#Andalucia Itinerary – 7-day Road trip

Andalusia (Andalucia in Spanish) is the southernmost community of continental Spain. It’s the second-largest in terms of area and the most populated. Many cultural phenomena for which Spain is famous for have its origin in Andalusia, like the flamenco, bullfighting or the Gazpacho. Andalusia’s interior is the hottest region in Europe and the coast is world-famous for its beaches and sunny weather.

Historically and culturally Andalusia is marked by the 700 years of Moorish presence. In this road trip through Andalusia, we are going to try a little of everything that Andalusia has to offer: history, cultural identity, food, beaches, and even adventure. However, before starting to travel you should think about what to pack for a road trip.

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We purposely left Seville to the end, not because it’s not worth it, but because it should be visited after this road trip, as you don’t need a car. Have a look at what’s the best things to do in Seville here.

Andalusia itinerary – One week road trip

Cordoba – Granada – Sierra Nevada – Malaga – Marbella – Ronda & Caminito del Rey – Seville

We have been trying the new map feature on Travellerspoint and it’s really useful. Have a look at it yourself, and create your own travel maps.

Cordoba

This road trip through Andalusia starts in Cordoba, the best place to see the Moorish influence in Spain! In the 10th century, during the Moorish time, Cordoba was the biggest city in the world! In Cordoba, you can’t miss its Cathedral/Mosque. Is it a cathedral? or a Mosque? Check it and decide for yourself.

We also strongly recommend you to lose yourself walking through the Juderia. It’s full of stores, bars, and restaurants. Cordoba is extremely hot and at night the city is still lively and much more pleasant. The Roman bridge & Alcazar are also great attractions you should visit.

During this itinerary, we recommend you to stay at Exe Ciudad de Cordoba. It is cheap, has parking, and you can walk from there to the historic center, so it is perfect for a road trip.

Granada

In Granada, you can’t miss the Alhambra complex. Within Alhambra, you will find the Generalife gardens, the Nasrid Palaces, and the Alcazaba. It’s a World Heritage Site and was the finalist to the new 7 wonders of the world. Reserve a full day for it.

Alhambra aside, you should visit Albayzin which is an old Arab quarter. The streets are very narrow and small, with typical houses with a strong influence of the Moorish. Other attractions are the Mirador of San Nicolas, the city center and the Cathedral. Have a look at this list of amazing things to do in Granada for more travel inspiration.

Granada is a pain to drive and park. Getting to the hotel and finding a place to park was probably the most difficult thing we did in this road trip 🙂 So choose the hotel wisely, it’s probably better not to stay right in the center of the city.

Sierra Nevada – Los Cahorros

After 2 great city escapes your next destination on this road trip through Andalusia is the Sierra Nevada, which is just a few Km from Granada. After some investigation, we discovered a trail called Los Cahorros and looked like the perfect way of relaxing in the mountains. Los Cahorros is a circular trail, 8km long, with beautiful views, a cascading river that creates rock pools for swimming, narrow caves and tunnels that you have to crawl through or hang off the rock face. Walking along the gorge and, of course, the famous hanging bridges will make your day memorable and fun!

Malaga and the famous Costa del Sol

Today you finally get to the coast, and before arriving at Malaga you can enjoy the beach (in almuñacar or Nerja). In Malaga don’t miss the famous La Malagueta beach. Near La Malagueta you have the city port and particularly the new quay one, which is full of restaurants, bars, and shops. It’s a very lively place and a very pleasant walk.

One thing you should be aware of is that it’s practically impossible to park for free in Malaga, particularly in the center. We opt to park in one of the city parks and leave the car altogether. It isn’t cheap, but it’s probably the best option. On the other side, if you find a hotel close to the center, you can walk around easily.

In Malaga, you can’t miss the Alcazaba and the Gibralfaro Castle. From the Castle, you have amazing views on the town, the port, and the beaches around. Malaga’s Alcazaba is in our opinion even more beautiful than the one in Granada, and that says a lot .:) If you are into city markets (we love them), visit the Atarazanas Markets! It’s in the center and full of yummy things.

Check here more things to do in Malaga and surroundings.

Marbella

In the 5th day of this road trip through Andalusia, you can pamper yourself in Marbella! The great appeal of Marbella is on its beaches, hot summers, luxurious marina, and parties. Enjoy a morning in the sun and sea in one of the many beaches around Marbella.

In the afternoon, go to Puerto Banus just a few km west to Marbella. This is where luxury and wealthy people are. It’s great for people watching (wealthy, really wealthy people watching). Around the Marina, there are boutique stores, bars, restaurants, and hotels. You will probably be tempted to take pictures of the sports cars and luxurious yachts parading there.

Ronda & Caminito del Rey

The 6th day of our road trip through Andalusia starts in Ronda. This Andalusian town became famous for its bridge and unique setting. The city is built on the edge of a beige stone cliff making it a beautiful lookout to the fields above. Ronda’s bridge was built and rebuilt several times. It is very famous and considered an architectural marvel and appears constantly in blogs, magazines, etc. Ronda is surely worth a visit on any trip to Andalusia!

As the road trip is ending we leave Ronda and go to el Caminito del Rey. After an intense week, you will finish with an adventure in the infamous “most dangerous trail in the world”… Well, not anymore. Now it’s perfectly safe, unbelievably beautiful, and probably the highlight of your trip! The uncanny beautiful narrow gorge, the possibility to walk through it at 100 meters high, and feeling the wind blow in your face will continue in your mind for a long time. At least stayed in ours…

If you have time, you can make 2 days in Ronda and Caminito del Rey.

Seville

You are also 2 hours away from the Andalusian capital, so you can head there and spend the rest of your trip in Seville. If you have a rental, this is the time to ditch the car, as you don’t really want to lose time looking for parking spots and driving in Seville traffic. On the other hand, you’ll need to choose the location of your hotel wisely, so you can reach all the attractions on foot or with public transports.

In Seville, you need to go to Plaza de España, Giralda tower, the Cathedral, the Alcazar and the Guadalquivir river area.

We truly believe that a road trip is the best way of getting to know Andalusia. It’s a region with so many things to see, eat and do. With a car, you can travel between places much faster and will be able to reach places you couldn’t without it. If you are looking for a more off the beaten track road trip, probably the white villages of Malaga are a great option!

Have you been to Andalusia? What’s your favorite Andalusian attraction?

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