Complete Andalusia Road Trip Itinerary (10 Days)

The Andalusia Road Trip That Haunted My Dreams for Months After

I’ve driven through a lot of beautiful places — the Italian Amalfi Coast, the Scottish Highlands, the Route des Grandes Alpes in France. But the drive through Andalusia? That’s the one that still makes me pull up Google Maps at 2 AM, retracing the route, thinking about when I can go back.

It’s not just one thing. It’s the way the light turns gold at sunset over Seville’s rooftops. It’s the Alhambra appearing through morning mist like something from a fairy tale. It’s the white villages clinging to cliffsides, the flamenco you can hear through open windows at midnight, and the tapas — oh, the tapas — that cost almost nothing and taste like everything.

Andalusia is where Spain’s soul lives. And 10 days is just enough time to fall hopelessly in love with it.

Here’s the exact route I drove, with every stop, every meal recommendation, and every “Pro tip” I wish someone had told me before I went.

Overview: The Route

This 10-day loop starts and ends in Seville (the best city to fly into), winding east through Córdoba and Granada, south through the White Villages, and west along the coast back to Seville.

• Days 1-3: Seville (arrival + 2 full days)
• Day 4: Córdoba (day trip or overnight)
• Days 5-6: Granada
• Days 7-8: White Villages (Ronda, Zahara, Grazalema)
• Day 9: Málaga
• Day 10: Return to Seville (or extend to the coast)

Total driving: ~750 km over 10 days (short drives, never more than 2.5 hours)
Best time: March-May or September-November. Avoid July-August — Andalusia can hit 45°C.

Best Time to Visit Andalusia

Andalusia has extreme seasons. Understanding them is critical to enjoying the trip:

• March-May: My favorite. Temperatures 18-28°C, orange trees blooming, wildflowers everywhere. Semana Santa (Holy Week, March/April) is extraordinary in Seville but accommodation triples in price. Feria de Abril (2 weeks after Easter) is Seville’s biggest party — flamenco dresses, horses, sherry, dancing until dawn.
• September-November: Equally lovely. Still warm enough for beaches (water 21-24°C into October), fewer tourists, lower prices. The grape harvest in Jerez is festive.
• June: The sweet spot if you can handle 32-35°C. Everything’s open, prices are moderate, days are very long.
• July-August: Brutally hot (38-45°C). Locals flee to the coast or mountains. The White Villages are unbearable at midday. Only go if you’re purely a beach person and plan to be on the coast.
• December-February: Cool (8-16°C), some rain, but almost no tourists. Great for city exploration. Alhambra with no crowds is a revelation.

For detailed seasonal info, see our Best Time to Visit Spain guide.

How to Get There

Flights

Seville Airport (SVQ) has direct flights from most European cities. Ryanair and Vueling fly from London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, and Amsterdam from €30-80 one way. Málaga Airport (AGP) is a larger alternative with more connections — then drive to Seville (2.5 hours) or start the route in reverse.

Car Rental

Rent at the airport. I used Rentalcars.com and got a Seat Ibiza for €18/day (€180 for 10 days) with full insurance. Book 3-4 weeks ahead. Get the smallest car possible — Andalusia’s old town streets and mountain roads are narrow.

Pro tip: Choose a car with air conditioning (non-negotiable in Andalusia) and a manual transmission to save €10/day. If you’re from the US or UK, make sure you’re comfortable driving in narrow medieval streets — they’re exciting but not for the faint-hearted.

By Train (Without a Car)

Possible but limiting. The AVE high-speed train connects Madrid-Seville (2.5 hours, €25-55) and Seville-Córdoba (45 minutes, €12-25). Granada has train connections too. But the White Villages and coast are car territory.

Days 1-3: Seville — Where Spain Sets the Bar Impossibly High

Seville ruined my expectations for every other Spanish city. Starting here is both a blessing (it’s incredible) and a curse (everywhere else has to compete with it).

Day 1: Arrive and Get Lost

Check into your hotel (stay in Barrio Santa Cruz or Triana — see below) and spend the afternoon wandering. Seville’s historic center is a labyrinth of narrow alleys, tiled courtyards, orange trees, and hidden plazas. There’s no “right” route — just walk, get lost, and follow the sounds.

