Cadiz

Cadiz rewards travellers who like their sightseeing free, because the historic centre is compact, flat, and ringed by the Atlantic, so most of the best stops cost nothing to reach on foot. The Roman theatre, the star-shaped Castillo de Santa Catalina at the end of La Caleta, the leafy Parque Genoves, and the Phoenician and Roman remains at the Gadir archaeological site can all be entered without paying, and the Cadiz Museum is free for EU citizens. La Caleta beach sits inside the old town between two castles, so a free Atlantic swim is never more than a short walk from the cathedral or the central market, where cheap fried fish and a wander through the salt-washed lanes cost next to nothing. Come in spring or autumn shoulder season for mild weather and lower room rates, and treat the city as a budget base for day trips to the sherry bodegas of Jerez and the grander streets of Seville further up into Spain. Check current hours and any free-tour booking on the official tourism site at turismo.cadiz.es before you go.