Andalucia is one of the largest regions in Spain and its privileged position with shores bathed by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean means that it isn’t the kind of place that you can run through in a few short days. There are so many stunning things to see, historical places to admire and plenty of experiences to enjoy that each destination you visit really deserves several days.
Interested in an Andalucia Road Trip?
If you have at least 2 weeks, exploring Andalucia on a road trip is a great holiday plan. It will give you enough time to focus on some major highlights in each region and explore the area a little bit. If you’re lucky to have 3 to 5 weeks, your road trip will be way more comfortable!
Renting a car is super easy. You’ll find the major companies at the airport and the hotel where you’re staying can definitely help you with it after you settle in. Pick a car that is comfortable but not too large so that it’s easy to drive in the narrower sections of the streets in the villages. Make sure the vehicle has a good motor and tracking so that you can drive in the mountains without much stress.
Roads are overall in good condition, there are a lot of motorways and wide roads so there’s no need to rent a 4WD. Streets in villages, as already said, can be a bit narrow and difficult to drive if you’re not used to them. Our best advice is to park your car and explore them on foot. Don’t forget to insure your rental so that you’re covered against any accident you may have.
Seville
Seville is much more than just the capital of the region of Andalucia; romantic, sensual and dazzling it expresses the quintessential Andalusian character. It’s an alluring city and one of the best places in the region where to experience traditional culture, lively religious festivals, the famous flamenco dance and taste delicious tapas.
It is surrounded by gothic cathedrals and an eclectic mix of Mudejar palaces and baroque churches. It’s home to unique flamenco tablaos and to over 20 different mercados de abastos or local food markets, which are a great way to spend a morning trying all the food that the city has to offer.
Set on the banks of the Guadalquivir river, Sevilla is proud of its impressive Morrish past and cultural heritage in the region. It’s pretty narrow streets are home to plenty of bustling cafes and bars so there’s a vibrant social scene that matches perfectly with the polite and cheerful locals. It boasts breathtaking buildings at every turn, with the impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site Seville Cathedral being a must-see during your trip.
Seville’s cathedral is the largest and highest cathedral in Spain, the largest Gothic building in the world and the world’s third-largest church after St Peter’s in Rome and St Paul’s in London. After Seville was captured from the Moors around the 1250, the great mosque begun by Yusuf II was reconsecrated to the Virgin Mary and used as a Christian cathedral. In 1401, the people decided to erect a new cathedral. They pulled down the old mosque and left only its minaret and outer courtyard and built the cathedral we can see today. The interiors of the cathedral are stunning. The Capilla Mayor or Main Chapel has a magnificent altarpiece that is the largest in Christendom and depicts different scenes from Christ’s life. The monument to Christopher Columbus is at the south end of the cathedral, where his coffin is buried. Don’t miss the Altar de Plata at the opposite end, a breathtaking masterpiece of intricate silversmithing. Other highlights include the Sacristía de los Cálices, the Sacristía Mayor that holds the keys to the city and the Sala Capitular and its beautiful dome. Take your time to admire the works by Goya and Murillo The Capilla Real is worth seeing as well; hidden behind a curtain you can enter. it from the Puerta de Palos. There you can see the tombs of Alfonso X and the relics of Ferdinand III himself. As you leave the building, take a quiet walk through the Patio de los Naranjos and admire its beautiful fountain.
La Giralda is the bell tower located next door to the Cathedral. It was the minaret of the former mosque. What’s unusual about it is that it has 34 ramps leading to the top instead of a stairway. On the way up, there are regular archaeological exhibits on the way up and get ready to admire stunning panoramic views of the city!
The Royal Alcázar of Seville is one of the most captivating representations of the Moorish and Catholic influence in the city. This sprawling complex includes the Patio de las Doncellas with its tranquil ponds, the Royal Residence or Cuarto Real Alto, Los Infantes Hall, the Royal Bedchamber, the Pasos Perdidos Ballroom or the Hall of Ambassadors are some of its more remarkable buildings and spaces. It combines Mudejar architecture with Moorish, Gothic and Renaissance elements. It’s a marvellous palace complex that is still in use by the Spanish royal family.
Plaza de España is a semicircular public square brimming with tile and brick fountains, canals and foot bridges. It’s really pleasant to walk below the tiled alcoves as each of them depict scenes from one province of Spain.
