Holidays in Andalusia: the most beautiful places to see

Andalusia, my favourite and by far the most travelled part of Spain. Which is no surprise, as it’s generally a very touristy region, both for relaxing beach holidays, roadtrips, mountain treks and holidays in beautiful historic towns.

Where to stay in Andalusia

It depends on how much time you have and how much you want or don’t want to pack your bags every minute. Andalusia is a big place and if you want to see the highlights, it’s worth choosing several accommodations in different cities, depending on what you want to see. For example, Málaga + Granada + Córdoba + Seville + Cádiz + Tarifa.

The advantage of having a car is that you can stay outside the main cities and get cheaper accommodation. On the other hand, evenings of tapas and wine in the famous Andalusian towns, you don’t want to miss that either.

The most beautiful places in Andalusia

The region is full of hidden treasures, picturesque villages and natural beauty.

Plaza de España Sevilla

Seville is the capital of Andalusia, rich in history, culture and architecture. It is home to the third largest cathedral in the world, the Iglesia del Salvador. Incidentally, this is where the sailor Christopher Columbus lies.

A short walk from the cathedral is the Royal Palace of Alcazar with its beautiful gardens. The city centre is dominated by the impressive Plaza de España, surrounded by a bridged canal.

Alcázar in Córdoba

Córdoba is only three quarters of an hour by train from Seville. There is the original large Mezquita Mosque, later converted into a cathedral. The royal palace and the fortress of Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos are beautiful. There is a historic Roman bridge over the Guadalquivir River.

Gibralfaro in Málaga

Málaga is the most typical starting point for people to travel around Andalusia. It is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, who also has his museum with around 200 works. The dominant feature is the Moorish fortress of Alcazaba, which overlooks the entire coastline, the city and the port.

The city’s La Malagueta beach is a favourite, but the overground metro runs along the Costa del Sol, making it easy to get to other coastal towns.

Alhambra in Granada

Granada is one of those Spanish cities where you get free tapas with your sangria, proper tapas, not just a bowl with a few olives or chips. But mostly it’s for the Alhambra palace complex with its beautiful gardens and courtyards. Granada’s historic Albaicín district is a Unesco site and there’s a view from the Mirador de San Nicolás directly over the Alhambra, both on the hill.

City on the Rock Ronda

Ronda is one of the most popular things that almost nobody misses. It has two parts, the older La Ciudad and the newer El Mercadillo, connected by the Puente Nuevo stone bridge. The local Plaza de Toros is one of the oldest and most beautiful bullrings in Spain. There’s also the Palacio de Mondragón, a former Moorish palace with gardens.

Cadiz

Cadiz is a port city, practically on an island, technically a peninsula, connected to mainland Spain by a strait with a road. Then there are two more bridges leading to Cadiz. The old town, Casco Antiguo, is a jumble of winding streets and whitewashed houses.

The main sights are the Cathedral of Cadiz and the Tavira Tower with panoramic views of the city. There are also nice beaches, such as La Caleta near the Castillo de San Sebastián.

Rock of Gibraltar

Gibraltar, of course, is not in Andalusia or Spain, but it is directly adjacent and it would certainly be a shame not to stop here when visiting Andalusia. In British territory you can have an English breakfast, climb or take a cable car up Gibraltar’s famous The Rock, from where you can have the whole of Gibraltar in the palm of your hand.

If the weather is good , you can also see Africa from here. Gibraltar Mountain is full of monkeys, macaques, who will accompany you. Also of interest is the local airport and the airstrip that you cross when you enter Gibraltar. From above, you can clearly see the planes landing.

The most beautiful beaches in Andalusia

The coastline of Andalusia is 900 kilometres long and is divided into three main areas.

Costa del Sol

160 kilometres around Málaga to the province of Granada. The beaches are sandy and the water is azure blue, just a little colder than one would expect in the middle of the season in southern Spain. The most popular beaches here are Playa de la Malagueta in Malaga, Playa de Burriana in Nerja, Playa del Cristo in Estepona and Playa de Cabopino in Marbella.

