Katja Samouilhan
Southern Spain has, without a doubt, some of the most beautiful and culturally iconic cities in the world! Just the word Andalusia, or Andalucía (in Spanish) sounds majestically romantic. It’s filled with the fragrance of crisp orange blossoms in the air, the jazz of the footloose and fancy-free flamenco dancers. Enjoying life plays a large role in the Spanish culture, where most refer to it as Mañana Mañana.
What is the best way to see Spain in just one week? Take a road trip and explore the strikingly beautiful Spanish countryside and coastline. Seven days is hardly enough in this glorious country, but one can try! Spain offers some remarkable experiences. Explore cultural highlights, and historic buildings, and bask in the sun for a few days on the pristine beaches.
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Plan an Andalucia itinerary and get amped for a beautiful week in Spain!
Take a Road Trip for 1 Week around Southern Spain
The best way to experience Southern Spain is to hire a car and take a road trip. Traveling by car allows you to see more sights and adds flexibility to your travels.
One of the most logical starting points would be Malaga. Fly into Malaga’s Pablo Picasso Airport, and head off from there.
Malaga is a great place to start your exciting journey around Spain! Finding the best places to visit in southern Spain can be daunting. Spain comprises of three top cities in the Andalusian region: Granada, Cordoba, and Seville, and some famous towns along the way.
Get ready to uncover Spain’s diverse landscape, travel along the Mediterranean coastline, and view a slither of Spain’s mountain chain.
The One Week Itinerary in Southern Spain
- Day 1-2: Costa del Sol (Beaches)
- Day 3: Ronda (White Village Town)
- Day 4-5: Seville (Game of Thrones and Star Wars Location, and Cathedral)
- Day 6: Granada (Nerje)
- Day 7: Granada (The Alhambra and Palaces)
Your 7 Day Andalusia Spain Itinerary
Here is an action packed seven day trip around the best cities in Spain. Be prepared to soak in the Southern sun’s magical scenery and some of Spain’s historic places.
Day One and Two: Costa del Sol Beaches
Costa del Sol is a destination for all beach lovers, with more than 325 days a year of pure, joyous sunshine. This coastal area is perfect for your ultimate beach vacation. Starting from Malaga, you will pass various beaches. Below are some fabulous beaches to bronze your body and quench your soul.
Beaches and things to do around Costa del Sol
- Fuengirola beach is a famous beach for young party-goers and the active crowd
- Marbella beach is known to be a more high-end deluxe beach offering golden sand and turquoise water. Try out their stand-up paddleboard at sunset
- Torremolinos beach is a great place to bring your family and enjoy some hot sunny days
- Benalmadena beach takes the winning bet! Getting your toes sandy on this beach is a must. It is a lot less known, and it will make you feel as if you are on your own Caribbean Island
- On the way to Granada, stopover at Nerje (Maro Beach), it has gem-clear water and glistening sands. An absolute beauty to see. Walk down to Balcón de Europa, Nerja’s seafront promenade, and enjoy the salty Seabreeze
Day Three: Ronda
From Costa del Sol, you will find the quaint, whitewashed village named Ronda, or better known as “Pueblos Bancos” (white hill town). Ronda is dramatically perched at the very top of a cliffside, built above El Tajo gorge.
This delightful town offers cobbled streets and tapas bars. It’s one of the most unique places in the whole of Andalusia. It’s home to Spain’s oldest bullring, where bullfights still occur in the first week of September.
Things To Do in Ronda
- The Old Town in Ronda is a picturesque part of Ronda and is a great attraction to this little town
- Book a Small-group walking tour to see and get the most out of Ronda
- See the valley views from the Plaza de María Auxiladora
- The Puente Nuevo (new bridge) is more than 255 years old and is 100 meters high. It’s a must-see
Day Four and Five: Seville
Seville is the Andalusian capital and home to the famous tapas bars and bullfighting. It also boasts film locations to Game of Thrones (known as Alcazar) and Star Wars films (known as Plaza de España).
Seville is one of the most romantic fairytale-like cities you’ll get to explore around the South of Spain. Seville requires more than just a day to discover its hidden gems.
It’s known to get as hot as hades in the summertime. So visit in winter, or pack a load of sunscreen and a hat you’re happy to wear all day.
The city is made up of quaint, picturesque little streets such as the old Jewish quarter of Santa Cruz. Visit the Alcázar, a magnificent palace listed on UNESCO that is still being used by the Spanish royal family today.
Other historical monuments include the largest Gothic cathedral in the world or see the mighty bullring arena. This soulful, flamenco-flavored city is most definitely an insta-worthy city to sightsee!
Things To Do in Seville
- Plaza De España (Star Wars film location), it has colossal buildings offering mini-canals and bridges, and entrance is free
- Seville Cathedral and Giralda are amazing too see. It’s a part of the UNESCO world heritage site. The world’s largest Gothic cathedral, it took over 100 years to complete
- The Alcazar (meaning castle in Arabic) is also a UNESCO site and is famous for being one of the Games of Thrones film locations. The gardens are magical, and the interior is comprised of ceramic tiles and gold ceilings, they are exquisite! Alcázar Guided Tour with Priority Entrance is a great way to experience this magnificent place
- The Plaza de Toros de La Maestranza – Bullring, is an impressive part of history and is spectacular to see where 14, 000 spectators once sat
- The Santa Cruz neighborhood is another favorite amongst travel goers. It offers narrow cobbled streets and brightly colored houses – a perfect place to enjoy tapas and try some delicious wine. Its also home to the famous Romeo & Juliet balcony
Day Six and Seven: Granada and Alhambra
Granada is one of the most charming Spanish cities and is a favorite for most, situated between the abundant Darro valley. Like Seville, it’s a place you would want to spend more than just a day exploring and would definitely be a perfect place to end a great trip.
Taking a walk down the charismatic Carrera del Darro or old Arabic quarter of Albaicin would be a good start. Granada offers a variety of things to see and do.
The historic city is situated in the mountains, offering phenomenal views and is home to the world-famous Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alhambra is a colossal palace complex and was once home to royalty. Its main attraction is its palaces, fountains, courtyards, and vast greenery of lush gardens. Photographers or social media lover’s dream!
What to do in Granada
- Visit Alhambra and the Nasrid Places, a fantastic experience with beautiful architecture. Book your Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces ticket with an audio guide or a three hour guided tour. When visiting Granada, you will most definitely want to see the Alhambra
- Visit the Granada Cathedral, built in 1523, and part of the Renaissance cathedral in Spain. Granada Cathedral and Madrasah guided walking tours are magnificent for history lovers
- Stop at Albayzin, Spain’s old Moorish quarter, or shop at the Alcaiceria (Mercad) for some souvenirs
- See the San Nicolas Viewpoint overlooking the Alhambra and the Albayzin. It’s best to go at sunset
- You should take a beautiful scenic walk through Carrera del Darro
Start your Southern Spain Trip
Andalusia, Southern Spain region, offers a vast range of adventurous sites and activities for anyone looking for a spectacular and memorable experience.
Whether you’re the fiesta loving dancer, the colorful tapas foodie, the sun-dappled water baby, the insta-lovers, or a laid-back traveler. Anyone looking to immerse themselves in the epitome of Spanish culture, the South of Spain offers all!
Although one week in Spain is merely enough, this itinerary is there to give you the best cities and places to see for your Southern Spain vacation itinerary.
