Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of southern Spain, a fusion between the Arabic Moors and the Catholic Catalans. Andalucía is unique in its history and peaceful coexistence of both religions and peoples.

2 Weeks in Andalucía, Spain

As the birthplace of flamenco and bull-fighting, Sevilla is a city full of life, culture and charm.

Sevilla is the 4th largest city in Spain with a history going back over two thousand years. I suggest spending 4 days exploring this city, its winding streets and rich culture. Sevilla is an excellent city for tourism as everything is within a 30 minute walking distance. To make the most of everything, I've grouped activities into areas for each day.

A small city that captures the essence of the middle ages.

Walking through Cordoba's winding cobblestone streets takes you several hundred years back in time. Its the definition of what you would imagine a medieval city to look like with its quintessential bridge and defensive towers, wind mills and walls. In the middle ages, Cordoba was the largest city in Europe. 3 days is the perfect amount of time to capture its essence.

A beautiful city set against the Sierra Nevada mountains.

As the last Moorish city to be reconquered in the late 1400s, the Arabic influences remain strong in Granada. I suggest spending a full 3 to 4 days exploring Granada's history and architecture. Its easy to lose track of time wandering through its marvelous buildings and streets.

A coastal city with sandy beaches and an intriguing history.

Malaga's history goes back to 700 BC, establishing it as one of the oldest cities in Western Europe. There are several things to do in the city itself and a handful of day trips to nearby regions. I recommend spending at least 4 full days to enjoy everything Malaga has to offer.

1. Royal Alcazar of Sevilla - is a historic palace built in the 10th century for the Abbadid dynasty and the Almohads. Book a week or two in advance!!

1. Flamenco Dance Museum - the perfect place to explore the history surrounding flamenco through both video and art displays 

1. Mercado de Triana - a cozy bazar located just across the river with several small shops and local hand-made souvenirs

1. Sevilla Museum of Fine Arts - has a massive collection of Spanish art and sculptures from the middle ages to the early 20th century 

2. Catedral de Sevilla - the largest gothic church in the world and considered to be one of the best art galleries in the world. Book a week or two in advance!!

3. Santa Cruz Neighborhood - a beautiful neighborhood in the heart of Sevilla with antique houses 

2. Plaza de España - was designed as a symbol of the embrace between the Spanish and their American colonies

2. Barrio de Triana - the surrounding neighborhood with more quaint vendors, coffee shops and restaurants 

3. Plaza de Toros - the oldest bullring in the world, built to accommodate 13,000 spectators. This place also serves as a museum, with the outfits and some of the most famous stuffed bulls

2. Palace of the Countess of Lebrija - is a house museum with an impressive collection of art from around the world

3. La Carbonería - a small dive bar which hosts authentic, improv shows of flamenco every night for free. Be sure to check it out even if you are planning to go to an official flamenco show as it is difficult to capture the raw emotion in the official shows

3. C. Sierpes - the heart of the city as this street is lined with cozy shops

Almost everything to see in Cordoba can be found in its downtown and is within 20 minutes of walking distance. 

1. Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba - is one of most incredible feats of architecture and religion in the world. Within this building, both the Muslim and Christian faiths come together as the cathedral is built into the mosque

2. Roman Bridge of Córdoba - was built in the 1st century BC and is one of the top Roman attractions in Spain 

3. Torre De Calahorra - is a small museum bursting with history and models of the Arabic architecture found across Andalucía 

4. Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs - was built as a residence for kings with beautiful gardens and statues decorating it

5. Judería de Cordoba - is the Jewish district of city. It's fascinating to see the how all three religions once coexisted in peace in Cordoba 

6. Calleja de las Flores - a beautiful street surrounded by white buildings and flower-filled balconies

7. Museo Arqueológico de Córdoba - is a small museum containing artifacts all the way from pre-history to the middle ages and a handful of pieces from the Moors

8. Plaza de las Tendillas - a long plaza with a fountain in the middle

9. Plaza de la Corredera - was the site of public spectacles as the town center of Cordoba 

No itinerary to Granada would be complete without a visit to the Alhambra. This historical palace and fortress is one of the best-preserved examples of Islamic architecture remaining. There is so much to see at this site that I recommend spending a full day here. 

