After two trips to Andalusia, I update this article on the preparing for a road trip in Andalusia. Vast region of southern Spain among the most touristic in the country, Andalusia is a region that I particularly appreciate. Its cities, its villages, its natural parks or its coast are among the essentials of a road trip in Andalusia. In this article, we will cover all the topics related to the preparation of a road trip in this region. At the end of the article, I will tell you the story of my last road trip in Andalusia.
Summary:
- Why a road trip in Andalusia?
- Road trip in Andalusia: where to start?
- The essentials of a road trip in Andalusia
- When is the best time for a road trip in Andalusia?
- My 7-day road trip in Andalusia
- FAQ
- Review of this road trip in Andalusia
Why a road trip in Andalusia?
Let’s start this article with a simple question: why visit Andalusia? Indeed this region of southern Spain is one of the most touristic in Europe and is visited each year by several million tourists. So what's so special about Andalusia?
What makes, in part, the charm of Andalusia are its cities. The cities of Andalusia such as Seville, Cordoba or Granada to name a few, are renowned for being among the most beautiful cities in Spain and even in Europe. What makes them so special is the history of this region.
Andalusia has seen, over the centuries, a large number of invaders succeed each other, each having left their mark. Indeed, Andalusia has seen peoples such as the Iberians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and especially Arabs.
Even today, many monuments bear witness to the presence of these peoples. The cathedral of Seville, the Alcazar of Seville, the mezquita of Cordoba or the gardens of the Alhambra in Granada recall, in their mixture of styles, that Andalusia was built according to the invaders.
Andalusia is also the cradle of bullfighting, still widely practiced in cities like Malaga, Seville or La Ronda, but also of Flamenco, a song and a dance that are still very popular in this region of Spain.
Andalusian nature and its landscapes are also one of the assets of the region with the presence of national parks as well as a very popular seaside. The Andalusian climate is a delight for holidaymakers who come to spend the summer on the seaside.
After this brief presentation of the region, let's get to the heart of the matter in order to prepare our road trip in Andalusia.
Seville bullring
Road trip in Andalusia: where to start?
When to go to Andalusia?
To start, the first question to ask yourself in the preparation of your road trip in Andalusia is: When to leave?
For more information on the best time to do a road trip in Andalusia, you can read our paragraph dedicated to this question.
To answer it quickly, we can say that there is not really a bad time for a road trip in Andalusia, although I do not recommend the months of July and August because of the often very hot temperatures inland. . If your road trip focuses on the coast, then that shouldn't be a problem. The best time is spring.
Which route to choose for a road trip in Andalusia?
Now ask yourself what are the must-sees you would like to visit in Andalusia? The following paragraph deals with things to do and see in Andalusia. It is common to arrive in one of the major cities in the region such as Seville or Malaga although it is quite possible to arrive in cities such as Granada or Almeria.
Choose the stages of your road trip using the following paragraph.
Plane ticket to Andalusia
As said just above, Andalusia has several international airports. From the main cities of France, you can reach: Seville, Malaga, Granada, Cadiz and Almeria.
Find a flight to AndalusiaCar rental for your road trip in Andalusia
You will not really have a choice, who says road trip in Andalusia says car rental. This is essential to reach the various places to see and visit, sometimes far from the axes of passage of public transport. Note that it is still possible to take the train to reach the main cities of Andalusia.
Rent a car for 1 or 2 days and stay in the major cities of the region; or rent a car for the duration of your stay, it's up to you.
Book your accommodation in Andalusia
Another point of attention: accommodation. Indeed, you will have to make sure to book your hotels, especially in the big cities of Andalusia, so as not to have any unpleasant surprises. I have devoted two articles to accommodation in Andalusia:
- the first will tell you more about where to sleep in Seville;
- the second concerns accommodation in Malaga.
Book your activities
Some activities and tours, mainly in the cities, will require you to book your ticket in advance. This is the case, for example, of the visit to the gardens of the Alhambra where reservation is compulsory.
It is also advisable to book your visit for the Cathedral of Seville as well as for the Alcazar of Seville, two places where the queues are sometimes very long. A skip-the-line ticket will therefore be welcome.
Also book your Flamenco show in Seville, a must in the city, without a doubt! You will find the activities and visits to book in each section dedicated to the city in question.
Book your excursions and visits in Andalusia
The essentials of a road trip in Andalusia
- Seville
- Malaga
- Cordoba
- Grenada
- Almeria
- Marbella
- Cadiz
- Huelva
- Ronda and white villages
- National parks
- The best beaches in Andalusia
Seville
Seville is undoubtedly the most beautiful and pleasant city in Andalusia. A passage is mandatory in this city during a road trip in Andalusia. Seville has a fascinating history that begins under the Roman Empire and then with the Arab invasions that left their mark on the city, particularly in its architecture with buildings of great beauty such as its cathedral or the Alcazar of Seville.
