Andalusia Road Trip Itinerary: the most beautiful places in Southern Spain

Who hasn’t been dreaming of a road trip in Andalusia? This fantastic Spanish region is known for its Moorish architecture with colorful mosaics, delicious tapas, “pueblos blancos”, magnificent mountain ranges and flamenco. You can explore the most beautiful places in Southern Spain! Ready to start planning?

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Andalusia Road Trip Itinerary: the most beautiful places in Southern Spain

Where is Andalusia and how to get there?

Andalusia is the most southern region of Spain. It has 3 international airports; Sevilla, Málaga and Córdoba. I chose to depart from Málaga, but you can start this road trip also from the other locations. Just take into account your travel time then, so you still have enough time to explore these places.

Andalusia Road Trip Itinerary

Duration of the trip: 14 days / 13 nights
Hours of driving: 9 hours 37 minutes
Kilometers: 742.5 km
Start: Málaga airport
End: Málaga airport

ANDALUSIA ROAD TRIP ITINERARY

• Málaga – 2 nights
• Granada – 3 nights
• Córdoba – 3 nights
• Sevilla – 4 nights
• Málaga – 1 night

Road Trip Day 1 – Arrival at Málaga

Hotel: In Málaga I stayed at the Sallés Málaga Hotel.

Málaga is the first stop of this Andalusia road trip. Depending on the time of arrival you can already start exploring the city. Málaga is the sixth largest city of Spain, but its historic city center is not that big. You can do everything by foot easily.

In case you need lunch make sure to try the tapas at El Piyayo (C/ Granada 36). For dinner on your first night I recommend eating at Plaza del Obispo. This is a cozy square next to Málaga’s amazing cathedral. I ate at La Taberna del Obispo. Just make sure if you order tapas, that it is clear you would like to receive all tapas at once.

Road Trip Day 2 – Exploring Málaga

Málaga does not have countless sights to see, it is more a city you have to experience at a slow pace. I recommend visiting the Alcazaba and the Castillo de Gibralfaro in the morning. The Alcazaba is Spain’s best preserved fortress. It is built in Moorish style and overlooks the sea. Also its lush fountain decorated gardens are worth visiting. If you are not tired yet you can climb further to the Castillo de Gibralfaro. The castle ruins itself are not very spectacular, but the view up there is amazing. For lunch you could go to El Patio (C/Granada 39).

Places you could explore in Málaga in the afternoon:

• Plaza del Obispo, a very photogenic and cosy square. Here you’ll find the cathedral (Iglesia del Sagrario) and the Palacio Episcopal in baroque style, which are both gorgeous.
• If you are looking for some shade you can walk down the Paseo del Parque to the Plaza de Toros, underneath the palm trees while the monk parakeets are flying above your head. On your way you’ll pass the impressive city hall, built in neo baroque style and the Jardines Puerta Oscura.
• Art lovers will enjoy their time at the Picasso Museum.
• If you would like to shop you will find everything at shopping street Marques de Larios and its surrounding streets (take into account shops are closed during siesta time)

A place I definitely recommend to have dinner (but make sure to reserve) is El Pimpi (Calle Granada, 62). It is located on a very vibrant square and I absolutely loved their avocado shrimp salad!

Road Trip Day 3 – Hiking at Torcal de Antequera, visiting a Pueblo Blanco & arrival at Granada

Torcal de Antequera (1 hour – 48 km)

After breakfast it is time for the next stop of this Andalusia road trip to drive some winding roads to the spectacular mountain range called Sierra del Torcal. Here you will find the nature reserve Torcal de Antequera, which is known for its grey remarkable karst formations. You can hike here with a choice of three routes. There is a simple green track of 1.5 km, a medium yellow track of 3 km and a more difficult orange track of 7.2 km. I did the yellow one, which took me 3 hours because I stopped a lot to take photos and I also had a snack break.

Hiking between the grey rock formations made me feel as if I was on a different planet. The landscape and views here are simply stunning and out of this world! This is definitely one of the most beautiful places in Southern Spain.

