Andalusia, Southern Spain
- Nimrod
- Oct 8, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Feb 17
June - July 2024 [To all the posts in Spain]
Introduction: Andalusia, Southern Spain
How do you summarize a journey of over a month in such a special region as Andalusia, Southern Spain, full of surprises from both nature and people...?
Here is a full documentation of our travels, both in the cities and in the beautiful nature of this unique area.
If you are currently planning your trip or just thinking about such a trip, I hope our experience and photos will help you decide where and when to go.
I’ve prepared suggestions for one-week and two-week itineraries.
Even if you're not planning to go, I hope you enjoy the posts and photos.
See you on the trails...
Map of the places we visited in Andalusia, Spain (cities, accommodations, treks, and hikes)
A quick jump to the different sites in Andalusia, Spain
Tips for traveling in Andalusia
When to visit Andalusia
We traveled from mid-June to mid-July – for hiking in the Sierra Nevada, this is a good time, and you can even come earlier and hike in May.
The high mountain (Mulhacén) can typically only be climbed starting in June.
The cities in Andalusia are very hot in the summer, so the best time to visit is in the spring (April - June) or in the fall (October - November).
How to get around in Andalusia
For part of the trip, we rented a car – for hiking in the Sierra Nevada, it’s recommended to have a car, otherwise, it’s quite difficult to get to and from the hiking trails.
Additionally, you should consider parking issues in the cities (parking lots cost an average of 20-25 euros per day).
If you're only traveling between the major cities, it’s best to use the train. It’s very convenient, quite fast, and there’s space for suitcases/bags. Tickets can be booked in advance here.
Examples:
The train ride from Seville to Cordoba takes about 45 minutes.
The train ride from Cordoba to Malaga takes about an hour.
Malaga and Seville have international airports (we flew from Malaga to Lyon, France). You can fly to these cities from almost any major city in Spain and from abroad. Granada also has an international airport, though it’s more limited.
My recommendation
For those who want to combine a visit to the villages and Caminito or other parks in the area, it's a good idea to rent a car in Malaga or Seville and travel for a few days to the villages/parks/beaches and stay overnight there. Afterwards, you can return the car to the city from which it was rented (this way, you’ll save on parking fees in the city and avoid returning the car to a different city).
Accommodation in Andalusia
We booked apartments and houses through Airbnb (I’ll write a guide on how to do this properly at some point).
In the Sierra Nevada, we booked private houses in villages, which were very successful (detailed in the post). In the cities, we booked apartments (not all were successful). Everyone has their own travel style
In general, pay attention to the recommendations and comments from people in the reviews, make sure you can cancel close to your arrival and don’t hesitate to ask the host questions (most of them are not the property owners) such as where the air conditioning is in the apartment, if there are any renovations currently happening in the building or on the street, which direction the apartment faces (front or back), what appliances are in the kitchen, where parking is, and anything else that’s important to you.
Madrid
We started in Madrid (yes, it’s not part of Andalusia, but it deserves some credit too). We were only in the city for two days because we were in a hurry to get to the south and hike in the Sierra Nevada.
Madrid is amazing and so diverse. This time, we focused on neighborhoods that are a bit off the usual path and not necessarily tourist attractions. You’ll likely start your trip here after landing from abroad, so it’s worth dedicating at least two or three days to this city.
Granada
This is our first time in Granada, and we were very impressed. Granada is like a gateway to the south.
Besides the Alhambra Palace, the city offers some of the most impressive street art in Spain (partly thanks to the artist El Niño), restaurants and bars with a fun atmosphere, and eclectic architecture with a strong presence of hundreds of years of Muslim rule.
Sierra Nevada National Park (five days of hiking)
Wow, there are no words to describe this amazing area. When I saw it in photos before the trip, it made me second-guess: 'Is it really worth it?' So now I can say yes, definitely!
I really fell in love with this lovely area with endless hiking options, diverse landscapes, and stunning blooms, so you have no reason to hesitate at all—come on...
Seville
Sev-i-llah! As the Spaniards pronounce the name of this amazing city where we stayed for more than a week.
This is a city you must not miss. With its southern elegance and chic charm in the summer heat, it offers events, flamenco, art, the Alcázar Palace and gardens, food, and both open and closed markets, along with lovely neighborhoods.
So come to Seville, you won't regret it...
Lagos - a quick trip to Portugal
I haven't dedicated a separate post to Lagos yet. We stopped in Lagos on our way after hiking in the Sierra Nevada to meet my sister and brother-in-law. We spent a few days there before heading to Seville.
Lagos is charming, with a young and fun vibe and stunning beaches. As you can see, you can easily combine it into a trip in southern Spain.
Córdoba
We arrived in Córdoba from Seville, and I was worried that it wouldn’t be able to step into the big shoes of its ׳older׳ sister. It took some time to understand the qualities of Córdoba. It doesn’t easily give itself away; it’s a bit hard to grasp, but it has a historical and cultural depth not to be missed.
It has an old town with a Jewish quarter, the Mosque-Cathedral, the fortress, and gardens, and it features a lovely blend of old and new, both historic and modern.