Seville was also embellished at the beginning of the last century for the organization of the Ibero-American exhibition of 1912. It saw the construction of the magnificent Plaza de España as well as the Plaza de America.
The city also has places that project it into modernity, such as the Metropol Parasol or its brand new aquarium.
If you want to know more about Seville, I invite you to read our article dedicated to visiting Seville.
- Visit to the Alcazar of Seville
- Visit to Seville Cathedral
- Attend a Flamenco show
- Visit to the Seville Aquarium
Opt for the Seville city-pass and benefit from free admission but also discounts and advantages or even a transport card. An ideal card for a stay of a few days. Learn more
Spanish Steps – Seville
Malaga
Malaga is the main city on the Andalusian coast. It is a city also steeped in history with two essential places for a visit to Malaga: its Gibralfaro castle and its Alcazaba. Malaga is also a very pleasant city with lots of things to see around Malaga. The city even enjoys a more pleasant climate than Seville or Cordoba. The proximity to the seaside makes the temperatures much more pleasant.
If you like hiking then you cannot miss the most famous of them, The King's Path. A via ferrata closed a few years ago because it was considered too dangerous. It has been completely renovated and opened its doors a few years ago. No particular difficulty in this hike: enough to enjoy the wonderful landscapes that surround it.
If you want to know more about Malaga, I invite you to read our article dedicated to visiting Malaga.
- Excursion to « El Caminito Del Rey »
- Visit of the Picasso Museum
Cordoba
Cordoba is a smaller city, located inland. The city is known above all for its mosque-cathedral: the mezquita of Cordoba. Cordoba is a typical Andalusian city with small streets, many tapas bars but also its palace, the Alcázar of the Christian kings of Cordoba.
If you want to know more about Cordoba, I invite you to read our article dedicated to the visit of Cordoba.
- Visit to the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba
Grenada
Impossible to organize a road trip in Andalusia without thinking of Granada and its wonderful Alhambra gardens. A true must-see in the region, you will need to take several weeks, or even months, in advance to book your tickets for this famous garden.
If you want to know more about Granada, I invite you to read our article dedicated to visiting Granada or the one dedicated to visiting the Alhambra.
- Visit to the gardens of the Alhambra
As for Seville, Granada offers a city-pass to visit the city, including the Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces. The Granada Card is valid for 5 consecutive days. Learn more
Almeria
Almeria, port in the east of Andalusia, between Granada and Murcia, is home to an infinity of wonders to discover in a total change of scenery.
We visit Muslim Almeria with the Alcazaba surrounded by its impressive walls, the Calle de la Almedina or that of Las Tiendas, typical and unique Muslim streets. We stop for a drink in a teteria before discovering the Cathedral which was once a fortress.
La Casa del Cine hosted many stars like John Lennon before becoming a cinema museum.
We visit the Aljibes de Hayran, built in the XNUMXth century for the public water supply, the Plaza Vieja with its Arab baths or the Plaza de la Constitucion.
Nearby, the Cap de Gata allows you to relax or walk on the beaches, the paths, the creeks where many birds evolve.
- Tabernas Desert Tour
- Visit Oasis Theme Park (formerly Mini Hollywood)
Marbella
The old town, sheltered in the bay, is typically Andalusian with its whitewashed houses and its many orange trees. At the foot of the Sierra Blanca, the plaza de Los Naranjos is lined with superb buildings such as the XNUMXth century town hall or the XNUMXth century Casa del Corregidor.
The Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnacion and the towers that were part of the old Arab fortress in the XNUMXth century are worth seeing.
The Museum of Contemporary Spanish Engraving, housed in the XNUMXth century Bazan Hospital, houses a superb collection of engravings, some of which are signed by Picasso, Miro or Dali.
For relaxation, head to Puerto Banus, a leisure area inside the marina. Marbella is also a paradise for golfers and water sports enthusiasts.
- Excursion to La Ronda
Cadiz
In the bay of the same name, Cadiz is known for its beaches, its festivals and its important historical heritage. The atmosphere is relaxed, with a pretty port and delicious seafood to taste.
The old town is very pleasant with its cobbled streets lined with elegant facades in pastel tones, its dead ends, its cafes, its alleys and its small port. The Plaza Topete or Plaza de las Flores, is particularly pleasant to take a break in the middle of the flowers, near the central market.
The Museum of Fine Arts is one of the must-sees, as is the cathedral, which mixes baroque and neoclassical styles.
