21 Andalusia sights that will make your holiday unforgettable

📝 About the Author: Matthias

Matthias is an experienced travel expert and founder of travel-du.de. He has been exploring various countries around the world for 20 years and shares many valuable tips from his travels here, accompanied by authentic pictures and videos based on personal experience and thorough research.

There are plenty of sights in Andalusia. I have visited most of them on several trips, some of them even several times. I’ll show you the absolute highlights of the Andalusian sights that you should definitely visit at least once in your life. There are also a few insider tips that are perhaps not yet so overcrowded.

All Andalusia sights mentioned in the article can also be found here on the map:

What is the best travel route in Andalusia?

You can discover most of these Andalusia sights on one of the following road trips. In these 3 articles I give you tips on the best Andalusia route, depending on how much time you have:

• 1 week: Andalusia West
• 1 week: Andalusia East
• 2 weeks: Andalusia complete

But enough of the introductory words. Let’s get started with the best places to visit in Andalusia:

1. The Alcázar of Seville

The royal palace of Seville is absolutely marvellous and one of the most impressive complexes in all of Andalusia. Here you will not only find extensive gardens with fragrant orange trees and harmonious water features, but also breathtaking Moorish architecture with elements from various eras – a mysterious mix of 1001 Nights and the opulence of Catholic Gothic architecture.

As you stroll through the complex, you can really feel what it must have been like here 1,000 years ago when the Moors left their mark on Spain. Everything here is a bit reminiscent of “Game of Thrones”. And in fact, some scenes from the series were even filmed here. The Spanish royal family also resides in the palace from time to time. It is then closed to tourists.

If you want to stay right near the royal palace, then take a look here.

2. The Plaza de España in Seville

The Plaza de España was only built in 1929, but that doesn’t detract from the fantastic atmosphere that this square has. For me, it is even one of the most beautiful in the whole of Europe. This is perhaps also due to the fact that high-quality materials such as marble and ceramics were not spared during construction. I was particularly taken with the ornaments at the base of the walls, which are decorated with detailed azulejos. Each one represents a region of Spain.

You can also go inside the towers of the main building. From the upper floor you have a good overview of the square. At the fountain in the centre, tourists cool their feet in the heat of the day while horse-drawn carriages clatter past them.

3. La Giralda in Seville

“La Giralda” is the striking bell tower of Seville Cathedral. It dates back to the 12th century and for a few euros you can climb up there and enjoy the great view over the whole city.

There is also plenty to discover in the cathedral itself, such as the sarcophagus of Christopher Columbus or the magnificent main altar with its huge figures.

Here you can find more tips for Seville.

4. The old town centre of Cádiz

The old town of Cádiz itself is a famous Andalusian sight, as it is located on a thin spit of land and you can easily walk around it in half a day. It was founded in 1104 BC as an outpost of the Phoenicians and was later an important trading harbour for the Romans. This makes it one of the oldest cities in Europe.

On the way you can discover many things such as the cathedral, great beaches, an old Roman theatre or many gardens with strangely shaped bushes and trees.

Here you can find more tips for Cadiz.

5. Puente Nuevo in Ronda

Ronda is one of those typically romantic Andalusian towns that are so typical. This is perhaps the reason why Ronda actually features in the works of Hemingway and Rilke. The city’s main attraction is the Puente Nuevo bridge, which connects two parts of the city over the 100-metre-deep “El Tajo” gorge.

6. The Plaza de Toros de Ronda bullring

Andalusia is famous for its bullfights, which are still held here today. One of the most famous arenas is in Ronda – the Plaza Toros de Ronda. For an entrance fee of €7, you can walk across the square like a bullfighter and visit the fascinating museum about the history of bullfighting.

Here you can find more tips for Ronda.

7. The Castillo de Gibralfaro in Málaga

One of the best viewpoints in Málaga is from the Castillo de Gibralfaro, which towers over the city. You can walk all the way round the fortress walls and get a perfect 360° panoramic view of the whole of Málaga.

If you walk down the castle, you can also visit the Moorish fortress, a historical testimony to Arab architecture. The gardens inside the “citadel” are particularly beautiful, with small water features and Moorish archways.

8. The Mercado Central de Atarazanas in Málaga

Even the entrance to the Mercado Central de Atarazanas is spectacular. The huge glass front shows the cityscape of Málaga with its cathedral and Gibralfaro Castle. All kinds of Andalusian culinary specialities await you inside, such as sweet figs or almonds from the region.

This market is definitely one of the most beautiful in all of Andalusia.

9. The botanical garden La Concepción Historical in Málaga

This botanical garden is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever been to. It’s a little outside the city centre, but it’s still worth a visit. The variety of the park in particular is fantastic.

For example, you will find a small lake surrounded by freshly scented lemon and orange trees, a pavilion with views over Málaga and old manor houses such as the Casa Palacio with its tropical gardens.

Here you can find more tips for Malaga.