Also check: Hike at Torcal de Antequera

Antequera (25 min – 15.5 km)

After hiking you can drive to the foot of the mountain range to the biggest pueblo blanco (white town) of Spain; Antequera. It is one of Andalusia’s most historic towns, but still quite unknown. It is a charming town with the typical Andalusian white houses with red tile roofs and cute narrow cobblestone streets. I parked the car on top of the hill near the Alcazaba to have lunch at the Plaza de los Escribanos. This is a very calm square next to the Santa Maria church and you will find some incredible views of the town here.

Antequera is not that big. I just spent the afternoon wandering around since a lot was closed (I was there on a Sunday and the town looked dead) and I just like to explore the little streets. But there are some nice things to see and do:

• Alcazaba: a Moorish fortress with fantastic views (closes at 3pm)
• Termas Romanas: if you like to visit ruins of Roman thermae
• Arco de los Gigantes: an arch in late-Renaissance architectural style built in 1585
• Dolmen de Menga: Megalithic tomb & burial site (9am–6pm, Monday afternoon and Sunday closed)
• Plaza de Castilla with the bull ring
• Plaza San Sebastián with the San Sebastián church, a cute fountain

Also check: Day trip from Malaga: small town charm in Antequera

After you are done exploring Antequera it is time to drive to the next stop; Granada (1 hour 16 min – 103km).

Road Trip Day 4 – Granada

Book your hotel in Granada here.

Granada is mostly famous for its hilltop Moorish palace, which is one of the most beautiful places in Southern Spain; the Alhambra. But first it is time to explore the city. Because Granada has a lot more to offer! Granada consists of several beautiful quarters containing beautiful architecture, exquisite tapas bars and restaurants, thermal baths, dreamy parks and cozy narrow streets. This Andalusia road trip gives you two days and a half time to explore the city and a half day at the Alhambra. But you can always add more days to your liking!

Albaycin

Albaycin is the Moorish neighborhood situated between the hills of the Alhambra, San Cristóbal, Sacromonte and Elvira. Walking through this neighborhood will make you feel as if you apparated to a different time and place. The highlights of this area are:

• El Bañuelo: Tucked away behind a small door you’ll discover a well-preserved Moorish bathhouse that was constructed in the 11th-12th century. Which means these are one of the oldest Arab baths in Spain. Thanks to the starshaped skylights the sunlight beams from the ceiling into the arched rooms.
  Carrera del Darro 31
• Carrera del Darro: a walk through this street next to the Darro river is fun and made me feel as if I stepped into a time machine straight to the Middle Ages.
• Mirador de San Nicolás: Climb up the hill facing the Alhambra to the Mirador San Nicolás to have a nice view on the Alhambra. On your way up you should walk through the Calle Calderia Nueva, where you’ll find a lot of cute Arab influenced shops. I loved this little street!
• Mirador de San Cristóbal: another beautiful view
• Palacio de Dar al-Horra: a Nasrid palace built in the 15th century.
• Paseo de los Tristes: a beautiful square next to the Darro river with a romantic fountain. From here you will get a magnificent view of the Alhambra
• Jardines del Triunfo: small lovely park with illuminated fountains at night

Road Trip Day 5 – Granada

Centro

The most interesting part of this quarter are the cathedral’s surroundings.

• Madrasah of Granada: the first university of Granada founded in 1349 by the Nasrid monarch Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada.
• Calle Alcaicería: a vibrant colorful market street which is situated on the site of the former bazaar.
• Catedral de Granada: this gorgeous cathedral looks astonishingly beautiful, both inside and outside
• Bib-Rambla Square: one of Granada’s most attractive squares, decorated with 19th-century townhouses, lime trees, kiosks and cafes.

Sacromonte

In the Sacromonte area you’ll find the Roma/Gitano/Gypsy cave community living in the whitewashed caves along a hilltop ridge. It is like an open-air folk museum and worth visiting. It offers stunning views over the city and it looks totally different from the rest of Granada.

Road Trip Day 6 – The Alhambra

Finally it is time to visit one of the highlights of this Andalusia road trip; the magnificent Alhambra! You can reach the palace by taking the mini bus C3 at the Plaza Isabel La Catolica. It takes about 5-10 minutes before arriving the top of the hill. Make sure to arrive early. You still need to stand in line at the entrance to change your e-ticket into a real ticket, stand in line again to enter and then you have to walk another 10 minutes to reach the Nasrid Palaces. There you have to stand in line again (15 minutes before the entry time on your ticket).

