Classic Andalusia Self-Drive: Seville, Cádiz, Ronda, Málaga & Granada - 10 Days

Highlights

• Watch an exciting, authentic flamenco show in Seville
• Walk through the cobbled streets of Cádiz to soak up the history and sample wine
• Drive to numerous white villages and discover charming streets and scenic hikes
• Visit iconic sites like the Alhambra in Granada and the Alcázar in Seville

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Seville, Private Tapas & Flamenco Experience

Welcome to Seville! After picking up your rental car from the airport, you'll drive to your accommodation in the city center. Take some time to settle in, then enjoy a cultural experience with a local private guide, combining tapas and flamenco in Seville. You'll stroll through one of the city's charming neighborhoods, watch an authentic flamenco performance and taste traditional tapas and wine. This activity allows you to dig deep into Spanish culture from the very start.

Flamenco was born in Andalusia, so Seville's historic Jewish Quarter and Triana districts are excellent places to experience a genuine show that locals love. You'll start by strolling through one of the neighborhoods, learning about architecture and history from the Romans, Arabs, Christians, Muslims, and more, ending at an authentic theater for your flamenco show. Afterward, enjoy a typical Spanish evening with new friends, conversation, tapas, and wine at two family-run taverns.

Day 2: Visit Seville's Cathedral & Alcázar, River Cruise, Ancient Bath Experience

In the morning, you'll skip the long lines and join a private guide to visit Seville's most important monuments: Seville Cathedral and the Royal Alcázar. Start at the cathedral (the world's largest Gothic cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and climb the bell tower, La Giralda, for incredible city views. Then head to the Alcázar, a royal palace commissioned for King Peter of Castile, replacing the original Moorish fortress and offering one of the country's best examples of Mudejar architecture.

Next, continue your exploration with a cruise along the Guadalquivir River, viewing some of Seville's monuments and neighborhoods from a unique perspective. This experience allows you to soak in all the city's history and beauty while on an exclusive yacht. The boat offers bar service, but keep in mind that food and drink aren't included in the price. Nevertheless, enjoy relaxing, sipping a drink, and watching the city pass as you sit inside the cozy cabin or outside on the deck.

After a long day, pamper yourself at an ancient baths spa, a relaxing experience inspired by Roman, Greek, and Ottoman bathing traditions. Purifying, relaxing, and rejuvenating spa experiences are central to Spain's history. You can partake in this traditional ritual with a water circuit and sensory experience, soaking in several pools of various temperatures, relaxing in an aromatherapy room, and enjoying an exfoliation, body mask, and massage. 

Day 3: Drive to Cádiz, History, Local Culture & Wine Tasting

Your road trip officially starts today as you drive from Seville to Cádiz. Though the route typically takes about 1.5 hours, we suggest making a few stops to enjoy the scenery and learn more about the local culture. First, you'll pass by the family-owned Luis Pérez Winery, also known as Bodegas Luis Pérez. You can stop to try wines, including indigenous varieties and sherry, and tour the production facilities.

As you continue toward Cádiz, visit the historic city of Jerez de la Frontera, known for its architecture, sherry, and horseriding. The Old Town surrounds an 11th-century Moorish fortress, the Alcázar de Jerez, plus highlights like the Jerez Cathedral and Plaza del Arenal. Learn more about this road trip between Seville and Cádiz here. Once settled into your accommodation, enjoy a historical culture walk in Cádiz. An expert guide will take you through the historic streets, stopping to view monuments, churches, viewpoints, parks, and markets. Before calling it a night, end your walk at a beloved tavern for wine tasting.

Day 4: Drive to Ronda, Private Walk

Continue your road trip and visit a few of Spain's famed white villages, a string of towns stretching across southern Andalusia in the provinces of Málaga and Cádiz. These villages are charming, historical, and cultural, with whitewashed buildings, red rooftops, and narrow twisting streets. This area has many historical influences, including Roman, Visigoth, and Berber, so many of these towns have unique elements, such as caves, cavelike homes, and rock paintings.

The official "Route of the White Villages" passes through 20 towns, so completing the course isn't doable in just one day. You can learn more about how to make the most of your time driving between Cádiz and Ronda. Some possible stopping points include villages like Arcos de la Frontera, Zahara de la Sierra, Olvera, Grazalema, and Setenil de las Bodegas, as you make your way to Ronda.

Day 5: Self-Guided Visit to Ardales

Today, drive to Ardales, a small village and the gateway to the famous Caminito del Rey hiking trail, which you can tackle tomorrow if you choose. Travelers visit Ardales to enjoy cultural aspects and beautiful nature. The historic Old Town sits just below two dramatic buildings atop the hill above the church and Ardales Castle. At the very top, you'll find the hermitage Ermita del Calvario. Surrounding the town are several lakes, reservoirs, river gorges, and mountains, lending the perfect conditions for an active adventure. 

