Andalucía
Spain's southern region, known for the Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita in Córdoba and whitewashed hill towns inland.
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Andalucía is Spain's southern region, with Seville as its capital and coasts on both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. A first trip usually covers Seville, Granada, Córdoba and Málaga, or the Costa del Sol. For close to eight centuries, much of the region was part of Al-Andalus, and its palaces, courtyards and old quarters still show that history.
The two sights to plan around first are the Alhambra, the Nasrid palace complex above Granada, and the Mezquita in Córdoba, a former mosque with a cathedral built inside it. Alhambra entry is timed and tends to sell out in peak months, so book early. Inland, the white hill towns, called pueblos blancos, have narrow streets and views over olive groves. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, because summer heat in the inland cities is intense. Plan at least a week to see the main cities, or choose fewer cities and stay longer in each.
Andalucía in five
- Lock in the Alhambra before the hotelAlhambra tickets are limited, and the Nasrid Palaces can only be entered at the time on your ticket. Check the official release dates, fix your Granada day first, then build the rest of the route around it.Granada travel guide
- Pick two or three bases, not sixSeville, Córdoba and Granada make the classic line, and Málaga is the easiest airport. Every extra base costs half a day in transit, so choose by the evenings you want.Where to stay in Andalucía
- Take high-speed trains between the big citiesSeville to Córdoba takes about 45 minutes by AVE and Córdoba to Málaga about an hour, so Seville to Málaga is about two. Trains beat a rental car for city days; reserve seats ahead for weekends and holidays.Is a Eurail pass worth it?
- Rent a car only for coast and villagesWhite villages and the Cabo de Gata coast are slow by bus. Collect a car at an airport or city edge, and skip it inside Seville and Granada, where parking is scarce.Almería and Cabo de Gata
- Plan sightseeing around midsummer heatInland Andalucía regularly tops 35°C in July and August, and Seville and Córdoba are among the hottest. Spring and autumn suit walking cities; summer works on the coast or with early starts.Best time to visit Andalucía
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Andalucía, the full guide
Seville
- Best for: First trips, history, evenings
- To airport: About 35 min by the EA bus from the airport
- Price band: $$–$$$
- Real Alcázar and the cathedral on foot
- AVE trains to Córdoba and Málaga
- Hottest big city in July and August
Skip if you want a beach on the doorstep.
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Granada
- Best for: Alhambra visits, tapas, walkers
- To airport: Airport bus to the center; Málaga airport by coach
- Price band: $$
- Alhambra tickets decide the schedule
- A free tapa with drinks is a local habit
- Steep lanes in the Albaicín
Skip if stairs and cobbles are a problem.
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Córdoba
- Best for: One-night stops, quiet evenings
- To airport: No airport; AVE from Seville about 45 min
- Price band: $$
- Mezquita and the Jewish quarter close
- Patios and small hotels in old houses
- A late stay beats a rushed day trip
Skip if you want sea or nightlife.
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Málaga
- Best for: Arrivals, beaches, short breaks
- To airport: About 15 min by Cercanías train to the center
- Price band: $$
- Beach, old town and museums together
- AVE to Córdoba and Madrid
- Costa del Sol resorts close by
Skip if you want a small-town Andalucía.
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Cádiz
- Best for: Beach days, seafood, off-route trips
- To airport: Jerez airport about 40 min by road; Seville by train
- Price band: $$
- Old town on a narrow peninsula
- Beaches in town and a short ride away
- Windy days from the Atlantic
Skip if you want big sights and nightlife.
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Things to do in Andalucía
See all attractions in Andalucía
Need to know
- Airport
- Málaga (AGP), Seville (SVQ), Granada (GRX), Almería (LEI)
- Getting there
- AVE from Madrid: Córdoba about 1.75 hr, Seville about 2.5 hr, Málaga about 2.5–3 hr
- Getting around
- AVE and regional trains between cities; buses or a car for villages
- Best base
- Seville, Granada, Córdoba; Málaga for the airport and coast
- Time needed
- 5–7 days for three cities; 10 or more with coast and villages
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryCool, clear
- FebruaryMild, sunny
- MarchOrange blossom
- AprilSpring, Easter
- MayWarm, long days
- JuneHot, dry
- JulyVery hot
- AugustVery hot
- SeptemberHot, easing
- OctoberGolden light
- NovemberCool, quiet
- DecemberChristmas lights
Right now in Andalucía
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
21
- Feels like
- 18°
- Humidity
- 28%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Andalucía
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today25°9°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue22°10°8%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed22°13°20%Wednesday: Fog. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Thu21°10°20%Thursday: Rain. High 21°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Fri21°7°3%Friday: Fog. High 21°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sat24°8°11%Saturday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sun22°16°53%Sunday: Rain. High 22°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 53%.
Updated 06:21 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Córdobaabout 45 min by AVE from SevilleThe Mezquita and old quarter. A night beats a rushed day.Read the guide
- Cádizabout 1.5–2 hours by train from SevilleOcean light, beaches and seafood in an old port town.Read the guide
- Arcos de la Fronteraabout 1 hr by car from SevilleA ridge-top white village. A car makes the loop easy.Read the guide
Before you go to Andalucía
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Rules for Andalucía, checked
- Alhambra tickets are sold online until 11:59pm the day before; the Nasrid Palaces can only be entered at the time printed on your ticket.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
All Andalucía guides
How toDay trips from Málaga: Ronda, Granada, Córdoba, Nerja, Caminito
ItineraryCosta del Sol in 7 days: a route by car, or by train and busItineraryMálaga in 2 days: Alcazaba, Picasso, beach and tapas
When to goBest time to visit Andalucía: month by month, and when to avoid the heat
ItineraryCórdoba in one or two days: a timed plan and when to stay the nightWhen to goBest time to visit the Costa del Sol: month by month for sun and seaWhere to stayWhere to stay in Andalucía: five bases, from Seville to CádizWhere to stayWhere to stay on the Costa del Sol: five bases from Málaga to NerjaHow toMezquita-Catedral tickets: price, free hour, hours and how to visitWhere to stayWhere to stay in Málaga: four bases, from the old town to the beachItineraryAndalucía in 7 days: Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Ronda and MálagaWhere to stayWhere to stay in Córdoba: four bases, from the Judería to the stationAndalucía FAQ
How many days do you need in Andalucía?
Five to seven days cover Seville, Córdoba and Granada at an easy pace. Add three or four for Ronda, the white villages or the coast. Trying to fit six cities in a week costs more in transit than it earns.
What is the best order for Seville, Córdoba and Granada?
Fly into Málaga, take Granada first, then Córdoba, and finish in Seville, or run it in reverse. Córdoba works best as a stop on the rail line between the other two.
Is Andalucía worth visiting in summer?
On the coast, yes. Inland cities are very hot in July and August, so start before 9am, rest from 2pm to 6pm and keep the evenings for streets and dinner. Spring and autumn are easier for sightseeing.
Do you need a car in Andalucía?
Not for the main cities, since trains and buses link them. A car pays off for the white villages, Cabo de Gata and Ronda. Hire for those days only, and skip it inside Seville and Granada.
Which airport is best for Andalucía?
Málaga for the widest choice of flights and fast rail to Córdoba and Seville. Seville suits a route that begins there. Granada and Almería have fewer flights and work for those regions alone.
Do you need to book the Alhambra in advance?
Yes for spring and autumn dates, since tickets are limited and slots fill early. The official site sells online until 11:59pm the day before, but busy days go much sooner. Your Nasrid Palaces slot is fixed to the time on the ticket.