Ultimate Southern Spain Road Trip Itinerary: 4 Best Places

Have you been dreaming of a Road trip in Southern Spain? Sun, gorgeous beaches and good food are certain in Andalusia. But that’s not all, its unique history and Arabic arquitecture (You’ll feel overwhelmed by Alhambra’s beauty in Granada), makes it a fascinating destination for road trip lovers.

1. Seville – Spain Road Trip Start

The capital of Andalusia was the start of our Southern Spain Road Trip. Visiting Seville means discovering a very rich arquitectural and historical legacy, but also diving into Spanish traditions such as Flamenco. ?

So what to do in Seville and where to stay?

6 Top Attractions in Seville

Here are my favourite top attractions in Seville:

1. The stunning Plaza de España – This was one of the most beautiful squares I ever seen (featured image). It was built in 1828 for the 1929 Ibero-American exhibition to celebrate the discovery of America by Spanish conquistadors. In order to face the river and the arrival of ships from America, the plaza was designed with a half-circle shape.
2. ‘Catedral de Santa María de la Sede’ – It is one of the largest cathedrals in the world. The cathedral was built over the remnants of a Moorish mosque. 
3. ´Alcázar Real de Sevilla’– It is the Royal Palace of Seville
4. Torre del Oro – Or ‘Tower of the Gold’ is a tower from the 12th century located on the Guadalquivir river
5. Park Maria Luisa – Green oasis near Plaza de España.
6. Santa Cruz District – Historic Centre where the Cathedral and Royal Palace are.

Where to Stay in Seville

We stayed at Ibis Style Santa Justa, a brand new 3 ?? hotel located just 15 min walk from old town.

What made me choose this hotel was having a rooftop outdoor swimming pool. Seville is very hot ? (during the days I was there – June – the thermometer marked 43 degrees, so it’s good to refresh somewhere).

Another thing I liked a lot was the retro style of the hotel and their continental breakfast, so I definitely recommend this place to stay.

2. Granada and the Impressive Alhambra

Granada was definetly the highlight of our trip. The impressive Alhambra is by all means IMPRESSIVE! The Alhambra is a palatial complex of more than 140,000m² built in the 13th century. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We bought tickets to visit the jewel of Islamic Arquitecture which included all 3 of the Nasrid Palaces (Palace of Lions, Comares Palace and Partal Palace and Gardens), the Alcazaba and Moorish gardens of Generalife.

Curious Fact: “Puerta del Vino”/ “The Wine Door”, a corner of the Alhambra which the great composer Claude Debussy discovered through a postcard, was the source of inspiration for the beautiful piano prelude that bears the same name.

Albaicín – Granada’s Arab Quarter

I feel in love with Albaicín, a neighbourhood in Granada that maintains the layout of Medieval Moorish narrow streets. We parked our car in downtown and walked up to find the “Mirador San Nicolas” where you have dramatic views overlooking the Alhambra. What’s more? The place is very lively too with restaurants, people singing flamenco and a tiny market.

Where To Eat in Granada

Why not to eat with wonderful views of The Alhambra? Here are my top 3 recommendations:

• Restaurant Estrellas de San Nicolás – panoramic view, good food although slow
• Carmen de Aben Humeya – panoramic terrace, with great food
• Helados de San Nicolás – panoramic view, ? ice cream

Where to Stay in Granada

Booking.com

3. Málaga

Heading south from your Andaluzia trip, you’ll find Málaga, a vibrant city with beaches, Chiringuitos (food stalls) and night-out. As we stayed there 2 days, we took the chance to sunbath at La Malagueta and La Mesericordia Beach. These two are walking distance but if you fancy the surroundings of Málaga, I’d recommend Nerja (about 50 min away by car) or the most chic and trendy costal resort of the Costa del Sol – Marbella (1 hour away).

Other than beach, my favourite places in Málaga were La Concepción Historical Botanical Gardens, La Alcazaba and the Picasso Museum with more than 200 artworks from the artist.

Tip: Whereas in most of our trip we didn’t pay tools, between Málaga and Marbella, we couldn’t avoid it maybe because it’s more touristic. Take cash with you!

Best Things to Do Around Málaga

If you’re done exploring Malaga, you should go visit its surroundings. Here are my favorite places to visit around Malaga.

Nerja Caves – ? Discovered in 1959 and home to one of the widest and tallest column in the world

Ronda – lovely postcard village located on the top of a hill is mostly famous for the bridge that connects the old and the new parts of the village. (1.5 hour drive from Málaga)

Marbella – If you like to party ? this is the place to go. There, you will find plenty of luxury shops, VIP bars and clubs along with 20km of beach to relax all day long.

4. Cadiz

Next stop: Cádiz! We left Málaga through the coast to arrive at our final destination where we spent 2 nights. I really loved the charm of this Andalusian city, as it looks like it stopped in time. You can spend your time getting to know the beautiful old town and sandy beaches.

Top Things to Do in Cadiz

1. Plaza San Juan de Dios
2. The Roman Theatre
3. Cadiz Cathedral
4. San Sebastián Castle
5. La Caleta Beach – Situated in Cádiz City is one of the most popular beaches.
6. Santa Catalina Castle

Where To Stay and Eat in Cadiz

I stayed in Hotel de Francia y Paris which is situated in the city centre close to bars, restaurants and a 15 min walk from the beach. The hotel was very pleasant and they serve a breakfast outside in the square.

Regarding restaurants, Cádiz has a lot of good tapas places, fish and seafood. The best restaurants I tried were:

Cumbres Mayores – traditional Spanish restaurant with really good meat and “Jamon”

El Tío de la Tiza – this place serves one of the best seafood in town. It’s close to La Caleta Beach.

Tapería de Columela – go early! this tapa place fills quite quickly