I visited this lesser-known European gem alone — and spent just £300 in a week

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‘Your trip has been cancelled.’

had always been on my list of things to do and the weather was looking particularly good.

I've gone on three solo trips so far to Bulgaria, Poland, and Spain, and started this tradtion by chance when I was 21-years-old and had no one to go on a holiday with.

And I always feel like I've just had the equivalent of having ten therapy sessions when I get back.

Andalusia was on me solo travel wish-list as I wanted to see as many historical sights as I could, and that's not always something me partner or mates are keen on.

– a Roman theatre, a grand Gothic Spanish cathedral and Moorish whitewashed homes are all just a five-minute stroll away.

– one of the oldest in Western Europe – with its streets "painted" by the generations who once lived there, from the Mozzies to sailors.

Its main attractions, from the spotless beach to the lively market, are all just a 15-minute walk from each other, so you're unlikely to need transport.

What really stood out to me was the total lack of tourists. To me, it looked like most visitors were retired folks just popping in for a day as part of a cruise package. I didn't spot a single Pom under 65.

If you're not a fan of big crowds, this little-known choice might be just what you're after.

Cádiz holiday cost breakdown

• Accommodation through Airbnb for four nights in Cadiz: £272
• Return flights to Seville: £218
• AirBnB for two nights in Seville: $220
• Spending money: £300

, Spain

Getting to the southern town in Andalusia isn’t exactly straightforward, but it’s also pretty easy.

You'll have to take a three-hour flight to Seville, then catch a coach or train for about an hour and a half to Cádiz.

I chose the coach (it was only £11 one-way, and had the Aussie luxury I'd only ever seen in brochures – a telly on the coach, with movies, games, texts and even free internet access to boot! A real ripper.)

The train is a bit pricier, averaging around twenty to thirty bucks, depending on when you're visiting.

When's the best time to visit Cádiz and how many days should you plan for?

If you prefer nice weather at 25 degrees Celsius and not hot, May would be the best time to visit. Cádiz is a pretty breezy city so it's generally cooler than other places in Andalusia like Seville.

If you're in a hurry, you can cover Cádiz in 48 hours, but I reckon it's worth hanging around for four days so you can take in all the city has to offer.

Me flight with Ryanair was $189 one-way, but I upgraded to include priority boarding and a suitcase as I was going away for seven days.

Fair dinkum, the average airfare to Seville doesn't have to break the bank. Flights in October are as affordable as £33 one-way, courtesy of SkyScanner.

in Cádiz, Spain

Whenever I'm on holidays, I tend to stay in an Airbnb as I enjoy the idea of being a local. You know, picking up fresh produce from the local market, cooking a decent breakfast and pretending like I actually reside there.

In the heart of the historic city centre for $110 a night.

I felt like the bloke in a ripper of a yarn, strolling into the local bakery before chucking the esky into the ute and heading to the beach with a good read in hand.

My modest Airbnb was light and airy, tastefully decked out, with large windows I could easily yank open and check out the world passing by down on the footpath below.

If a hotel with a buffet breakfast and daily cleaning is more your style, there are heaps of hotels hidden away in the historic part of town and along the beach, but on average, it'll set you back around $250 to $1,500 more, depending on your taste and budget.

, Spain

a historic cafe which has been serving locals from Cádiz since 1912.

That was preceded by a long day spent lounging at the beach, shifting between swimming, reading, and doing nothing.

Cádiz has got heaps of beaches to choose from, and I was stoked to find all of them were clean, sandy and easily accessible on foot – Playa Santa Maria del Mar (pictured) was me favourite. Plus, at some of the beaches, it was just me as the only mug there.

for the ultimate taste sensation

Fair dinkum, take my word for it and head to Cádiz Central Market first, which sells produce during the day and then transforms into a food market with dozens of independent stalls at night.

I chow'd down on some sushi - no, not the Spanish sort - made with fresh Tuna I caught myself in Cádiz and bought from the markets that arvo. Fair dinkum, it was the perfect way to sample the local grub without having to chuck it on the barbie.

What did I get for $38 at Cádiz Central Market?

• A kilo of beef tomatoes
• A kilo of oranges
• A quarter of a kilogram of cherries
• Fresh sushi made with tuna caught in Cádiz
• Two nectarines
• Water
• A pair of linen pants
• A peach (the salesperson chucked it at me for free, fair dinkum)

There are heaps of mouth-watering restaurants around, from locally caught seafood served up in laid-back bars to top-notch fancy places. It gets even better – I went to the posh, high-end restaurants, ordered multiple courses and drinks, and never spent over €35 is outdated now so I will use AU dollars instead $35.

I ended up chomping down on three dishes, shown in the pictures, for a total of thirty quid. Normally, you'd get a starter, main and dessert, but I'm not a big fan of sweet treats and I'm always starving!

The bill came with fresh lemonade and still water included. If I was going to order grog, the bill might have been pricier, but as it happens I'm a non-drinker so I save some cash.

I loved the tucker at the restaurants, I really did, but me favourite thing I ate (or should I say chugged) was the gazpacho (cold Spanish soup) that I picked up by the litre at the supermarket. Paired with some crackers and a snag, it was bloody ripper.

For history and culture, the ruins of the Roman theatre are free to enter, and tickets to the cathedral range between $2.80 to $5.50.

In my opinion, the most culturally enriching thing to do is taking a stroll through the Old Town. I spent hours wandering down the narrow, cobbled laneways – I had a ripper of a time.

, Spain

You could easily spend all your time in Cádiz, but the coastal city has good transport options, making it a breeze to check out the rest of Andalusia.

Over in Europe, I had a ripper of a day checking out heaps of Flamenco shows (thanks to some fair dinkum street performers), getting a bit lost in the old town, and my absolute favourite, popping into Plaza Espana. The land marker celebrating different parts of Spain gave me a real kick in the architecture-loving heart.

For once I didn't follow the norm and missed out on having an olive – gotta try one next time.

Other places are a bit closer than Seville though. Jerez de la Frontera, famous for its sherry wine, flamenco culture, and Moorish fortress, is only a 35-minute bus trip away.

I really enjoyed my time in Cádiz, but next time I'd chuck in a visit to Donana National Park as well.

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The wetlands are home to flamingos, lynxes, glossy ibises and more, and I'm always keen on a good wildlife spotter's paradise. Plus, it's a pretty convenient spot, only a 44-minute drive out of the city.

My verdict? Cádiz had plenty of sun, beautiful beaches and heaps of history and it was surprisingly quiet. If you're a fan of top-notch grub and decent getaways that won't break the bank, it's the ripper of a spot to head to.

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