How to spend 4 or 5 days in Andalucia?
You’re planning to spend 4 or 5 days in Andalucia for your next trip? You’re looking for the best itinerary?
You’re at the right place!
In order to help you plan your stay, I have prepared for you two 4-5 days Andalucia itineraries.
The first one will start from Seville and the 2nd one from Malaga (the 2 international airports of Andalucia).
In this guide, in addition to the best things to do and activities, I will give you all my best tips as well as accommodations suggestions depending on your budget.
Planning your short trip to Andalucia will be very easy!
Sommaire
1) 4-5 Days trip to Andalucia from Seville
For this first 4-5 days itinerary in Andalucia, let’s land at Seville airport to discover the region.
From there, you’ll visit Seville, Cordoba and Cadiz.
A quick note: If you want to land in Seville and visit Granada during a 4 or 5 days trip, it’s also doable. However, in such a short time, you will only have time to visit these 2 cities.
If it’s what you want to do, you can read the part about Seville of itinerary #1 and the part about Granada of itinerary #2. And if you need help to plan your trip, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section, at the end of the article.
Day 1 & 2: Seville
From Seville airport, take the bus to reach to the city center in just 40 min. It runs every 30 min and a one way ticket costs 4€.
You don’t really need to rent a car to visit Seville. It’s very easy to visit everything on foot or by public transportation.
On this first day, you should start with the city’s must-see attraction: Seville Cathedral. As there is always a very long waiting line at the entrance of the monument, the best advice I can give you is to buy skip the line tickets in advance online.
The 2 most popular tickets are:
- A standard skip the line ticket to visit the cathedral and the Giralda.
- A 90min guided tour of the Cathedral + access to the top of the Giralda.
If you don’t want to buy tickets in advance and, there is another way to skip the line.
You will need to go to the “Iglesia Colegial San Salvadore” (“Church of the Divine Saviour” in English), located 10 min walking from the cathedral.
There, you can buy a combined ticket to visit both the church and the cathedral. It will allow you to skip the line and enjoy the stunning interior of the world’s third biggest cathedral.
Allow 1.5 – 2 hours for the visit.
A great tip to save time and money: if you plan to visit Seville Cathedral and the Alcazar of Seville, you should opt for the “Seville City Pass”.
It acts as a skip the line ticket for both monuments and also includes the hop-on hop-off bus tourist bus, which stops in front of every tourist attraction of the city. Audio guides are also included!
To buy it, simply click the button below:
Once you’re done, here is how you can spend the rest of your day:
- First, go to the General Archive of the Indies to have a look inside. It’s located right next to the Cathedral and entrance is free.
- Take a walk in Santa Cruz neighborhood, where most historical monuments are located
- Stop by the Plaza del patio de Banderas and enjoy a nice view over the cathedral.
- Discover the stunning Plaza de España, One of the most beautiful squares I’ve ever seen. You have to check it out during your 4-5 days trip to Andalucia!
- Take a stroll in Maria Luisa park. With its shaded paths and numerous fountains, it’s a great spot to get some fresh air and calm. At the southern end of the park, you’ll find The Plaza America and 2 museums: the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of popular Arts and Traditions.
- In the evening, enjoy Spanish cuisine in a tapas bar, with, of course, a glass of Sangria!
The next day, stay in Seville and finish visiting the city on foot.
Here are the best things to do during your 2nd day in Seville:
- Start with The Alcazar of Seville. You’ve probably seen it the day before, as the entrance is located right next to the cathedral. There is usually a long waiting line here too, so you should book your skip the line tickets in advance. It’s simple, just click here! Allow a full morning to visit the palace and its gardens.
- Visit the Casa de Pilatos, also located in Santa Cruz neighborhood. This palace has a large patio and 2 beautiful (small) gardens.
- What about taking a dip in your hotel’s swimming pool to cool off?
- The Metropol Parasol: head there at sunset time, you’ll enjoy one of the best scenic view over Seville.
- In the evening, you should attend a flamenco show. It’s one of the best thing to do during a 4-5 days trip to Andalucia. There is a great show at the Museum of Flamenco Dance. You need to buy your tickets here.
You will find every information you need to visit Seville in my article: The 15 best things to do in Seville.
If you don’t want to (or can’t) walk for too long, you can visit the city with the hop-on hop-off buses: they stop at almost every points of interest.
In Seville, the Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket also includes 3 short guided tours of:
- The Plaza de España
- The Santa Cruz district
- The Triana neighborhood.
