Planning a trip to Jerez de la Frontera

Several airlines offer direct flights to Jerez, from Madrid, Barcelona, London, Frankfurt, and Munich. La Parra airport (code: XRY) is located about 11km (6 3/4 miles) northeast of the city center on Carretera Jerez-Sevilla. A cercanía train (C-1) runs every two hours from the airport to downtown Jerez, costing 2.55€. A regular bus service (M-50) costs 1.40€, while a taxi to the city center has a fixed fare of 25€.

There are about 12 trains a day from Sevilla, which take about an hour and cost 13€–23€. From Madrid, there are four or more direct trains a day, taking 4 to 5 hours, costing 37€–70€. The beautifully tiled Mudéjar revival railway station, on Plaza de la Estación, is a landmark in its own right.

Bus connections are also frequent. Socibus operates six buses a day from Madrid’s Estación del Sur (trip time: 7 to 8 hours, cost: around 40€), while there are around 10 buses from Sevilla (trip time: 1hr. 15 mins, cost 11€) operated by Monbus and Comes. The bus terminal is adjacent to the train station on Calle Cartuja, a ten-minute walk from Plaza del Arenal.

Jerez is easy to get to by car. It lies on the highway (AP-4/E-5) connecting Sevilla with Cádiz—take exit 78. There’s plenty of underground parking in town, including a large lot under Plaza del Arenal.

The main tourist office is on Plaza del Arenal, s/n (tel. 95-614-98-63). It’s open Monday to Friday 9am to 2:30pm, at weekends 10am to 2pm, in summer also between 5 and 7pm. It posts a helpful weekly digest of what’s on in the window, including details of free walking tours, and you can pick up flyers for most of the things you’d like to see, eat, and drink.

Events in Jerez

Jerez hosts many festivals and fairs relating to its key traditions and attractions. The Feria de Caballo (Horse Fair, pictured above), usually held in the second week of May, began as a horse-trading gathering in the Middle Ages and has evolved into a week of general revelry which vies with Sevilla’s April feria. Hotel prices spike accordingly.

At the beginning of September, the Fiesta de la Vendimia (Harvest Festival) celebrates the end of the grape harvest with a ceremonial trampling on the steps of the cathedral. The Fiesta de la Bulería flamenco festival kicks off around the same time.

Since 1987, the Spanish motorcycle grand prix has been held at the Circuito de Jerez in early May. On that weekend, tens of thousands of leather-clad bikers from all over the world roar into town.

Fast Facts on Jerez

Emergencies -- In case of an emergency, dial tel. 061; for the police, call tel. 091.

Hospital -- If you need a hospital, head to Hospital Juan Grande, Felix Rodriguez de la Fuenta s/n (tel. 95-635-73-00).

Post Office -- The main branch of the post office is at Calle Cerrón 2