10-day roadtrip in Andalusia: Tips and itinerary

Andalusia

Planning a roadtrip to Andalusia? Here are our itinireraries, tips and recommendations for a 10-day trip to the South of Spain.

Julie

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Julie

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The article in brief:

Rediscover Spain with a 10-day roadtrip in Andalusia. Explore Seville, Cordoba, Granada and the Costa del Sol, and discover the rich culture and varied landscapes of this region, from sunny beaches to majestic mountains.

Don’t forget to:

What better way to (re-) discover Spain than on a roadtrip to Andalusia? I’ve put together a ten-day itinerary to explore this region.

Andalusia: culture, discovery & sunshine

Andalusia is the second largest community in Spain, located in the South of the country. It boasts several mountain ranges, a desert and numerous beaches, enough to please any traveller. The region is also crossed by the Guadalquivir, one of the country’s largest rivers.

As the region is by the sea, you’ll find typical Mediterranean cuisine featuring fish and seafood, but that’s not all! There are a few specialities not to be missed:

Gazpacho Andaluz
Gambas de Garrucha, celebrated in the province of Almería
Piononos de Grenade, a sweet little cake with cream and cinnamon

It also has a very rich culture. Flamenco originated in the region and has given Spain a clearly identifiable place in music. Great painters such as Velázquez and Picasso were born here. The region is also home to many religious festivals, such as Semana Santa (Holy Week), which begins on Palm Sunday.

Its culture is also distinguished by its history and the different civilisations that have inhabited the region. The Arab influence is clearly visible in the architecture, a reminder of the region’s nearly 700-year history.

Organising a roadtrip

Opting for a roadtrip as a form of travel is a good option for travellers in search of discoveries and for all those who don’t like to stay put and prefer to move around to see as many things as possible! However, a roadtrip can be very tiring, and the risk is that you won’t enjoy the last few steps as much.

Once you’ve chosen the region you want to explore (Andalusia, for example), it’s important to decide both the number of days available for the trip and the number of stops you want to make. With the exception of certain more remote or smaller places, I recommend that you stay a minimum of 2 nights at each stopover.

You should also be careful not to plan too many visits or activities per day and to leave a few days ‘free’, i.e. without a schedule to allow for improvisation (or rest).

As for means of transport, the easiest thing to do is to opt for a car and be free to choose your own timetable. The rail network is fairly efficient, as are the buses.

All my tips to planning your roadtrip in this article!

My recommendation: discover Andalusia at your own pace with Discover Cars, your ideal car rental partner. Enjoy a wide selection of cars to suit all budgets, a simple booking process and quality customer service.

Andalusia roadtrip: 10-day itinerary

It’s time for a roadtrip to Andalusia! The 10-day programme is ideal for seeing the region’s must-sees without rushing.

Spring and early autumn are the ideal times to visit Andalusia.

This itinerary is a recommendation, but there are many other options to suit everyone’s tastes and preferences!

Seville - 2 days

Seville is the ideal place to start your roadtrip in Andalusia. Easy to reach from both international and national destinations, Seville’s history is reflected in the city’s architecture. The different cultures that have lived here have left their mark and can be discovered during a 2-day visit to the city.

Seville has an international airport with flights from most cities in France and Brussels. There is also a train station with trains from Valencia, Madrid and Barcelona.

If you’re visiting Seville in 2 days, there are 5 must-see sites:

- Visit the Alcazar in Seville
- See the sunset from Las Setas
- Take a walk along the river
- Stroll around the Triana district
- See the Plaza de Espana

For a more complete city-trip, we recommend staying between 3 and 5 days.

Book your ticket for the Alcazar

💡To avoid queues, remember to book entry to the Alcazar in advance. You can also opt for a combined guided tour of the city in English to learn more about Sevillian history and culture with a local. On this tour, you’ll not only see the Alcázar, but also the Cathedral and the Giralda.

👉 Ticket for the Alcazar

Price: €18.50

👉 Guided tour of Seville in English (with entrance to the Alcázar and Cathedral)

Price: €52/adult – €14/child (10-14 years)

As you know, I also love taking part in a free tour when I visit a city! And the one in Seville is particularly cool. For 2 hours, you visit the historic centre of the city with a French-speaking guide. At the end of the tour, you give whatever you want to the guide – that’s the ‘free’ principle.

Cordoba - 1 day

Second stop on our roadtrip: Cordoba. Although not as big as Seville, Cordoba can be visited in one day. It has an extensive religious, civil, military and archaeological heritage, as well as some very invigorating natural areas.