At some point you’ll end up at the Plaza de España, built for the 1929 Exposition. It’s a sweeping semicircle of tiled benches representing every Spanish province, with a canal and bridges. It looks like it belongs in a movie — and it does (it was Naboo in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones). Come at golden hour when the tiles glow.

Evening: Cross the bridge to Triana for dinner. This neighborhood on the west bank of the Guadalquivir is where flamenco was born. The tapas scene here is extraordinary and far less touristy than the center. Try Casa Anselma for spontaneous flamenco (no cover, just buy drinks — she opens when she feels like it, usually after 11 PM) or La Primera del Puente for tapas on the riverfront (jamón ibérico, €4; salmorejo, €3; grilled prawns, €6).

Day 2: The Big Three

Morning: Real Alcázar (€14.50, book online with timed entry). The Alcázar is a Moorish royal palace that’s been continuously occupied for over 1,000 years — it’s still used by the Spanish royal family when they visit Seville. The tilework, the gardens, and the intimacy of the spaces (it’s not overwhelming like Versailles) make it one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever entered.

Pro tip: Book the earliest slot (9:30 AM). By 11:00 AM, it’s crowded. Also, walk through the gardens — many visitors rush past them, but the pools, the peacocks, and the Moorish pavilions are half the experience.

Late morning: Seville Cathedral (€12 including the Giralda tower). The world’s largest Gothic cathedral. Christopher Columbus is buried here (probably — there’s been some DNA debate). Climb the Giralda tower — it’s a ramp, not stairs (it was designed for horses), and the view from the top over Seville’s rooftops is panoramic perfection.

Afternoon: Metropol Parasol (Las Setas) — a massive wooden structure that looks like giant mushrooms. Take the elevator to the top (€5) for a sunset panorama over the old city. Love it or hate it architecturally, the views are undeniable.

Evening: Flamenco. Not the tourist tablaos (overpriced, rehearsed). Book a show at La Casa del Flamenco (€22, intimate courtyard setting) or Casa de la Memoria (€22, a converted 15th-century palace). These smaller venues are where you feel the raw emotion of flamenco — the singer’s voice cracking, the dancer’s heels hammering the wooden floor, the guitarist’s intensity. It’s electric.

Day 3: Markets, Neighborhoods, and Hidden Seville

Skip the attractions today. Seville’s magic is in its everyday life.

Morning: Mercado de Triana — a food market on the Triana side with incredible produce, cured meats, and tiny bars serving breakfast tapas. Las Golosas de Triana does an exceptional tostada con tomate (toasted bread with crushed tomato and olive oil, €2.50). Also browse the ceramics stalls — Triana is Seville’s traditional pottery district.

Midday: Walk through Parque de María Luisa — Seville’s central park, full of tiled fountains, shaded paths, and parrots. It’s where Sevillanos escape the heat.

Afternoon: Explore the Macarena neighborhood — less polished than Santa Cruz, more authentic. The 12th-century city walls, the Basilica de la Macarena (home to Seville’s most venerated Virgin statue), and local bars that haven’t changed in decades.

Insider tip: Seville’s rhythm is different from the rest of Europe. Lunch at 2:00-3:30 PM, siesta until 5:00-6:00 PM, dinner after 9:00 PM (10:00 PM in summer). Don’t fight it — adapt. The city is dead between 2-5 PM in summer because it’s simply too hot to be outside.

Day 4: Córdoba — A Thousand Red and White Arches

Drive time: 1.5 hours from Seville
Option: Day trip or overnight (I recommend overnight)

The Mezquita-Catedral (€13) is the reason to visit Córdoba, and it will genuinely stop you in your tracks. Imagine walking into a forest of 856 red-and-white striped arches, originally a mosque from 784 AD, with a Renaissance cathedral built right in the middle. The contrast is mind-bending — Islamic geometry meets Christian Baroque. I stood inside for an hour, just looking up.

Pro tip: Visit at 8:30 AM (free entry for the first 30 minutes on weekdays, just for the mosque area). Otherwise, €13 and arrive before 10 AM to avoid tour groups.

The Jewish Quarter (Judería) around the Mezquita is a network of whitewashed alleys, flower-filled courtyards, and hidden plazas. Visit the Patios — Córdoba’s famous private courtyards, some of which are open to visitors year-round (the Patio Festival in May is when they compete for the most beautiful — it’s extraordinary).

