Andalusia – ruins and temples, beaches and mountains, cultured cities and idyllic villages. It’s hard to know where is best to visit in the southern Spanish region. So, why not see it all by taking a road trip? There are 1000 different ways you could choose to plan your Andalucian Roadtrip, but we thought for once we could have a go at playing travel agent and coming up with a detailed route we’d love to take rather than just finding you the best offers out there.
Andalusian roadtrip – the ultimate Spanish tour
Included in our travel tips are super comfortable, cheap as chips accommodation and a multitude of fantastic sights. We have made suggestions for amazing food, bars and restaurants along the way. Some are also on a budget and some are a bit more extravagant but the quality of the dishes and the uniqueness of the eateries make the splurge well worth it. Now it’s up to you to get there.
Day 1: Málaga – Granada
On your first day in the sun-kissed South, relaxation should be is the order of the day. Before setting out on the first leg of your trip take a few moments to relax and get used to the climate – it can be stonking hot in the summer months! To start your holiday with a bang, head straight for the open-air dining terrace of the Parador Gibralfaro luxury hotel. The Parador is located on the side of Mount Gibralfaro and offers a unique, panoramic view over Málaga’s bay, the old town and the coastal cordilleras that tower dramatically on the horizon.
Take a seat on the terrace, order a Cortado or a Vino Tinto, and let the south sink in.
After realising that you are really here, it’s time to take on the first leg of your trip. A gentle, 90-minute drive is going to transport you from Málaga to Granada, the city of the last Emirate on Spanish soil. Over the course of your journey, you will travel through lush scenery, over steep mountains and through deep river valleys, the slopes of which are populated with olive trees typical of the region.
If you fancy stopping off at a natural wonder, you can also drive along the coast and make a detour to the famous Caves of Nerja – refreshingly cool after a hot car ride.
In Granada, a great place to stay is the Hotel Granada Centro. It’s only 2-star accommodation but has an ‘excellent’ rating based on guest reviews, and wont break the bank. The rooms are simple yet attractive and each room features a deep bath perfect for soaking away your worries and getting into full holiday mode. The hotel is close to some of Granada’s best shops, nightlife, and of course, food.
Alhambra, the stunning palace and fortress complex made up of primarily Islamic structures dating back as far the 9th century is just a walk away and is probably the most famous sight in Granada.
Our tip: Book a tour or try your luck and turn up early the next morning when it’s not too crowded. If you come shortly after the gates open at 8.30am the fortifications are almost empty. It’s only after 10 o’clock, that the tourists flock here in earnest, by which point you’ll already be heading back to get the next leg underway.
After checking-in and the obligatory siesta (go on, treat yourself), you could take a walk through El Albayzín, a part of the city famous for its winding alleys that are largely unchanged since Moorish times and beautiful medieval churches and houses that seem to be found on every corner. The view from atop the hilly suburb offers a sensational panorama of the Alhambra, framed by distant mountains.
The Granada Cathedral is also really worth seeing. Completed in 1561, the interior is amazing, not just because of the ornate details of every surface but, vaguely T.A.R.D.I.S like, the vaulted ceilings seem to rise much higher than the Cathedral looks from the outside is much higher than it does from the outside. Reminders of the Moorish era are scattered throughout the city. The Tourist Information Centre inhabits an old caravanserai, Arabic baths built in the 11th century can be visited before lunch and Arabic palaces such as the Casa de Chapiz and the Madrasah, a 13th-century Arabic university, are available for visits.
In the evening, visit the Gitano Quarter, specifically Sacromonte, where you will find numerous bars where Flamenco is sung and danced every evening. If you still need inspiration check out what other activities are available.
Day 2: Granada – Ronda
We trust you slept well? For early morning culture and history, you should visit the Alhambra if you haven’t done so already, or grab a quick bite to eat and take advantage of the morning cool and hit the road fairly early. We recommend travelling north-west through the Vega. Skip the motorway and take the N-432 instead, it’s less busy, much nicer and is the terrain becomes more mountainous you’ll be able to spot ruined castles scattered across the hillsides.
A pitstop in Córdoba: You’ll probably arrive in Córdoba shortly after noon. The drive should have taken roughly 2.5 hours to bring here to the largest river in Andalusia, the Guadalquivir, which flows through Córdoba. Park your car in the newer part of the city (it can take ages to find a spot in the old town) and make your way to the old town and world famous mosque by crossing the almost 2000-year-old Roman bridge.
