Barbate holidays

Holidays to Barbate are all about watersports, seafood and top-tier scenery on the south coast of Spain.

Tapas by the sea

Barbate’s a fishing town tucked away on Spain’s south coast, and food is something the people here take very seriously. There are dozens of eateries where you can try traditional Andalusian dishes, from bistros by the beach to lit-up restaurants down narrow side-streets. Seafood’s all the rage here, as you might expect from a fishing town – most menus are dotted with dishes like tuna steaks and sizzling prawns. And after you’ve eaten, you can head to the seafront for post-dinner drinks. Barbate’s bars come to life with live music and flamenco dancing, especially at weekends. You might catch a photo-worthy sunset while you’re down there, too.

Soak up the scenery

You’ll find La Breña y Marismas del Barbate Natural Park right on the edge of town – it’s a huge blanket of greenery that’s popular with hikers, runners and mountain bikers. If you fancy getting a little active on your holiday to Barbate, there are lots of trails around the park, taking you past pine forests and over sand dunes by the coast. The most well-known hiking route is called the Sendero del Acantilado – it's just over 7km long, and it takes around two hours to plod around. You'll wander by marshes and cliffsides, not forgetting the Torre del Tajo, a tower that dates back to the 16th century. Bring your camera along – there are plenty of photo opportunities along the way.

Take to the waves

If you head to the beach, don’t be surprised to see flurries of people in wetsuits making their way towards the waves – sandy swathes like Caños de Meca and Faro de Trafalgar are especially popular with surfers. You could seize the day and take a surf lesson yourself, or lay back on your sunbed and watch the action from a distance. Watersports like kayaking and paddle-boarding are big in this part of Spain, too, and some people even go scuba diving here. Put it this way – if you’re a water baby, there’s lots for you to do.