From the Andalusian capital to Pablo Picasso’s hometown, taking a tour of Andalusia is an unmissable trip for both a tourist discovering Europe for the first time and a traveler looking for new destinations.
But what to visit in Andalusia? Which destinations can’t be missed? How much does the itinerary cost? Continue reading to create your itinerary and plan an incredible trip to the south of Spain.
3-day itinerary through Andalusia
If you only have 3 days to explore Andalusia, we recommend that you dedicate yourself entirely to the capital, Seville.
The city is the main portrait of that Spain full of traditions: the flamenco shows, the smell of fried pescaíto and other traditional foods sold on the streets, the medieval buildings, the free tapa that accompanies a glass of wine.
We could mention a series of typical characteristics of the Seville city, but it’s better to go there to see everything in person, right? See below what to do in Seville during your three-day itinerary through Andalusia:
Day 1 in Seville:
- Seville Cathedral ;
- La Giralda;
- Torre del Oro;
- Walk along the banks or along the Guadalquivir;
- Parque de María Luisa with Plaza de España and Plaza de América;
- Museum of Popular Arts and Costumes of Seville.
Day 2 in Seville:
- Royal Alcázar of Seville ;
- Palacio de las Dueñas;
- Palacio Marqueses de la Algaba;
- Alameda de Hércules.
Day 3 in Seville:
- Setas de Sevilla / Metropol Parasol;
- Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla;
- Triana neighborhood;
- Flamenco performance.
5-day itinerary through Andalusia
If you have 5 days to get to know Andalusia, consider the first three days in Seville and also include the city of Córdoba in your itinerary.
Approximately 1h30 away by car from Seville and less than 1h by train, Córdoba is a charm, mainly due to its Roman and Islamic past: the Roman bridge that was even the setting for the series “Game of Thrones” and the Mosque- Córdoba Cathedral are the main reasons to visit the city – and with good reason.
Córdoba and its Islamic heritage are one of the highlights of the Andalusia itinerary. Photo: Renata Losso
I guarantee that the attractions are worth it, check out what to do on day 4 and 5 of your trip, after three days in Seville:
Day 4 in Córdoba
- Portada de la Feria de Córdoba;
- Puente Romano de Córdoba;
- Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba ;
- Patio de los Naranjos;
- Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos.
Day 5 in Córdoba
- Tour of the Judería de Córdoba, the heart of the city;
- Wall and Moat of Puerta de Almodóvar
- La Casa Andalusí;
- Plaza de la Corredera;
- Enjoy a good salmorejo, a typical dish of the city.
In a 5-day itinerary you can also replace Córdoba with Granada. Just take a car or train and travel a slightly longer distance after the three days in Seville: in up to four hours you can reach Granada.
Granada, in fact, is my favorite of the three and you will have the privilege of visiting the main tourist attraction in all of Spain, the Alhambra .
7-day itinerary through Andalusia
For a 7-day itinerary, what do we suggest? Include the city of Granada in your Andalusia itinerary. To do this, you can stay 3 days in Seville, 2 days in Córdoba and 2 days in Granada.
Since we’ve already talked about Seville and Córdoba in previous itineraries, let’s move on to what to do in Granada?
Day 6 in Granada
- Tour of the Albaicín neighborhood;
- Paseo de los Tristes;
- Alhambra complex with palaces and Generalife;
- San Nicolás viewpoint.
Day 7 in Granada
- Walk through the Sacromonte neighborhood;
- San Agustín Market;
- Granada Cathedral and Royal Chapel of Granada;
- Alcaicería: old silk market;
- Calle Navas to discover typical Granadan bars.
10-day itinerary through Andalusia
If you have 10 days to stay in Andalusia, you can include two more cities on your route in addition to Seville, Córdoba and Granada. One of them is the port city of Cádiz, located on a small peninsula and famous for its street carnival, also celebrated between February and March, but as a celebration at the end of winter.
