You’ll love this individual Andalusia round trip in a hire car! It might even be your best holiday in a long time. Why is that? Because Andalusia simply has everything you need for a perfect road trip: great mountain landscapes, breathtaking coastlines & beaches and sensational cities with historic palaces reminiscent of 1001 nights. Then there’s the delicious regional cuisine, fiery flamenco and encounters with friendly locals.
In this article, I’ll give you a Andalusia route that you can travel in a fortnight so that you can see as much as possible while still finding time to relax. I’ll also give you lots of tips on where to stay, booking a hire car, travelling time and more.
In recent years, the region in the south-west of Spain has become one of my favourite travel destinations. I’ve been there several times, both on various city trips and several road trips. As I’m not a fan of overcrowded tourist regions myself, you can find tips on the absolute highlights of Andalusia here, as well as places that are not on the radar of typical holidaymakers in Spain.
In this article I show you an itinerary for 2 weeks holiday (=16 days).
If you only have a week, you can find 2 Andalusia routes for the west and east of Andalusia here:
Here I have also summarised the best sights in the whole of Andalusia:
Individual Andalusia round trip for 16 days
Here I show you the individual sections of my route recommendations with information, times and links to detailed articles on individual places.
All the places mentioned in the article can also be found here on the map. I have also added a few stopovers to the map that are worth exploring if you have enough time. The two article links above to the routes in the west and east of Andalusia provide more details about these places.
Which flights to Andalusia?
The Andalusia route recommended here takes you from Seville to Málaga. Ideally, you should therefore book the outward and return flights at the airports of these cities. However, you can also vary the route or do it the other way round.
Where you start also depends somewhat on which airports in Germany you live near. While there are many flights to Málaga International Airport throughout Germany, the offers for Seville are rather limited depending on the time of year. However, there are other airports close to Seville, such as the one in Jerez de la Frontera. In total, there are 6 airports in Andalusia.
At all airports you can hire a car (see below) and start your road trip. You can find cheap flights for all 6 options via the following links.
1: Sevilla
How long? 2 days
Next stop: Seville – Cadíz (1:20 hours by car)
Hotel tip: Hotel Doña María
Must do activity: Cathedral, Giralda & Alcazar entrance with guided tour
Sevilla is the largest city in Andalusia and, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful in Spain. You should spend at least 2 full days here, as there is so much to discover.
What exactly I have written down in detail in the following article:
2: Cadíz
How long? 1 day
Next stop: Cadíz – Bolonia (1:30 hours by car)
Hotel tip: Spanish Galleon Lodge
Must do activity: Best rated guided city tour
Cadìz is the oldest city in Western Europe and is idyllically situated on the coast. Cadìz is not that big. You can explore everything on foot in one day and perhaps also relax on the beautiful city beaches.
3: Bolonia
How long?: 1 day
Next stop: Bolonia – Ronda (2:30 hours by car)
Hotel tip: Chillout Hotel Tres Mares (near Bolonia)
Must do activity: Catamaran route from Barbate to Bolonia
After Cadiz, an eventful route along the coast awaits you. Before you head to the next stop in Ronda, I recommend spending the night somewhere on the coast. Bolonia is a very good choice for this in my opinion.
On the way to Bolonia you pass many small coastal towns, such as Conil de La Frontera. However, I particularly enjoyed Los Canos de Meca, a sleepy village by the Trafalgar lighthouse. There’s a great beach here and a few restaurants.
You can also hire boards from the local surf schools or take part in surf courses and surf camps here.
More information about the offers can be found here:
In Bolonia you not only have a super idyllic dream beach, but you can also visit a large sand dune and a historical archaeological site with a museum. The museum is even free of charge for European citizens.
Access to the dune at the end of the beach is also free of charge. After you have completed the strenuous walk up the sandy hill and back down again, you can sit down in one of the local restaurants and enjoy the view of the sea for a while.