You need to buy your bus tickets here.
Where to stay in Seville
- Black Swan Hostel: Youth hostel located within 10 minutes walking distance from the Cathedral and the Alcazar. Very stylish and contemporary dormitory bed from 17€ per night, breakfast included! Strong points: the relaxed atmosphere, the friendly staff, the free dinners cooked by volunteers. This is the best choice if you are looking for a youth hostel.
- Hotel Don Paco: Located in the centre of Seville, at 10 minutes on foot from the Cathedral. Spacious room and comfortable bedding from 60€ per night, breakfast at 10€. Strong points: excellent breakfast, the peaceful atmosphere and the swimming pool on the roof. My favorite in Seville for its great value for money!
- Hotel Fernando III: Located in the historic district of Santa Cruz and therefore close to the Cathedral and the Alcazar. Modern and spacious room from 106€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: the excellent location, the pool on the roof, the very helpful staff.
- EME Catedral Hotel: Located right next to the Cathedral and the Giralda. Very modern double room from 180€ per night, breakfast at 20€. Strong points: The best location in town, the hotel design, the swimming pool with the view on the Cathedral, the amazing breakfast, the very helpful staff. Don’t hesitate, it’s the best luxury hotel in town!
Day 3: Cordoba
On this third day of your 4-5 days Andalucia itinerary, let’s go to Cordoba!
It’s still not necessary to rent a car yet, as the city is easily accessible by train, in only 40 min. There’re several daily departures.
You should still book your tickets in advance, just to make sure you’ll have seats for the departure time you want. It’s especially needed if you travel to Andalucia during high season.
Cordoba train station is only 15min walking from the historic center. You will walk through a big park, so it’s quite nice!
You will enter the old town by the Almodovar gate, the entrance to the Jewish quarter. From there you will easily reach the most visited site of the city: the mosque-cathedral of Cordoba. The interior, with its white and red arches, is very impressive.
For your lunch break, you should definitely go to one of the 2 main squares of the city, where many restaurants are located: The Plaza de las Tendillas or the Plaza de la Corredera. Either will be a great option for lunch, and you should still go see both because they are very different.
In the afternoon, go for a walk along the Guadalquivir river until the Puerta del Puente and the Roman bridge. Then, cross the bridge to reach the Calahorra tower. It’s possible to go up the tower to enjoy a nice view.
Finally, come back to the other side of the river and head to the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos, the last visit of the day. It’s smaller than the one in Seville, yet its gardens are just as beautiful and even better maintained. Take a stroll in the shaded paths around the flower beds, and fountains, sit down on one of the benches and just relax a bit!
Depending on the departure time of your train to go back to Seville, go back to the train station or spend a bit more time strolling around the old town.
You want to learn more about the best things to do in Cordoba? Have a look at my article: Visit Cordoba: the definitive guide
If you want to learn everything about the history of the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba and the Alcazar, you should book a guided tour.
They need to be booked in advance here:
Day 4: Cadiz
For the 4th day of your 4-5 days stay in Andalucia, let’s head to Cadiz.
The city, less known than Seville or Cordoba, is an excellent day trip destination from Seville.
By car (more info about renting a car in Andalucia below), it will take around 1h20. If you prefer to go by bus or train, both trips take about 1h45 and tickets are around 15€.
Once in Cadiz, Here is my recommended itinerary to visit the city on foot:
- Start at the Plaza de San Juan de Dios
- Pass by the Roman theater (free entrance)
- Visit Cadiz cathedral and go up the bell tower to enjoy the view
- Stop by Cadiz market for your lunch break.
- Go up the Tavira tower, the room equipped with a set of optical lenses and mirrors allows you to enjoy the view over the whole Cadiz bay.
- Go on a walk next to the sea along the Campo del Sur until San Sebastian castle
- Pass by Caleta beach, and maybe take a dip!
- Discover the Castle of San Catalina
- Go for a stroll in Genoves park and Alameda Apodaca park
- End your day in Cadiz at the Plaza de España de Cadiz
You can find detailed information about Cadiz in my article: The 12 best things to do in Cadiz.
At the end of the day, you can either go back and spend one last night in Seville or stay in Cadiz to enjoy the city a bit more.
Where to stay in Cadiz
Here is my selection of the best hotels in Cadiz, depending on your budget:
- Cadiz Inn Backpackers: Hostel located 10 minutes’ walk from the Cathedral. Bed in dormitory from 14 € per night. strong points: its roof terrace and the staff welcoming.
