When someone asks me about my favorite holiday and destination ever, I always mention Andalusia in the south of Spain. Even though my trip to for example Canada is high on the list, the roadmap through Andalusia has made an everlasting impression. This article will highlight the places we visited in a 2-week Andalusia itinerary in a detailed travel plan. Firstly, it is good to know that we visited the area around Christmas and New Year, which meant that we didn’t visit beaches and such in the area. Nevertheless, the weather was great and it was surely possible to relax on a terrace in the sun. Also read my Asturias itinerary, if you want to explore other regions in Spain.
Malaga → Nerja → Granada → Cordoba → Sevilla → Jerez de la Frontera → Vejer de la Frontera → Ronda
First-time visitors, road trips, cities, culture, great food
Book in advance
Alhambra tickets →
Mezquita tickets →
Car rental →
Caminito del Rey →
eSIM (IBT15)→
Book your flight →
The perfect way to get around Andalusia is by rental car, you can compare rental car prices here. Similarly to many itineraries, renting a car gives you freedom and a road trip to the South of Spain is unforgettable. Alternatively, you can focus on the main cities in Andalusia and travel by public transport. Especially, the first part of the itinerary can easily be done by train, as direct trains run from Malaga to Granada, Granada to Cordoba and Cordoba to Seville. Unfortunately, after Seville, it gets slightly more difficult. You can still reach Jerez de la Frontera and Malaga, however, the smaller gems might have to be visited through tours.
Pick up the car at Málaga Airport and drop it off there at the end of the trip, so you don’t pay a one-way fee. The motorways between the cities on this route are good and toll-free. The city centers are the tricky part. Parking garages in Seville and Granada cost around €20-30 per day, and the old centers of Granada and Córdoba have camera-controlled access zones. Park at the edge, or ask your hotel if they can register your license plate.
Malaga and Seville are the main airports in the region, with flights from most European hubs.
The easiest way to get around Andalusia is with a rental car, as the freedom will make your Southern Spain road trip unforgettable.
The best deal in Andalusia
If you are planning on visiting multiple locations in Andalusia, including visiting the main sights such as the Alhambra in Granada, Mosque-Cathedral in Cordoba and the Alcazar in Seville? With the Andalusia Pass by Online City Pass you receive access to all 3 of Andalusia’s highlights.
When you buy through links in this blogpost, I may earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost. Thanks for your support.
01
We started in Nerja, a smaller coastal village near Malaga as our first destination. Firstly, we drove (50 minutes) to the town and checked into our hotel straight from the airport. Afterwards, we discovered the boulevard, had a gin and tonic at El Mirador at Balcon de Europa and went for the first tapas dinner from the vacation. Additionally, we visited the Nerja Caves which are well worth a visit when into these activities.
Popular here: book a kayak tour and explore the Nerja cliffs and waterfall.
02
After a lovely night in Nerja, we drove 1 hour to our next destination. Granada was one of the highlights of the trip due to the diverse range of activities and sights in the city. Although the place is known for the famous Alhambra, the city has way more to offer. Of course, one of your mornings should be dedicated to this famous sight. Next to that, you can take in some Arabian influences and enjoy some lovely tapas (a piece of tapas comes free with every drink, can you believe that?!). Check out my complete Granada city guide for the best things to do, see, eat and drink. For the best hotels per area, from the Albaicín to the cave hotels of Sacromonte, see my guide on where to stay in Granada.
Book in advance: make sure to book tickets to the Alhambra before you travel. They sell out. My guide to visiting the Alhambra explains which ticket to get.
03
Next up in this 2-week Andalusia Itinerary is Cordoba, a 2-hour drive away from Granada. We’ve spent Christmas in Córdoba, although we have to admit that maybe wasn’t the best decision as many restaurants were closed or already fully booked. That aside, Córdoba is a lovely smaller city worth visiting. Firstly, the main sight is the Mezquita, which is a Mosque-Cathedral in the center of Córdoba. Next to that, I’ve also really enjoyed just strolling around the little streets, and gardens and having some drinks with a view of the river and the bridge. Also, when heading from Granada to Córdoba, you could add a stop at Jaén. Learn about this beautiful city and the best things to do in my Cordoba city guide.