The old cathedral was that of Cadiz until 1838. Its polychrome azulejos are absolutely beautiful. Cadiz is also home to one of the most important Roman theaters in Spain. It is located in the people's quarter, between the Old Cathedral and the Arc des Blancs.
The castles of San Sebastian and Santa Catalina are particularly stunning. Between the two, Playa de la Caleta has inspired many poets and musicians.
Huelva
Surrounded by several parks and nature reserves, the city of Huelva is the westernmost of the major Andalusian cities.
We visit the monastery of La Rabida and the Puerto de Palos from where Christopher Columbus set out to conquer America. The “Fe Descubridora” commemorates this event and is one of the symbols of the city.
La Merced Cathedral is one of the most important religious buildings in the city. The viewpoint of El Conquero allows you to enjoy an unobstructed view of the entire city and the Odiel estuary.
Huelva has a long mining tradition which appears in the Reina Victoria district with English-style houses.
We also visit the house of Columbus, the Quai du Ore or the provincial museum of Huelva and its collection of objects from the Roman era.
The Marisma of Odiel is accessible by the bridge connecting Punta Umbria to the city. You can admire one of the largest colonies of birds in southern Europe, as well as chameleons.
Ronda and white villages
Another essential place for a stay in Andalusia, the village of Ronda and the white villages. Located not far from Malaga, Ronda is famous worldwide for being the cradle of bullfighting. A true religion in this region, bullfighting attracts many tourists every year who come to see a bullfight.
Rest assured, bullfighting is not the only interest of a visit to this region.
The white villages, of which Ronda is a part, are famous for the beauty of their small streets and their houses with white facades. These villages also bear witness to the Arab influence from which the region benefits.
Andalusia's national parks
Andalusia is famous for its national parks:
- Le Cabo de Gata-Nijar Park in Almeria is full of impressive landscapes composed of volcanic rocks, white sand beaches, islands surrounded by coral reefs. It's the desert by the sea with hiking trails between cacti and palm trees to secluded coves.
- Le parc national de Donana, in the province of Huelva, hosts thousands of flamingos, deer, Iberian lynx or imperial agile. Many observation posts are easily accessible.
- Le Cazorla and Segura park in Jaén is the largest protected area in Spain. Crossed by the Guadalquivir and the Segura, one walks there to see many mammals, birds and butterflies.
- Le Sierra de las Nieves park in Malaga is made up of a wide variety of forests where mountain goats, snouts, etc. live. The karstic landscape shaped by time is home to many prehistoric fossils and amazing rock formations.
- Le Sierra de Castril park in Granada is born in the heart of the mountains and ends in the reservoir of El Portillo with very pure waters.
The best beaches in Andalusia
The beaches are also part of the charm of Andalusia:
- El playazo beach and Monsul beach
In the Cabo de Gata-Nijar natural park, playa el Playazo is superb and ideal with young children. The Playa de Monsul has been the scene of many films with its miles of fine sand. - Playa de la Rihanna
On the Costa Tropical, between the Sierra Nevada and the sea, the numerous coves and hidden beaches benefit from a tropical microclimate. - Horseshoe
In a horseshoe-shaped bay, it is ideal for water sports but also for families and scuba diving. - Canuelo Beach
Crystal clear waters, numerous coves and underwater formations nearby in Los Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo National Park, between Malaga and Granada. - Cala de Maro Beach
Voted the second most beautiful beach in Spain, it is superb. - Beach of Bologna
On the Costa de la Luz, dozens of kilometers of golden sand bordered by crystal clear waters with 30 meter high dunes that move with the wind.
When is the best time for a road trip in Andalusia?
Well, there is no real answer to this question. Everything will depend on what you want to promote during your road trip in Andalusia. If you want to focus your trip on beaches and hikes, then you will have to favor the summer. The seaside is very pleasant. Note, however, that temperatures inland, such as in Seville or Cordoba, can very quickly rise in summer and exceed 40 degrees.
The best time to visit cities like Seville is late winter and spring. The temperatures are pleasant and the sun is shining. Winter is not a bad time either, certainly you will not really be able to enjoy the beaches of Andalusia, but if your stay focuses on the main Andalusian cities, then winter is not a bad time. and may well fit.
My 7-day road trip in Andalusia
My trip was broken down into 3 parts. The first 3 days we were accommodated by Ruralidays, the specialist in villa rentals in Andalusia in a small village located 50 minutes from Malaga, Alcaucin. First of all I wondered if a vacation rental so far from the city was not a constraint. I'm used to staying in the center of big cities for various reasons, including convenience. In Andalusia it is a bit different. In addition to the 4 major cities in the region, Seville, Malaga, Cordoba and Granada, Andalusia has a multitude of places to see and not to be missed. This is why it is not at all essential to stay in one of the big cities of Andalusia. You will necessarily find activities that require a bit of driving. You will have understood that car rental in Andalusia is essential. Besides that, I discovered a significant advantage to renting accommodation in rural areas, it is simple, I let you watch the view that we had every morning at breakfast and every evening. My trip to Andalusia lasted 7 days, which is far from enough if you want to see everything, but it will give me the opportunity to come back.