Make sure you can devote at least a half hour to navigating the mosque. Traversing the forest of 856 pillars that make up the former prayer room is not something that should be rushed (photo above). A guided tour is also recommended, but only if you have the time to spare and visiting the mosque is your highlight of the day.
Afterwards, it’s definitely time for lunch. Of the many great eateries, one good example is Bodegas Mezquita, situated in the heart of the Jewish Quarter and specialising on Andulsian fare with locally sourced goods.
Another Cortado and a cheeky flan (caramel pudding), and off you go again in the direction of Ronda, which you’ll reach after about 2.5 hours of mountain views and panoramas. No rush, but try and be checked-in, refreshed and back out on the street before dusk because Ronda is never more beautiful than in the evening light. This city, that still has the sleepy calm of a village, often has the adjective ‘romantic’ attached to it , and you’ll see why as you ramble from the new settlement to the 100-meters deep canyon which divides Ronda, across the New Bridge and through the winding streets of the old town to the Arabian baths.
Visit the “House of the Moorish King” (Casa del Rey Moro) with its mysterious water mine, the hidden passageway down to the water supply, over 300 roughly-hewn steps below, that kept the population hydrated during sieges of old. Fair warning, the return trip is hard graft, but at the end, you can your breathe in the Arabian gardens of the former palace; where there is, naturally, a cafe.
For simple, central, family-run accommodation, stay at the Hostal Dõna Carmen. It’s central and the service is fantastic. Parking can be hard to find in Ronda and some hotels charge a fair bit for private parking. Due to the size of the city, it’s totally fine to park a few minutes away from your hotel as street parking is free.
It is the weekend after all, so if you fancy treating yourself, you could reserve a table on the terrace of the Albacara – delicious traditional Andalusian cuisine with a view that’d bring a tear to the eye. If you’re after simpler fare, delectable, local eateries are found in abundance.
Day 3: Ronda – Seville
You can spend the morning relaxing in Ronda, whose 13th-century Baños Arabes – the Arab Baths, are the best preserved in Spain. After that, it’s back on the road, continuing through picturesque, rocky valleys dotted with the white villages of Andalusia, glistening like snowflakes on the horizon. One of these is Arcos. Located about an hour and a half from Ronda, it is perched atop a steep cliff like an eagle’s nest. Park your car before you reach the old city – further along, the streets become too narrow to drive comfortably, and anyway the climb up is half the fun.
Don’t forget your water bottle. It does get hot, but relief (and more water) await you at the Plaza del Cabildo, with amazing panoramic views that have earned it the nickname ‘Balcon’ – the Balcony. You’ll feel like a bird scanning the horizon, the cars on the streets far below looking like tiny playthings. The best part, however, is the fresh breeze that blows up from the bottom of the valley, cooling you off just when you need it most.
By now, you’re probably hungry, so on to lunch: two streets further on you’ll find La Carcel – ‘the prison’, a tapas bar with very arresting wine offers. After lunch, it’s only another 1.5 hours on to Seville, and so much the better – you’ll want to make the most of your brief stay in the Andalusian capital. To really feel like you’re experiencing Seville proper, you could spend the night in the Jewish quarter in a 19th-century building that now operates as The Pensión Catedral.
For the afternoon in Seville, you can go on an extensive tour of the Alcázar, the royal castle – still part of the original Moorish style, which is the most sumptuous of Andalusian architecture. Then you can relax in the royal garden with its palm trees, hedges, softly rippling fountains and the benches decorated with blue tiles.
If there’s still time left over, take a walk through the pedestrian zone of the old town, where you will find Spanish design shops side-by-side with international fashion outlets as well as loads of cool cafes and restaurants in opulent old buildings. Our recommended evening activity: get lost in the maze of Santa Cruz. Bring your GPS, but don’t be upset if you still end up losing your bearings – the labyrinthine roads of the old Jewish quarter are so confusing that even locals sometimes get disorientated. It’s all part of the charm of Seville.
Your goal is the quaint Bodega Santa Cruz Las Columnas, where after you’ve made your way through the crowds up to the bar, the bartenders will write your bill with chalk on the bar, just like in the days of old. Enjoy a delicious Cruzcampo beer, served along with sliced ham and cheese – delightful – then test out your navigational skills again in the enchanting labyrinth – even more of a challenge after a beer or two.
Day 4: Seville – Cádiz
After a relaxed breakfast in a cafe of your choice, complete with strong coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice, throw your bags in the car and head south along the Guadalquivir. Your final destination for today, the coast, is only two hours away, so you can easily make a detour to Jerez – the city is practically on the way.
