Hotel de Francia y Paris sits on the Plaza de San Francisco in the Casco Antiguo, the old town of Cadiz. It is a mid-sized hotel with around fifty rooms, a terrace, a cafe and a bar, and the long-established feel of a city-centre address rather than a resort. The location is the point: from the square you are within a short walk of the Oratorio de la Santa Cueva, Plaza de Mina, the Museum of Cadiz and the main sights of the historic centre.
Location and getting around
Plaza de San Francisco is a calm square in the old town, a few steps from the shopping streets and the lanes that lead to the sea. Nearby you will find the Oratorio de la Santa Cueva, Plaza de Mina, the Museum of Cadiz and the Monument to the Constitution of 1812, while Plaza de Espana, Torre Tavira, the cathedral and the Gran Teatro Falla are all within walking distance.
The Golfo de Cadiz is close, so a stroll to the sea wall for sunset takes only a few minutes. You will rarely need a taxi, except for the train station or for luggage on arrival.
Facilities
The hotel has around fifty rooms, a 24-hour front desk, a terrace, a cafe and a bar, and a concierge who can point you to tours and tickets. A continental breakfast is available for an extra charge. Rooms are described with air conditioning, flat-screen televisions, refrigerators, safes and hair dryers, and there is free WiFi and an elevator.
Meeting rooms and a banquet hall mean that the hotel also hosts events, so the public areas can be busy at weekends. As in many old-town buildings, room size and outlook vary, so ask about quieter rooms away from the street if you prefer calm.
Who it suits
First-time visitors who want to walk everywhere, couples on a city break, and travellers who like a traditional hotel with a terrace and a bar. It works well for Carnival, Easter week and the autumn and spring shoulder seasons, although those peaks fill rooms quickly and prices rise, so book early.
Drivers should plan ahead, because the old town has restricted streets and parking is usually in public garages nearby, so ask the hotel for the best option before you arrive. Summer evenings are lively on the squares, and a room on an upper floor is usually quieter.
Making the most of a stay
Begin with a morning walk to the cathedral and Torre Tavira, take a long lunch of fried fish and tortillitas near the market, and spend the afternoon at the museum or on the seafront. In the evening, follow the crowd to Plaza de Mina and the nearby bars.
Day trips by train to Jerez and Seville, or by ferry to El Puerto de Santa Maria, start a short taxi ride away. Bring comfortable shoes for the stone streets, and confirm breakfast, check-in times and cancellation terms when you book so that the details match your plans.
Why stay here
- ✓Free WiFi
- ✓Air conditioning
- ✓24-hour front desk
- ✓Terrace
- ✓Cafe and bar
- ✓Concierge
- ✓Elevator
- ✓In-room safes
Good questions
Where is Hotel de Francia y Paris?+
On Plaza de San Francisco in the old town, within walking distance of the cathedral, Torre Tavira and Plaza de Mina.
Is breakfast included?+
A continental breakfast is available for an extra charge. Check what your rate includes when you book.
Is it good for walking everywhere?+
Yes, the sights, the market and the tapas bars of the old town are all within easy walking distance.
