South Spain Itinerary: 10-day Road Trip in Andalusia
Where to eat, what to see/do and where to stay in Andalusia
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Our road trip through Andalusia was like a tapas crawl, giving me a satisfying albeit small taste of each place. However, I wouldn’t mind returning to each location to sink my teeth in further, to have an experience like a proper spanish lunch with multiple courses and “sobremesa,” the tradition where you linger at the table after a meal, chatting and sipping coffee or liqueur. (A region so rich in flavors felt ripe for a meal metaphor. )
You will often hear about Andalusia that the pace of life is slower, the people are friendlier and when you order a drink they’ll bring you a tapa so that you never even need to order food! (We did experience the free tapas with a drink but not quite to the extent that I had heard about.) I also think this is the region that many may associate with Spain: from the flamenco dancing to the bullfighting, these rich traditions have their roots in the south.
Below our road trip itinerary, I offer specific recommendations for each stop, so you have ideas for what hotels, restaurants and activities to consider for your trip to this colorful, multi-faceted slice of Spain.
OUR ANDALUSIA ROAD TRIP ITINERARY & HOTELS
*Fly into and out of Seville
DAY 1: Vejer de la Frontera & Cadiz, Hotel Casa de las Cuatro Torres
DAY 2: Cadiz
DAY 3: Cadiz, Ronda & Granada, Hotel Casa Morisca
DAY 4: Granada
DAY 5: Granada
DAY 6: Córdoba, Hotel Boutique Patio del Posadero
DAY 7: Córdoba & Sevilla, Hotel Boutique Casa Colón
DAY 8: Sevilla
DAY 9: Sevilla *Seville marathon!
DAY 10: Sevilla
VEJER DE LA FRONTERA
Once we landed and got our rental car we headed straight for this charming pueblo blanco (whitewashed town). Our main mission was to stroll the cobblestone streets and enjoy a Spanish lunch.
WHERE TO STAY:
If I were staying in town, I’d check out…
WHAT TO SEE/DO:
Plaza de España the colorful tiled fountain and benches set against the white buildings makes for a picturesque setting.
Archway at Calle Judería is a very popular picture spot (see my photo above!) We had a nice lunch at the cafe right on the corner.
Get lost roaming the streets. Take in the flower-potted walls and look out points. Since we were only stopping into Vejer for a few hours, we opted for this more informal approach. If you are looking for something more organized, check out:
Vejer de la Frontera: Historical Walking Tour Learn about the coexistence of different communities as you visit the Arab Mosque, Jewish Quarter, church, and more.
WHERE TO EAT:
Taberna de La Judería de Vejer (where we had aforementioned lunch!)
Jardin de Califa looks like great place to eat, though we enjoyed a tea there and visited the rooftop for nice views. (For more casual dining there’s also Califa Express)
CADIZ
Almost entirely surrounded by water, Cadiz is situated on a peninsula on the southern tip of Spain. The city has grit and character and an accessible charm.
WHERE TO STAY:
Hotel Casa de las Cuatro Torres
WHAT TO SEE/DO:
Cadiz Cathedral: Visit the belltower for wonderful 360 views of the city.
Parque Genovés is great for a stroll.
Sunset at La Caleta beach. Grab a cocktail and post up for the show.
Wander the town. We enjoyed just strolling from one end to the other, making stops by popular plazas and streets like Calle Virgen de la Palma for example.
WHERE TO EAT:
El Faro Delicious tapas in an old school way. We got there before it opened and there was already a small line (it seems like an institution in Cadiz!) I highly recommend.
RONDA
This spontaneous detour was a real treat. I had seen photos of the epic bridge and dramatic cliff before, so we figured: when near Ronda? For a few hours we wandered through the town, stopped for a drink and followed our noses to a divine local bakery.
WHAT TO SEE/DO:
Puente Nuevo. This is the aforementioned “epic bridge!” (It’s 98 meters high) My photo above, while lovely, doesn’t capture the scale. What makes the site so spectacular is also the image of the buildings lining the gorge. Many people opt to walk the path down to get the full view and photo.
Bullring. One of the oldest in Spain. It’s said that the likes of Orson Wells and Ernest Hemingway paid this place a visit in their day. Though we didn’t get a chance to see the inside, we enjoyed walking the perimeter. There is also a bullfighting museum inside if you are keen to enter.
Get Lost. Roam the streets. (Are you sensing a theme for us?) I love going on “photo walks,” and seeing what you stumble upon. Admittedly it’s also nice to have a little structure and history. If this is more your speed, check out one of these walking tours of Ronda:
WHERE TO EAT:
Palacio Del Ray Moro Bar. After strolling through the streets a bit, we stopped for a refreshment at this very scenic spot overlooking the ravine.
Patricia Confiteria & Pasteleria. We thoroughly enjoyed our sweet treats here. Chocolate covered palmeros for the win!
GRANADA
From the epic sunsets over the majestic Alhambra and the snow capped Sierra Nevada, to the maze-like streets of Albaicín, this city felt the most unique out of all our stops in the south of spain. There is a fusion of flavors and cultures running ever present through Granada that feels like an homage to the city's storied history.