Jerez de la Frontera is famous for a particular drink which was named after the city – Sherry. Jerez’s high society is still made up of a handful of families who produce enormous amounts of this unique wine (and amazing brandy) in their huge Bodegas.
Naturally, a visit to one of these wine cellars is almost mandatory. But, as the tours also include a wine tasting (no surprise there), and someone still has a spot of driving to do, make sure to know your limits. With that, a big lunch is advisable. To really fortify yourself you could visit the Albores, where local recipes, passed down through generations, are reinterpreted and beautifully prepared. ¡Qué aproveche! (Bon Appetit!)
The tourist information centre it is only a two-minute walk from the restaurant, and with so many different tours available you can be very spontaneous and just turn up and book one on the spot.
After educating your palate, it’s time to head down to the coast. Not long out of Jerez you’ll see the sea glitter on the horizon. Cross the new bridge to reach the peninsula and descend into the confusion of the old town streets of Cádiz.
Cádiz proper is fairly pricey accommodation wise, so to keep the costs down you could grab a private room in a traditional hostel. One great example is the Hospederia La Cantarera where a double room won’t set you back too much. Located right in the middle of the old town, the cathedral is only a few minutes away, and the views from the Tavira observation tower are as incredible now as they were when it was built in the 1700s.
Climbing the tower should burn a few calories and build an appetite, so now is the perfect time for an explore of the pastry shops in the old town. Apart from the world-famous Carnival, cervezaCádiz is most famous for it baking traditions; there are numerous, small family-run businesses each with their own generational recipes for biscuits, tarts and meringues. The only problem is that everything is incredibly tasty and delicious. Take in the sunset at Caleta, Cádiz’s inner-city beach, where you can watch the last rays of the day sparkling over the sea, with a view of the lighthouse and an ice-cold Cerveza in hand.
Day 5: Cádiz – Málaga
Hasta Luego, Cádiz! Today we’re heading south along the Costa de la Luz. The white facades of the houses glisten in the sun, and the Atlantic sprawls endlessly out to the horizon until you turn into the mountains where the higher vantage point lets you catch sight of Africa far off in the distance. When the visibility is good and unobstructed, it seems you could almost reach Morocco in one massive leap.
If at this juncture you are feeling overwhelmed and like you need some grounding, then it’s time for a lunch break in Little Britain. Not that of Vicky Pollard fame, but Gibraltar – the great rock at the southern tip of Spain.
The best idea is to park your car in the Spanish border town of La Línea and walk from there. Parking is free and the passport check moves a lot quicker than when you and hundreds of other vehicles have to have their papers checked.
Once you arrive in Gibraltar there’re a few things that are immediately familiar; pubs, red phone boxes, street signs and more pubs. Every premises claims to be the best, but many ex-pats would rate The Clipper right up there; fish & chips, burgers and local beers are just the tip of what this gastro-pub has on offer.
A frosty pint should be just enough to energise you for a walk to the summit to see what all the fuss is about. You’ll be rewarded by a unique panorama, over the ocean to Africa, out to the bay of Algeciras and along the Mediterranean coast to the east. After the hike, you’re more than entitled to travel back down via cable car.
And now, a bitter-sweet moment, the final leg of the trip. From here it’s just two hours along the Mediterranean coast back to Málaga. To enjoy it properly, you should take the toll-free coastal highway; it runs parallel to the sea and hugs the shore close enough that you can see the waves rushing to the beach.
In Málaga, you probably want to stay central. The Villa Alicia Guesthouse is an oasis of calm in the bustling city while remaining very central. The Picasso Museum is only a 15-minute walk from here and is home to more than 200 paintings and sculptures by the world-famous artist. After a culture fix, you could head towards the elegant shopping street, Calle Marqués de Larios. After a light lunch during the siesta, stroll along the street shaded by gorgeous buildings, over polished marble floors with giant, endless shop fronts as far as the eye can see.
Málaga is chock-a-block with places to sample the mouth-watering local wine. One recommendation is the Bar Antigua Casa de Guardia; behind the bar are massive wooden drums from which the waiters pour your wine directly from the source. You’ll probably want to pair your tipple with the last few plates of tapas – olives, picos, spicy sausage slices, tortilla de patatas and more…… It’s time to raise your glass and say Adíos, tomorrow is your flight home.
Want to read more?
- Top 10 tips for travelling in Spain this summer
- Hidden gems in Spain
- The most beautiful coastal towns in Spain
Originally published 04 2017, updated 05 2022.