Where to eat: Taberna Salinas — a classic Córdoba tavern since 1879. Salmorejo (€3.50, Córdoba’s thicker, creamier version of gazpacho), berenjenas con miel (fried eggplant with honey, €5), and flamenquín (breaded pork roll, €7). Pair with a Montilla-Moriles wine — similar to sherry but from Córdoba’s own region.

Days 5-6: Granada — The Alhambra and Beyond

Drive time: 2.5 hours from Córdoba
Stay in: Albaicín (the old Moorish quarter) or the city center

Day 5: The Alhambra

Let me be direct: book your Alhambra tickets 2-3 months in advance at alhambra-patronato.es. They sell out, especially the Nasrid Palaces time slot. €19 for the full complex.

The Alhambra is the finest example of Moorish architecture in the world. The Nasrid Palaces are where it peaks — the Court of the Lions, the Hall of Ambassadors, and the intricate stucco carvings that look like frozen lace. Photography doesn’t do it justice. The level of detail is something you need to see in person, in the changing light, to understand.

The Generalife gardens (included in the ticket) are equally beautiful in a different way — terraced gardens with fountains, cypress trees, and views over Granada. Give yourself 4-5 hours for the entire complex.

Evening: Watch the sunset from the Mirador de San Nicolás in the Albaicín. This is the classic view — the Alhambra glowing orange against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It’s crowded (bring your camera early and claim a spot), but there’s a reason every photographer in Spain comes here.

For dinner, our Granada Travel Guide has detailed restaurant picks.

Day 6: The Albaicín, Sacromonte, and Free Tapas

Morning: Explore the Albaicín on foot. This UNESCO-listed Moorish quarter is a maze of whitewashed houses, jasmine-scented alleys, and hidden cármenes (private walled gardens). Get lost — it’s the only way to see it properly. Visit the Arabic baths (El Bañuelo) — free entry, and one of the oldest surviving Moorish buildings in Granada.

Afternoon: Walk to Sacromonte, the cave district above the Albaicín. This is the historic Roma (Gypsy) quarter, and cave houses carved into the hillside are still lived in today. The Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte (€5) shows what cave life looks like inside. In the evening, Sacromonte cave bars host some of the most raw, authentic flamenco in Spain.

Pro tip: Granada is the last major city in Spain where free tapas are genuinely a thing. Order a drink (€2-3 for a beer or wine) and you get a tapa included. By the third round, you’ve had dinner. The best streets for this: Calle Navas, Calle Elvira, and the small bars around Plaza Nueva. Each bar tries to outdo the last — I’ve gotten everything from a plate of jamón to a mini paella to a grilled fish fillet. All “free” with a €2.50 beer.

Days 7-8: The White Villages and Ronda

Drive time: 2 hours from Granada to Ronda (via the White Villages route)

This is the most scenic drive of the trip. The road winds through the Sierra de Grazalema natural park — dramatic limestone mountains, eagle-patrolled valleys, and clusters of blinding white villages (pueblos blancos) that look like clouds settled on the hilltops.

White Villages to Stop At

• Zahara de la Sierra: A fortress town overlooking a turquoise reservoir. The climb to the castle (free) gives you 360° views. Population: 1,400. One of the most dramatic settings in Andalusia.
• Grazalema: The rainiest town in Spain (seriously — the microclimate catches Atlantic moisture). It’s lush and green, surrounded by hiking trails. The local cheese (payoyo) is exceptional. Buy some at the market (€5 a wedge).
• Setenil de las Bodegas: A town literally built into rock overhangs — the cliff is the ceiling of many houses and restaurants. It’s bizarre, photogenic, and completely unique. Have a coffee at a bar under the rock.

Ronda

Ronda is the jewel. The town is split by a 100-meter gorge (the Tajo), spanned by the 18th-century Puente Nuevo bridge. Standing on the bridge, looking down into the canyon with the river far below, is genuinely vertigo-inducing. Hemingway loved Ronda and set parts of For Whom the Bell Tolls here.

