Andalusia

Spain's southernmost region, where the Alhambra, the Mosque of Córdoba and Seville Cathedral bear witness to Moorish civilization, alongside white villages and the Costa del Sol.

This region is the autonomous community of Andalusia, comprising the eight provinces of Seville, Granada, Córdoba, Málaga, Cádiz, Huelva, Jaén and Almería. In this guide, the North African autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla and nearby Spanish islets are also included here. To the north, the Sierra Morena separates it from Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha in Central Spain; to the east lies Murcia on the Mediterranean coast, and to the west, Portugal. Three great historic cities form the core. Seville has the cathedral and the Giralda tower, the Royal Alcázar and the Plaza de España, and is also a major flamenco center. Granada's Alhambra is the pinnacle of Moorish architecture, and the Albaicín district looks out over the palace and the Sierra Nevada. Córdoba's Mosque-Cathedral is famous for its red-and-white arcades. Málaga is Picasso's birthplace and the gateway to the Costa del Sol; Ronda's New Bridge spanning a gorge is spectacular; and the white villages of the Sierra de Grazalema are best linked by car. Also worth a visit are the old town of Cádiz, Jerez with its sherry and horses, the seaside town of Nerja and the Doñana wetlands. A classic itinerary is 3 days in Seville, 1 in Córdoba, 2 in Granada and 2 in Málaga and Ronda, plus the white villages, for 8–10 days in total. There are high-speed trains from Madrid to Seville, Córdoba, Málaga and Granada, and Seville to Córdoba takes about 45 minutes; rent a car for the white villages and small coastal towns. Alhambra tickets are limited, so buy them on the official website several weeks in advance. To reach Ceuta and Melilla, take a boat or flight from Algeciras, Málaga or Almería.

Destinations

Itineraries