Approximately 4 hours from Granada, Cádiz is a revelation bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and, from some angles, looks like something out of a medieval film: a fort, a cathedral and a Roman theater make up some of the city’s settings. Not to mention that some beaches also contribute to the city’s charm.
Day 8 in Cádiz
- Santa Catarina Fort;
- Cadiz Cathedral;
- Cadiz Museum;
- Historic center of Cádiz;
- Playa de la Caleta for sunset.
Day 9 in Cádiz
- Zahora Beach;
- Genoves Park;
- Cadiz Central Market;
- Flower Square;
- La Viña neighborhood.
Day 10 in Ronda
To complete the 10 days, the second city is the fantastic Ronda , known for being located at the top of the “El Tajo” gorge and displaying some of the most enchanting scenery in Europe.
The city of Ronda can be visited in either one or two days, depending on the time you have available – or even your rush to see as many places as possible. In the 10-day Andalusia itinerary, Ronda comes on the scene for a 1-day visit so you can complete the trip with a flourish.
In Ronda, as it is a relatively small city, you can enjoy the city and visit places such as:
- Bullring;
- La Casa del Rey Moro;
- Museo Lara: museum of arts and antiquities in Ronda;
- Mondragón Palace;
- Ronda Viewpoint.
Regardless of what you decide to visit in Ronda, my tip is: get lost in the city, discover places outside the traditional tourist attractions and, of course, enjoy the view. In the end, you’ll hardly find anything like Ronda out there.
15-day itinerary through Andalusia
If you have 15 days for this unforgettable trip, you can stay in Ronda for two days and include two more cities in your Andalusia itinerary: Málaga and Almeria.
Málaga is known for its typical taverns, the emblematic Las Artes neighborhood – with several examples of urban art – and for being the hometown of the famous Spanish painter Pablo Picasso.
Almeria, on the other hand, is known for its drier climate despite being a coastal city, for the unmissable view of its Alcazaba and its typical foods – the city was even the Spanish capital of gastronomy.
When we talk about Almeria, we are talking about the city that bears the same name as the province. It is worth highlighting, therefore, that the province of Almeria is also worth a visit due to the region’s famous Pueblos Blancos , small villages with white houses that can be found throughout Andalusia.
In Almeria, the towns of Níjar and Mojácar are the ones that stand out the most, so we will include a visit to Níjar among possibilities in your itinerary. The pueblo is closer to the city of Almeria than the pueblo of Mojácar.
Let’s see what you can do in each of the cities, spending 2 days in each one?
Day 12 in Malaga
- La Alcazaba;
- Tour of the historic center;
- Church of “La Manquita”;
- Picasso Museum in Malaga;
- Gibralfaro viewpoint.
Day 13 in Malaga
- Barrio de las Artes;
- Malaga Contemporary Art Center;
- Atarazanas Market;
- Center Pompidou Malaga;
- Pedregalejo neighborhood and beach.
Day 14 in Almeria
- Monumental Ensemble of the Alcazaba of Almeria;
- Almeria Cathedral;
- Almeria Archaeological Museum;
- Refuges from the Spanish Civil War of Almeria.
Day 15 in Almeria
- Tabernas Desert;
- El cable pier;
- laza Vieja de Almeria;
As we mentioned previously, you can also use your days in Almeria to visit the pueblo blanco de Níjar and the Cabo de Gata natural park, both great recommendations for those who prefer to be in contact with nature, enjoy kayaking trips and be surprised by the natural beauty of the region.
How many days are enough to do a route through Andalusia?
It depends on the number of cities you want to visit.
If you just want to see the most popular cities, like Seville and Granada, 5 days will be enough. Now, if you want to venture into cities that are not within the more traditional circuit, such as Almeria, 15 days will be a good time for a complete trip through Andalusian culture.
It all depends, however, on your travel profile: if you are like me, who likes to get lost in cities and discover things that are not on the traditional itineraries, 20 days may be essential – just increase one day in each city.