Book in advance: your tickets for the highlight of Cordoba: the Mezquita, can be booked in advance.
04
After Cordoba, you can continue your Southern Spain road trip with a 1.5-hour drive to Sevilla. Firstly, Seville is a lovely city with amazing tapas bars (think of El Rinconcillo, the oldest tapas bar in the city). Furthermore, there are great off-the-beaten-track neighborhoods for a local experience. Moreover, you can’t miss out on the main tourist sights, such as the Plaza de España and Metropol Parasol. In my opinion, 3 nights in Sevilla is just right as you can treat the place as a separate city trip within your holiday. Read everything you need to know about Seville in my Seville City Guide. Not sure which neighborhood to book? I compared them in my guide on where to stay in Seville.
Limited time? You can shorten the itinerary by doing some of the 12 best day trips from Seville, instead of staying a night in certain locations.
05
After a 1-hour drive, we arrived in Jerez de la Frontera, the Andalusian city famous for its sherry. Therefore, our main activity in Jerez de la Frontera was visiting a bodega / doing a sherry tasting at Tio Pepe. Next to that, the somewhat larger city of Cádiz is only a short ride away from Jerez. Since we didn’t want to change hotels too often, we decided to stay for both nights in Jerez. Fortunately, we found ourselves a lovely hotel including a spa, where we could relax after a full day of exploring the area. Learn all you need to know about Jerez de la Frontera in my Jerez de la Frontera guide.
The great pro of renting a car and doing a road trip in a certain area is of course the freedom. When driving around the Jerez / Vejer area, you can also visit Los Caños de Meca, a nice beach in the southwest of Spain. Also, Looking for a nice place to eat? Try La Breña! When driving around, you’ll also see some great countryside roads, which shows it is always worth setting Google Maps to avoid highways.
06
From Jerez, we drove 1-hour to Vejer de la Frontera, a beautiful white town. After some research, we decided to visit Vejer as ‘the white town’ part of our itinerary, which was a great idea. Even though there is not much to see, strolling around town rewards you with beautiful views. Next to that, you should have your dinner at the lovely restaurant El Jardin del Califa. Read about everything you can do in this lovely village in this Vejer de la Frontera city guide.
One of the places I would recommend to quickly touch upon when driving to your next destination is Setenil de las Bodegas, a small village that is built under/within a cave. Actually, it is so small, that a lunch stop is good enough and it doesn’t necessarily need to be an overnight stay. Additionally, another spot to quickly pass by is Zahara de la Sierra, for amazing views and exploring a different side of Spain. Fortunately, you’ll pass both places when driving from Vejer de la Frontera to the next destination, Ronda. Not doing the full road trip? You can also visit Setenil and Zahara as a day trip from Seville.
07
Even though Ronda is a smaller village, it is well worth a visit. Ronda is mainly famous for the bridge that separates the old and the new part of the city. Because we didn’t want to rush our trip, we decided to stay in a nice apartment, with a great view. However, it would be possible to only explore Ronda on a day trip. Additionally, when staying the night, try some great tapas dinner at Tragatá. Ronda rewards a slower visit, take the time to wander beyond the bridge itself into the old town’s quieter streets and viewpoints over the gorge, it’s worth more of your time than a quick photo stop.
The perfect day trip from Malaga or your perfect stop on the way from Ronda to Malaga is the Caminito Del Rey, a famous cliff hike in Andalusia. Practically, the hike takes around 3 hours and buy a ticket beforehand based on your travel plan. Entry tickets cost around €10, guided tours around €18, and they sell out fast in high season, so book as early as you can. Bring some cash for the shuttle bus back to the start (€2.50), and note that the path is closed on Mondays and on Christmas and New Year’s Eve and Day. Don’t forget to learn more about the hike that should be part of your ultimate 2-week Andalusia itinerary. It’s a real gem! Read my full Caminito del Rey hiking guide, including all practical tips you need.
Book in advance: Tickets for the Caminito del Rey sell out far in advance. Make sure to pre-book your tickets.
