How to spend 10 days in Andalucia?

You’re planning to visit Andalucia in 10 days? Great idea!

In order to help you plan your trip, I have prepared for a you a 10 days itinerary in Andalucia. During your stay, you will discover the best places to visit of this beautiful Spain region such as Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Malaga and Ronda.

In addition to the must-see attractions, I will also give you all my best tips as well as a list of the best accommodations depending on your budget.

So, what are the best things to do in 9, 10 or 11 days in Andalucia?

1) Seville (2 days)

To visit Andalucia in 9-10 days, the best is to take a flight to Seville, the Andalusian capital.

It’s very easy to visit Seville on foot or with public transportation, but you will need to rent a car for the rest of your trip to Andalucia. You have 2 choices:

1. Get a rental car right away when you will arrive in Seville
2. Get the car only in the morning of the next part of your trip, when you will go to Cordoba.

Either way, to book your rental car, the best is to use Booking.com Cars website. It’s the one I always use for the following reasons:

• You can directly compare prices and reviews of all rental agencies in Seville.
• It’s very often free to modify or cancel your booking
• Their full protection insurance will cover you in case of accident, theft or anything that can happen to your car. You are sure to be 100% refunded in case of a problem.
• And last but not least, they have the “best price warranty”: if you find a similar car cheaper somewhere else, they will refund you the price difference. It’s clearly the easiest way to get the best price!

If you already know your travel dates for your 10 days itinerary in Andalusia, book your car rental now to get the best prices.

Click on the button below to compare car rental prices:

Now, let’s start your 9 or 10 days trip to Andalucia!

First, reach your hotel by car or by bus. The airport bus leaves every 30min and the trip lasts about 40min to the city center (one way costs 4€).

For this first day in Seville, you should start with the visit of the city’s most emblematic monument: Seville Cathedral.

To avoid waiting in line (sometimes for a few hours!), I strongly advice you to buy skip the line tickets in advance online. There are several kinds of visits available:

• A standard skip the line ticket to visit the cathedral and the Giralda.
• A 90min guided tour of the monument + Giralda.
• The Seville City pass: The best option if you also want to visit the Alcazar of Seville. With it, you can also take the hop-on hop-off tourist bus, which stops in front of every attraction of the city. It’s very convenient!

Another option that doesn’t require any early booking is to go first to the “Iglesia Colegial San Salvadore” (“Church of the Divine Saviour” in English). It’s located 10min walking from the cathedral and opens at 11:00.

There, you can buy a combined ticket that includes the cathedral. You’ll be able to skip the whole line and enjoy your visit of the Seville cathedral without waiting!

After you exit the cathedral, I recommend planning your day as follow:

• Pass by the General Archive of the Indies, located right next to the cathedral. Entrance is free and the inside of the building is worth a look.
• Take a walk in Santa Cruz neighborhood, the historical district where the cathedral is located. Don’t hesitate to go to the “plaza patio de Banderas”, you will get a great view over the cathedral.
• Lunch break in that same area. You’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants.
• Discover the stunning Plaza de España. You will be blown away by its size and architecture! It was one of my favorite place during my 10 days road trip in Andalucia.
• Go for a stroll in Maria Luisa park, located next to the square. It’s a great spot to get some fresh air and calm. If you still have time, head to the Plaza America, at the southern edge of the park. There are 2 museums there: the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of popular Arts and Traditions.
• And to end your day in style, enjoy some tapas and sangria!

The day after, let’s continue to explore Seville

Here are the best things to do in Seville on your second day:

• Visit the Alcazar of Seville. It’s the second must see attraction of the city and it’s located right next to the cathedral. There is usually a long waiting line there as well, 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.
• Lunch break
• Go visit the Casa de Pilatos, in the Santa Cruz neighborhood. This is a lovely villa with a large patio and beautiful (small) gardens.
• Take a stroll in Seville, around the Guadalquivir river, the Torre de Oro and Triana district for example. Another option is to take a refreshing break at your hotel pool (if you are lucky enough to have one!).
• At the end of the day, head to the Metropol Parasol to enjoy one of the best scenic view over Seville and look at the sunset.

