Summary of Andalusia Travel Guide
Andalusia may be the poorest region in Spain economically, but it’s the richest in terms of culture, places to visit, and things to do. It is the most stereotypically Spanish region, with glorious sunshine most of the year; bullfighting, tapas, and flamenco at every turn. If you choose just one region to visit in Spain, make this it!
This list is in order from most to least interesting places to visit in Andalusia.
Andalusia Highlights
- The Alhambra in Granada. The Alhambra is a Moorish fortress complex, featuring numerous stunning buildings and gardens like you won’t see anywhere else.
- The Cathedral and Alcazar in Seville are the best sights and are located side by side. The Cathedral is enormous, marrying Christian and Moorish designs to spectacular effect.
- The bridge at Ronda. Ronda is perched over a ravine, providing exceptional views from the bridge. Although getting to Ronda can be quite difficult, if you’re staying on the Costa del Sol, consider a guided tour of Ronda.
- Everyone is currently talking about Osuna and its use as a filming location in Game of Thrones.
- The Mosque in Cordoba. As the largest mosque in Spain, it is the highlight of any trip to Cordoba.
- Free tapas in Granada. Granada is well-known for its bars, where they serve a complimentary bite of food with every drink.
- Flamenco in Seville, the home of Spain’s most distinctive art form. It isn’t solely about dancing; masterful guitar playing and passionate vocals stir the emotions.
- Sherry in Jerez. Jerez is the birthplace of sherry, and a guided tour of one of the many bodegas (wine cellars) is the single most important thing to do in Andalusia.
- Bullfighting in Seville, although it may not be to everyone’s taste.
- The wine-growing and ham-producing region of Alpujarras. A short drive from Granada, this mountainous collection of villages is perfect for hiking or sampling the best ham in the country.
- Fried fish in Cadiz. The ‘gaditanos’ (inhabitants of Cadiz) invented fried fish long before the British caught on.
Events in Andalusia
Explore the vibrant festivals occurring throughout Andalusia.
Planning Your Andalusia Itinerary
There are various ways to reach Andalusia, depending on your arrival point:
- Flying into Madrid: Take the high-speed AVE train to Cordoba or onward to Seville.
- Flying into Malaga: Take the bus directly from the airport to Granada (or Seville).
- Traveling from Portugal: Take a bus to Seville.
- Coming by Ferry from Morocco: Take the ferry to Tarifa, then a bus to Cadiz or Seville.
- Arriving in Barcelona: Fly to Seville (Ryanair often has cheap flights) or take the high-speed AVE train.
Suggested Itineraries from Madrid or Seville
From Madrid, a high-speed train journey to Seville takes just two and a half hours. Cordoba lies on the route to Seville, making it an excellent stopping point. From Seville, a visit to Cordoba can be done as a day trip (or even a half-day trip).
- One Day: Day trip to Seville.
- Two Days: Spend two days in Seville, with a visit to Cordoba en route, or devote both days to Granada.
- Three Days: Two days in Seville, visiting Cordoba along the way, followed by a day in Granada.
- Four Days: Two days in Seville, stopping in Cordoba. Then spend a day in Ronda, staying overnight before heading to Granada.
- Five Days: Two days in Seville with a stop in Cordoba, followed by day trips to Jerez and Cadiz or visiting Cadiz in the daytime and spending the night in Jerez before going to Ronda.
- Six Days: Similar to above, with either an extra day in Granada or a visit to Tarifa.
- Seven Days: Consider adding a day trip to Tangiers in Morocco.
Suggested Itineraries from Malaga
- One Day: Day trip to Granada.
- Two Days: A day trip to Granada and another to Ronda (stay in Malaga both nights). Alternatively, spend both days in Seville.
- Three Days: Choose two between Seville (spending two days there), Ronda (one day), and Granada (one or two days).
- Four Days: Two days in Seville, one in Ronda, and one in Granada.
- Five Days: Two days in Seville, a day trip to Jerez and Cadiz, or head to Granada for your remaining days.
- Six Days: Similar to above, but either add an extra day in Granada or visit Tarifa.
- Seven Days: Consider a day trip to Tangiers in Morocco.
Granada
While Seville might be larger and offer more attractions, Granada’s unique sights make it the top place to visit in this region. Although you may want to spend more time in Seville, if you could only choose one destination in Andalusia, Granada would be my recommendation.