Stretching beyond the walls of the Alcázar is the Barrio de Santa Cruz, the former Jewish quarter that is now a fashionable neighborhood. You’ll fall in love with its white walls, bright flowers and intricate ironwork. There are many restaurants and chic shops and it’s a great place where to admire some traditional Andalusian homes. It’s a quiet and residential area and it’s a pleasure to get lost in its twisting alleyways. Triana is another spirited and eccentric neighborhood that you can’t miss in your tour through Seville. The Triana Bridge that crosses the Guadalquivir joins the old quarter with Triana, almost entirely surrounded by the river. This neighborhood stands out because of its eclectic and proud residents., Visit the Chapel of El Carmen and stop at the Triana Market. Then, enjoy a relaxing and leisurely walk by Maria Luisa Park, the largest green space in the centre of Seville that used to belong to San Telmo Palace, located nearby.
Apart from La Giralda, Las Setas, also known as Metropol Parasol, is the only other place from where you can have a birds-eye view of Seville… and it’s definitely the coolest! The curves and slopes of the structure offer splendid perspectives of the city.
Seville is, without a doubt, one of the best places to visit in Andalucia. It’s a beautiful city with plenty of things to do so don’t leave it off your itinerary!
Granada
Located on the foot of Sierra Nevada, Granada is a charming city that celebrates both its Moorish pasts and Andalusian roots. Its beautiful blend of Andalusian Islamic architecture makes this city an absolute gem. It’s considered one of the most beautiful cities in Andalucia and one of the only places where you can experience a vivid glimpse of the region’s Moorish past. It was the capital of the Moorish Al-Andalus empire and as such it has an impressively rich and varied cultural heritage: the Arab legacy, Jewish influence and Renaissance architectural gems. For instance, apart from the magnificent Alhambra complex, if you visit Calle Elvira in the historic city centre with its varied Arab-inspired leather shops and tea shops you can easily think for a minute that you’ve been transported somehow to Morocco.
It definitely has to be included in any trip across Andalucia. Take time to get lost in its streets, enjoy chatting with friendly locals in a crowded tapas bar on Calle Nevas any day of the week or tour the childhood home of Federico García Lorca, the famous Spanish poe.
The Alhambra is the most important tourist attraction in Granada. Towering above its historic Arabic quarter, it’s one of the world’s most breathtaking monuments. It’s an enormous complex home to fabulous palaces, courtyards and gardens displaying magnificent ornamental features and Islamic geometric patterns. The interiors are sumptuous and they are exquisitely decorated with colorful tiles, beautiful calligraphy and carved wood. Outside, visitors can walk along mendrous paths through a gorgeous ensemble of fountains and patios. And in the evening, after dark, you can go on an Alhambra night tour, which you can experience things in a whole different “light”!
The Alhambra was built during the Nasrid Dynasty and later partially destroyed and rebuilt by King Charles V. It’s organized in different sections: the Generalife Gardens, the Alcazaba and the Nasrid Palace and each of them are really worth visiting!
The Alcazaba is located at the western tip of the Alhambra. A winding staircase leads to the top of the famous Torre de la Vela from where you can admire great panoramic views of the city.
The Nasrid Palace or Palacios Nazaríes are the stunning main piece of the complex. It was originally divided into a section devoted to administrative and public business, the emir’s official and private residence and a private area for the royal family and the harem. The entrance is through the former administrative area; take your time to admire the geometrically carved wooden ceilings and elegant tiles. From there, you’ll pass into different chambers and a dogleg corridor will lead you to the Courtyard of the Myrtles or Patio de los Arrayanes, where you’ll see a beautiful rectangular pool. From the southern end of the patio you can see the walls of the Palacio de Carlos V. You can also see the Comares Tower and different rooms including the Chamber of the Ambassadors; also the Salón de Comares. Look up to admire the intricate star pattern in the ceiling! The patio is surrounded by 4 different halls. In all of them you’ll be amazed by the complex Moorish designs, impressively rich decorations and carved wood scenes.
The Generalife is the sultan’s gorgeous summer state. Walk through a soothing group of pools, patios, fountains and pathways lined with trees and flowers. You’ll be led to the Palacio del Generalife, where the emir spent his summers. From its perch on Cerro del Sol, the promenades, terraces and gardens spread across 74 landscaped acres of the Alhambra complex offers some of the most stunning views of Granada.
Albaycín and Sacromonte are two popular and beautiful neighborhoods in Granada. Albaycín is the old Muslim quarter and its twisting steep streets underscore a medieval past. There are Baroque churches inside old mosques, traditional villas, whitewashed buildings and mansions with large gardens. From there you can have stunning views of the Alhambra and taking a walking tour is probably the best way to enjoy this area of the city. Sacromonte is the gypsy quarter and it’s deeply linked with flamenco. Located just opposite the Alhambra, Sacromonte is absolutely fascinating and one of the best places in Granada where to attend a flamenco show at a traditional tablao.
Feature photo by Amy Burry
