Southern Spain – Andalusia – 8 day Itinerary
When one thinks about Spain they think about the beautiful beaches. Southern part of Spain has not only beautiful beaches but also great architecture to see. It’s doable to do 1 week in Southern part of Spain but ofcourse there’s lot more things to do in Spain and it’s not justifiable to visit the entire country within a week.
If this is your first time visiting Spain then this 8 days itinerary will give you a wide variety of things to do from Moorish architecture to beaches, and will definitely spark your interest to come back for more.
Day Itinerary in Andalusia, Spain
Things to see
Malaga – 1 day
Seville – 2 days
Córdoba – 1 day
Granada – 2 days
Nerja – 1 day
Beaches on the south of Malaga – 1 day
Days 1 – Malaga
This is the capital city of Costa Del Sol region and most likely you will land here if you are coming from Europe/UK since it’s very accessible through flights from Europe/UK. The city is beautiful with a lovely promenade to walk in the evenings.
Malaga is best known for its most famous artist and sculpturist Pablo Picasso.
Places not to miss in Malaga :
- Alcazaba
- Malaga Cathedral
- Castillo de Gibralfaro
- Puerto de Malaga (For evening stroll)
- Museo Picasso Malaga (Optional depending on the interest)
Day 2 & 3 – Seville
Seville is famous city where you will see beautiful architecture, monuments and flamenco. This was the Muslim capital of Spain back in the time, hence today it serves as a rich cultural centre.
Places not to miss in Seville :
- Plaza de España
- Real Alcazar de Sevilla
- Catedral de Sevilla
- Torre Giralda
- Barrio Santa Cruz and Triana (Neighbourhoods which are good to walk-by)
- Bullring of Sevilla (Optional if you like bullfights)
- Go for a Flamenco show
Days 4- Córdoba
Córdoba is a historic city that was both a Roman city and an Islamic center. It is also one of the hottest cities to visit in Spain during the summer months.
Places not to miss in Córdoba :
- Mosque Cathedral
- Roman Bridge and Bridge Gate
- Alcázar fortress of the Christian Monarchs
Days 5 & 6 – Granada
Granada has lot of Moorish flavour, as it was the last city to be reconquered by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492. At the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, between the rivers Darro and Genil, lies one of the most interesting cities in eastern Andalusia.
Granada’s neighbourhoods Albaicin and Sacromonte are UNESCO World heritage sites and they have interesting houses built out of caves.
Places not to miss in Granada :
- The Alhambra
- Royal Cathedral of Granada
- Mirador de San Nicolas (Viewpoint)
- Generalife
- Nasrid Palaces
- Walk around Albaicin and Sacromonte (UNESCO World Heritage Sites)
- Cave Flamenco show
Day 7 – Nerja
Nerja is a small town between Malaga and Granada. This is famous for it’s beaches featuring activities like water skiing, scuba diving and sailing.
Things to do in Nerja :
- Sea Kayaking/ Stand-up paddle in Burriana Beach
- Relax along the beach
- Cueva de Nerja
If you are going back from Malaga again back home, you can follow the route from Nerja to Malaga and do a complete loop. If you have time like we did, you can explore more beaches to the south of Malaga.
Day 8 – Costa Del Sol Beaches
Beaches to visit 30-45 minutes away from Malaga :
- Playa de Carvajal
- Playa Rincón del Sol
- Arroyo de la Miel Beach
Best Time to Visit Southern Spain
The best time to visit southern visit is April – May, since post June the weather gets really hot. We had visited during July which was hot and temperatures were from 35-40 degrees Celsius. The positive side of it is that it was not full of tourists and a good weather to swim.
How to Get Around Southern Spain
Between the cities there are public transports like buses and trains frequently available and affordable to travel, but the best way to visit Southern Spain would be to rent a car and drive across because it’s convenient and one can get to explore more neighbourhoods and beaches if they are driving.
So, is Southern Spain worth visiting? Si, señor!
