We took a 14-day road trip through Andalusia in March 2024. It was one of our first stops on our 4-month European Adventure. We felt two weeks was long enough, but there are some changes we’d make if we were to do it again (we will mention these throughout the guide). You could make it through in less than two weeks by skipping some locations or reducing the number of nights in certain cities.
There is a map of all our suggestions at the end of this post. If you want to check out where we ate during our 2 weeks, our gluten free guide for Andalusia is here.
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When to visit Andalusia?
We travelled to Andalusia in the second half March and had mixed weather. It was quite cool at night, and we ended up being there during a Saharan desert storm, as well as lots of rain. We have friends who have travelled there in September and October with wonderful weather. Most travel websites will say to visit in the fall or spring, (from April and May or September and October). However, in the spring you can expect a few days of rain, so make sure to bring a light rain jacket.
The summer can be hot (think 40 degrees Celsius), muggy, and busy. Many will travel to the coastal towns for a reprieve from the city heat. The hottest month is August. While the winter remains quite sunny, you can still get quite a bit of rain in November (well, a fair bit compared to other times of year, anyways).
Getting Around Andalusia
We rented from Record Go in Seville. They had a free shuttle to get to and from the airport. Our car had no issues, was great on gas, and the service was efficient and friendly. They were by far the most reasonably priced car rental agency when we researched.
If you’d like to rent from a more “main stream” agency, you can compare prices on sites like Expedia and Kayak.
Many other guides report trains being easy to use to get around, but we didn’t personally use these (except tog et from Seville to Madrid post-road trip), so we can’t comment on how easy/difficult these are to navigate).
Within the cities, we were able to get everywhere by walking due to choosing central hotel locations.
Plan Your Andalusia Trip in More Detail:
🧳 Plan your route
🏙️ Explore each city in detail
Seville
A lively, walkable starting point with many of Andalusia’s most iconic landmarks.
How Long to Stay:
We spent 3 nights in Seville, which felt like a good amount of time to explore the main sights without rushing. You could potentially shorten this slightly, but there’s enough here that we wouldn’t recommend cutting it too much (we’d even recommend 4th night if you can swing it!).
What We Did:
- Visited major landmarks like Plaza de España, Cathedral, and the Alcázar (I break this down in my Seville Travel Guide)
- Explored the historic city center
- Walked along the river and across Triana
What to Know Before You Go:
- Alcázar + Cathedral require advance tickets (these are busy attractions)
- The city is VERY walkable (no car needed)
- Works well as a starting point due to both train and airport access
Where We Stayed:
- Hotel Fernando III (rooftop pool + great location location)
→ Read my full Seville Travel Guide
→ See my detailed Seville Itinerary
Granada
One of the standout stops of the trip, known for the Alhambra and its scenic setting.
How Long to Stay:
We spent 3 nights in Granada, which gave us enough time to explore the city and visit the Alhambra without feeling rushed.
What We Did:
- Explored the historic areas and viewpoints around the city
- Visited the Alhambra, which was a major highlight of Andalusia (I explain more about this in my Granada Guide)
- Wandered through local streets and markets
What to Know Before You Go:
- The Alhambra requires advance booking and should be planned early
- Tickets can sell out quickly, especially in peak season
- This is one of the most important stops on the itinerary
Where We Stayed:
- Hotel Andalucia Center (a comfortable stay, though a bit further from the main historic areas)
→ Read my full Granada Travel Guide
→ See my detailed Granada Itinerary
Nerja
A quieter coastal town that offers a slower pace compared to the cities.
How Long to Stay:
We spent 2 nights in Nerja, which felt like enough time given the size and pace of the town.
What We Did:
- Explored the town and surrounding viewpoints
- Spent time along the coastline and beaches
- Took it slower here compared to the rest of the trip (I share more detail in my Nerja Guide)
What to Know Before You Go:
- Nerja is much quieter than other stops on this itinerary
- If you’re looking for more energy or food options, you may prefer Málaga or Marbella
- This works best as a slower, relaxing stop
Where We Stayed:
- MB Boutique Hotel (while not on the water, a modern hotel with rooftop hot tub and convenient location)
→ Read my full Nerja Travel Guide
→ See my detailed Nerja Itinerary
Cadiz
A compact coastal city that’s easy to explore on foot.