Caminito del Rey and white villages (nature hike and village visits)
When people say 'white villages', I think something is missed. This vast area between the major cities and the Mediterranean Sea in southern Spain, part of whose beaches are called Costa del Sol, is a charming region. It has nature reserves and walking trails, stunning lakes and mountains, dripping caves, and wonderful beaches.
It also has beautiful and lovely villages that are worth a visit (and coincidentally, they are also painted white).
And it also has the unique Caminito del Rey. So if you have a few days and a car, go out and explore this area, include it in your trip between the cities in Andalusia, and enjoy...
Malaga
Malaga is a classic beach city with a youthful vibe. It has the historic district, a fortress, and a palace, just like all the Andalusian cities. It also has the excellent Picasso Museum and a branch of the famous Pompidou Center from Paris.
Malaga has excellent restaurants and food, as well as fun cafes and bars. It’s worth exploring the neighborhoods surrounding the old town; you'll find interesting streets and street art, as well as squares and small museums.
Malaga has a long urban beach, but for the more unique beaches, you need to travel a bit...
Almeria (the city and beaches)
In Almeria itself, it’s worth seeing the Alcazaba fortress and wandering around the historic city. I recommend the beaches and reserves in the area, which include some of the most beautiful beaches in southern Spain.
A few recommendations for travel itineraries in Andalusia
General
The basic assumption is that you’ll arrive from abroad via a flight to Madrid and spend a day or two in the city before heading south. (During the tourist season, flights are operated to Málaga and Seville).
If you're only traveling between cities, there’s no need for a car at all, and you can get around using trains (very fast and convenient).
Here are some general recommendations. Everyone has their own preferences, both in choosing accommodations and areas of interest, so I may not be able to cater to everyone's tastes.
If you have more than two weeks, you can include the following cities: Malaga, Nerja, Gibraltar, Cádiz, and beaches along the Costa del Sol (if coming in the summer). See the posts on Malaga and Almeria (which include recommendations for beaches and additional attractions).
A one-week itinerary suggestion (trains only)
(1-2 nights) Arrival in Madrid, staying for one or two nights in the city – exploring the city (Retiro Park, Prado Museum or others, Royal Palace, Malasaña neighborhood, Lavapiés neighborhood). See the post on Madrid.
(2 nights) Train ride to Granada (staying for two nights).
Accommodation in the old town (Alhambra Palace, street art in the Realejo neighborhood, Albaicín neighborhood).
Bar and nightlife areas in the city center, the Muslim market. See the post on Granada.
(2-3 nights) Train ride to Seville (staying for two or three nights).
Accommodation in the old town (Alcázar Palace, Plaza de España and María Luisa Park, the Metropol Parasol, Seville Cathedral, flamenco show in the Triana neighborhood, bullfighting arena, Feria neighborhood, Alfalfa neighborhood). See the post on Seville.
(0-1 nights) Return to Madrid by train and flight back (probably another overnight stay, depending on the flight time).
A two-week itinerary suggestion (trains + car)
(2 nights) Arrival in Madrid, staying for two nights in the city – exploring the city (Retiro Park, Prado Museum or others, Royal Palace, Malasaña neighborhood, La Latina and Lavapiés neighborhoods, the Egyptian Temple, the promenade and Plaza España, squares: Sol, Mayor, shopping pedestrian street, and Gran Vía street). See the post on Madrid.
(2 nights) Train ride to Granada (staying for two nights).
Accommodation in the old town (Alhambra Palace, street art in the Realejo neighborhood, Albaicín neighborhood).
Bar and nightlife areas in the city center, the Muslim market. See the post on Granada.
(3-4 nights) Option A (for hiking lovers): After two days in Granada, rent a car (book in advance) and head to the Sierra Nevada area for hiking for four nights (possible to stay in one of the villages near Granada, such as Gojar or Dilar). See the post on Sierra Nevada. After the hikes, return the car in Granada.
(3 nights) Train ride to Seville (staying for three nights).
Accommodation in the old town (Alcázar Palace, Plaza de España and María Luisa Park, the Metropol Parasol, Seville Cathedral, flamenco show in the Triana neighborhood, bullfighting arena, Feria neighborhood, Alfalfa neighborhood). See the post on Seville.
(3 nights) Option B (white villages and Caminito del Rey): After your stay in Seville, rent a car and spend three or four nights in the area of the white villages (staying in Ronda or Zahara).
You can also hike the lovely Caminito del Rey. See the post on the white villages.
(2 nights) Córdoba (staying for two nights). If coming from Seville, it’s worth taking the train. If you chose Option B and traveled through the villages by car, you can drive to Córdoba with the car and return it there.
Accommodation in the old town of Córdoba (visiting the Jewish quarter, the Mosque-Cathedral, the Córdoba Fortress, the Roman bridge, tours of modern Córdoba, and neighborhoods outside the old town). See the post on Córdoba.
(0-1 nights) Return to Madrid by train and flight back (probably another overnight stay, depending on the flight time).
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