- Hotel La Catedral: As the name suggests, it’s located right next to the Cathedral. Modern and elegant room from 60 € per night, including breakfast. I have a big crush for the rooftop terrace with an outdoor pool and breathtaking views of the cathedral! This is my favorite in Cadiz for its great value for money!
- Parador de Cadiz: Located in front of the ocean and 5 minutes’ walk from the beach of La Caleta. Very nice modern and bright room from 138 € per night, breakfast included. Strong points: outdoor pool with nice views, quality of service, well-equipped rooms, original and modern architecture. It’s the best hotel in town, perfect for a luxury stay in Cadiz!
Day 5: Back to Seville / Return Flight
Here we are, it’s the fifth day of your 5 days trip to Andalucia!
If you slept in Cadiz, go back to Seville to take your return flight. If you’re already in Seville, enjoy your last moments in the city.
Depending on the time of your return flight, you can take a last stroll in Seville around Triana neighborhood, the Torre del Oro (“Tower of Gold” in English) and along the Guadalquivir river for example.
Now you know all the best things to do during a 4-5 days trip to Andalucia from Seville!
If you’re staying only 4 days in Andalucia, you can skip one of the day trips to Cordoba or Cadiz.
4-5 days itinerary in Andalucia from Malaga
For this second 4-5 days road trip in Andalucia, you will need to arrive at Malaga international airport.
During this trip, you will visit Malaga and its surroundings as well as Granada.
1) Malaga (2 days)
Here are my recommendations for your first day in the Costal del Sol’s capital:
- First, reach Gibralfaro castle by bus. It offers an amazing scenic view over the city!
- Then go downhill to the Alcazaba, the second must-see attraction in Malaga. This fortress-palace has stunning gardens, patios and fountains.
- Pass by the Roman Theater, the entrance is free! And it’s located very close to to the Alcazaba’s exit.
- Lunch break
In the afternoon, maybe you can visit one the 30 museums of the city.
Here are the best ones in the Andalusian capital, you can choose 1 or 2 depending on your interests:
- Picasso Birthplace Museum (get you tickets here): where he was born in 1881. You’ll learn more about his life and will see some of his personal belongings on display.
- Picasso Museum, with more than 200 artworks from the world famous artist
- Carmen Thyssen Museum and its extensive collection of Spanish and Andalusian paintings
- Automobile Museum Malaga, housing 85 perfectly renovated vintage cars.
- Pompidou Centre Malaga, a branch of the famous Pompidou Centre in Paris
- Russian Art Museum offers a collection of Russian art pieces in an old tobacco factory
- Museo de Malaga
- Flamenco Art Museum
For most of them, it’s easier to buy your tickets in advance. You can do it by simply clicking on the museum’s name on the list above.
Depending on the museum you choose to visit, don’t forget to stop by (before or after the museum) Malaga Cathedral. Its 87 meters high tower is one of the highest of Andalucia, you can even go to the top and enjoy the view from there.
At the end of the afternoon, you can head to the closest beach: Malagueta beach.
For your 2nd day in Malaga, you will have 3 options
1) keep discovering Malaga on foot:
- Visit another museum
- Pass by the Atarazanas market
- Have lunch in a tapas bar
- Walk around Soho neighborhood, famous for its street art
- End your day at La Concepcion Botanical Garden, one of the largest garden in Spain and even in Europe. To get there, take the bus #2, get off at the last stop and walk for another 15min to reach the entrance.
If you want more details about the best things to do in Malaga, you should read my article: Visit Malaga: the definitive guide.
2) If you like hiking, then you should definitely go to the Caminito del Rey.
This hiking path was for a long time considered the most dangerous one in the world. No worries however, it has been completely secured, rearranged and is now 100% safe!
The path goes along the cliff, 100 meters above the ground. I hope that you won’t get afraid of heights halfway because once you’ve started the hike, you can’t go back. The path is only one way.
If you’re not sure you can do it by yourself, the best is to hire guide: you’ll feel more secure and you’ll also learn many facts about the location and its history. These guided hikes are very popular so you need to book them in advance. Book your guided hike to the Caminito del Rey here.
You can go to Caminito del Rey with a rental car (see the section “How to rent a car in Andalusia” below or you can book a day-tour from Malaga. Fare includes transportation and hiking with a guide. You need to book it there.