The Plaza de Toros (€8) is Spain’s oldest and most beautiful bullring. The Arab Baths (€3.50) are the best-preserved in Spain. And the walk down to the bottom of the gorge (steep but doable in 20 minutes) gives you the postcard view of the bridge from below.

Where to eat: Bodega San Francisco — local institution since forever. Rabo de toro (oxtail stew, €12), tomato soup, local wines by the glass (€2). Nothing fancy, everything delicious.

Where to stay: Hotel San Gabriel — a converted 18th-century mansion, from €75/night, with views of the gorge from the terrace.

Day 9: Málaga — More Than a Beach City

Drive time: 1.5 hours from Ronda

Málaga used to be just the airport city you passed through on the way to the Costa del Sol. Not anymore. The old town has been transformed — the Picasso Museum (€12), the Centre Pompidou Málaga (€9, in a colorful glass cube on the port), and the Museo Carmen Thyssen (€10, 19th-century Andalusian painting) make it one of Spain’s best art cities.

The Alcazaba (€3.50) — a Moorish fortress overlooking the port — is smaller than Seville’s or Granada’s but beautifully atmospheric with fewer tourists. Climb to the top for the view, then walk down through the gardens.

Where to eat: El Pimpi — Málaga’s most famous bodega. Antonio Banderas is a regular (he’s from Málaga). Signed wine barrels line the walls. Málaga sweet wine (€2.50/glass), boquerones en vinagre (marinated anchovies, €4), and grilled sardines (€6). The terrace overlooking the Alcazaba is perfect for a long lunch.

Pro tip: If you have extra time, drive east 50 minutes to Nerja — the Balcón de Europa viewpoint, the Nerja caves (€14, with stalactites the size of buildings), and small beaches far more charming than the Costa del Sol.

Day 10: Return to Seville

Drive time: 2 hours from Málaga (or 2.5 from Nerja)

Head back to Seville for your flight, or extend the trip with:

• Jerez de la Frontera (1 hour from Seville) — sherry tastings, horse shows, flamenco culture. The Tío Pepe bodega tour (€18, includes tasting) is one of the best wine experiences in Spain.
• Cádiz (1.5 hours from Seville) — Spain’s oldest city, wild Atlantic beaches, incredible fried fish. The Playa de la Caleta beach at sunset is unforgettable.

Where to Stay: Accommodation Guide

Insider tip: Spain’s Paradores are government-run luxury hotels in historic buildings — castles, monasteries, palaces. The Parador de Granada is literally inside the Alhambra complex. They’re expensive (€150-250/night) but occasionally have deals. Even if you don’t stay, many have restaurants open to the public.

Budget Breakdown: 10 Days in Andalusia

Spain is one of Europe’s best-value destinations. The mid-range total here — roughly €150-200/day per person — gets you a comfortable hotel, two restaurant meals, a rental car, and all the major attractions. Try doing that in Switzerland.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 10 days enough for Andalusia?

Yes — you’ll see the highlights thoroughly without rushing. If you have 14 days, add Jerez, Cádiz, and more time in the White Villages. If you only have 7, cut the White Villages drive to just Ronda and skip Málaga.

Do I need to speak Spanish?

It helps enormously. English is widely spoken in hotels and tourist areas but less so in small villages, tapas bars, and anywhere off the beaten path. Learn basics: “una cerveza por favor,” “la cuenta,” “dónde está…” and you’ll get by with smiles. Google Translate’s camera function works wonders on menus.

Is it safe?

Very safe. Petty theft (pickpocketing) is an issue in Seville and Málaga tourist zones — keep your phone in a front pocket and watch your bag in crowded areas. Violent crime is extremely rare. Driving is safe and roads are well-maintained.

Can I do this by public transport?

Seville-Córdoba-Granada: easily by train. But the White Villages, Ronda (limited bus service), and the Costa del Sol side trips really need a car. Consider renting just for days 7-10.

What about Gibraltar?

If you’re curious, Gibraltar is 1.5 hours from Málaga. The Rock, the monkeys, and the weird British-in-Spain culture are worth a half-day. But it’s not essential to the Andalusia experience.

More Spain planning: Our Barcelona vs Madrid guide helps you decide on your next Spanish city. For a broader Spain trip, the Spain Itinerary covers the whole country. And if you’re crossing into France, France Vibe’s budget guide picks up right across the border.