were quite crowded; the water was clean and there was very little surf (in the Bay of Cadiz).

There's a Talgo-200 that leaves Madrid around 10:30 and gets to Cadiz around 15:00 or you could take SecorBus/SociBus from Madrid at midnight and arrive Cadiz at about 08:00.