4: Ronda
How long: 2 days
Next stop: Ronda – Caminito del Rey (1 hour drive)
Hotel tip: Hotel Parador de Ronda
Must do activity: Hike with guide along the cliffs of Ronda
Ronda is a very special town in the mountains of Andalusia. It is enthroned on a mighty rocky plateau, which is penetrated by a ravine around 100 metres deep. It is famous for the Puente Nuevo – a bridge that connects the two parts of the town above the gorge. Even writers such as Hemingway and Rilke were captivated by Ronda.
In 2 days you can not only visit all the sights of Ronda but also have enough time to explore the local tapas scene and relax.
5: Caminito del Rey
How long? 1 day
Next stop: Caminito del Rey – Córdoba (2 hours by car)
Hotel tip: La Posada del Conde (Located between the two reservoirs right at the entrance to the Caminito)
Must Do Activity: Hike on the Caminito del Rey
The Caminitio del Rey is one of the most famous hiking trails in the world – mainly because of the many accidents in the past. Today, however, the trail is very safe and open to all types of tourists. The route takes you through deep gorges, past impressive rock massifs and through idyllic forests.
To do this hike, you need to buy a ticket online (these are usually fully booked weeks in advance) or join a guided tour. Depending on when you get a ticket for, you will have to adjust your route.
The starting point is either Ronda or Málaga. You will be picked up from both cities on the guided tours. As there were no more normal tickets available for my trip, I got myself a guided tour via Getyourguide (half-day tours are sufficient in my opinion). These are also available with transport from the larger surrounding towns.
- From Málaga: Caminito del Rey guided tour by bus
- Normal ticket without tour
- Tour with official guide without transport
If you have bought your own ticket, I recommend staying in a place that is as close as possible to the main entrance of the hiking trail in order to get there as early as possible and avoid the large crowds of tourists. I myself chose an Airbnb in Ardales, for example. But there are also hotels in the immediate vicinity of the entrance.
6: Córdoba
How long: 2 days
Next stop: Córdoba – Granada (3 hours by car)
Hotel tip: Hospedería Del Atalia
Must do activity: Mezquita Catedral guided tour with skip-the-line entry
The highlight in Córdoba is certainly the Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba, which is best known for its red and white striped round arches. It was once used as a mosque but is now a cathedral with a mighty basilica at its centre. But there are many more things worth seeing in Córdoba:
If you are travelling east from Córdoba to Granada, I recommend a stopover in Montefrío. The reason for this is the extremely photogenic castle, which was built on the edge of a steep cliff.
7: Granada and Alhambra
How long: 2 days
Next stop: Granada – Sierra Nevada (depends on where you find accommodation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains: 2-4 hours by car)
Hotel tip: Hotel Parador de Granada
Must-do activity: Alhambra & Nasrid Palaces tour with tickets
The Alhambra, which towers over the rooftops of Granada, is one of the absolute highlights of your Andalusia trip and perhaps the most famous sight in the whole of Spain. Take at least a whole day to explore this historic complex.
The Alhambra consists of different areas, for which you can also buy different tickets:
- Generalife
- Alcazaba
- The palaces of the Nesrids
The gardens are located between the parks and you can even visit some of them without a ticket. When buying your ticket, make sure that you can only book entry to the Nesrid Palaces at certain times of the day. However, these tickets are often fully booked weeks in advance. However, tickets for Generalife and Alcazaba are usually still available for the following day.
Be on the safe side and get your tickets before your holiday at the official Alhambra ticket office.
There are very good audio guides for a few euros at the entrance to the Alhambra. These are perfect if you are not taking a guided tour but still want to hear background information about the Alhambra.
Granada also has a lot to offer besides the Alhambra. I recommend simply strolling through the city the district of Albaycín is particularly beautiful. There are many mirradors (= viewpoints) here with perfect views of the Alhambra.
If you want to be a bit more active, I recommend going on a hike in the region. I found the hike along the Canyon of the River Monachil – Monachil los Cahorros particularly cool. On this hiking trail you shimmy along steep rock faces, crawl through narrow gorges and pass over wobbly suspension bridges.