Costa de la Luz

The western part of the Andalusian coast in the region of Cadiz and Huelva, bordering Portugal. There are stronger winds here, and it’s popular for kiteboarding and windsurfing. Popular beaches are Playa de Bolonia and Playa de Valdevaqueros in Tarifa, Playa de la Barrosa in Chiclana de la Frontera and Playa de Matalascañas in Huelva.

Costa Tropical

Less visited beaches, but also beautiful, surrounded by the Sierra Nevada mountains. The best beaches here are Cabo de Gata near Alméria, Playa de Cantarriján and Playa La Herradura in Almuñécar, Playa de Calahonda in Motril, Playa de Salobreña in Salobreña.

What is typical of Andalusia

Andalusia is one of the most charismatic regions of Spain, full of cultural diversity, history and a unique atmosphere.

Citrus and olives

Spain is the world’s largest producer of olive oil, most of which comes from Andalusia, specifically the Jaén region, where there are extensive olive groves. Many olive varieties are grown here, including Picual, Hojiblanca and Lechín. Each variety brings different characteristics to the oil, affecting its taste, colour and aroma.

Andalusia is also the main producer of citrus fruits in Spain, including oranges, tangerines, lemons and grapefruit. Orange groves are typical of the landscape in and around the Guadalquivir River, especially in areas such as Seville and Córdoba.

Seville oranges are known for their bitterness, making them ideal for making marmalades, while other varieties of sweet oranges are eaten fresh or made into juices.

Cities full of orange trees can only be experienced in Andalusia during the low season, roughly from December to April.

Flamenco

Flamenco is an expressive and passionate artistic style that combines singing, dancing and guitar music and has deep roots in Andalusia. Its origins are linked to the various cultures that have influenced southern Spain over the centuries, including Romani, Moorish, Jewish and Andalusian Christian cultures.

In 2010, Flamenco was recognized by Unesco as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Flamenco festivals and performances are still a key part of cultural life in Andalusia.

Traditional flamenco clothing for women is the“traje de flamenca“, a colourful dress with lots of ruffles. I was thinking, with how much traditional clothing I’ve seen in Spain, that perhaps they must have a special wardrobe for this, if not a room. The men have a“traje corto” which is a short jacket or vest, shirt, tight trousers and also the traditional hat“sombréro córdobes“. Men’s flamenco shoes also flap. This flamenco clothing is worn by Andalusians at every appropriate occasion, when there are festivals and other celebrations.

Pueblos blancos

The houses in Andalusia are designed to suit the warm and sunny weather. Typical are thick walls that keep the interior cool in summer and warm in winter, as well as small windows that prevent direct sunlight from penetrating. Houses often have inner courtyards, patios where there are often plants and fountains. Restaurants are often located in such courtyards.

White lime paint on house facades reflects sunlight and reduces heat absorption, and also helps protect against moisture. Traditional white-painted villages are an iconic sight in Andalusia and are called pueblos blancos, or white towns.

Azulejos

Typical coloured ceramic tiles with geometric patterns and artistic design. “Azulejo” comes from Arabic and means “small smooth stone”, and was already widespread during the Moorish rule. In addition to the Alcázar and cathedrals, they can be found in more common places such as railway stations, fountains, benches, courtyards of houses or in traditional restaurants. And also in souvenir shops, it’s a nice thing to take home.

Islamic heritage and Moorish architecture

The region of Andalusia was originally under the rule of the Moors, which is reflected especially in the architecture. Throughout Andalusia, you will find many preserved Arab baths (baños árabes) as well as large gardens with fountains, typical of Arab culture. Some Andalusian cathedrals have been converted into Christian cathedrals converted from the original mosque.

