Are you planning a vacation in Andalusia and don’t know what to do? Here’s our top 10 things to do in Andalusia!
What to do in Andalusia? That’s the question that’s been on your mind ever since you booked your flight to Seville or Malaga. Andalusia is one of the nineteen autonomous communities in southern Spain. Bordered by the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, it enjoys a dream climate: one of the warmest regions in Europe. So what’s there to do in Andalusia? Here are our top 10 must-sees when visiting Andalusia.
1. Cordoba
Photo credit: Flickr – jesuscm
A must-see in Córdoba is the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba – the former capital of the Córdoba Caliphate, which ruled virtually the entire Iberian Peninsula from the 8th to the 15th centuries – a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Inside, there are 856 arcaded columns in white and red. Don’t miss the famous Roman Bridge – a vestige of the Roman Empire – and a host of festivities: Easter Week, Carnival, the Batalla de las Flores, the Cruces de Mayo, the Patios de Córdoba (May), the Guitar Festival (July) and St. Rafael’s Day (October 24).
2. Seville
Photo credit: Flickr – CARLOS CALAMAR
Warm, colorful, romantic and sensual, Seville is one of the region’s jewels. The Andalusian capital, steeped in Roman, Muslim, Jewish and Christian cultures, it’s a must-see for anyone visiting Andalusia. TheAlcázar – a UNESCO World Heritage site – is a complex of palaces, patios and lush gardens. It is a crossroads of civilizations, blending Almohad, Mudejar, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque arts. Don’t miss Seville Cathedral and the Plaza de España. Finish off with the flamenco shows that take place here all year round. On the way from Seville to Granada, make a detour to the village of Marinaleda, a commune that has represented a left-wing social experiment based on self-management and direct democracy since 1979 and the end of Franco’s dictatorship.
3. Grenade
Photo credit: Flickr – jesuscm
Renowned for its rich culture and history, Granada – or Granada as it’s known in Spanish – has passed through Roman, Moorish, Christian and Jewish cultures. From Sacromonte – the gypsy quarter – to theAlbaicin, Granada’s streets offer visitors an open-air testimony to the passage of time. Of course, the Alhambra Palace is a must-see for those visiting Andalusia. It’s the most visited monument in Spain. Stroll through the gardens of the Generalife. Then head for the Costa Tropical at Almuñecar, with its subtropical climate and turquoise sea.
4. Malaga
Photo credit: Flickr – N i c o_
A famous seaside resort between Almería and Gibraltar, Malaga is a destination for sun and beach lovers, but it’s also a cultural and gastronomic city. Visit the Pablo Picasso Museum and the Centre Culturel Pompidou. But above all, the Alcazaba, a medieval fortress built on the ancient Roman amphitheatre in Malaga’s historic center. From the walls of Gibralfaro, enjoy a splendid view of the city and the port, and head off to savour the tapas of the city center: in the top 4 must-sees when visiting Andalusia.
5. Cadiz
Photo credit: Flickr – Louis SIMO EDITIONS
Cadiz is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe, founded by the Phoenicians and home to archaeological remains dating back over 3,100 years. A rock in the middle of the sea, it looks like an offshore platform. It’s a destination renowned for the hospitality of its residents, its flower-decked squares, its architecture, its wall falling sheer into the ocean and its old town. If you visit Andalusia in February, don’t miss the carnival. Places to see in Cádiz: the New Cathedral of Cádiz, Santa Catalina Castle, the city walls and Town Hall Square.
6. Ronda
Photo credit: Flickr – Ben Mitchell
What to do in Andalusia? This small village, nestled between the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park and the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park, is the answer. This magnificent village is split in two by the Pont-Neuf – Ponte Nuevo – spanning a steep gorge, which delimits the old town on one side and the modern city on the other. Ronda is built on a fault at a height of 700 metres, making for a spectacular and breathtaking landscape.
7. Marbella
Photo credit: Flickr – rey perezoso
If you’re more of a relaxation enthusiast, and your visit to Andalusia involves putting down your bags and strolling under the sun, then set your sights on Marbella’s sublime beaches. The dunes off Cabopino beach – also known as the Artola dunes – are a vast area protected from the wind, and where the sea is calmer than elsewhere. Here, you can relax peacefully between beach and pine forest, refreshing yourself in crystal-clear, shallow waters: la dulce vida!
8. Jerez de la Frontera
Photo credit: Flickr – Willtron
If you love horseback riding, Jerez de la Frontera – not far from Cadiz – will satisfy your passion: the province of Jerez works to preserve traditional Baroque horsemanship. You can visit the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art and attend equestrian dance shows: a fine combination of dressage and Spanish music. Another must-do when visiting Andalusia is a wine escapade in Jerez de la Frontera. Jerez is home to dozens of wineries – including Puerto de Santa Maria – where you can taste sugar-laden, sun-drenched wines. Here, grapes are grown almost religiously, an institution for generations.
9. Huelva and Doñana National Park
Photo credit: Flickr – Chris
Doñana National Park is one of Europe’s largest protected natural areas. And that’s just the beginning! Visiting Andalusia without going there would be like visiting Rome without seeing the Colosseum or the Sistine Chapel! The Park is located in the province of Huelva, to the west of the Andalusian coast. It has been a World Heritage Site since 1994. Over 500,000 waterfowl winter here each year, as do 300 species of vertebrates and crustaceans, including pink flamingos, imperial eagles (some 15 pairs), chameleons, deer, fallow deer, mongooses and crabs. The park is the last habitat of the rarest and most endangered cat on the planet: the Spanish lynx. This Iberian lynx may soon be the first cat to disappear from the face of the earth in 10,000 years.
How to get to Andalusia
Malaga airport is the main gateway to Andalusia, followed by Seville and Jerez de la Frontera. Granada and Almeria airports handle mainly domestic flights, with only a few international airlines. To find a cheap flight to Andalusia, you can search on the website of our partner Ulysses.
Where to stay in Andalusia?
To discover Spain’s Andalusia region, you’ll need to stay in a number of different cities. You can stay in Seville, Granada, Malaga or Marbella. You can find a cheap hotel in Andalusia by searching on this hotel comparator.
Map of hotels and accommodation – Andalusia