Southern Spain brags a lot: granite-coloured seashores lapped by heat Mediterranean waters, storied cities influenced by Islamic structure, tucked-away tranquil villages and breathtaking gorges punctuated by cliff-hugging mountain climbing routes. When you’ll by no means match the whole lot into one go to, a one week Andalucia highway journey by means of the Province of Málaga and close by will introduce you to most of the area’s highlights and hidden gems.
On this Andalucia highway journey itinerary, I’ve targeted on a number of the main sights and fewer visited spots round Malaga, with a detour to Granada for the show-stopping Alhambra. Having lived within the metropolis for 3 months final yr for my Spanish course, I promise you it’s one attraction you may’t skip.
In fact, there are additionally loads of improbable locations in Andalucia that I haven’t included, equivalent to Seville or Cordoba’s trio of World Heritage Websites. However these are nice spots for a standalone metropolis break, therefore why on this whirlwind itinerary, you’ll benefit from having a rental automotive to see a number of the much less apparent choices as a substitute. Or, if time permits, make it a two-week journey utilizing my extra strategies beneath.
Why hire a automotive in Malaga to discover independently
Malaga Airport is the fourth busiest in Spain. It even has inter-continental flights, making it the very best gateway to southern Spain and, particularly, the area of Andalucia. Whereas Seville additionally has an airport, it’s smaller, and flights are extra restricted. Therefore why beginning your Andalucia highway journey right here is smart. Relating to reserving a Malaga airport automotive rental, it’s often finest to skip the dealer and reserve direct to safe the very best worth – and with Malaga Airport being bigger than Seville, there are typically extra selections and offers to be discovered right here.
In fact, if you happen to’re planning to only get pleasure from a metropolis break in Malaga or a weekend in Seville, then hiring a automotive is probably not wanted. You may also assume a automotive isn’t required as a result of Spain has Europe’s most in depth high-speed community. However for this itinerary which incorporates a few of Spain’s hidden gems throughout the Malaga province, a automotive is not going to solely show you how to benefit from your time but additionally mean you can attain small villages and extra distant seashores not often serviced by buses, not to mention have a prepare station.
Tip: Obtain the Telpark app to seek out and pay for parking areas within the main cities.
Nerja is a stupendous mountain-backed metropolis with seashores
One week Andalucia itinerary beginning and ending in Malaga
After touchdown at Malaga Airport and amassing your rental automotive, it’s time to hit the highway – I suggest ending your go to in Malaga as a substitute, so there’s no last-minute rush – and heading straight to the seashore to clean off the flight in these alluring heat waters.
Day one: Malaga to Nerja
Driving time: Round one hour
Monitoring the coast east, you’ll discover a bevvy of lovely bays and seashores to calm down on as you head to spend the night time in Nerja, a coastal resort metropolis backed by verdant mountains. There are some nice (however generally busy) seashores within the metropolis itself, so I’d suggest stopping at one or two of the sights and seashores en route, equivalent to Playa las Dunas. Simply bear in mind that the seashores on this stretch of coast are barely greyer in color than these in west Andalucia.
Discover a number of the smaller villages, equivalent to Frigiliana, on an Andalucia highway journey
Day two: White Villages (or Serra Nevada) and Granada
Driving time: Round 90-120 minutes relying on detours
After breakfast in Nerja overlooking the ocean, it’s time to proceed your one week Andalucia highway journey inland to the grand metropolis of Granada.
However first, decide your detour. You can both go to the Serra Nevada, a formidable mountain vary with tiny villages and winter snowboarding choices simply exterior Granada or cease at one of many Pueblos Blancos as a substitute. These small, whitewashed villages characterise the area, and there are a pair close by, equivalent to Frigiliana. Alternatively, skip the detour and spend two days in Granada, which is able to permit you time to essentially take in one in every of my favorite Spanish cities past the Alhamra and get to know the story-laden Albaicin extra in-depth.
After having fun with lunch within the mountains or a small village, proceed to Granada, one in every of Spain’s finest cities for meals. Right here, park up the automotive and luxuriate in a drink-laden dinner, as in most bars, you’ll be served scrumptious free tapas with each beverage. Truthfully, whereas dwelling right here, I typically didn’t even purchase dinner however crammed up on these. Have a night stroll across the metropolis within the cooler air, however plan for an early begin to tour the Alhambra.
The Alhambra of Granada is effectively well worth the provincial detour
Day three: Granada
Driving time: Round 75 minutes
If there’s one factor you will need to do throughout an Andalucia highway journey, it’s go to the huge palaces and gardens of the Alhambra complicated. Be sure you ebook your tickets upfront (both with a information or learn up on the historical past of the Alhambra earlier than your go to) as they typically promote out, and goal for one of many first timed entrances of the day. These Islamic palaces are ornate, intricate and unforgettable. Afterwards, take a stroll across the Albaicín neighbourhood, the place the Muslim affect stays on present, earlier than having fun with a typical lunch.