3) Visit Ronda, one of the most touristic villages in Andalucia.
You may not have heard of Ronda, but you probably saw pictures of its emblematic bridge. It’s a super photogenic spot, one of the region’s symbols.
To snap the perfect picture, go to the Plaza Maria Auxiliadora and then go down the path located on the right.
As the village is built on a hill, you can also go to the mirador and enjoy the amazing view over the whole valley!
For the rest of the day, simply go for a stroll in the narrow streets of Ronda. You can for example visit the bullfighting arena, Mondragon palace or La Casa Del Rey Moro.
It takes about 1.5hours to go to Ronda from Malaga. To get there, you will have 2 choices:
- Rent a car
- Book a day tour from Malaga
If you choose the organized day trip, fare includes transportation, a guided tour of Ronda and the bullfighting arena + visit of a wine cellar. You can book it here.
You will find every information you need to visit Ronda in 1 day in my article: The 10 best things to do in Ronda.
Spend one last night in Malaga.
To visit Malaga, you should definitely get the Malaga Experience Card.
it includes the hop-on hop-off bus ticket + free entrance to most museums + a 1 hour boat tour + a ticket to see a flamenco show.
Where to stay in Malaga
- The Lights Hostel: This hostel located 400 meters from the cathedral. A bed in a dorm starts from 20.50€/night with a breakfast at 1.50€. Strong points: clean, nice rooftop, very friendly staff.
- Ibis Malaga Centro Ciudad: Located next to the cathedral and 5 min from the Picasso museum. Modern double room (typical style of this hotel chain) starting from 65€/night, breakfast for an additional 7.95€. Its best features: very central location to visit Malaga on foot, many breakfast options. friendly staff. It’s my favorite hotel for its exceptional value for money!
- Barceló Malaga: located 10 min walking from the historic quarter and 600 meters from the Center for Contemporary Art. Comfortable and design room starting from 135€/night, breakfast for an additional 18€. Best features: Rooftop pool, location, beds are very comfortable. It’s a great place to stay in Malaga.
- Gran Hotel Miramar: This 5 stars hotel is located 10 meters away from the Malagueta beach. Very elegant and beautifully decorated room, starting from 250€/night, breakfast for an additional 25€. Its best features: the decoration of the hotel and the rooms is truly stunning, the pool, the Spa, the breakfast is delicious. The best choice for a luxury stay in Malaga!
2) Granada (2 days)
It’s time to start the 2nd part of your 5 days stay in Andalucia! Today, you will leave Malaga and head to Granada.
The trip lasts about 1h40. You can rent a car to get there or go by train (the 1h45 ride costs 12€).
Once in Granada here is my recommended itinerary for your first day:
- Discover the interior of San Juan de Dios Basilica
- Visit the cathedral and the royal chapel
- Have lunch on Plaza Bib Rambla
- Go shopping in the surrounding commercial streets
- Stop by the Alcaicera market
- If you want, visit the ancient Arab baths.
- Go up the mirador de San Cristobal or the mirador de San Miguel Alto to watch the sunset.
Spend the night in Granada.
On the following day, you will visit the Alhambra, a must see during your 4-5 days trip to Andalucia!
It’s the most visited tourist site in Spain. Each day, thousands of tourists come to visit this beautiful fortified Moorish palace.
In order to manage the site better, there is a limited amount of tickets sold per day. So it’s essential to book your tickets in advance online here. And when I say in advance, I mean weeks or even months in advance! I’m not joking, if you don’t do it, you may not be able to visit the site.
There are 3 sites to visit in the Alhambra:
- Nasrid palaces
- The Generalife
- The Alcazaba
Make sure that your ticket includes all 3 sites. Some tickets don’t!
The best way to visit the Alhambra is clearly to do a guided visit. It will also allow you to skip the (very long) waiting line! You need to buy your guided tour here.
Visiting the Alhambra will probably take you the whole morning. Afterwards, enjoy your lunch break and then head to the Sacromonte district, the former gipsy neighborhood.
There, you will be able to visit curious troglodyte homes: the cuevas. Nowadays, most of them host flamenco dance shows.
If you want to learn more about the history of this neighborhood, you should visit the Cuevas del Sacromonte museum. Tickets need to be bought here.
After visiting the Sacromonte, let’s go to the other historic neighborhood of Granada: the Albaicin district. They are located right next to each others, so it’s very convenient to visit everything on foot.