Spend one last night in Seville.

For more information about the best things to do in Seville, you should check out our article: The 15 best places to visit in Seville.

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!

2) Cordoba (1 day)

For the second part of this 9-10 days tour in Andalucia, let’s take your car and go to Cordoba (1h40 drive from Seville).

Once you will arrive, head to the city’s emblematic monument: the mosque-cathedral of Cordoba. This church is famous for its singular mix of architectural styles. The numerous red and white columns and arches contribute to the unique atmosphere. It’s a real paradise for photographers!

To avoid waiting in line, you can get your tickets directly at the automatic machines at the entrance or book a guided tour here. If you want to go up the minaret, you will need to pay an extra 2€.

Note that if you have purchased the Andalusia Pass I told you about a bit earlier, a guided tour is already included.

By the time you’ll be done with the visit, it will probably be time for lunch. I recommend going to one of the 2 biggest squares in the city: la plaza de las Tendillas and la Plaza corredera.

There, you can find many restaurants, coffee shops and ice-cream shops. To enjoy both squares, you can eat at one for lunch and at the other one for dinner.

You’ll see, they’re completely different!

In the afternoon, go for a stroll along the Guadalquivir river.

You will see the Puerta del Puente and the Roman bridge, as well as the Calahorra tower, located on the opposite bank.

From this side, the scenic view over the mosque and the Alcazar is really worth it. And for an even better view, you can go to the top of the tower.

Last but not least, end your day with the visit of the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos. It has stunning shaded gardens, flowered alleys, splendid flower beds and fountains. I personally found them way more beautiful and better maintained than the Alcazar of Seville gardens.

Spend the night in Cordoba.

You can find all the detailed information to visit Cordoba in my article: The 15 best things to do in Cordoba.

Where to stay in Cordoba

• Option Be: Hostel located in the district of Judería. Bed in dormitory from 22€, breakfast included. The positive aspects of this brand new hostel: perfect staff welcome, comfortable bed, very clean, outdoor pool and great location.
• Ayre Hotel Cordoba: Located within a 10 minute drive from the center of Cordoba, at the center of a beautiful and quiet garden. Room with classic decoration but very spacious from 61€, breakfast 10€. The best: quiet location, large outdoor pool and free parking. We love to be far from the crowds and the city.
• Hotel Boutique Caireles: Located in front of the Mosque of Cordoba, right in the historic district. Modern and bright room from 67€ breakfast included. The best: the view of the Mezquita from the rooms, the kindness of the staff who also speaks French. My favorite for its great value for money!
  
• Eurostars palace: Located on the paseo de la victoria, within a 5 minute walk from the entrance of Judería and Mezquita. Huge room and very good design from 110€ per night, breakfast at 14€. The best: good geographical location, swimming pool on the roof. The best choice in Cordoba for an affordable luxury stay!
  

3) Granada (3 days)

Let’s continue your 10 days trip in Andalucia – It’s time to go to Granada!

As going to Granada will take you about 2h20, it’s best to leave quite early in the day.

Here is my recommended itinerary for your first day in town:

• Visit the Basilica of San Juan de Dios and its impressive golden interior.
• Then go explore the cathedral and the royal chapel, 2 must-see attractions in Granada
• Have lunch on Plaza Bib Rambla
• Go to Alcaiceria market and in the surrounding commercial streets for shopping.
• Stop by “El Bañuelo”, the ancient Arab baths. The ones in Granada are the best preserved of Andalucia.
• Go up the mirador de San Cristobal or the mirador de San Miguel Alto to watch the sunset.

Spend the night in Granada.

For your 2nd day in town, it’s time to go visit Granada’s must see attraction: the Alhambra! As it’s a very large site, it’s best to go there as early as possible. Plan the whole morning for the visit.

The Alhambra is the most visited tourist site in Spain and there is a limited amount of tickets sold per day. It’s essential to book your tickets weeks or even months before your 9, 10 or 11 days road trip in Andalucia.