A visit at the Alhambra takes at least 3 hours. The Nasrid Palaces are the most memorable and one of the most beautiful places in Southern Spain, but the gardens of Generalife are also very pretty. My favorite place was definitely the Court of the Lions!

After visiting the Alhambra make sure to not forget to take a look at the Carmen de los Martires view point.

Realejo

This is the old Jewish quarter southwest from the Alhambra. It is an eclectic and multicultural district with a long, rich history.

• Campo del Principe: a beautiful square which is the heart of Realejo and known for its tapas
• Plaza de San Cecilio: square with the San Cecilio church
• Palace of La Casa de los Tiros: in the 16th century this was an ancient fortress which was part of a city wall that surrounded the potters’ quarter.
• Santo Domingo church: known as one of the most interesting churches in Granada, founded in the 16th Century by the Catholic Monarchs

Also check: Visit the Alhambra, jewel of Granada

Road Trip Days 6-7-8 – Cordoba

After a 200 km (2h 15min) drive you will arrive in Cordoba. Cordoba is known as the city where East meets West and is one of the most diverse cities I’ve ever visited. The typical Spanish white alleys, decorated with colorful flower pots, are surrounded by exquisite gems of Islamic architecture. This is the place where Muslims, Christians and Jews once lived peacefully side by side. I recommend staying 3 nights. Make sure to check opening hours in advance of the attractions so you can plan your day accordingly.

• the Mezquita: Originally it was a Catholic church, but the Moorish kings turned it into a giant mosque starting in 784. It stayed a mosque until the Reconquista in 1236. Then the mosque was converted into a Catholic church by building a Renaissance cathedral nave in the middle of the enormous structure. It is the perfect mix of Roman, Gothic and Islamic architecture and it is definitely one of the most beautiful places in Southern Spain!
• 20 magnificent doors of the Mezquita: take a walk around the Mezquita to admire the doors
• Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos: a palace with beautiful gardens
• Palacio de los Marqueses de Viana: 14th century palace with stunning courtyards
• Casa Andalusi: 12th century house completely decorated in medieval Andalusian and Moorish style
• Calleja de las Flores: a beautiful typical Spanish white alley decorated with flower pots
• Puente Romano: now known as the Long Bridge from Volantis from Game of Thrones. It was built by the Romans, but only 2 arches are still the original ones.
• Calle Cairuán: walk along the ancient city walls
• Puerta de Almodovar: old city gate
• Jardic Botanico: beautiful park/garden with a greenhouse and arboretum
• Iglesia de San Lorenzo: a 13th-century church, converted from a mosque, considered to be one of the finest examples of medieval architecture in Córdoba.
• Iglesia de San Miguel: This church belongs to the group of 14 parish churches built after the Reconquest of Córdoba. These churches are called Fernandinas, and many were renovations of old mosques. Most of the Fernandinas were built with repurposed materials, which explains why they have Roman and Moorish columns.
• Medina Azahara: about 8 km from the city you’ll find these amazing ruins of the vast, fortified Andalus palace-city built by Abd-ar-Rahman III (912–961). (9 am – 3pm, Monday closed)
• Places I enjoyed eating: El Abanico (Calle Velazquez Bosco, 7) & Horno San Luis (Calle Cardenal Gonzalez, 73)

Also check:

• One day in Cordoba
• Casa Andalusi in Cordoba, a true hidden gem

Book your hotel in Cordoba here.

Road Trip Day 9 – From Cordoba to Sevilla via Almodovar del Rio

About 23 km from Cordoba lies the town called Almodovar del Rio. I haven’t been there yet myself, but I have seen its Moorish castle on top of the hill while passing by train. Ever since I have always wanted to go there. It is a typical Spanish town with narrow alleys and white houses situated around the castle. You can visit the town and its castle on your way to Sevilla (if the castle fascinates you as much as I).

From Almodovar del Rio it is another 142 km (1h 50min) to Sevilla. Sevilla is definitely one of my favorite cities in the world! The Mudejar architecture with the colorful tiles and magnificent arches and carvings make this town irresistible. Once you arrive I suggest to simply go for a walk through the city and have some great tapas. Or relax at the pool if your hotel has one.