What to Do in Granada
The Alhambra, a Moorish fortress, palace, and gardens complex, is the primary sight in Grenada, located on a hill overlooking the city. Across from the Alhambra, two fantastic neighborhoods are worth exploring. The Albayzín is the old Moorish quarter, featuring narrow winding streets and stunning whitewashed buildings. From here, you can catch excellent views of the Alhambra.
Then there’s Sacromonte, known for its cave dwellings, where some residents showcase flamenco shows.
Additionally, don’t miss out on the city’s renowned tapas bars. Granada is unique in that you can still receive complimentary tapas with your drinks, a delightful tradition.
Day Trip, Stay The Night, or Base Yourself in Granada?
Granada makes a convenient base depending on your arrival point. If flying into Malaga, it’s less than a two-hour bus ride from the airport (there’s a direct bus as well).
There are many Day Trips from Granada, particularly to Seville and Cordoba; however, Seville merits more than merely a day trip.
Where to Stay in Granada
For stunning views, consider staying at Rambutan Guest House. They offer limited rooms, including private accommodations and dorms, all at an unbelievably low price.
Seville
For many, Seville is regarded as the best city in Andalusia, and it undeniably offers more attractions compared to Granada.
What to Do in Seville
Barrio Santa Cruz, Macarena, and Triana rank among the top neighborhoods to explore in Seville. The cathedral, featuring its Moorish Giralda tower, presents a fascinating blend of cultures and architectural styles.
Although tapas in Seville don’t come for free, they are generally of better quality than in Granada, establishing Seville as the second-best destination for gourmet tapas in Spain after San Sebastian.
Day Trip, Stay The Night, or Base Yourself in Seville?
Seville serves as an ideal base for exploring Andalusia. It features the AVE high-speed train connection to Cordoba (if it hasn’t been visited on your way from Madrid), seamless travel options to Granada, and direct trains to both Cadiz and Jerez. For trips to these latter two cities, Seville is the only suitable base.
Visiting Seville from Granada is certainly possible, although I would recommend spending multiple days there, as a single day is seldom sufficient.
Ronda
Ronda is an awe-inspiring destination, with its challenging transport connections being the only factor that might deter you from visiting this remarkable city while in Andalusia.
What to Do in Ronda
Ronda’s lofty position over the Tajo gorge is its greatest charm. This remote city features striking bridges and breathtaking views.
It also houses a wine museum and interesting ruins of Moorish baths to explore.
Day Trip, Stay The Night, or Base Yourself in Ronda?
Ronda is not convenient for serving as a base for the rest of Andalusia; travel times could be excessive.
Due to similar reasons, it’s best to do a day trip from anywhere other than Malaga and Costa del Sol if you choose to take a guided tour. Traveling there and back in a single day may leave little opportunity to explore the city. Engaging a guided tour provides valuable local knowledge, making day trips worthwhile. Alternatively, consider staying the night if you’re planning to visit independently.
Cordoba
Cordoba, positioned along the high-speed train route from Madrid to Seville, is often people’s first introduction to Andalusia when heading south from the capital. It serves as an excellent jump-off point for any trip to southern Spain.
What to Do in Cordoba
The main attraction in Cordoba is the Mezquita-Cathedral, formerly the biggest mosque in Europe, now a Catholic cathedral.
Day Trip, Stay The Night, or Base Yourself in Cordoba?
If pressed for time, you can see the key sights of Cordoba within a few hours, making it a perfect stop on the way between Madrid and Seville. If already in Seville, a day trip to Cordoba is well worth the 45-minute train journey.
As the initial stop in Andalusia while heading southwards from Madrid, it is sensible to base yourself in Cordoba. The main loop encompassing Seville, Cordoba, and Granada takes the same duration to complete, yet basing yourself in Cordoba minimizes your overall travel distance.
How to Get to Cordoba
As mentioned, Cordoba is well-connected for travelers coming from Madrid or Seville thanks to the high-speed AVE train. Connections from other destinations can be trickier, as slower trains may make bus travel a more efficient option.
Cadiz
Cadiz is renowned for its fried fish and pleasant microclimate afforded by its peninsula location.
What to Do in Cadiz
Cadiz offers a fantastic opportunity to sample the famed fried fish that Andalusia is known for. It is also near the sherry triangle, making it an excellent place to find local wines. The beautiful old town, particularly the La Viña neighborhood, is not to be missed.