When booking, make sure that your ticket includes these 3 sites:

• Nasrid palaces
• The Generalife
• The Alcazaba

The best way to enjoy the visit is to take a guided tour. To visit the Alhambra with a guide and without waiting in line at the entrance, buy your entrance tickets here.

The Andalusia Pass (click here), which includes a visit to the Alcázar of Seville and a guided tour of the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, also offers a skip the line ticket to visit the Alhambra of Granada.

When you exit the Alhambra, you can have your lunch break before heading to Sacromonte district. In this gipsy neighborhood, you will find several troglodyte homes also called “cuevas“. Nowadays, most of them host flamenco dance shows.

You can learn more about the history of this neighborhood and the cuevas at the Cuevas del Sacromonte museum. You need to book your tickets here.

After the Sacromonte, continue your day in the other historic neighborhood of Granada, the Albaicin district. This former Arab neighborhood is authentic and very charming, with lots of small shops.

There are also many monuments to check out in the area:

• San Nicolas Church
• Dar-al-Horra Palace
• The Corral del Carbon
• The plaza Nueva
• The Santa Ana Church
• The puertas de la Murallas

Today, you should go watch the sunset from San Nicolas mirador. It’s the most famous sunset spot in the city with its great view over the Alhambra.

In the evening, you should go to a flamenco show. La Cueva Los Tarantos or los Jardines de Zoraya are among the most famous shows in Granada.

Spend one last night in Granada.

You’re planning to visit Granada during your trip to Andalusia? Have a look at my detailed article: The 15 best things to do in Granada.

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!
  

4) Malaga (2 days)

New day, new city! For the 4th part of your 10 days tour in Andalucia, let’s head to Malaga, the Costa del Sol capital.

The city is located at 1h30 drive from Granada.

Start your day at the castle of Gibralfaro. You’ll have the opportunity to get a first taste of Malaga with one of the most beautiful scenic view over the city, the sea and sometimes even the Strait of Gilbratar.

Then, go down to the Alcazaba, the second main tourist attraction in Malaga. Take a stroll in the stunning gardens of this fortified palace and enjoy the patios and fountains. The view over the sea and the port is breathtaking.

After you exit the Alcazaba, you’ll come across the Roman theater located right next to it. Entrance is free so why not check it out?

If you would like to take a guided tour of the Alcazaba and Roman theater, I recommend this 1h30 tour. Book your tour here!

After this busy morning, you deserve a lunch break.

Malaga, with about 30 museums, is known to be the cultural center of Andalucia. So let’s visit one of them in the afternoon!

You have plenty of choices:

• Picasso Birthplace Museum (get you tickets here): The legendary artist was born there 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 artist
• Carmen Thyssen Museum with its extensive collection of Spanish and Andalusian paintings
• Centre Pompidou Malaga, is a branch of the famous Centre Pompidou in Paris
• Russian Art Museum offers a collection of Russian art pieces in an old tobacco factory
• Museo de Malaga
• Flamenco Art Museum
• Automobile Museum Malaga and its 85 perfectly renovated vintage cars.

Before or after your visit to the museum (depending on the location of the one you chose), you should stop by Malaga Cathedral to see its interior. You can also go to the top of the 87 meter high tower and enjoy a 360° scenic view.

And to end the day in style, go take a dip at La Malagueta beach, the closest to Malaga’s city center. It will be one of the only few occasions you’ll have to enjoy the beach during this 10-11 days trip to Andalucia!

For your last day in Malaga, I recommend you a few different options:

First, You can stay in Malaga. In that case, here are a few suggestions of things to do in the city:

• Visit another museum
• Go to the Atarazanas market to buy local delicacies: cheese, cold cuts and more!
• Have lunch in one of the market’s tapas bar
• Take a walk in the Soho neighborhood to discover the street art on the walls and facades
• At the end of the afternoon, head to the Botanical Garden, one of the largest tropical and subtropical garden in Spain and even Europe. As it’s quite far from the city center, you will need take the bus #2 until the end of the line, and then walk for 15min to reach the entrance.

