Andalusia

Why here

Andalusia is the Spain of the imagination: the Alhambra in Granada, the Great Mosque in Córdoba, Seville's cathedral and Alcázar, and between them olive country, sherry towns and villages painted white against the hills. It is also the easiest region in Spain for a fly-drive. Seville and Málaga airports sit at either end, the motorways are empty and fast, and every place worth stopping is under two hours from the last one.

Ten days that work

Three nights in Seville, car-free: the Alcázar first thing, Triana across the river, the Feria street bars, a flamenco peña. Collect the car and drive to Córdoba for a night and the Mezquita at opening time. Then south through olive country to Granada for three nights: the Alhambra at your booked hour, the Albaicín at sunset, free tapas on Calle Elvira. From Granada either climb into the Alpujarra villages for a night, or head west to Ronda and the pueblos blancos of Grazalema. Finish with two slow nights on the coast at Nerja or in Málaga itself, and drop the car at the airport.

Our Andalusia journal post goes deeper on the Alhambra ticket, the calendar and the cities: Andalusia in eight days.

Do you need a car?

Recommended for the villages and the coast, unnecessary in the cities. Historic centres are pedestrianised with expensive parking, so stay car-free in Seville and pick the car up when you leave. Between the three cities the trains are quick if you would rather not drive at all; the car earns its keep for Ronda, Grazalema, the Alpujarra, and anywhere on the coast away from the towns.

Good to know

• Book the Alhambra as soon as your dates are fixed. Tickets release around three months ahead and the Nasrid Palaces slot sells out.
• Seville regularly passes 40 °C in July and August. We do not recommend those months. March to May and October are ideal; Granada is fine into November.
• Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Seville's Feria de Abril, two weeks later, are spectacular and triple hotel prices. Book a year ahead or plan around them.
• Lunch is 14:00 to 16:00, dinner from 21:00. Most kitchens close between.
• Hire cars in Spain often come with a large deposit hold; take the full insurance or make sure your card has room.