The circular walk takes about 4 hours. Here you will find detailed route descriptions:
8: Sierra Nevada
How long? 1 day
Next stop: Sierra Nevada – Nerja (1:30 – 2 hours by car)
Hotel tip: Exclusivo DÚPLEX en la PLAZA
Must do activity: Sunset in the Sierra Nevada at 2,500 m altitude
From Granada, I recommend taking a day to explore the Sierra Nevada region.
The first stop on the route through the mountains is La Calahorra. There is a castle here from which you have a fantastic view.
Continue south along the A-337. One hairpin bend follows the next and you can always stop at spectacular viewpoints and enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and mountains.
Follow the rather quiet A-4130 westwards. There are many small, sleepy pueblo blancos (=white villages) along this road.
You should also visit the 1,500 metre high village of Trévelez. Here you can find the famous Spanish Serrano ham – the “Jamón de Trevélez”. You can visit various ham factories here or buy products from the region in the shops.
In the town of Pitres, you should pay a visit to the chocolate factory Chocolates Sierra Nevada.
I recommend finding accommodation for the night somewhere along the route. Firstly, you’ll have more time to explore the Sierra Nevada and secondly, you can enjoy the marvellous sunset.
9: Nerja
How long: 2 days
Next stop: Nerja – Málaga (1 hour drive)
Hotel tip: Hotel Villa Frigiliana
Must do activity: Guided kayak tour to the cliffs of Nerja and the Maro waterfall
Nerja itself is a small, typical tourist town, as there are many in Andalusia. However, the region around Nerja offers many highlights, which is why Nerja is an excellent starting point for exploring the area.
These are things you shouldn’t miss:
- The balcony of Europe – Built in 1885, this terrace offers a magnificent view of the coast around Nerja.
- The Caves of Nerja – The stalactite caves in Nerja are really impressive and also great for a rainy day.
- Aqueducto del Aguila – The historic aqueduct is worth a photo. You can photograph it from the bridge but also walk under the aqueduct.
- The beaches in the Natural Park Acantilados Maro, Cerro Gordo – The beaches around Nerja are often overcrowded, especially in summer. However, there are a few smaller beaches along the Acantilados Maro – Cerro Gordo nature reserve that are usually less crowded. For example, explore the Cala del Cañuelo, the Playa de Las Alberquillas, the Playa del Pino or the Playa Cantarrijan.
- The mountain village of Frigiliana – The white village of Frigiliana has recently received a lot of attention on social media. This is largely due to the typical narrow streets with views over the mountains to the sea. But in my opinion, the most beautiful thing here are the sunsets.
- River hike along the Rio Chillar – This hiking trail not only takes you alongside the River Chillar, you also often have to walk ankle-deep through the river water. It goes about 5 km through gorges and also flatter plains to a pool with a waterfall where you can refresh yourself.
In this article, I’ll give you tips for the route and tell you what you should bear in mind:
10: Málaga
How long? 2 days
Next stop: Flight home
Hotel tip: 5-star Gran Hotel Miramar
Must do activity: Live flamenco show at Theatro Club
Málaga, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, is the last stop on your Andalusia road trip. There is also plenty to discover in the second largest city in Andalusia. Read more here:
Best time to travel to Andalusia
Weather-wise, Andalusia is perfect in summer. The days are long and there is hardly any rain. However, most tourists are here in summer and the region is sometimes really crowded, especially on the coast and the beaches.
Luckily, Andalusia is also the perfect place to escape from the grubby German weather in autumn or spring. I therefore recommend a trip to Andalusia in April/May or October. It may not be light for as long as in summer, but at 20° C – 22° C it is still quite warm throughout the day. In addition, there is relatively little rainfall and you are spared large crowds of tourists.
I’ve also been to Andalusia in November and it was great. However, it is more likely to rain for a day.