08
The final destination of the trip was Malaga, to finish the itinerary and travel route close to the airport. We spent one night in the city itself and the last night at a hotel next to the airport, which made the flight home a lot easier. Personally, I was a little bit two-sided about Malaga. On the one hand, if I had to pick a city where I would live in Andalusia, this would be the one. However, on the other hand, I think it was my least favorite city on the trip, mainly because of the lack of unique things to see. However, what is awesome about Malaga is the fact that there is a beach including some nice beach bars and the tapas is great.
Flying in and out of Málaga? If you have a spare day at the start or end of the trip, these are the best day trips from Málaga.
Book in advance
Alhambra tickets →
Mezquita tickets →
Car rental →
Caminito del Rey →
eSIM (IBT15) →
Book your flight →
Planning tip
When to go
Andalusia is the perfect year-round destination as temperatures are also comfortable in the winter months. As mentioned, we visited Andalusia in December and enjoyed a lot of sun and temperatures around 20 degrees. Nevertheless, I personally wouldn’t visit Andalusia in the main summer months (July & August), as the cities get busier and temperatures might rise to 40 degrees.
Spring and fall are the classic picks for a southern Spain itinerary, but winter works just as well if you don’t need the beach. Here is what to expect per season, with average daytime highs in Seville and Málaga.
March to May, 19-28°C. The most popular time. Holy Week and the April Fair make Seville busy and expensive in April, and Córdoba has its patio festival in May.
June to August, 28-36°C. Often 40°C or more in Seville and Córdoba. Sightseeing only works early and late in the day. July and August are the months I would skip.
September to November, 20-32°C. Still hot in early September, perfect in October and quiet in November, which is also the month with the most rain.
December to February, 16-18°C. Sunny days, cold evenings and the lowest hotel prices. Christmas lights in December, almond blossom in February.
If you are thinking about Spain in winter, Andalusia is the part I would pick. It wasn’t busy in December, the cities were cozy with Christmas lights and you can sit on a terrace in a sweater! Bring a warmer jacket for the evenings, especially in Granada and Ronda, which are much higher than the coast.
Hotels were also cheaper than in spring. The real downside is the short days. The sun sets around 6 PM, so do the driving in the morning. Plan around the Christmas days themselves, as a lot of restaurants close or are fully booked (we found that out in Córdoba). It is not beach weather, but a walk along the boulevard in Nerja or Málaga in the sun is still lovely.
Before you go
Car Rental
Renting a car is the easiest way to do this itinerary. Compare rental car prices here, prices are usually lowest when booked a few weeks ahead.
Parking in the white towns
Vejer de la Frontera and Ronda have narrow streets in their old centers, look for parking just outside the historic core rather than trying to drive in.
Connectivity
Get a local eSIM before you land so you have data from the airport onwards. Simify offers Europe-wide eSIMs, use code IBT15 for a discount.
Caminito del Rey tickets
These sell out weeks in advance in high season, make sure to book tickets as soon as you know the dates.
I loved my 2-week Andalusia itinerary and going on a road trip is the best way to do it. It is an amazing part of Spain, that you can visit all year round. Next time, I would not visit over Christmas, but I would definitely go back. It is still one of my favourite Europe trips to date.
Questions
Yes, Andalusia is one of the most rewarding regions in Spain to explore over two weeks. The mix of Moorish architecture, tapas culture, and white hilltop towns gives it more variety than most single-city trips.
Two weeks is the ideal amount of time to see Andalusia’s main cities and the white towns without rushing. If you only have one week, focus on Granada, Cordoba, and Seville and skip the smaller stops.
A rental car is the easiest way to see Andalusia, especially for reaching smaller towns like Vejer de la Frontera and Zahara de la Sierra. The first part of the route, Malaga to Granada to Cordoba to Seville, can also be done by train. Most road trips start at Málaga Airport. Compare the rental companies there in one search.
Spring (March to May) and fall (September and October) have the most comfortable temperatures. Winter works well too. We did this route in December and had mostly sunny days and quiet cities, just no beach weather. Avoid July and August, when Seville and Córdoba can reach 40°C.
Five days is enough for a shorter trip focused on Granada, Cordoba, and Seville, the three cities with the biggest sights. You’ll have to skip the white towns and Caminito del Rey, which need at least one extra overnight stop.
Save this guide for later
Pin it now, come back when you’re actually planning the trip.
