On the beach
Right now
Live conditions from Open-Meteo, refreshed hourly.
7-day outlook
7-day marine forecast from Open-Meteo.
Sea temperature
Next 7 days, °C
Wave height
Next 7 days, metres
View as table
| Day | Sea temp (°C) | Wave height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 | 22.7 | 0.5 |
| Thu 3 | 22.5 | 0.5 |
| Fri 4 | 22.7 | 0.4 |
| Sat 5 | 22.4 | 0.4 |
| Sun 6 | 22.8 | 0.4 |
| Mon 7 | 23.0 | 0.4 |
| Tue 8 | 22.6 | 0.5 |
Water quality history
Official EEA classification, one rating per bathing season, 2015–2025 — real data reported by national authorities.
- 2015: Excellent2015
- 2016: Excellent2016
- 2017: Excellent2017
- 2018: Excellent2018
- 2019: Excellent2019
- 2020: Excellent2020
- 2021: Excellent2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Excellent2023
- 2024: Excellent2024
- 2025: Excellent2025
Excellent in the most recent season, and 11 of 11 classified years rated Excellent or Good.
- Excellent
- Good
- Sufficient
- Poor
- Not classified
View as table
| Year | Classification |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Excellent |
| 2016 | Excellent |
| 2017 | Excellent |
| 2018 | Excellent |
| 2019 | Excellent |
| 2020 | Excellent |
| 2021 | Excellent |
| 2022 | Excellent |
| 2023 | Excellent |
| 2024 | Excellent |
| 2025 | Excellent |
Typical sea temperature by month
Modeled estimatePlausible seasonal climatology derived from latitude, for illustration — not a measured average.
Monthly sea temperature
Typical range across the year, °C
View as table
| Month | Typical sea temp (°C) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 17 |
| Feb | 16 |
| Mar | 17 |
| Apr | 19 |
| May | 21 |
| Jun | 23 |
| Jul | 25 |
| Aug | 25 |
| Sep | 25 |
| Oct | 23 |
| Nov | 21 |
| Dec | 19 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- 1.6 km
- Playa de la Muralla2.2 kmCádiz
- 2.8 km
- Playa la Puntilla3.2 kmCádiz
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
- Bus stop: Mar Adriático (Las Redes), about ~160 m away.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest town: El Puerto de Santa María, about ~4.4 km away.
- 4 places to eat within 1 km Closest is Chiringuito de la Concha, about ~20 m away.
- 1 place to stay mapped nearby
- 2 shops nearby, the closest about ~190 m away
What kind of beach is this?
This beach belongs to a small coastal village. It's usually calmer than a resort or town beach, though a popular village spot can still fill up on the best summer days.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
- Families
Is the water clean at Playa de Santa Catalina?
Playa de Santa Catalina sits on a stretch of coast classed as a coastal bathing site, carrying an official EU Bathing Water rating of Excellent for the 2025 season. Under the EU Bathing Water Directive, national authorities test for intestinal enterococci and E. coli through the season and report the results the following spring — the 2025 rating was published in spring 2026, and 2026's won't follow until spring 2027. In addition to that yearly rating, some national authorities — for Croatia, the national environmental authority — publish individual water sample results during the season itself, ahead of the annual report. It sits in Cádiz. You can park about ~90 m away.
That rating has been consistent: every one of the 11 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. If you're timing a visit around water temperature rather than crowds, July–October is the safest bet, with August typically the peak — expect a cooler, calmer sea either side of that stretch. El Puerto de Santa María — the closest town — sits about ~4.4 km from here.
That “Excellent” label comes from a full season of official water sampling, not a single test — it's one step on a four-point scale (Excellent, Good, Sufficient, Poor) reassessed once a year. Today's actual conditions can differ from the seasonal average, so for a live snapshot see the “Right now” and 7-day outlook panels above. It's been a consistently reliable spot too — the rating has held at Excellent for 11 straight years. There are 4 places to eat within a kilometre — Chiringuito de la Concha is the closest, about ~20 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Playa de Santa Catalina a safe beach for swimming?
Generally, yes. Playa de Santa Catalina's 2025 EU Bathing Water rating is Excellent — the highest tier — backed by 11 of 11 classified seasons rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 11 straight years.
How warm is the sea at Playa de Santa Catalina right now?
Right now, the sea at Playa de Santa Catalina is measuring around 22°C; see the “Right now” panel above for the latest conditions. That's the reading right off Cádiz.
What's the best month to visit Playa de Santa Catalina for swimming?
July–October is typically the most reliable swimming window, with the sea usually warmest in the second half of summer. That applies to the water around Cádiz.
How is the water quality rating measured?
National authorities sample the water for intestinal enterococci and E. coli bacteria through the bathing season and report the full-season results to the European Environment Agency each spring for the season just finished, which assigns one of four annual classifications — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — under the EU Bathing Water Directive. Some national authorities, including Croatia's IZOR, also publish individual in-season sample results ahead of that annual report.
How do I get to Playa de Santa Catalina without a car?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. By bus, the nearest stop is Mar Adriático (Las Redes), about ~160 m away. The nearest town is El Puerto de Santa María, about ~4.4 km away.