In Sevilla I stayed at Hotel Las Casas de la Juderia & Hotel Fernando III

Road Trip Days 10 – 11 – 12 – Sevilla

Time to fully explore my favorite city of this Andalusia road trip! There are so many palaces to discover, tapas to eat and squares to enjoy,… So here are all the places you should definitely visit!

• Plaza de España: one of the most beautiful squares in the entire world thanks to its gorgeous architecture, tiles, bridges and fountains. You will need at least 1,5 h to explore this fantastic place.
• Parque de Maria Luisa: a dreamy park and perfect to visit when in need of shadow and some peace and quiet
• Real Alcazar: breathtakingly beautiful palace in Mudejar style with an awe-inspiring garden, also used in Game of Thrones as the Water Gardens of Dorne.
• Palacio de las Dueñas: you can visit this palace’s garden, stables and the ground floor with its most impressive feature: the patio.
• Casa de Pilatos: another beautiful palace in Mudejar style with “Sevilla’s first and most magnificent staircase” and a gorgeous Italian inspired garden
• Casa de los Pinelo: built in the first third of the 16th century. Today it houses the Reales Academias Sevillanas de Buenas Artes, Letras y Medicina. It has two storeys crowned by a mirador with a gothic ledge in perforated stone. 
• Palacio de los Marqueses de la Algaba: this palace houses Mudéjar art & hosts cultural events in the courtyard
• La catedral and the Giralda: the largest gothic cathedral and the third-largest church in the world. You can also climb its bell tower called the Giralda, It was first built as the minaret for the Great Mosque of Seville in al-Andalus.
• Torre del Oro: this used to be a military watchtower constructed by the Muslims
• Flamenco: Sevilla is said to be the birth place of the Flamenco, so you can’t afford to miss out on a Flamenco performance! You can watch expensive Flamenco shows at la Casa del Flamenco but you’ll soon discover you can enjoy Flamenco in little bars and in the street as well for free!
• Enjoy a carriage ride at night
• Places to eat I loved: La Azotea Santa Cruz Sevilla (Mateos Gago 8), Bar La Moderna (Mateos Gago 7)

Also check these guides:

• Photos of the Real Alcazar that will make you want to go
• Best things to do in Sevilla
• Casa de Pilatos: a tour of the most magnificent house in Sevilla
• Discover Mudejar architecture at the Real Alcazar

Road Trip Day 13 – from Sevilla to Málaga via Ronda

Before arriving in Málaga, you will visit one of the most beautiful places in Southern Spain; the impressive picturesque town called Ronda. The town is about 130 km (1h 40min) from Sevilla, located next to the El Tajo gorge, which splits Ronda in 2 parts. These are the highlights of Ronda:

• Puerta de Almocábar: fortified Moorish entrance gate to the old town
• Iglesia de Santa María La Mayor: church with mix of gothic, renaissance and baroque styles
• Iglesia del Espíritu Santo: the first church to be built after Ronda was retaken by the christians
• Alameda del Tajo Park with impressive views
• Palacio de Mondragón: palace and garden complex with Moorish origins, dating back to 1314
• Puente Nuevo: high bridge crossing the Rio Grande offering amazing views. This bridge connects the old and the new town.
• La Casa del Rey Moro: Storied palace featuring a water mine & hanging gardens. It was never the house of a Moorish king though since it was built in the 18th century.
• Charming streets in the old town: Calle Tenorio, Calle Manuel Montero
• Viewpoint at the Plaza Maria Auxiliadoria
• Mirador Casa Bosco
• Mirador La Hoya del Tajo
• Plaza Duquesa de Parcent: a beautiful square
• Puerta de Carlos V: A 16th-century gateway at the northern end of the old town
• Puente Arabe: another small bridge connecting the old and the new town
• Puente Viejo: oldest and smallest of three bridges
• Arab baths: a beautiful piece of Moorish heritage

Also check: Spend a day in Ronda, the cliffside city of Andalusia

From Ronda is takes a 1h 30 min drive back to Málaga, where you can spend one more night before taking the plane back home.

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