DAY TRIPS? If you are based in Jerez, then why not !, You don't even need a car !  The obvious ones using public transport are the places you can reach using the excellent train service. The railway line, mostly a single track with passing stretches, runs from Seville's SANTA JUSTA station to CADIZ. A new track is being completed which will allow the faster 'high speed' trains to reduce the time in the future. So the present journey from Jerez to Seville, that takes around one hour will fall somewhat.

 So a day trip to Seville is very doable and highly recommended. One tip. If you are arriving into Seville on a regional train then you can alight at SAN BERNARDO station which is a few minutes before Santa Justa. This station is closer to the central tourist sites and you can walk to the cathedral in less time than going all the way to Santa Justa.

Going south on this railway line, gets you into the BAY OF CADIZ with the first stop, only a short journey away,  being  El Puerto de Santa Maria on the banks of the River Guadalete and on the Bay itself.  This town is very popular with Spaniards who flock during the summer months to get away from the heat inland. Even in Jerez it can feel hotter than El Puerto !  The actual beach is a liitle way from the station but if you like a walk and have plenty of time, you can walk through the town, maybe stopping off at the tourist office on Calle Luna, then head down to visit the Osborne Bodega. After maybe tastting some 'fino' you may head for the bullring. Another 30 minutes stroll will eventually bring you to the nearest beaches. Across the river at Valdelagrana, there is a fine slightly shelving beach which has some bars and restaurants and apartment blocks. Running south from this built up area is a 'natural' beach where you can walk along the seashore for a long way. A very nice way to maybe escape the heat of Jerez and get some seaside exercise !

Further south from El Puerto, the railway line runs across the large expanse of marshy salt lagoons. Most of them no longer used for salt  extraction and where you can sometimes see exotic flamingoes.  then you are into Puerto Real or the Royal Port. Many years ago this was the home of the Spanish Navy in this part of Spain. Ships were built here and the Spanish Armada would have set sail from these waters. The Romans originally made this their port base and there are a few Roman remains to be found. A town that is often by-passed by tourists but one that is worth exploring. there are certainly some good places to enjoy a fish meal.

Next stop is San Fernando.  A busier town compared with Puerta Real with again a long sea faring tradition and a flamenco tradition thanks to the inspiration of Camarón amongst others.  It boasts an Observatory and has many other interesting places to discover.

Leaving San Fernando, you soon come towards the Atlantic ocean where the railway line follows the narrow stip of land that connect Cádiz with the mainland. On one side you see the ocean and the other the great inland tidal lakes. If you take the local Cádiz-Jerez commuter train (Cercanias) you will stop at Báhia Sur where you can reach the sand and the beach. Often in the summer you will find people using the train for the beach so be prepared for some rather fancy swimming costumes!  

Then you enter Cádiz where the line enters a tunnel before emerging into the new station near the old city and port.  

If you want to try the bus then head for Jerez bus station which is next door to the train station. Alternative destinations for day trips are Arcos de la Frontera to the north east. Sanlucar de Barrameda to the west. And a number of other places mostly served by the big local bus company called Transportes Generales COMES 

 There are so many options really but maybe if you are a SHERRY connossieur you would wish to visit the other 2 corners of the sherry triangle being El Puerto de Santa Maria and Sanlucar where the Manzanilla comes from. Easily done in two day trips. if you are a flamenco aficionado then you would want to visit all these places but especially San Fernando and Cádiz.

And if you had a car then you could go everywhere ...............................