Country: Spain
Currency: Euro
Time zone: Summertime UTC+2, Wintertime UTC+1
Language: Spanish
Best travel time: the whole year
History
Andalusia was very important starting in 785. They started to build the Mezquita in Córdoba. After this, Córdoba became a cultural center and the biggest city in Europe after Constantinople. 8 centuries of Moorish influences ended with the fall of Granada. Andalusia became the base after Christoffel Columbus found America in 1492. Sevilla grew a lot in this period.
Location:
Andalusia is located in the very south of Spain. There are 8 different provinces, but the names Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada, and Malaga are the most known by most people. These are also must-visit cities. The coast from Andalusia is Costa del Sol, Costa Tropical and Costa Almería.
Different kinds of holidays
There are all kinds of holidays possible in Andalusia. This is one of the reasons it should be on each bucket list.
Backpacking: Quite some backpackers choose this part of Spain together with Portugal. There are good connections between the big and the smaller cities, but also cheap flights.
Roundtrip: There is a perfect roundtrip to combine cities, towns, beaches, and mountains. It is possible with a car or with trains/buses/flights. So why not see a couple of things in one holiday? The roundtrip is Malaga, Tarífa, Gibraltar, Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada. You can add every small town in between and decide to end in Granada or Malaga.
Beach: The Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical are perfect for a relaxing beach holiday. The weather is nice, the destination is cheap and there are lots of day trips possible.
Active: Because the mountains are so close to the beach, the opportunities are almost endless. From kayaking and buggy tours to canyoning and hiking.
Sights:
There are a lot of beautiful things to see in Andalusia. Nature, Culture, People and it is even a perfect place for a relaxing holiday. These are the biggest and well-known sights, but not the only ones!
Malaga: Malaga is a nice city to start or end your trip. It is not the biggest so 2 or 3 days would be enough to see it. Great history and amazing views. The Alcazaba is beautiful and a must-visit! It is also the city you fly to if you want to visit the coast.
Sevilla: Sevilla is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. The prettiest parks, amazing culture and architecture and a must-visit! You can easily spend a week here. Go for a weekend or visit it on a road trip. The Plaza de España is breathtaking and I could stay there for a whole day!
Córdoba: Cordoba is full of history and some of the best food I have eaten! Take a day or two to get lost in the small streets and absorb all the Spanish in you. There is an actual cathedral inside of a mosque here! and it is gigantic.
Granada: Granada is most known for the Alhambra. A beautiful fortress, which is on the UNESCO world list. But the city itself is also worth visiting. Also, Granada offers amazing views, beautiful parks, and cute little streets.
Caminito del Rey: Caminito del Rey is a hike against the wall of a gorge. You walk 100 meters above the ground and this gives an amazing view. Don’t skip this one!
Ronda: Ronda is a small city split in two because of a gorge. Amazing views with an amazing history. Last year I discovered the Hidden Mine and it was breathtaking. (of course, the mine was already there, but I did not know it existed!)
Gibraltar: Gibraltar is technically not part of Andalusia or Spain at all. It is a piece of England you can visit and see the only place with wild monkeys in the whole of Europe! So eat some fish and chips and take your picture in a red phone booth!
Food:
Andalusia has signature food, just like every country and province. The most famous being Sherry, a kind of wine.
Tapas is really big in Andalusia. They eat it with there drink before dinner or as dinner. If you eat it as dinner, you order raciones instead of tapa. This way you have a bit more and you can share! The tapa size is just one or two bites.
A lot of people do bar-hopping. Take a beer at one bar, eat tapas. Then you go to the next and another one and so on. This way you can eat, drink and enjoy!
When you visit Andalusia try Espetos de Sardinas, gazpacho, Jamon Serrano and all the tapas you can eat.
Andalusia
Andalusia is a beautiful part of Spain. It is very big, so I recommend renting a car and drive from city to city and visit everything in between. I have been here 3 times now and it stole my heart. You will always discover something you have not seen here yet before.
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What should I visit next in Andalusia?
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Federica Provolenti
I love Andalusia, the charming Cordoba, the pretty Toledo, Sevilla and Granada with the stunning Alhambra make this region perfect for a road trip. Good luck wit your plans and move!
CaitlynO
It is a perfect road trip location. I have not been to Toledo yet, but guess I have to go soon!
alison
Granada is my favorite. I could spend hours getting lost in the Alhambra. I remember a time when you didn’t need timed tickets to go there. I’m completely obsessed with their Gazpacho as well. Have fun studying there.
CaitlynO
I have been here for three times now and not seen the Alhambra yet! Definitely going soon! It is crazy. In low season, you have to buy tickets 2-3 weeks in advance and in high season sometimes even 6 weeks!
Alex Trembath
You had me at ‘active’ – Andalusia really looks like a great place to get outdoors and do some hiking! The Caminito del Rey sounds awesome. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
CaitlynO
You would definitely love the Caminito del Rey. It is not a difficult hike, but a beautiful one!
Sippin Gypsy
Spain is such a beautiful country and Andalusia is like a fairytale! Beautiful suggestions for iconic places to visit!
CaitlynO
Spain has so much to offer! Andalusia is just a small part of it and look how much it has to offer!
Kemi
So jealous of your trip. Good luck! It is beautiful and it’s a region in Spain I really want to visit with its culture and history over millennia. The Alhambra is a sight to behold.
CaitlynO
Good to hear it is already on your bucket list! The culture is so amazing and I just love it!
paddockfamily4
Looks like an amazing place to explore- there’s a little bit of everything for every kind of traveler! Thanks for the thorough guide!!
CaitlynO
It is an amazing place for everyone! And you are welcome!
Nina Out and About
I stopped into Cordoba, Granada and Gibraltar when I visited Spain a couple years ago on a big trip. They’re so beautiful. Spain is an amazing country!
CaitlynO
It is! I fell in love with Spain when my parents took us camping around 10 years ago.
Hello Yeshi
Besides having so much to see and do, Andalusia is filled with so much history! I would definitely want to visit for the wine and tapas!
CaitlynO
Andalusia has it all!
The Travel Bunny
Not sure you’ve seen the animation Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart (Jack et la mécanique du coeur). The beautifully designed characters of Nicoletta Ceccoli give life to the book of the romantic French writer Mathias Malzieu. And the soundtrack is done by his band, Dionysos. Anyway, at one point, the main character, Jack, is going to Andalusia on his longboard and there’s this song saying over and over Andalusia, anda, anda. It’s gonna be stuck in my head for a while now since I remembered it. Anyway, ever since I first read the book, Andalusia’s been on my list 🙂
CaitlynO
I never heard of this animation and book, but I will check it out! Thanks for telling me!
Julie
Such an infirmative article! I love this part of Spain and can’t wait to get tokwnow it better soon!:)
CaitlynO
You are planning on coming? It is great and I wrote some other articles about it! Let me know if you have any questions while planning your trip!
Melissa Rice
I’ve never visited this part of Spain. And now I can envision wandering around there for months! This was a super informative post too.
CaitlynO
Months might not be enough… This is just some of the many things you can visit. There are also a lot of breathtaking small towns, activities and celebrations.