Hotels in Medina Sidonia

Upper old town

At the very top of the hill are the Gothic church of Santa María la Coronada and what's left of the castle. If you stay in these streets, you can walk up to the viewpoint at dusk, when the countryside turns orange and on clear days you can make out the sea.

These are narrow, steep alleys with little room to park. It's best to leave the car below and walk up with light luggage. It suits couples and those wanting quiet nights, as there's hardly any traffic up here.

Plaza de España and around

The Plaza de España, presided over by the town hall, is where locals gather at any hour. Around it you have bars, bakeries and the confectioners selling alfajores, the local honey and almond sweets. From here you can walk through the Arco de la Pastora and the Arco de Belén, and down to the Roman galleries that can be visited beneath the town.

The streets are a little less steep than higher up and there are more services. If you're travelling with children or older people, this area is easier going. The morning is when you'll see most activity, with shopping and coffee on the terraces.

Best-rated in this area: Hotel Tugasa Casa Palacio Medina Sidonia, with a score of 9.0 from 920 reviews.

Farmhouses and countryside

Around the town stretches countryside of cereal fields and dehesa pasture, with farmhouses and rural houses. On the outskirts is the Visigothic hermitage of Los Santos Mártires, worth a stop even if you don't stay nearby.

Staying in the countryside makes sense if you want to use Medina as a starting point by car: Vejer, Conil, the Barbate coast and the Los Alcornocales hills are within reasonable reach. To eat in town you'll have to drive back, so bear that in mind. In return you get very dark nights, good for stargazing, and breakfasts overlooking the fields.