Take some time to wander around this authentic and charming neighborhood with its many small shops. It has a kind of Arabic souk vibe!
There are many monuments to check out in the Albaicin district:
- San Nicolas Church
- Dar-al-Horra Palace
- The Corral del Carbon
- The plaza Nueva
- The Santa Ana Church
- The puertas de la Murallas
At the end of the day, a bit before sunset, you should go to San Nicolas mirador and enjoy the view over the Alhambra.
Then, for a typical Andalusian night, go see a flamenco show. As I was saying above, they are taking place in cuevas. The most famous one is La Cueva Los Tarantos.
Los Jardines de Zoraya is also a very popular venue in Granada.
Spend a second night in Granada.
For more information to visit Granada, you should read my detailed guide: The 15 best things to do in Granada.
To visit Granada, I really recommend getting the Granada Card.
It includes most attractions entrance tickets such as the Alhambra, the cathedral and the royal chapel. The great thing is that this 3-days pass also includes free public transports.
It’s clearly the best City Pass!
Where to stay in Granada
- Granada Inn Backpackers: Hostel located 10min away from the Cathedral and 20min from the Alhambra. One bed in a dorm starting from 16€ per night, breakfast included. Best features: the beautiful patio, the location, the very friendly staff.
- Hotel Universal: Located 400m from the Cathedral and 700m from the Albaicin neighborhood. Clean and comfortable double room starting from 65€ per night, breakfast included. What I loved: the friendly staff, the central location close to stores and restaurants. It’s my favorite hotel in Granada for its amazing value for money!
- Granada Five Senses Rooms & Suites: Located on Gran Via avenue, 200m away from the Cathedral. Design and modern room starting from 100€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: the rooftop pool, the rooms decoration, the generous breakfast.
- Alhambra Palace: This 5 stars hotel is located 10min walking from the Alhambra or the Albaicin neighborhood, next to the Carmen de Los Martires garden. Cozy and spacious room starting from 200€, with an additional breakfast for 19€. Its best features: the Moorish-inspired decoration, the splendid view over the Alhambra from the terrace, the overall comfort. It’s my favorite hotel for a romantic gateway in Granada!
- Parador de Granada: This luxury hotel is located within the Alhambra itself! The rooms are a mix of modern design with touches of antiques elements, starting from 420€ per night, with an additional breakfast for 21€. What I loved: The exceptional location, the overall atmosphere, very helpful staff, the restaurant with a view over the Generalife. This is the best hotel for a luxury stay in Granada!
3) Back to Malaga (1 day)
Today is the fifth day of your 4-5 days Andalucia itinerary.
It’s time to go back to Malaga.
Depending on the time of your return flight, you can enjoy the city and/or the beach one last time.
Now you know the best 4-5 days Andalucia itinerary from Malaga!
If you’re staying only 4 days in Andalucia, spend one day less in Malaga.
How to rent a car to visit Andalucia in 4-5 days
If you want to rent a car for your trip, you should use Booking.com Cars website. It’s the one I always use, whether I go to Spain, Sicily, Greece or any country.
It’s my favorite for the 3 following reasons:
- It’s perfect to compare prices between all rental agencies. You can also read customer reviews and make an informed decision.
- If you want to travel with the peace of mind, you can opt for the “full protection” insurance. With it, you’re 100% sure to be fully refunded in case of any damage or even theft. Tested and approved, they have refunded me more than 1200 euros to date!
- Most of the time, you can cancel or modify your booking for free.
And you know the best? They offer the “best price guarantee”: if you find the same car cheaper elsewhere, they will refund you the difference!
If you already know the travel dates of your 4-5 days itinerary in Andalucia, you should book your rental car now to get the best prices. And if you ever change your mind, it’s alright because modifying or cancelling your booking is free.
Click on the button below to compare rental cars prices in Andalucia:
How to go to Andalucia: flight prices
Flight prices to Andalucia vary greatly, so it is a good idea to compare them as soon as possible. To do this, you can use our flight comparator, in partnership with Skyscanner. You will be sure to get the best price!
Renting a boat in Andalucia
If you want to rent a boat for a nice day at sea during your itinerary in Andalucia, you should book it with Samboat.
Motorboats, sailboats, yachts, small boats without a license, with or without a skipper: they simply have the most complete offer for boat rental!
So, what are you waiting for to book your sea trip in Andalusia? 😊
If you have any question to plan your 4-5 days Andalucia itinerary, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments. I will gladly help you!