How Long to Stay:
We spent 2 nights in Cádiz, which worked well for a slower-paced stop at the end of the trip.
What We Did:
- Walked the full loop of the city
- Explored the old town and historic areas
- Visited a beach, gardens/parks, and central market (I go into more detail in my Cádiz Guide)
What to Know Before You Go:
- Cádiz is very walkable and doesn’t require a packed itinerary
- It’s better suited to slower exploration and wandering
- Works well as a final stop to unwind
Where We Stayed:
- Hotel Argantonio (well located, though parking required some planning)
→ Read my full Cádiz Travel Guide
→ See my detailed Cádiz Itinerary
Cordoba
A smaller historic stop that’s easy to visit between Seville and Granada.
How Long to Stay:
We spent 2 nights in Córdoba, but in hindsight, this could easily be shortened to 1 night or even done as a day trip.
What We Did:
- Explored the historic centre and wandered through the old town
- Walked across the Roman Bridge and along the river
- Spent time just getting lost in the quieter streets (I share more context in my Córdoba Guide)
What to Know Before You Go:
- The Mosque-Cathedral is the main highlight (and we missed it because tickets were sold out)
- If this is important to you, book in advance
- This stop can easily be shortened or done as a day trip
Where We Stayed:
- Hotel Córdoba Centro (very central and convenient for a short stay)
→ Read my full Córdoba Travel Guide
→ See my Córdoba Itinerary
Ronda
A dramatic cliffside town known for its famous bridge, but Ronda was not one of our favourite stops.
How Long to Stay:
We spent 2 nights in Ronda, but in hindsight, we’d reduce this to a day trip or a “pass through on the way somewhere” stop.
What We Did:
- Walked across Puente Nuevo and explored viewpoints over the gorge
- Wandered through the town centre and main streets
- Visited parks and viewpoints along the cliffside (I share more context in our Andalusia Itinerary)
What to Know Before You Go:
- Ronda is smaller than other stops and doesn’t require much time
- Parking and driving through the town can be difficult
- This is better done as a day trip from Seville or Málaga (in our opinions)
Where We Stayed:
- Hotel Palacio de Hemingway (charming and well located, though getting there by car was tricky)
Scenic Stops & Detours Along the Way
1. Frigiliana
A quick and worthwhile stop just outside Nerja.
- Time needed: 1–2 hours
- Why stop: white village, views, easy walk
- When to visit: pair with Nerja or from Malaga
2. Setenil de Las Bodegas
A unique village built into rock formations.
- Time needed: 1–2 hours
- Why stop: houses built into cliffs
- When to visit: between Ronda and Cádiz
3. El Torcal de Antequera
A natural park with unique limestone formations.
- Time needed: 1–3 hours
- Why stop: hiking + landscapes
- When to visit: between Nerja and Ronda (or from Malaga if you’re staying there)
4. Grazalema & El Bosque
A scenic drive rather than a specific stop.
- Time needed: flexible
- Why stop: viewpoints + mountain scenery
- When to visit: between Ronda and Cádiz
MAP of our Andalusia Suggestions
HOW TO USE THE MAP: Click on the Wanderlog logo in the bottom right corner to open the full-size map up in a new tab. There, you can choose to just look at one type of activity at a time or see all the activities on the map at once (click the 3 squares in the top right to choose). You can also export the map to Google Maps, share the map with others, or save the map.
Things We’d Do Differently (Andalusia Tips)
- Book major attractions (like the Alhambra and Mosque-Cathedral) further in advance
- Spend less time in Córdoba and Ronda, or visit them as day trips
- Consider swapping Nerja for a larger coastal city if you want more variety
- Build in more flexibility for weather, especially in shoulder season
- Plan driving routes more carefully (some areas were slower than expected)
Travel Tools I Use
I rely on these tools when planning my trips:
- Get Your Guide – skip-the-line or timed entry tickets to attractions such as the the Alcazar, Alhambra, or Mosque-Cathedral
- Airalo eSIM – get Spanish data instantly on arrival, without roaming charges
- Stay22 – compare hotels across Andalusia at a glance
- Wanderlog – keep track of your trip details, organize your itinerary, and map out your stops
