There are regions which embody more than any other the spirit of a country and allow visitors to confirm all their expectations and understand why a nation is famous. If you are looking to make the most of your trip to Spain, Andalusia is undoubtedly the region that best suits you: flamenco, relax, «fiesta», fantastic beaches, wild nature and countless monuments bearing witness to the cultural and historical wealth of this wonderful land. We suggest a route in 4 stagesthrough Andalusia for which it is recommended to have at least 10 days, since we will travel great distances to see many things during our trip.
What to see in Malaga, Marbella and the Costa del Sol
Let’s start our trip in Malaga, where you can find the main airport of Andalusia, with numerous direct flights to UK. The port city of Malaga has a beautiful and interesting historical center, enabling us to enjoy emblematic places, such as the Picasso Museum, where the famous Spanish painter was born; wander through the alleys between the Cathedral and the beautiful Constitution Square; take a break for lunch in any of its many taverns and taste the delicious tapas; go up to the Alcazaba, an imposing Moorish fortress/palace; and end up taking a stroll through one of the most important parks in Spain, with botanical unique species.
If Malaga has a popular and artist soul, Marbella, only a few kilometers away from the capital of the Costa del Sol, is the heart of the Spanish and international jet-set and a real sunny hideaway for residents of many nationalities. Here awaits you fantastic beaches, a lively promenade and luxury marinas such as Puerto Banus or Puerto Marina, in the nearby town of Benalmadena, ideal for lovers of good nightlife and parties at the sea shore.
What to see in Granada
To the east of Malaga and near the majestic mountains of Sierra Nevada, which will surprise you with snow even in May, despite the latitude and the weather, we met with the lovely city of Granada, so beautiful that Hemingway said: «if we visit only one Spanish city, it must be Granada.»
It’s impossible to separate Granada from the Alhambra, a Muslim-era citadel overlooking the city made up of a collection of palaces, gardens and fortresses, which houses the ancient medieval caliphate courtyard of the Sultan of Granada. The beauty of its gardens, patios and corners of this fortress make the Alhambra a truly unique place, which will forever change the souls of its visitors.
But Granada is also its monumental core with the Realejodistric, built around the cathedral after the Christian reconquered the city; The Albaicín or Muslim neighborhood, with its narrow streets rising up the hills of the city and spectacular views of the Alhambra, such as those from Mirador de San Nicolás. Finally, Granada is also the Sacromonte, the gypsy neighborhood, with houses dug in the rock known as the famous «caves», where today we can attend the best flamenco shows.
What to see in Seville
The historic center of Seville is the largest in Europe, only surpassed by those of the cities of Venice and Genoa, in Italy. This should be enough for you to get an idea of the importance of this city,considered the jewel of the Spanish crown and the main gate that received the colonial wealth of America for centuries.
Seville is also a very exotic eastern city with its impressive Giralda, the cathedral’s bell tower, a spectacular minaret from the Muslim period, a reminder of the ancient mosque in the city.
We will also enjoy the majestic halls of the Royal Alcazars of Seville, remarkable for its style of Moorish and Baroque art fusion, nowadays residence of the Spanish royal family. The number of squares, baroque cathedrals and palaces of the historic center of Seville is truly endless. Don’t forget to visit the always lively Magdalena Square. If you’re short on time and want to enjoy the exotic and charm of Seville, hop on a mini cruise along the Guadalquivir River. It’ll be the ideal solution for you!
Atlantic Coast of Andalusia, between Cadiz and Huelva
We finish our trip with a little more of sea, or more precisely, with the ocean. Andalusia is so large that its coasts, depending on whether they are Mediterranean or Atlantic, are completely different.
This stretch of coastline combines an ideal climate, many hours of sunshine, endless beaches, natural spaces, an ocean of crystal clear waters with slightly lower temperature than the Mediterranean Sea. If you like water sports like surfing, this coast is a true paradise. Choose from resorts like Tarifa, a bit beyond the Strait of Gibraltar, which competes with Bolonia Beach, often on the hottest beach lists in Europe, with its impressive array of sand dunes.
This holiday by the sea can be combined with excursions to quaint fishing villages such as Barbate (popular for its bluefin tuna fishing) or Chipiona and Conil de la Frontera.
Beyond the mouth of the Guadalquivir, we enter the province of Huelva, where, in addition to the fantastic coastal resorts such as Punta Umbría, Matalascañas or Islantilla, the wild nature of Doñana National Park awaits us. Not far from this unique natural setting is Palos, where we grow our strawberries and the delicious strawberry variety of Fresón de Palos.
