Tips for planning your trip

• You can make a beautiful road trip through Andalusia in 2 weeks.
• Rent a car through MalagaCar.com.
• You can book well-located and cute accommodations through Airbnb.
• Our daily budget was around €50 per person; including activities, a rental car for 10 days, fuel, parking costs, accommodations and food and drinks.
• Avoid the toll roads during your trip. The other routes were often not the fastest, but they are beautiful!

Day 1: Arrival in Málaga and a 1st overnight in Mijas

We landed at Málaga Airport. From here we were taken with a shuttle bus in 5 minutes to the warehouse of MalagaCar.com to pick up the rental car. The communication is super smooth with MalagaCar.com, the cars are well maintained and you can book a car in advance, so on arrival all you have to do is pay and collect the keys.

Our first drive was to Benalmádena to visit the special monument Castillo de Colomares.  This monument pays tribute to the explorer Christopher Columbus and his crew. Esteban Martin Martin designed the fairytale castle and had it built between 1987 and 1994. He was very fascinated by the famous explorer. The monument is rich in beautiful details, an impressive architectural style, statues of gargoyles and here you will find the smallest chapel in the world! From the monument you have a panoramic view of the sea.

After the sunset we drove to bustling Mijas. We stayed here for one night. 

Day 2: A short impression of Mijas and a 2nd overnight stay in Ronda

We spent the morning in Mijas, you have beautiful viewpoints, cute narrow streets and in the morning you can experience the local life!

Our next destination is the spectacular city Ronda. From Mijas it is about 1.5 hours drive. The route takes you past rolling landscapes and along the way you will encounter many beautiful views. We were able to see a lot of Ronda in one day. The city is located in a mountainous area and is rich in history, cultural attractions and special architecture.

Discover more: 6 Most Beautiful Sights of Ronda, Spain

Day 3: From Setenil de las Bodegas, Zahara de la Sierra towards Seville

The next morning we watched the sunrise in Ronda at the bottom of the impressive Puente Nuevo. You can find this place by navigating to Mirador del Viento. Then we drove to Seville, with two stops in between. The total journey took 2.5 hours. We made our first stop in Setenil de las Bodegas, a small, touristic, whitewashed village where you can admire the special Cuevas del Sol – or rock dwellings.

We made the second stopover at the idyllic Zahara de la Sierra. When you arrive, you can already see the village and the 13th century castle rising above the landscape. Zahara de la Sierra is located on top of a rock, surrounded by green nature and turquoise water. The village looks very cozy, but unfortunately it was siesta and everything was closed when we got there.

We continued our journey towards Seville. We stayed here for 2 full days.

Day 4-5: Staying for two days in beautiful Seville

A visit to Seville means enjoying the Spanish sun, pleasant atmosphere and tasty food. You can stroll through the most beautiful squares where flamenco performances are often given. There is so much to see and experience in Seville that we secretly wished we had stayed a little longer. If your schedule allows, we definitely recommend spending a minimum of 3 full days in Seville.

Discover more: How to spend two days in Seville

Day 6-8: Staying in Córdoba

In the morning we had some time in Seville and we visited the summer palace Real Alcazar. 

In the afternoon we drove away from Seville, on to Córdoba. The journey takes almost 2 hours. This route is also beautiful. Córdoba has a number of must-sees that you should not miss, one of them is the impressive Mezquita Catedral. The mosque dates from the 8th century and around 1523 a cathedral was built in the middle of the mosque! Numerous styles and religious elements of Islam and Western culture converge here. You only see this combination a few times around the world. Admire the beautiful elements of the Mezquita, such as the chapels, red and white arches, a prayer hall, decorations and stained glass.

Another highlight is the Puente Romano, a 2100 (!) years old bridge, built over the Guadalquivir river. The bridge was built by the Romans and later extended by the Moors, which gave it its current looks. From the bridge you have a nice view of the old town, the Puerta del Puente and the Mezquita. For all Game Of Thrones fans among us; the bridge is a film location. It’s the long bridge to the free city of Volantis.

Tip: Are you looking for a cute and delicious breakfast spot? Then definitely go to Breakfast Club & Co. The interior and the food is so colorful! This spot is located on the other side of the bridge.

We slept two nights in Córdoba. The reason for this was that we wanted to take it a bit easier, because we had already seen a lot in a short time. You can see the highlights of Córdoba in 1 day. So if you want to visit this city, we think you don’t need to book an overnight stay.

Day 8-9: Beautiful nature in Antequera and staying in Granada

From Córdoba we left for Granada. It is about 2.5 hours if you drive via Antequera. And this was really our favorite route! In Antequera we would have liked to stay a little longer, because in addition to the fact that the town of Antequera is very nice to visit, there is also a beautiful nature reserve nearby; El Torcal de Antequera. You drive here on steep roads past rocky outcrops, panoramic viewpoints and you spot eagles hunting for their prey. If you have more time, we definitely recommend hiking in this area.

Granada was the end destination for this day and this city certainly impressed us. During a Road Trip through Andalusia you will come across a lot of beautiful architecture with Moorish influences and, in our opinion, the most impressive building can be found in Granada; the Alhambra. The complex is located on top of the hills behind the city and is a must visit when you are in Granada.

Discover more: Tips for a visit to Granada, Spain

Day 9: Walking the boulevard of Nerja on the way to Málaga

From Granada we drove in more than 1 hour to Nerja, a coastal town located directly on the Mediterranean Sea. The salty sea air, palm trees, bays and clear blue water give you the ultimate holiday feeling! Be warned as Nerja is very touristy. So don’t let that scare you off. Because it is definitely worth stopping here during your road trip through Andalusia. There are several reasons to visit Nerja. You can take a look at Balcón de Europa, a former fortress that rises far above the rocks, from here you have a beautiful view over the coastline and the impressive mountainous environment. You can also spend a day sunbathing on one of the beaches. The most beautiful beaches of Nerja are in our opinion; Playa de Calahonda, Playa Carabeo, Playa El Salón, Playa la Caletti, Playa El Chorrillo. You can also do many water activities, such as paddleboarding, water skiing and snorkeling.

After a visit to Nerja, we drove on to Málaga in 45 minutes. This was the end destination of our road trip through Andalusia.

Day 9-15: Enjoying and relaxing in Málaga

We spent our last week in Andalusia in diverse Málaga. This city has so much to offer! Sun, sea, beach, a bustling harbor and boulevard, beautiful city parks and plenty of cozy bars and restaurants to eat and drink.

Discover more: 9 Best Things To Do & See in Málaga or 12 Best Food & Drink Spots in Málaga or Hiking in Málaga – Sendero Picapedreros Trail

Day 10: Discover the old town of Marbella

Before we handed in the rental car, we made a trip from Málaga to Marbella. It’s a 45 minute drive. The old town is full of character and well worth a visit. Here you walk through colorful narrow alleys, past impressive churches such as Iglesia de la Encarnación, towards Plaza de los Naranjos, where you can admire the 16th century old town hall. Besides visiting the old city center it is also nice to walk through the tropical city park la Alameda. And a little further you will find the boulevard Paseo Marítimo and the beach. These are the perfect places to relax and unwind.

Are you looking for a nice spot to have a drink? Then definitely go to the urban restaurant The Farm. You can relax here in the courtyard while enjoying a refreshing drink.

The division of days and time

Looking back on our trip, we would have liked to have more time in (the surroundings of) Zahara de la Sierra, Sevilla and Antequera. And in our opinion, you don’t have to stay overnight in Córdoba, because you can see the highlights in 1 day. But, we had enough time at each place to do everything that was on our list!

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