Your 2nd option is to go on a day trip and enjoy the Andalusian nature. Here are my 2 favorite places to visit around the city:

• The Montes de Malaga Natural park, 25km north of the city. It’s very simple to go there with your rental car. There, you can go on several easy short hikes or have fun on one of the 2 mountain bike trails available.
• The Caminito del Rey Path: the perfect choice if you’re feeling more adventurous! This hiking trail is on the mountainside, 100m above the ground. And don’t even think about walking back halfway, it’s a one-way path. You can hike with a guide but you’ll need to book a few weeks in advance. It needs to be booked here.

The last option is to enjoy the beach a bit more during these 9 or 10 days in Andalucia. Take your car and drive to Marbella, 1 hour driving away. This trendy coastal resort on the Costa del Sol offers 20km of beaches to relax and enjoy the sun.

Spend one last night in Malaga.

For more information about Malaga and its surroundings, you should read my article: The 15 best things to do in Malaga.

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!

5) Ronda / Arcos de la Frontera (2 days)

Your 10 days trip to Andalucia will know take you to the beautiful village of Ronda, located 1h30 away from Malaga.

Built on the top of a promontory rock that had been carved by the Guadalevín river over the centuries, Ronda offers numerous scenic views over the surroundings. The most famous is for sure the spectacular view on the very photogenic bridge above the river that connects the old and the new parts of the village.

Ronda is nowadays one of the most touristic village in Andalucia.

For a detailed description of the places to visit in Ronda, you should read my article: How to visit Ronda in a day?

After visiting the town, let’s continue to explore the region by taking the Route of the White Villages of Andalucia. It connects Ronda to Arcos de la Frontera.

As the name suggests, you’ll cross several villages with whitewashed houses, very often built on mountainsides.

I recommend stopping by in Zahara de la Sierra, for sure one of the most beautiful villages!

From Zahara, allow another hour of driving to reach Arcos de la Frontera. You’ll sleep there for the next 2 nights.

The day after, let’s go to the Sierra de Grazalema Natural park, only 30min away from Arcos.

The park offers several hiking paths of different difficulty levels.

There are multiple entrances to the site. The closest one from Arcos is located in “El Bosque” village. Stop by the visitor center to check which paths are available at that time of the year. Some may be closed to the public because of fire hazard.

We chose the “El Rio majaceite” hike, a very easy 4 hours round trip hike. The path goes through the forest and along the river, 90% in the shade. You can also freshen up in the water. It’s really a very nice hike to do during hot weather.

A quick tip: Don’t forget to bring enough water!

After the hike and if you still have energy, why not go explore the village of Arcos a bit?

You’ll just have to follow the “Ruta Monumental” (“Monuments Route” in English) on foot to see the main buildings such as a few churches and a castle. There are also bars and restaurant along the way.

Spend another night in Arcos.

Where to stay in Arcos de la Frontera

• Bed and Breakfast El fogon del Duende: An excellent choice of accommodation in Arcos. Double room from 45€. per night. The best budget choice!
• Hôtel Los Olivos: Located in Arcos historic center, in typically Andalusian house. Comfortable double room from 90€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: the view from the rooftop terrace, the breakfast and the very kind staff.
• Parador de Arcos de la Frontera: Also located in Arcos historic center, large and quite double room from 120€ per night, breakfast at 17€. Strong points: the great view on the the Andalusian countryside, the traditional house, the best location. Looking for a more high-end place to stay in Arcos? This is the best hotel!

6) Back to Seville (1 day)

Here we are, this is the last part of this 10 days road trip in Andalucia. So unfortunately, it means that’s the end of your holidays!

Leave Arcos and drive back to Seville, 1h30 away. Depending on your return flight time, you can enjoy the city a bit more.

Now you know everything about the best things to do in Andalucia in 10 days!

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 need help to plan your 10 days itinerary in Andalucia, don’t hesitate to ask me your questions in the comments section below.

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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