Car hire in Andalusia
Hire a car in the city you are arriving in. If you want to visit this city, I recommend that you don’t pick up the hire car at the airport. Firstly, you won’t need the car in the city and would just be paying pointless parking fees, and secondly, it’s not exactly easy to drive through the narrow streets of Andalusia’s old towns.
It’s best to use a comparison portal such as check24 or billigermietwagen to find a cheap car.
Tip: I think it makes more sense to hire a rather smaller car for Andalusia, as there are often only very narrow streets and one-way roads in many places. It is easier to drive a smaller car. Finding a parking space is also much easier.
I also recommend fully comprehensive insurance, theft insurance, as well as tyre, glass, roof and underbody insurance. It’s cheaper without this, of course, but I don’t recommend it.
Accommodation in Andalusia
Andalusia’s main source of economic income is tourism. Accordingly, there are many accommodation options – from inexpensive to luxurious. You can actually stay in a hotel in every well-known town. However, I have also had good experiences with airbnb during my travels. It all depends on what you prefer.
I researched a few good hotels for my own travel plans and stayed in a few of them. If you want to stay in comfort, these hotels are a good alternative to airbnb. However, you can also search for hotels yourself using price comparison portals such as trivago or Kayak.
You might like these hotels here:
Sevilla: The Hotel Doña María is a very good choice. It is located right next to Seville Cathedral and perfectly epitomises the charm of this city.
Cadiz: The Spanish Galleon Lodge is located in the centre of the old town and you have a great view from the roof. What’s more, overnight stays here are not too expensive.
Ronda: From the Hotel Parador de Ronda you can enjoy a marvellous view of the Puente Nuevo and the gorge. It may not be cheap, but you can treat yourself to the comfort for one night.
Córdoba: The Hospedería Del Atalia has cosy rooms and a fantastic roof terrace with a view of the bell tower. Especially in the evening, when it slowly gets dark and the building is lit up, it’s a great place to relax with a glass of wine. The hotel’s central location is also very convenient for exploring the city.
Granada: The Hotel Parador de Granada is located in the centre of the Alhambra, one of Spain’s most famous sights. You stay here like the Nasrids once did in their palaces – but a little more modern, of course. I myself stayed at the Maciá Monasterio de los Basilios. This hotel was once a monastery, built in the 17th century. I found the inner courtyard of the hotel particularly beautiful
Sierra Nevada: Accommodation in the mountains with great views awaits you in many accommodations along the Sierra Nevada. One of these is the maisonette flats at Exclusivo DÚPLEX en la PLAZA.
Frigiliana: The family-run Bed and Breakfast Villa Corte Azul has received very good reviews. It is located just outside, south of Frigiliana. There is a pool and vegetarian breakfast. If you prefer a more classic hotel in the centre of Frigiliana, then the Hotel Villa Frigiliana might be something for you. The 3-star hotel has an outdoor pool, a restaurant and you can also book rooms with a balcony and mountain view.
Málaga: The Santa Cruz Apartments are very centrally located, have been rated very highly by many guests and are very reasonably priced. If you are looking for something really special, then the luxurious 5-star Gran Hotel Miramar is something for you. It is very centrally located and has exceptional facilities. An alternative is the modern Hotel Boutique Teatro Romano. As the name suggests, you’ll be staying right in the old town next to the Roman theatre and the Alcazaba.
Andalusia videos
To get you in the holiday mood, here are 2 videos from Andalusia.
What do you think of this individual Andalusia round trip in a hire car? Are there still a few highlights missing that you have visited yourself? Or do you simply have a question about this route? Then just write me a comment.
Did you like the article? Share it:
Tools & services that I use on my own travels:*
🚁 My drone for aerial photography
🎒 My backpack from Wandrd with space for photo accessories
🚗 Find and compare cheap rental cars
🎟 Find and book cool activities
🔒 Secure Internet connection with NordVPN
*Note: These links are affiliate links. If you book through them, I will receive a small commission without it being more expensive for you. A purchase from you via these links helps me to continue offering free content without annoying ads on this website. Thank you for your support! I really appreciate it!
