My family has been visiting Puerto Sherry for years (it’s just 30 mins from Sanlúcar). We love the area so much we recently purchased an apartment overlooking the marina. 😍 Below you’ll find my personal recommendations I share with family and friends staying at our place in Puerto Sherry. If you have any questions, just leave a comment below.
The view from our apartment in Puerto Sherry
Before you arrive, keep in mind Puerto Sherry is a community within the city of Puerto de Santa Maria. There’s a hotel, numerous apartments, a supermarket, pharmacy, shops, bars, restaurants and the marina full of yachts and small boats. You can walk from one end of Puerto Sherry to the other in 20 minutes or less. There are multiple parking areas for residents and non-residents (specified with signs), but parking can get tricky in high-season so the earlier you arrive in the day the more likely you’ll find a spot. The walkway that curves along Puerto Sherry ends at the Playa de la Muralla, with its beautiful views of the bay of Cadiz. In summer, this beach has a lifeguard, kiosk with food and drinks, showers, and bathrooms.
The best way to get to Puerto Sherry
If you’re not renting a car you’ll need to get to the city of Puerto de Santa Maria first, then you can grab a 15 min taxi to Puerto Sherry. In summer you might want to book your train ahead of time as everyone in Spain is on holiday and trains tend to fill up. If there are no trains available you can check rideshare and bus options with sites like omio.com.
Closest airports to Puerto Sherry
- Jerez airport (XRY): The airport in Jerez de la Frontera is the closest airport to Puerto Sherry (30 minute drive). You could take a taxi straight to Puerto Sherry (I’d expect it to cost 40€ – 50€) or travel by bus or train to Puerto de Santa Maria. Both the train and bus cost around 4€ and take less than 30 minutes, however the train is more frequent and faster. Jerez’s bus and train station are conveniently located next door to each other, and you can take a quick train from the airport to the train station.
- Seville airport (SVQ): Seville’s Airport is 1.5 hours away by train or car. You can take the airport bus to either the Santa Justa or San Bernardo train stations, and from there get to Puerto de Santa Maria by train. Alternatively, you could go to the Plaza de Armas or Prado de San Sebastion bus stations to get a ride to Puerto de Santa Maria. Both bus and train cost around 14€ and take about the same amount of time.
- Other airports to consider: Gibraltar airport is about the same distance as Seville at 130 km. Malaga airport is a bit farther at 230 km.
Heading to my in-laws’ boat for a day on the bay
Do you need a car in Puerto Sherry?
It depends…the community has a supermarket, pharmacy, shopping and plenty of restaurants. You don’t need a car if your plan is to lounge on the beach and enjoy the establishments in the area, but if you want to see other parts of Cádiz (like the mountain villages in the sierra) or venture to other beaches and restaurants in Puerto de Santa Maria then I would recommend renting a car.
If you want to visit the city of Cádiz, you could take the ferry from Puerto de Santa Maria. This is a fun way to see the bay by boat and it only costs 4€. There are ferries every hour or so, and the ride lasts 30 minutes. Just keep in mind the ferry leaves from the Terminal Marítima El Puerto, which is a 15 minute drive by taxi (1 hour walk) from Puerto Sherry.
Note: Taxis in Puerto de Santa Maria are few and far between, so your best bet is to call them a day ahead of time if you need to arrange transport to the train station etc. There is also a taxi app but I haven’t used it yet. You should be able to grab a taxi at the train station. 🚕
You can enjoy the beach year round – not just in summer!
My favorite restaurants in Puerto Sherry
There are a ton of great restaurants in Puerto Sherry. Below you’ll find a list of places I frequent the most, but I’d recommend trying as many restaurants as possible—there are several I haven’t tried yet and aren’t listed below. In summer I would always recommend making a reservation.
- Crefondue (casual & kid-friendly): I love the view and we often go here for brunch on the weekends. They serve burgers, crepes and fondue options as well. The reason I like going here with the kids is there’s lots of space between tables and we never have an issue bringing our double stroller.
- Blanca Paloma Pizzeria (casual & kid-friendly): Blanca Paloma is located next door to Crefondue and also has a fabulous view. The restaurant is locally owned and also serves brunch in the mornings.
- Crabby’s Coastfood (casual & kid-friendly): This place has seating directly on the water or inside with a glassed exterior. Inside there’s space for a stroller and you can still enjoy the view. I usually stick to their burgers or poke bowl when eating here.
- Tilcara (casual): This place specializes in Argentinian cuisine; it’s a bit small to go with the kids so I usually get dessert or empanadas to go. It’s also a good option for breakfast!
- Amarola: The aesthetic of this restaurant is dreamy. It’s great for a date or meal with friends. I love all their dishes so it’s hard to recommend just one thing to try!
- Bocana: Another cool spot to go with your partner or friends, specifically for a small bite and mainly for drinks. 😉
We love brunch with a view!
Nightlife in Puerto Sherry
The nightlife in the area has grown quite a bit in the last few years. You can get cocktails at several bars dotted along the walkway to the beach, and there are four beach clubs within walking distance. I haven’t gotten to enjoy the nightlife myself (yet) since we always go with kids, but there are a few places I’d like to check out. PhiPhi Beach, BLU, Playa Canalla and Margarita are all located next to each other and less than a 10 minute walk from the marina.
In high season, they’re open from the afternoon through the early hours of the morning. These beach clubs are like outdoor disco’s; a cross between a chiringuito and a nightclub with live DJs, performers, concerts, etc. I’ve heard they enforce a dress code if you go in the evening, and that the ambience at these spots is a bit younger (like teens and twenties). Also, in high season you might not get in without a reservation or a spot on ‘the list’—which you can secure by contacting the establishment ahead of time. Check their Instagram profiles linked above for more info.
Summer evenings at Phiphi Beach (image source)
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