You can then both spend one other night time in Granada earlier than setting off early to the Caminito del Rey or drive to the small, laid-back and charming city of Antequera for an evening to see a barely slower-paced a part of Malaga province.
In Setenil de las Bodegas, the properties are overhung by the rocks
Day 4: Caminito del Rey, Setenil de las Bodegas and Ronda
Driving time: Round two hours
One other attraction you’ll must ebook upfront, the Caminito del Rey, is actually not for these with a concern of heights. This spectacular gorge is hugged by a strolling path which clings to the sting of the gorge, with bridges crossing the glowing waters beneath. The practically 8-kilometre route might be rushed in a few hours, however permit a bit longer to essentially benefit from the dizzying views.
Subsequent up, it’s again within the automotive, as your Andalucia highway journey brings you for a late lunch in Setenil de las Bodegas – or maybe you’d favor to cease in a close-by winery for lunch as a substitute? Both method, this hidden gem of Europe is effectively price visiting; probably the most fascinating characteristic is the whitewashed properties that are beneath an enormous rock slap – it’s fairly one thing!
After a couple of hours exploring, head to Ronda for sundown to snap some pictures of the well-known Puente Nuevo bridge earlier than dinner.
The Puente Nuevo bridge in Ronda
Day 5: Ronda and the Costa del Sol
Driving time: Round 75-minutes
Ronda is an absolute magnificence, and there are a good few sights right here to discover – such because the bridge and the Arabic Baths. However by now, you’ll doubtless be prepared to go again to the coast, and the beautiful seashores of the Costa del Sol are solely round one hour away.
Drive south, maybe stopping on the blue-painted village of Júzcar en route, and also you’ll arrive at Marbella, a well-liked vacation resort which might be a wonderful late lunch choice – though personally, I’d recommend not staying right here and heading barely additional alongside the coast for extra peaceable expertise round Playa del Chaparral or Playa de Carvajal.
Málaga is extra than simply seashores
Day six: Costa Del Sol and Malaga
Driving time: Round 90-minutes, together with detours
After a lazy day on the seashore, it’s time to start out the drive again to Malaga to finish your one week Andalucia highway journey. Completely try to cease on the best way on the whimsical Colomares Monument close to Benalmádena, a peculiarly formed fort devoted to Christopher Columbus.
In case you have an early flight the following day, I’d recommend returning to Malaga a bit earlier so you may discover the town just a little at this time as a substitute.
Day seven: Malaga and depature
Spend your final day exploring Malaga Outdated City and the town’s highlights earlier than your departure. Be sure you go to the Eleventh-century Moorish Alcazaba, the Teatro Romano de Málaga, or, if you happen to’re an artwork fan, the Picasso Museum, residence to an unlimited assortment of his work.
Add on a Seville detour to expertise one in every of Spain’s finest cities
Different locations to go to in Andalucia and Malaga with a automotive
In case you’re fortunate sufficient to have one other week on your trip or would like to cut and alter a few of these locations, you’ve got loads of different choices to select from.
Seville
There are such a lot of issues to do in Seville that I all the time recommend making it a three-day metropolis break minimal, therefore not together with it on this Andalucia itinerary. With palaces aplenty, one of the crucial spectacular and largest Gothic cathedrals in Europe, flamenco reveals, and a number of the most stunning Islamic (Moorish) structure within the nation, such because the Royal Alcázar of Seville, it is a metropolis that sizzles each in sights and local weather.
It’s straightforward to see why Gibraltar is commonly known as ‘The Rock’
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is an oddity. A tiny British Abroad Territory positioned on the southern tip of Spain, it’s fairly a novelty to pay a go to and be transported to an English-speaking nook of the Iberian peninsula. The principle attraction is the large Rock of Gibraltar that dominates the panorama – simply watch out of the monkeys on the climb up!
Cordoba
Arguably one of the crucial underrated cities in Europe, Cordoba is residence to a trio of Unesco-listed sights, together with the distinctive Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba. This magnificent constructing was saved from destruction, not like lots of Spain’s Mosques from the Moorish interval, and now blends two religions and architectural designs into one.
The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, Spain
Ayamonte and on to the Algarve
From Seville, it’s not far to drive to Portugal. Simply you’ll want to guarantee your automotive rental covers driving overseas, and then you definitely’re free to go to any of the very best locations to go to within the Algarve. Cease on the Spanish border city of Ayamonte on the best way (ebook a meal at LPA restaurant, it’s one in every of my favourites) after which discover the rocky bays and cliffs of Lagos’ Ponta da Piedade, get pleasure from some surf on the west coast, or hike alongside one of the crucial breathtaking cliff-top trails on the earth, the Seven Hanging Valleys Path.
Nevertheless you select to spend your one week Andalucia highway journey, you actually can’t go flawed. There are such a lot of inviting seashores, villages and cities to discover that turn out to be reachable by a rental automotive that you just’ll be in for a scrumptious deal with on any detour you are taking. Need some extra inspiration? Learn up on a few of my strategies of the right way to spend 7 days in Spain.
Pin it! High: Ronda / Backside: Setenil de las Bodega