🚗 Rent a car
🗽 Book entrance tickets and guided visits
🏄 Book your sports activities
🚤 Book your rental boat
🌍 Take a travel insurance
🙎 Book a tour
🚅 Book your train tickets
✈️ Book your flight
Andalusia travel Guides
- Buy the DK Eyewitness Andalusia guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk
- Buy the Lonely Planet Andalusia guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk
- Buy the Rick Steves Snapshot Andalusia guide on Amazon.com
You’re traveling in Andalusia? These articles will help you!
Discover all my articles about Spain: All my articles to help you plan your trip to Spain are listed there.
- Cadiz: The 12 things you must-see in town!
- Cordoba: Top 15 best things to do and must-see attractions
- Granada: Top 15 best things to do
- Malaga: The 15 best places to visit
- Ronda: The 10 best things to do
- Seville: Top 15 best things to do and places to visit
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Discussion15 Comments
Excellent Information
I have 3 nights in Andalucia coming from Lagos Portugal. I have to fly out of Barcelona to get back home in Canada.
Do you think using Seville as a base and doing one long day trip to Granada would be my best itinerary?
I would arrive in Seville at about 1pm and would leave on day 4 to Barcelona so I can quickly see Barcelona for 2 days. Seems to me its either Seville or Malaga as the base. If its Malaga, then Granada is doable but not Seville. Just wondering what you think are the best two places to focus on given my short time.
Thanks
Frank
Hello Frank,
For your itinerary in Andalucia, yes you have 3 choices:
1. Stay 3 nights in Seville: you can visit Seville for 2 days and do a day trip to Cordoba (only 40 minutes away by train).
2. Stay in Malaga: you can visit Malaga, and then Granada as a day trip. You can also go to Ronda or hiking on the Caminito del Rey.
3. Doing Granada as a day trip from Seville is doable too, just not very convenient, as it’s a lot transports and it would be a bit rushed in my opinion. It’s however the only solution if you absolutely want to see the Alhambra of Granada and Seville.
If you don’t plan to come back to Andalucia, and you’re ready to do at least 5 hours of transport, you can do it. Seville and Granada are the 2 must-see cities of the province.
If however you want to come back, it’s better in my opinion to opt for solution 1 or 2.
To help you to decide which cities are the best for you, you can read my articles about Seville, Cordoba, Malaga, Granada y Ronda by clicking on the link below: Visit Andalucia: all the travel guides
And if you need more information about Barcelona, I can help you too. I have wrote an article but it’s unfortunately only in French for now.
Enjoy your trip!
This is one of the best guides Ive read about touring Andalucia. Its comprehensive, detailed and covers all the right spots.
Im visiting Andalucia in october arriving in Malaga.
Id like to go to Ronda, Sevilla, Cadiz, Cordoba & Granada as well. I have 9 days/8 nights to do so which is perfect if I blend your two 4-5 days guide.
However Im having a hard time putting it all together. Can you guide me?
Also will there be time to visit any white villages while driving in between cities?
Thanks so much!!!
Hello Carmela,
Thank you for your kind comment. I’m glad my travel blog is helping you to plan your trip!
For your 9 days in Andalucia, I would suggest you the following itinerary:
– Day 1: Depending on when you will land, you can start to visit the city a bit- Night in Malaga.
– Day 2: Road to Ronda (1h15) – Visit Ronda – Go to Zahara de la Sierra (it’s a beautiful white village – 40 min from Ronda) – Night around Zahara or you can directly go to Seville (1h20)
– Day 3 and day 4: Visit Seville – Stay 2 nights in Seville.
– Day 5: Go to Cordoba and visit the city – Stay one night.
– Day 6 and 7: Go to Granada and visit the city – Stay 2 nights.
– Day 8 and 9: Go to Malaga and visit the city
I haven’t included Cadiz in this itinerary, as I think it would be too much for 9 days. It’s, in my opinion, better to focus on the other cities!
But if you really want to see Cadiz, you can go there the day after Zahara de la Sierra.
Then, after Cadiz, you can go to Seville.
However, this would mean you will have one day less in another place.
It’s up to you.
To plan your visit to the city, I recommend you to read my articles about Malaga, Ronda, Cadiz, Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada. You can find them here (click on the link): Destination Andalucia.
If you have other questions about your trip to Andalucia, don’t hesitate!