WHERE TO STAY:
WHAT TO SEE/DO:
Alhambra. For many, this impressive palace is the draw to Granada - maybe even to Spain! It is one of the countries most famous historical sites. From the exquisite Islamic architecture to the rich history and fusion of traditions within its walls (Muslim, Christian, Jewish) to the beautiful surrounding gardens, it is not to be missed. Book tickets in advance! Here are a few options:
Albacín Barrio. The Oldest neighborhood in Granada, walking through can at times feel like being in a maze! It has a lot of character.
Mirador de San Nicolas Go to this lookout point and watch the sun set over the Alhambra - it’s stunning.
WHERE TO EAT:
Los Manueles. Classic tapas spot.
La Tabernilla del Darro. We stumbled upon this cozy spot over the River Darro our first night for drinks and small bites. We even went back another night for dessert and cava.
CÓRDOBA
The shortest stop on our trip, I left the city wanting more. A visit to the show-stopping Mezquita-Catedral (mosque-cathedral) and a stroll to peer into the many flower-potted patios are requisite. Beyond the glorious traditional fare we’d been savouring on the road trip, we enjoyed a few more modern, elevated meals in this city. Our boutique hotel was also a lovely local experience.
WHERE TO STAY:
Hotel Boutique Patio del Posadero: Staying at this beautiful boutique hotel made our quick visit to Cordoba something special. Tucked away on a cozy street, the space is thoughtfully designed and hosts Lisa and Jose offer a warm welcome. The breakfast is excellent too. *This hotel made my list of favorite Hotels in Spain!
WHAT TO SEE/DO:
La Mezquita-Catedral. Like I said above: show stopping. And you can’t miss it if you tried - it’s presence looms large in the city. If you’re interested in a guided tour:
Alcazar. Palace and fortress with beautiful gardens. Guided tour tickets here:
*If you want to combine both La Mezquita-Catedral and the Alcazar visit, check out this tour:
Equestrian Show. A fascinating fusion of horse show and flamenco dance at Cordoba’s royal stables. This experience certainly added some variety to our itinerary! Thanks to Philip II, the purebred Spanish horse has a strong history in this city. Get tickets here:
La Juderia. The jewish quarter in the historic center with colorful streets such as the Calle de las Flores (the street of flowers) is a also a must-see in my opinion.
WHERE TO EAT:
La Boca. Recommended by our hotel, we had a delicious first lunch here. More elevated than a classic casual spanish tapas menu with veggie specials, too.
Amaltea. Across the street from the riverfront, it was another nice break from classic spanish tapas. I especially loved the colorful decor (somehow they pulled off a combination of pink and orange and purple walls while maintaining a classy vibe)
SEVILLA
This one holds a special place in my heart. I studied in Sevilla for some weeks back in college. My return wasn’t an it-feels-just-like-yesterday kind of experience though - I have changed and so has the city (the most notable difference for me was perhaps the existence of the “new” tram system). One thing that did not change though is that I walked away enchanted. There’s just something about Sevilla…
WHERE TO STAY:
OR if you’re looking for luxe, this one looks stunning:
WHAT TO SEE/DO:
Real Alcázar. Impressive palace with equally impressive garen and grounds. It’s a Sevilla must see. *Book tickets in advance.
Catedral / Giralda. The iconic belltower of the cathedral offers amazing views of the city. The massive cathedral is a sight to behold as well. *Book tickets in advance.
*OR, Here’s a guided tour that combines all THREE of the above sites:
Plaza de Espana. Located in Maria-Luisa park, the Plaza includes stunning tile work against the red brick facade as well as a layout design that celebrates Spain: Each bridge representing the four ancient kingdoms while 48 alcoves represent the individual provinces of the country.
Metropol Parasol. Also knowns as the mushrooms of Seville. It’s the largest wooden structure in the world.
Walk the River or even perch on the banks to people watch. Then cross over to visit the Triana neighborhood.
Flamenco show This was my 3rd or 4th flamenco show and the art form never ceases to move me. There’s so much passion and power! While there are plenty of theaters to choose from, we really enjoyed our experience at Teatro Flamenco Triana. Get tickets here:
Sevilla Futbol game. Talk about local flavor! Rich is a huge futbol fan. Even if you aren’t, it’s certainly a snapshot into an important cultural past time. Just be prepared for passionate fans!
Sevilla Marathon. For any runners reading this post, this is a great race that takes place in February. My husband ran, I cheered, we both loved the experience! Since it is a flat course, it brings some very fast times.
WHERE TO EAT
El Pinton Restaurant. This was the only meal reservation I made for the entire trip. Great food and beautiful atmosphere. Echoing some of my Cordoba restaurant comments, it was more elevated then casual, classic spanish tapas/plates.
Calle Gallos Mateo. Street full of restaurants and cafes near cathedral.
*Though we did not do a food tour or tapas crawl on this trip, I think it would be a cool way to get a taste for the city (in more ways than one ;) Here are some suggestions:
