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 | 21.4 | 0.8 |
| Thu 3 | 20.9 | 0.9 |
| Fri 4 | 21.3 | 0.7 |
| Sat 5 | 21.5 | 1.0 |
| Sun 6 | 22.0 | 0.9 |
| Mon 7 | 22.8 | 0.6 |
| Tue 8 | 23.0 | 0.7 |
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
- Playa Ca?os de Meca3.4 kmCádiz
- Playa el Palmar3.6 kmCádiz
- Playa los Bateles9.4 kmCádiz
- Playa Hierbabuena9.6 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: Hotel Alhambra (Zahora), about ~1.1 km away.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest town: Vejer de la Frontera, about ~9.2 km away.
- 7 places to eat within 1 km Closest is Sajorami Beach, about ~30 m away.
- 8 places to stay mapped nearby Closest is Sajorami Beach, about ~30 m away.
- 3 shops nearby, the closest about ~720 m away
What kind of beach is this?
This beach sits in a built-up resort setting, with hotels, restaurants and services clustered around it — a full-service stretch of coast that tends to be busy in peak season and quieter outside it.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
- Families
- Naturist
- Full-service days
Is the water clean at Playa Zahora?
Playa Zahora is a coastal bathing site with an official EU Bathing Water rating of Excellent for the 2025 season — the highest official classification under the EU bathing-water assessment. That annual classification comes from the EU Bathing Water Directive: national authorities test for two indicator bacteria, intestinal enterococci and E. coli, throughout the bathing season, then report the full-season results to the European Environment Agency (EEA) the following spring — the 2025 season's rating was published in spring 2026, and the 2026 season won't be rated 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. On site you'll find Lifeguard, Sandy shore, and Toilets. You can park about ~240 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. Vejer de la Frontera — the closest town — sits about ~9.2 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 7 places to eat within a kilometre — Sajorami Beach is the closest, about ~30 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is the water at Playa Zahora safe right now?
Generally, yes. Playa Zahora'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.
Is the sea warm at Playa Zahora today?
Right now, the sea at Playa Zahora is measuring around 21°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 Zahora 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.
What's behind the water quality rating shown above?
The annual classification — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — is built from a full season of official testing for intestinal enterococci and E. coli, reported to the European Environment Agency each spring. Some national authorities (Croatia's IZOR among them) also publish individual samples during the season itself; Playa Zahora isn't yet covered by that in-season feed.
How do you get to Playa Zahora?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. By bus, the nearest stop is Hotel Alhambra (Zahora), about ~1.1 km away. The nearest town is Vejer de la Frontera, about ~9.2 km away.