As a self-guided day, you can cater your experience in the village and its surroundings to your interests, whether you want to explore or relax in Ardales, hike, or visit a nearby winery. Upon booking, you'll receive the information you need and a few personalized tips to make the most of your time in the area. 

Day 6: Drive to Málaga via Caminito del Rey, Taste of Málaga Tapas Walk

After breakfast, you'll drive from Ronda to your accommodation in Málaga. The route usually takes 1.5 hours, but if you're looking for an unforgettable active experience, consider hiking the famous Caminito del Rey trail. Translated to "The King's Little Path," it's a narrow track that clings to the cliffs, offering breathtaking views of the El Chorro Gorge and the Gaitanes Dam. It's approximately 4.75 miles (7.7 km) long and takes 4-5 hours to complete.

If you'd rather take it easy, spend some time in the towns and cities lining Spain's Costa del Sol ("Sun Coast"). Some of the best beach towns include Marbella—known for its beach clubs and charming cobbled streets—and Fuengirola, a historical city with the 10th-century Moorish Castillo Sohail. If traveling with your family, you can stop in Benalmádena for its Sealife Aquarium, Benalmádena Butterfly Park, and Tivoli World amusement park. Read more about driving between Ronda and Málaga.

After a fun and active drive, settle into your accommodation and embrace Málaga's food scene with a proper tapear (tapas walk). Tapas are a popular custom in Spain, which brings people out on the street as they enjoy bites of shared food with friends and drinks. With a guide leading the way through Málaga's picturesque and historic center, you'll watch this custom come to life (and enjoy it yourself), revealing Spain's lively and flavorful history.

Day 7: Málaga Historic Walk, Self-Guided Visit to Nerja

In the morning, discover the city with a private walk through Málaga, focusing on its most historic area. With a passionate local guide, you'll explore off-the-beaten-path locales, giving you a well-rounded view of the city. Walk along Larios Street, a pedestrian road known to the locals as "the living room," and visit Atarazanas, the city's primary market. You'll also see Bishop's Square, the 16th-century Catedral de la Encarnación de Málaga, and Teatro Romano. 

In the afternoon, head to another one of Spain's official white villages, but this time you'll stay on the scenic coast. Nerja is a small village with a dramatic presence, thanks to its idyllic beaches, coves, and famous Balcón de Europa observation deck. It's a town that pairs nicely with the mountainous white village of Frigiliana. 

Day 8: Drive to Granada, Evening Walk in the Albaicín Neighborhood

Today is the final drive of your road trip as you make your way from Málaga to Granada. Typically, the journey is only about 1.5 hours, but the route is ideal for those wanting to stop in La Herradura. You can walk along the town's promenade, relax on the sand, or visit the Marina del Este. You can also take a short hike to the nearby Cerro Gordo, a small hill offering panoramic views. If you're interested in diving or snorkeling, you'll find underwater caves nearby, known for unique rock formations and marine life.

Once you arrive in Granada, enjoy a relaxed and informal exploration of the Albaicín district, the city's former Moorish quarter. Your guide will explain how this medieval Islamic "city within a city" has kept its identity in the modern age, storytelling its social history and character. You'll stop at five different viewpoints (many with vistas of the Alhambra palaces), admire churches, enjoy the cobbled streets scented with flowers and gardens, and end with a drink and tapas with your guide.

Day 9: Visit the Alhambra & Generalife Gardens, Granada Wine Tasting

Enjoy a private visit to Granada's Alhambra and Generalife Gardens for your final full day in Spain. A professional guide will cater the tour to your interests and lead you through the thousands of years of history of the Nasrid Dynasty. Walking through palaces, courtyards, halls, chapels, and gardens, your guide will explain how Granada, once the last bastion of Al-Andalus (the Iberian Peninsula under Muslim rule), maintained these landmarks, even when transitioning from the Moors to the Christians.

End the day by sipping local wine varietals in Granada's historic streets. Around the city, you might notice a few hills covered in vines among the olive groves. The region certainly has its fair share of wines, but this tasting also includes a few varieties from other parts of the country. You'll enjoy sips of Andalusian varietals with bites of tapas, such as those adorned with locally grown avocado, mango, cheese, and other specialties. You'll try four types of wine paired with four tasty tapas.

Day 10: Depart Granada

It's time to head to the airport. You'll drive from your accommodation in the city center to Granada International Airport, which usually takes about 30 minutes. Remember to give yourself plenty of time to return your rental car and make it through security. Safe travels!

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