Seville-Cordoba route :

- 1h30 by car
- 50 min by train (Estacion Sevilla Santa Justa – Cordoba) with departures every 30 minutes

What to see in Cordoba in 1 day

- Visit the Mezquita de Cordoba, the mosque-cathedral
- A tour of the Jewish Quarter
- Cross the Roman bridge and visit the Calahorra tower-museum
- Passing in front of the Roman temple

Guided tours: some recommendations for Cordoba

👉 Full tour of Cordoba with tickets included

Price: €45/adult – €28/child (10-14 years) – €8/child (2-9 years)

This tour includes entry to the Cathedral Mosque, the Synagogue and the Alcazar. Super complete!

👉 Guided tour of Cordoba’s Mosque-Cathedral

Price: €28/adult – €18/child (10-14 years) – €5/child (2-9 years)

This shorter tour includes entrance to the Cathedral Mosque.

👉 Guided tour of the Mosque and Alcazar

Price: €40/adult – €12/child (10-14 years) – €6/child (2-9 years)

This shorter tour includes entrance to the Cathedral Mosque and the Alcazar.

Granada - 3 days

The third stop on our roadtrip is Granada. The city lies close to the Sierra Nevada and has retained its medieval appearance. There are four old towns, each with its own special features. Granada is a fine example of a cultural melting pot. In fact, it is home to Jewish, Arab, Catholic and Gypsy cultures. In 3 days, you’ll have the chance to visit the city’s must-sees.

Córdoba – Granada route :

- 2h15 by car
- 1.5 hour train journey (Estacion Cordoba – Antequera) departing several times a day

Not to be missed in 3 days in Granada:

- Visit the Alhambra (plan a day to visit and enjoy it)
- See a sunset from the Mirador de San Nicolas
- Venture into the Sacromonte and/or Albaicin districts
- See (and visit) the Cathedral of the Incarnation
- Stroll along the Paseo de los Tristes

Book your ticket for the Alhambra

💡It’s imperative to book your tickets for the Alhambra in advance! What’s more, for an even more complete experience and an enriching discovery of this iconic monument, opting for a guided tour in English may be interesting.

👉 Entrance to the Alhambra with the Nasrid Palaces

Price: €16

👉 Guided tour of the Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces (with entrance fees)

Price: €45/adult – €25/child

The tour is led by an English-speaking guide!

And to finish off on Granada, I have 2 more recommendations (it really is one of my favourite cities, oops):

A Flamenco show: I’ve already tried the Jardines de Zoraya show and it was a wonderful experience.

On the way from Córdoba to Granada, if you want a visit that’s a little off the beaten track, spend a few hours at El Torcal de Antequera. This natural park is famous for its Jurassic rock formations.

Costa del Sol - 3 days... or more

To finish this roadtrip, I chose the Costa del Sol. What better way to unwind after a week’s travel than on the beach? The coast is perfect for relaxing, but you’ll also find a few sights not to be missed.

To name but a few:

- In Marbella you can enjoy the natural surroundings, the historic centre and the old town.
- In Málaga, you’ll find plenty of museums and discover the history of one of Spain’s oldest cities (note: if you’re going with children – or just want to have some fun 😉 – Málaga has several pretty cool water parks).

Route Granada – Malaga :

- 1h45 by car
- 1h45 by train (Estacion Granada – Antequera – Malaga)

The most beautiful beaches on the Costa del Sol :

- In Nerja, the Playa de Burriana
- Playa Cabopino in Marbella
- La Malagueta, Malaga’s beach
- El Padrón in Estepona

For me, Malaga is an ideal stopover for a few days in Andalusia in the middle of summer, to escape the heat for a while.

Ronda (optional) - 1 day

An option before or after the Costa del Sol, depending on your preferences.

Ronda sits atop a mountain, and its position affords incredible views of the surrounding countryside. The town also sits above a gorge that divides it in two. The old town and the new town are linked by the Puente Nuevo (new bridge), which is the town’s emblem. Ronda is not very large, and a day’s visit is all it takes.

Malaga – Ronda route :

- 1h20 by car

Spend 1 day in Ronda :

- Strolling through the old town
- Passing in front of the bullring
- Take a stroll along the Alameda del Tajo, a walk around the city that takes you past several viewpoints.
- Passing over the Puente Nuevo

Day trip to Ronda

There are several tours and excursions from Málaga for a day in Ronda (combined with Setenil). An ideal option for those who don’t want to rent a car. The excursion can be combined with a guided tour to make the most of this pretty Andalusian village.