Here is my day by day schedule. You will have the opportunity to discover these places in more detail very quickly.
Day 1, Arrival in Malaga
The first day was largely reserved for the visit of Malaga, in particular with the visit of the famous and magnificent Alcazaba, Gibraltar or the Cathedral of the Incarnation. You will also discover the Picasso Museum. Malaga is a very pleasant city where it is good to walk around and stroll around the port.
Jour 2, The King's Path
El caminito del rey is the highlight of our trip. This hike, reputed to be the most dangerous in the world, has reopened after more than 10 years of closure following the death of several people. After several years of work, this pedestrian path opens to welcome the public and offer them a unique experience.
Day 3, Cave of Nerja
The caves of Nerja is a place that I really wanted to see and visit. It's done and I'm not disappointed. These caves are really spectacular, I will have the opportunity to write an article about it soon.
Day 4, Almuñecar and departure for Cordoba
On day 4, we headed to the coast to enjoy a bit of the beach and also to snorkel. For those who do not know what snorkeling consists of, it is quite simply the act of contemplating the marine fauna and flora with the help of a mask, a snorkel and flippers. Even if Spain is not the flagship destination for snorkeling, you can discover very beautiful corals.
After this activity, direction Malaga to take a train to Cordoba to spend the evening there.
Day 5, Cordoba and departure for Seville
After having been able to enjoy a long and hot evening in Cordoba, where we could contemplate the illuminated cathedral, we devote the day to discover Cordoba under a stifling heat. Cordoba is not a very big city, one day is enough to visit it but I think it is important to spend at least one night in the city to know the evening atmospheres it offers, but also the bars and restaurant (to discover any specialities). Departure for Seville at the end of the afternoon.
Days 6 and 7, Visit of Seville
After having spent our first evening in Seville, we devote the end of this stay to the visit of this city. I will soon devote an article dedicated to Seville, a real favorite for me, but also to the charming hotel in which I was able to stay. This city is rich in activities and places to visit.
What will make me return to Andalusia
Rather than telling you about what I missed, I'm going to tell you about the things that will make me come back to Andalusia (and no, it's not the same thing 😉 ).
First of all, a week in Andalusia is far too short to see everything. Andalusia is rich in things to discover, whether in the city or in nature. I would like to enjoy a little more of the many natural parks that Andalusia has to offer, such as the Torcal de Antequera park or discovering the Sierras de Tejeda. Another place that will make me come back to Andalusia is the famous Ronda, this small town has one of the oldest arenas where bullfighting is played.
One of Andalusia's must-sees (which I purposely missed) is, of course, Granada. This city with its famous Alhambra garden which Mélanie told us about recently in her article Visit Granada.
FAQ
When is the best time to visit Andalusia?
We have already detailed this question above. But the best time to make a road trip in Andalusia is at spring. More informationWhat is the weather like in Andalusia?
Overall, the weather in Andalusia is quite pleasant. Except in the middle of summer when temperatures often exceed 40 degrees, especially inland. Temperatures will vary between 15 and 25 degrees on average throughout the year; and between 30 and 40 degrees the months of June to September. If you are close to the sea, temperatures remain around 30 degrees in the middle of summer.How to get to Andalusia?
The easiest is totake the plane. You have many flights between France (Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, …) and Andalusia (Seville, Granada, …). Then, all you have to do is rent a car to make your road trip in Andalusia.What are the airports in Andalusia?
The airport where it is most common to arrive is that of Seville. The airport of Malaga is also very important. You will also have the possibility of arriving in cities with smaller airports such as Granada, with a stopover.Which circuit for a road trip in Andalusia?
The circuit will depend on what you want to see first in Andalusia. The circuit will draw automatically when you have selected your steps. Unmissable Andalusia road tripHow long should you plan for your road trip in Andalusia?
Andalusia is a fairly large region and above all, with a multitude of things to visit! It will therefore take several days if you want to visit different cities. A week-long road trip in Andalusia will already allow you to have a good overview of the region.Summary of Vietnam
The results of my trip to Andalusia are very positive. It was my first trip to Spain and this region really makes me want to go back. A real favorite for the city of Seville and also for my few days spent in the Andalusian countryside in Alcaucin where I discovered typical Spain with magnificent landscapes. Do not hesitate to give me your impressions if you too have had the chance to visit Andalusia.