Thanks so much!!! for such fast reply! The itinerary looks good. I’ll have to do it counter-clock though, since I need to make a short stop in Nerja first. As I will arrive in Malaga at 10am I will have the first day to stroll around the city so I could take a day off from Malaga and visit Cadiz. However, you are right. I am too inclined into cutting it out in favor of a longer stay and getting more from each city.
Another reason to forgo Cadiz is the chance to visit some of the smaller towns. Ive made a short list of my favorites and they happen to fall in the driving path from one city to the next. For example: Nerja, Frigiliana and Salobreña on my way from Malaga to Granada. Then Priego de Cordoba (for a taste of the best olive oil in the world) and Zuheros on my way to Cordoba. Almodovar del Rio and Ecija or Carmona on my way to Sevilla. Zahara, Olvera and Ronda. And finally Mijas right before getting back to Malaga. Is this doable or too ambitious? How long would you say it takes to visit these small towns? Should I cut them off too?
Sorry for the long post! Will wait for your feedback. Thanks again
Hello Carmela,
Yes, it’s definitely better to avoid Cadiz if you want to add a few villages between the city.
You can easily go to Nerja, Frigiliana and Salobrena on your way to Granada.
Between Granada and Cordoba, if you want to visit Priego and Zuheros, you will not have so much time to visit Cordoba. These small towns are not on the main road, so the journey time quickly adds up.
Between Cordoba and Seville, the best is to do Almodovar + Carmona or Ecija + Carmona, but again, you will have less time to visit Seville, so it’s really as you prefer!
For Zahara, Olvera and Ronda, no problem, it’s doable.
If you want to go to Mijas after Ronda, you will have to take the longer road (2 hours driving instead of 1h30).
So, visiting all these small towns is doable but it will be more tiring as some of them aren’t on the main road. You will spend more time driving, and a lot of them are quite similar (even if all beautiful!)
Enjoy your trip 🙂
Perfect. Will take your advice. Thanks for the input Vincent! And congratulations again for the blog. Looking forward for you to add more destinations!
You’re welcome!
I am really glad my blog is helping you to plan your trip to Andalucia.
I will definitely add more destinations, I already have a lot more in French, translations are just lagging a bit behind. I will do my best 🙂
Enjoy your trip and maybe see you again on the blog!
Hi!
I care for views, gastronomy and meeting locals. I will be arriving to Seville and spending 4 days but want to travel to other parts, maybe for 1 full day or 1 day and a half. Where would you recommend? And any guide tours you recommend?
Hello Kitty,
If you want to do a day trip around Seville during your 4 days in Andalucia, you will have the choice between Cordoba, Cadiz or Ronda.
From Seville, there are guided tours to these 3 cities (click on the link below to see the details and book it):
– Cordoba Full day tour
– Cadiz and Jerez de la Frontera day trip
– Ronda and the white villages – Full day trip from Seville
Enjoy your trip to Andalucia!
Thanks Vincent. Great article, very informative.
Would you recommend going to Marbella at all if staying in Malaga? We’re planning on going during Summer. If so whats your recommendation there apart from just going to the beach?
Many thanks.
Hello,
Thank you! I’m glad that my 4-5 days itinerary in Andalusia helps you organise your stay.
Marbella is only 1 hour’s drive from Malaga, so it’s possible to spend a day there.
But apart from enjoying the beach there’s not much to do or see.
It’s mainly a seaside resort where people come to party at night and go to the beach during the day.
I couldn’t really tell you more about Marbella as I haven’t been there as it’s not really the kind of place and atmosphere I look for when travelling.
Enjoy your trip to Andalusia and Malaga!
Hello,
The itinerary looks amazing! Do you think it would be doable to visit Seville, Cordoba, and Granada (with the possibility of visiting Ronda as well) in 6 days and 5 nights? Would it be possible for you to give a rough itinerary for these places? I would appreciate it so much!
Thank you!
Hello,
For your 6-day itinerary in Andalusia, you can spend 2 days in Seville, 1 day in Cordoba and 2 days in Granada.
On the sixth day, you can return from Granada to Seville.
You can make a diversion to visit Ronda on this day, but only if you have a car (and this will still add 1 hour 20 minutes to your journey).
If you’d like more information on places to visit in Granada and Ronda, you can read my other articles here:
– What the best things to do in Granada?
– What to do in Ronda?
Enjoy your trip to Andalusia!
Thank you so much for this. I will start planning now.
I appreciate it so much!! Very helpful!!!