Tired of holidaying in the same places? A new route to one of Spain’s most underrated cities could broaden your horizons this summer.
The first Jet2 flights from the UK to Jerez have taken off today, bringing travellers from London Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds airports to the heart of Andalusia.
Often described as Malaga with fewer crowds, Jerez is the epicentre of flamenco and the birthplace of sherry, the ‘remarkable’ sweet Spanish wine that’s suddenly back in fashion.
The new routes come months after Ryanair revealed it was axing flights to 12 popular Spanish hotspots, including Jerez and Santander, in a bid to reduce the taxes it pays for operating at airports.
Things to do in Jerez
A fortress town built in the 11th century, Jerez is an elegant destination with charming streets, sundrenched squares and quaint sherry bodegas selling its most famous export.
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The culinary scene is booming; recent years have seen the arrival of 19 Michelin stars to Jerez and the surrounding area.
So it’s no surprise that food and drink are at the heart of everything there is to do here.
Wine tastings and sherry tours take place in the welcome shade of the city’s many churches. The non-negotiable is Jerez Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance fusion.
While fine dining restaurants abound, there is no better way to soak up the local vibe than to eat at a tabanco, traditional Andalusian bars that host live flamenco performances accompanied by tapas.
In this region, you’ll mostly find nibbles like Jabugo ham, pork belly and cheese with quince.
If you’re looking for a real show, head to El Pasaje, the original Jerez flamenco bar that’s been named the best in the world.
Beyond the city walls, Jerez makes for a solid twin break with Cadiz, which is just 20 miles away and well connected by rail. What Jerez has in culture and cuisine, coastal Cadiz has in sea and sand.
A word of warning before you make travel plans: summer may not be the best time to visit. In Jerez, temperatures can peak at 45°C due its low in-land location in Spain’s southernmost province.
Every season has its own charm, but the most popular tourist stretch is spring and autumn, particularly March through May and September to November.
If you can brave the rain, a flamenco festival takes place for two weeks in late January and early February. In December, there’s also a pre-Christmas flamenco event called Zambombas.
Getting to Jerez and where to stay
Jet2 flights will run to Jerez twice a week from London Stansted, Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester airports until the end of October.
Jerez has a wide range of hotels to suit every taste and budget, from heritage B&Bs to private suites surrounded by vineyards.
Metro found standard rooms in a central four-star hotel from £52 per person per night, in June. That rose to £89 per night for a self-contained apartment in the city centre.
Along with new UK routes to Jerez, Jet2 has also launched flights to Pula, an ancient city on Croatia’s Istrian peninusla.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2holidays, said the airline hopes travellers will be excited to explore different destinations this summer.
He said: ‘As we commence our biggest ever summer programme, we are thrilled to see our inaugural flights to Jerez and Pula take off.
We are already looking forward to seeing our full Summer 25 programme taking off to allow our customers to explore these two brand-new destinations.
With miles of golden sands and heaps of culture to be discovered, we are offering holidaymakers plenty of opportunity to get away to both new destinations this summer and next.’
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