Where to go in the countryside in Andalusia

• Caminito del Rey – one of the most popular tourist attractions in Andalusia is the walkway that runs along the limestone cliffs of El Chorro Canyon. Nothing for people who are afraid of heights, but nowadays it is (supposedly) completely safe after a complete reconstruction. The Caminito is about 8 kilometers long, the mountain trail itself is about 3 kilometers long, and the whole walk takes about 3-4 hours, depending on how much you enjoy the views.
• Cabo de Gata-Níjar – a natural park in the province of Almería, a semi-desert in the Mediterranean. There are beautiful beaches, volcanic formations, salt lakes and nice snorkeling. The villages of San José, Níjar or Rodalquilar are worth visiting.
• Sierra Nevada National Park with Mulhacén (3,479 metres), the highest mountain in mainland Spain. From the surrounding villages of Capileira or Pampaneira there are beautiful views of the mountains.
• Sierra de Grazalema – between Málaga and Cadiz, just outside Ronda, is a natural park with high limestone formations and deep canyons. There are beautiful hiking trails such as the Garganta Verde or the trail to the park’s highest peak , El Torreón.
• Las Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas – the largest natural park in Spain and the second largest in Europe is in the province of Jaén. There are beautiful hiking trails, lakes and waterfalls.
• Doñana – a nature reserve with wetlands and many birds between Huelva and Seville, near the mouth of the Guadalquivir River in the Atlantic.

What to taste in Andalusia

Andalusia is the cradle of many dishes that are typical of the entire Spanish cuisine. For example, gazpacho, a refreshing cold soup (because it’s really hot in Andalusia) made with tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and olive oil, comes from here and has gained popularity all over the world. There is also jamón ibérico, especially from the acorn-fed pigs in the Jabugo area, and Los Pedroches, one of the best types of ham in the world. The Jerez de la Frontera region, for its part, is famous for its sherry wine, whose unique taste has influenced not only Spanish gastronomy but also the world cocktail scene.

Weather in Andalusia

Andalusia is one of the hottest regions in Spain. Temperatures are very high in the summer, especially in inland areas such as Seville, Córdoba and Granada, where temperatures can reach over 40°C. Winters, on the other hand , are mild, with the warmest temperatures in the coastal areas, where it can be well over 20°C and sunny in winter.

The specific climate has a significant impact on the way of life in Andalusia, its culture, gastronomy and agriculture.

Where is Andalusia

Andalusia is the second largest of Spain’s 17 regions. It is almost the entire south of Spain, bordered by Portugal to the west and the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean beaches to the south. The capital of Andalusia is Seville.

Andalusia is divided into 8 provinces, each of which has its own capital city, which, not to get completely confused, has the same name as the province. The provinces are Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga and Seville.

How to get to Andalusia

Coming to Andalusia by car from your country is a nice option if it makes sense for you. Having a car there is great opportinity for the best roadtrip.

Flight to Málaga or Seville

Andalusia also has airports in Granada – Federico García Lorca Granada-Jaén (GRX), Jerez de la Frontera (XRY), Alméria (LEI) and Córdoba (ODB). However, the two largest airports with the most direct flights from European cities are:

• Málaga-Costa del Sol (AGP) – Málaga is a great base for travelling around Andalusia and Gibraltar, with direct flights available all year round.
• Seville (SVQ) – direct flights are mostly only in season. Ideal to fly here if you want to visit Seville and Córdoba.

From Madrid or Barcelona

It would take two days by train from the Czech Republic, but even that can be fun. The trains in Spain are pretty fast, so even though the distances seem huge, the move is pretty quick. Most flights from Prague or Vienna are to Madrid or Barcelona, which tends to make them affordable all year round. And you can visit more places at once.

• Barcelona to Córdoba – about 5 hours by train, although the distance is almost 900 kilometres.
• Madrid to Córdoba or Seville – Córdoba (400 km) is an hour and a quarter, Seville (530 km) about 2 and a half hours. The train to Seville goes via Córdoba, so again an opportunity to visit more places easily.
• Madrid to Málaga – the train to Málaga (530 km) takes 3 hours and also goes via Córdoba.

From Faro, Portugal

It can be done, although it’s a little bit tricky. But flying into Faro, driving through Andalusia and flying home from Málaga is also an option, and sometimes there are cheap flights to Faro. There’s an ALSA bus from Faro to Seville (200km) and the journey takes 2 and three-quarters hours.