10. Mesquita Catedral de Córdoba

The Mesquita is not only the highlight of Córdoba but also one of the most famous buildings in the world. It was once built as a mosque. Today, however, with its huge altar inside the complex, it serves as a Catholic church. This mixture of Moorish and Catholic architecture gives it this special flair.

The red and white striped round arches spanning a total of 856 columns are particularly picturesque. They date back to the time when the building was still used exclusively as a mosque.

Here you can find more tips for Córdoba and here accommodation in the immediate vicinity of this Andalusian attraction.

11. The Alhambra in Granada

Probably the most famous sight in Andalusia, if not the whole of Spain, is the Alhambra in Granada. The entire complex of the city castle consists of several parts and is so large that you should spend at least a whole day here. I found the gardens of the Genaralife, a finca a little away from the actual complex, particularly beautiful.

You can find more tips on the Alhambra in my article on a road trip in eastern Andalusia: Andalusia Route – 1 week road trip in eastern Andalusia.

If you want to stay near the Alhambra, then take a look at here.

12. Caminito del Rey

The Caminitio del Rey is one of the most famous hiking trails in the world. Nowadays, the path is very safe and open to all types of tourists. But it wasn’t so long ago that there were still many fatal accidents here.

Because the route not only takes you through idyllic mountain landscapes and forests, but also along deep gorges. Even today, you can still see the old, extremely brittle and dangerous paths.

Here you can find accommodation in the region around the Caminito del Rey.

13. El Torcal Nature Park

The huge El Torcal nature reserve is characterised by its karst formations piled up like pancakes and deep gorges. It is particularly popular with hikers. However, the best thing is the fantastic view over the entire landscape from the higher karst rocks. On a good day, you can even see Málaga and the sea.

On a hike through the labyrinthine rock system, you will encounter other hikers as well as the local mountain goats, but they will usually run away quickly if you get too close.

You should stick to the marked paths to avoid getting lost. There are two different paths (green: 1.5 km and yellow: 2.5 km). However, you can also explore the area off these paths with a tour guide. Here is more information.

14. Huge dune and Roman ruins in Bolonia

The small village of Bolonia on the Costa de la Luz with its 500 inhabitants is famous for its Roman settlement. But there is also a great, almost 4 km long beach and a 30 metre high sand dune.

The Roman settlement of Baelo Claudia is one of the best preserved in the whole of Spain. You can even visit the ruins and the adjoining museum free of charge as an EU citizen.

15. Setenil de las Bodegas

The white village of Setenil de las Bodegas, a 30-minute drive from Ronda, is famous for its houses, which were built directly under monstrous rocks and where some of the inhabitants still live today.

You can even stay in some of these houses, such as the holiday home Un Rincón en la Roca or the Casa Cueva “Las Calcetas”. However, there are also some good hotels in Setenil.

16. Home of the flamingos: Fuente de Piedra

The Fuente de Piedra lagoon is the largest wetland in Andalusia and also the habitat of the largest flamingo colony in Spain. At the end of the summer, the lake is often quite dry. However, you can still observe the flamingos from afar from the visitor centre.

17. The castle of Montefrío

The small town of Montefrío is well worth a visit, especially because of the castle in the centre of the town. What makes it special: It stands menacingly right on a steep cliff. A viewpoint at the end of the town emphasises this almost dramatic location. It was even once described in National Geographic as one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the world.

You can also visit the castle from the inside. You can only get tickets for this at a stand next to the Catholic church in the town centre. It is not permitted to enter the castle without a ticket, although this would be possible.

There are also some great places to stay in Montefrío if you’re planning to stay here for a while.

18. The Rio Chillar river

The river hike through the Rio Chillar near Nerja is one of the best hikes in Andalusia. You have to wind your way through gorges and sometimes wade ankle-deep through the water.

I have described exactly how to find your way there and what you need to look out for in detail in the following article: The coolest hike in Andalusia? – River hike through the Río Chillar

19. The Gorge of Monachil

The gorge of Monachil de los Cahorros, just 8 kilometres from Granada, is also a great spot for a hike. The path leads along a raging river that you have to cross over suspension bridges a few times. A complete circular hike takes 4 hours, but you can also just walk to the large suspension bridge and back again.

20. Trévelez – The home of the Jambon ham

The village of Trévelez, located 1,500 metres above sea level, is home to the famous Spanish Serrano ham – the “Jamón de Trevélez”. You can visit various ham factories in the village or buy delicious regional products in the shops.

21. The Tabernas Desert

The Desierto de Tabernas near Almería is strongly reminiscent of the Wild West of the USA. This is why this semi-desert was also used as a film location for many European westerns, such as “For a Fistful of Dollars” and “Indiana Jones”.

There is also a Wild West-style theme park with cowboy shows and a zoo.

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As you can see, there are some fantastic Andalusian sights to discover. Which one is missing from the list? Write me a comment and tell me your favourites.