Sierra Nevada has the second highest peaks in Europe after the Alps. Its landscape is absolutely breathtaking. I recommend renting a car for a day and splitting it amongst your group or hostel mates. 

Additionally, the city of Granada itself has several locations to visit.

This beautiful trail is hidden away in the cliffs of Spain. Its an incredible 8 km hike and was once known as one of the most dangerous paths in the world. The story behind its name is that the King of Spain was originally going to go through this trail, however half way through it he changed his mind. As a result, Caminito del Rey translates directly to Path of the King.

Day 4 - Ronda                  

Ronda might just be one of the oldest settlements in Europe with remains dating back to the Neolithic period. Being on a large hill with a great view of its surroundings, Ronda is built in the perfect location. 

1. Nasrid Palaces - was built in the 13th and 14th centuries as symbols of the power and wealth held by the last ruling Muslim dynasty in Spain

2. Palace of Charles V - was built to symbolize the end of the reconquering of Spain.

3. Alcazaba - is the fortress located on the west part of the Alhambra and is the oldest section of the complex 

4. Generalife - was the summer palace of the Nasrid dynasty

1. Mulhacén - the highest mountain in mainland Spain

2. Observatorio de Sierra Nevada - the perfect place to watch the starts after the sunset

1. Abadía del Sacromonte - was an abbey built in the 17th century and houses many religious relics

2. C. Mirador de San Nicolás - the perfect place to catch the sun setting over the Alhambra. This has the best view point in the city

3. Ballisca of San Juan de dios - is a baroque church from the 18th century built with an embellished dome

1. Playa de la Malagueta - is known to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Spain. Several restaurants and bars line its sands, making it the perfect place to get some shade, have a couple drinks and soak in the sun

2. Malaga Museum - is full of history, art and archeological artifacts. This museum is absolutely massive and deserves at least half a day of learning 

3. Alcazaba - is one of the best-preserved in Spain. It was first first built in the 11th century under the Al-Andalus and later modified several times in the 14th century. Alcazaba has a looming presence over the city of Malaga and is my favorite place to watch the sunset over the city

4. Fundación Cueva de Nerja - are a series of caves, stretching out over a length of 5 km in total. The caves feel like walking into a lion's mouth as the massive stalagmites and stalactites close

5. Colomares Castle - is a castle built to commemorate the life and many adventures of Christopher Columbus. Its a unique piece of architecture as the castle is literally built in the shape of boat

1. Arab Baths Archaeological Site - is located in the Arab quarter of the city as Ronda used to be surrounded by two walls

2. Puerta de la Cijara  - is the city gates leading into the heart of city, inside the second layer of walls

3. Mirador De Cuenca - is a secret viewpoint of the city and in my opinion the best spot to take pictures of the impressive bridge

4. Balcón del Coño - is a beautiful viewpoint of the surrounding countryside 

5. La Casa del Rey Moro - is the house where royalty used to live. The building unravels its dark history as you walk to the bottom of the cliffs where the water flows.

6. Museo Lara - is a small museum teeming with beautiful art pieces and telling the tale of Ronda

Getting tickets to Alhambra can prove quite difficult. If you are traveling with a larger group, you will likely have to book your tickets online several months in advance. However, if you are solo travelling or with one other person then you may be able to snatch some last minute ticket. In order to do this, you must refresh the page until somebody cancels. I recommend checking back to the official website and reloading it every hour. People cancel all the time so you can definitely get last minute tickets.

https://tickets.alhambra-patronato.es/en/

This is the official website. Any other website selling tickets is scamming tourists. A lot of companies will buy up all the Alhambra tickets and then resell them at double or triple the price. 

To guarantee you see everything on your bucket list, please be sure to plan in advance and book any major attractions in advance. For example, the Alhambra in Granada and the Cathedral and Royal Alcazar of Sevilla. 

The prices listed here may fluctuate depending on economic circumstances and the prices were updated as of April 2024.

Within the city itself, there are various activities. From art to history and beaches, Malaga has something for everyone to enjoy.

2 Weeks in Andalucía, Spain

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