A taste of Greece in Spain
Vejer de la Frontera, Spain
It is a beautiful white city on a hill. It is located about two hours from Seville. My travel partner and I rented a car to get to this location, which I highly recommend you do, because you can stay as long as you would like. You can also skip straight ahead and take a spontaneous trip to the small seaside town of Barbate, Spain, which is only about twenty minutes away.
Here are the must-knows:
There are streets that circle the city on the side of the hill. Park for free on the side and climb the stairs to enter the city.
Everything is cobblestones, so good shoes are necessary,(or at least have another pair in the car). The location is very hilly and there are a lot of one-way streets. You might want to drop a pin of your car’s location, so that you are not wandering around looking for it…like myself.
Siesta in Spain is no joke! It happens between 2 pm - 5 pm, kinda like a mid-day break and EVERYTHING slows down. You will want to arrive before 2 pm to be able to grab some food before exploring the small town.
Some might say that there is nothing “to do” and that is correct. It is the kind of town you allow yourself to wander about; get lost in the ocean of white houses, small courtyards, and beautiful side views. There are small shops and the store owners do speak some English, but it is worth noting that google translate might help. The shops are so cute and open until the evening. Another great place for watching the sunset, if you have the time! For my own trip, I watched it on the beach in Barbate.
Stood in the Adriatic Sea, CHECK!
The ocean is easily accessible from the town of Barbate, Spain. You can follow Google Maps or just listen for the sound of crashing waves. The waterfront is beautiful, with shops lining the beach. The shop owners mostly speak Spanish, but my minimal Spanish worked just fine.
Cadeques, Spain
Another picturesque, white Spanish town right on the coast is Cadeques, located two hours north of Barcelona and very close to the border of France (just 15 minutes away).
Here are the must-knows:
A car is a must to reach this location- The roads feature lots of roundabouts and mountain passes, and the views are gorgeous!
More cobblestones and hills await!. But hey, the most beautiful things are not always easy, right?. Parking is a bit more difficult due to the location and the roads. The hotel receptionist from Hotel Vehi was very helpful and gave us good directions on where to find parking which did include a mild hike back and forth to the car.
Due to the town’s location, they speak more French & Spanish than English- an important fact to keep in mind. Google Translate can help, so don’t let it overwhelm you or stop you from staying.
The town is at least worth a day trip, even just to drive around. Enjoy the view (as seen in the picture above) from the front steps of the Parroquia De Cadaques. This simultaneously serves as another perfect sunset spot.
From my own experience, there is not a lot “to do,” but one can easily enjoy a walk around the town, the smell of the ocean breeze, grab some food or drinks, or soak in the relaxing sanctuary of a quiet town. Worth the stop if a peaceful day is what you crave amidst your busier travels!
The view from the car on the drive to Cadeques.
Lastly, I LOVED how the small towns looked like Greece. They are worth the stop, if a peaceful day is what you crave amidst your busier travels!
