Cádiz

Cádiz may be the oldest continuously inhabited city in Western Europe, founded by Phoenician traders more than 3,000 years ago. It sits on a narrow peninsula sticking out into the Atlantic, with water visible from almost every street. The cruise terminal is right in the old quarter, so you can walk to the cathedral, the central market, and the main plazas within minutes. The Cádiz Cathedral, with its gold-tiled dome, took over a century to build and mixes Baroque and Neoclassical styles. Climb the Torre Tavira for a panoramic view of the rooftops and sea. The central market, Mercado Central, is lively in the mornings, with stalls selling fried fish, sherry, and local cheese. Cádiz is the birthplace of Spain's constitutional democracy, and the 1812 Constitution museum sits near the waterfront. The beaches of La Caleta and Playa de la Victoria are within walking distance if you want a swim. Tapas bars fill the backstreets, and tortillitas de camarones (shrimp fritters) are the local signature. Spanish is the language, and the gaditano accent is famously fast.