Cadiz vs. Malaga????
 

I'm leaving Saturday (5/28) will be in Sevilla for four nights-- I want to take a day trip to the beach, but can't decide if I should go to Cadiz or Malaga. I've been to Cadiz before, and enjoyed it, but I don't know much about Malaga--if its nicer, or warmer, etc. since it is on the Med. instead of the Atlantic. Let me know if anyone has any advice!

If you are simply looking for beach I say go to Malaga. If you are looking for town and stuff to see/do then since you've been to Cadiz you know whats there. I wouldn't say the beach is Cadiz is that fantastic but people usually don't like Malaga because of the "concrete jungle" that surrounds it.

Thanks for the reply! See, I was in Cadiz at Carnival, so I don't really know what it's like for a normal visit. I do just want to spend one day there, so... do you think the beaches at Malaga are better? Why did you suggest Malaga if I was simply "looking for a beach"? Isn't it farther away from Sevilla than Cadiz?

Yes, its much farther. Seems to me if you just wanted to lay on the beach you could just go to Huelva or somewhere closer to Sevilla. I just wouldn't say Cadiz is a really beach town. Its not what its known for. Malaga on the other hand is known for sun, sand, beach houses, etc. I really think they are both too far to go just to sit on a beach if you are only going to be in Spain for a short time. Just my personal opinion.

Well, last week the sea along the Atlantic coast really was a bit chilly for swimming in - even for those of us who strongly prefer cold weather.

OTOH, Seville (which presumably is the city you're going to be in for four nights: why do you spell it in such a bizarre way?) was already getting uncomfortably hot during the day, and you might well want just to escape to the coast. If swimming isn't that important, why not try the Costa de Huelva - nearer Seville than either Cadiz or Malaga, with great pinewoods behind the beach for almost almost all its length, and magnificent light, especially round sunset. Mostly full of villas for weekending Sevillians, so the beaches are blissfully empty in midweek right now - and you get served right away in the restaurants (unlike round Malaga, where the British and German hordes are already descending). Slip a bit of Christopher Columbus sightseeing in at Rabida and Palos de la Frontera, or even at El Rocio, if you're interested in Spain's biggest piilgrimage site.

Or closer still, Sanlucar de Barrameda, where if I remember rightly the Festa de la Manzanilla is on next week, with its beaches towards Chipiona.

I've been living in Malaga for a year now and frankly, I don't recommend any of its beaches. Reason 1. the sand is "imported", 2. they're dirty and crowded, 3. the sight of port cranes, office buildings and ships just doesn't fit in.
Instead, I recommend the beaches between Malaga and Granada, especially around Nerja. Nerja is a small beach town with one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Europe, the Burriana beach, once voted the "Blue Flag" beach of Europe. There are enough restaurants, bars, and shops nearby to keep you entertained as well.

Thank you all so much for your advice. I've decided against Malaga, yet I'm still a little unsure of the rest. So... is this about right?
1. Cadiz -- nice town to walk through, pretty nice beaches, probably a little bit cold to swim - about 2 hours from sevilla
2. Huelva -- also on the atlantic, so also cold, not much there, but pretty pine forests if all I want is the beach, but closer to sevilla.
3. Sanlucar de Barrameda -- is there a train that goes here? Is this part of Huelva or Chipiona?
4. Nerja -- beautiful beaches, but farther away then the others (3 to 4 hours from Sevilla) probably the best choice, if I don't mind the time? Could I take a very early train and make it back at night?

Thanks so much guys! :)

Don't expect to find too many good beaches in Malaga - and many of them are not being cleaned yet, it's too early. From Seville make for Matalascañas in Huelva or Chiclana or Conil in Cadiz. This are lovely beaches with good sand as opposed to the gritty Malaga beaches. The best beaches in Malaga province are Fuengirola, Rincon de la Victoria and Nerja - none of these are easy to get to from Seville.
Enjoy your stay.

Here's one to add to your list: el Puerto de Santa Maria. It's about an hour & 20 min from Sevilla by (hourly) regional train, a little more by bus.

It may be better than Huelva because you can walk (about 1km) from the rail station down to the beach. In Huelva (assuming that you go to Huelva itself rather than Matalascanas) you have to catch a bus.

Sanlucar is east of the Donana and the rio Guadalquivir