Day Trip, Stay The Night, or Base Yourself in Cadiz?
While a day trip to Cadiz is enjoyable, you may find that one day is sufficient. This is due, in part, to the prevalence of fried fish at restaurants. Although two meals consisting of fish is feasible, consuming more than that can be overwhelming.
Longer stays might be worthwhile if you want to explore the beaches.
Cadiz can be conveniently visited as a day trip from Seville, but staying in Jerez allows you to enjoy the excellent tabanco sherry bars while visiting Cadiz.
How to Get to Cadiz
Cadiz is connected to Seville by frequent and swift train services routed via Jerez. To reach Ronda, expect a leisurely bus journey, which stops in many charming pueblos blancos.
Jerez
Jerez is located along the train line from Seville to Cadiz and is famously recognized as the birthplace of sherry.
What to Do in Jerez
Jerez is synonymous with sherry. It’s not just about the delightful wine; it’s also about the experience, enjoyed in the charming vintage tabanco sherry bars.
Consider visiting a sherry bodega to appreciate the production process, or take in the renowned horse shows of Jerez.
Day Trip, Stay The Night, or Base Yourself in Jerez?
While you can explore Jerez thoroughly in a day, extending your stay is advisable to make the most of the nightlife. If daytime attractions hold no interest, visiting Cadiz for a fried fish lunch and a stroll through the old town might be more appealing.
Tarifa
Tarifa represents mainland Spain’s southernmost town and is almost adjacent to Morocco, situated at the point where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet.
What to Do in Tarifa
Tarifa is all about water-based activities, so whether your interests lie in watersports, visiting Morocco, or whale watching, this town has something for everyone. While not the only route to Morocco, Tarifa has the quickest crossing and offers a pleasant departure point.
Day Trip, Stay The Night, or Base Yourself in Tarifa?
Due to its location, Tarifa is not convenient for exploring Andalusia. Your length of stay will likely depend on your interests—you could stay for a month learning to windsurf or simply pass through on your way to Morocco.
Tangiers (Morocco)
Although Spain hasn’t annexed Tangiers, its proximity—just a half hour by boat from Tarifa—means it might as well be part of Andalusia when it comes to trip planning. If you’re visiting Seville, Ronda, Cadiz, Jerez, or Tarifa, Tangiers is certainly worth a visit.
What to Do in Tangiers
Making a short trip to Tangiers from Andalusia allows you to not only experience another country but also step into another continent.
However, explore Tangiers for more than just a quick visit; though it may not rank as Morocco’s most captivating city (that title likely goes to Fez and Marrakech), it is rich in history and has undergone significant improvements in recent years, boasting a vibrant souk akin to those seen in other Moroccan cities.
Day Trip, Stay The Night, or Base Yourself in Tangiers?
Ultimately, most visits to Tangiers are brief, with a single day often sufficient. An overnight trip could be worthwhile, though extended stays should be dedicated to exploring deeper into Morocco, whether by land or through flights to Fez or Marrakech.
How to Get to Tangiers and the Rest of Morocco
Many guided tours of Morocco leave from Spain, or you can set off on your own via ferry.
Malaga
Malaga boasts Andalusia’s largest airport, making it a typical landing point for visitors. But is it worth sticking around?
What to Do in Malaga
Malaga is best known for its fried fish, which pales in comparison to the offerings in Cadiz. It produces its own sweet wine, but it lacks the intrigue of Jerez, and its Alcazaba doesn’t measure up to the Alhambra in Granada or the Alcazar in Seville. Furthermore, the beaches are fairly average compared to the rest of the Costa del Sol and Costa de Almeria.
Yet, Malaga benefits from the best weather of any city in Spain. This means you can enjoy nearly year-round outdoor dining and drinking in its terrazas. If only these terraces weren’t surrounded by chain retailers and frozen-yogurt shops.
If you have three days in Spain and yearn for sun, food, and nightlife, Malaga could be your ideal choice on the mainland. However, if you’re searching for more enrichment, consider venturing elsewhere.
Day Trip, Stay The Night, or Base Yourself in Malaga?
None of the above. Instead, take the bus straight from the airport to Seville or Granada. While you’ll find an abundant network of tours from this city, it’s best used as a transit point.
How to Get to Malaga
There is a high-speed AVE train connecting Madrid to Malaga, but for other destinations, you’ll likely need to rely on buses.
