How To Road Trip Southern Spain | Perfect 14-day Itinerary

Spain
Written By Lesley Stewart

Southern Spain: a place where orange trees shade the sidewalk, white hilltop villages gleam in the mid-day sun, and vibrant cities meet sandy beaches. The beating heart of Southern Spain, and it’s best part, is undoubtedly Andalusia – a region of striking contrasts, diverse landscapes, and wonderful people. Below you’ll find the ultimate Southern Spain itinerary, easily adapted for seven, 10, or 14 days.

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A Southern Spain road trip.

What started as an innocent hunt for early spring sunshine was, it turned out, the start of a Spanish love affair; unexpected and instant, Southern Spain would become a strong contender for the perfect European road trip and no itinerary in Spain is complete without a visit to this extraordinary province.

Much like the northeast’s golden coast, the beaches and resorts are often the main focus for travellers coming to the south of Spain.

Yet, it quickly became apparent there is far more to see, do, explore, and experience in Southern Spain than its (admittedly beautiful) beaches and seductive seafront hotels.

In reality, a Southern Spain road trip is a journey into strikingly different worlds; rural mountain villages contrast with cosmopolitan cities like Malaga and Cordoba, which are distinctively different from the buzzy beach resorts of the coast.

The best part of Southern Spain is undoubtedly Andalusia, the country's second-largest region and the south's heart and soul.

Centuries of history and ancient civilisations have left an indelible mark here and much of the culture we associate with Spain - flamenco, bullfighting, cuisine - originates from Andalusia; as such this itinerary focuses on this incredible region.

But with so much to see, planning the perfect Southern Spain itinerary is no easy feat, and the biggest challenge is choosing destinations from a very long list of incredible places.

That is what I hope this itinerary will help you explore – Southern Spain’s highlights:

The Alhambra, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture with exquisitely beautiful carvings; Casares, one of the most famous hilltop pueblos blancos; the Caminito del Rey, a thrilling walkway through acres of mountains and plunging valleys; the Puente Nuevo bridge, a spectacular site in Ronda; and Sevilla, the masterpiece of Andalusia and one of the most remarkable cities you’ll ever visit. 

This guide is designed to take you on a journey through the best of Southern Spain - and help you plan a truly incredible road trip.

 

Two-Week Southern Spain Itinerary | Route + Map

The Southern Spain itinerary below is the route I recommend the most to travel around Andalusia’s highlights. Starting and ending in the historic city of Malaga, which has direct flights from multiple UK airports, we’ll make an anticlockwise loop with options for day trips and excursions. Then head east, along the coast, towards our final stop.

Here’s how I would spend 14 days road tripping around Southern Spain:

  • Stop 1: First, arrive in Malaga and spend the day exploring the old town and port. There are heaps of tapas bars to enjoy, clustered around the historic quarter and cathedral. While the port promenade leads to a lively area full of modern bars and restaurants.

  • Stop 2: Then you have a choice: head west for the sun-soaked towns of the Costa del Sol and enjoy a lazy day on the beach: Benalmadena, Estepona, and the chic beaches of Marbella beckon.

  • Stop 3: Or take a day trip from Malaga to the Caminito del Rey - once Spain’s most dangerous walk; these days, it’s an easy 7km hike high in the jagged peaks and sweeping gorges around El Chorro.

  • Stop 4: Next, head north into the mountains and explore the scenic white villages (or pueblos blancos) that Andalusia is famous for, including charming Casares and Gaucin.

    After the rural mountains, it's all about historic cities. Visit all, or choose from, these spectacular options:

  • Stop 5: Ronda

  • Stop 6: Cordoba

  • Stop 7: Sevilla

  • Stop 8: Jerez

  • Stop 9: Before returning to the sea and the coastal town of Cadiz on the West Coast, spend a few days enjoying the beach scene and laid-back vibes.

  • Stop 10: Visit Vejer de la Frontera, one of Spain’s prettiest villages.

  • Stop 11: Or stay on the coast and head to windsurfing mecca Tarifa.

  • Stops 12 + 13: Depending on how much time you have, complete the loop and head directly to Malaga. Or extend your trip along the coast to beautiful Nerja and Frigiliana.

  • Stop 14: From there, it’s a reasonably short drive north to Granada before returning to Malaga and the airport.

 

Southern Spain Map

 

Destination One | Malaga

Visit: Old town, Alcazaba, Gibralfaro Castle, Playa la Malagueta, Malaga Cathedral, and the port area.

Stay:

Destination Two | Costa del Sol beaches + coastal towns

Options: Estepona, Benalmadena, Marbella, and Colomares Castle.

Stay:

Destination Three | Caminito del Rey

Visit: Caminito del Rey walkway, El Chorro, and Ardales. Nearby, the historic and stunning town of Antequera is also worth a visit.

Stay: Complejo Turístico La Garganta (mountain views + pool, my top Caminito hotel).

Destination Four | Pueblos Blancos

Visit: Casares and Gaucin

Stay:

Destination Five | Ronda

Visit: There’s so much to see in Ronda, but the highlights are most definitely Puente Nuevo bridge, Jardines De Cuenca, Puente Viejo, La Casa del Rey Moro, Museo del Vino de Ronda, and Mirador de Ronda. Nearby, the white, cave village Setenil de la Bodegas is also worth a visit.

Stay:

Destination Six | Cordoba

Visit: Mesquita, Puente Romano, Baños del Alcázar Califal, Alcázar de los Reyes, Puerta del Puente

Stay:

Destination Seven | Sevilla

Visit: Seville Cathedral, Royal Alcázar, Jardines del Alcázar, Plaza Espana, Plaza del Cabildo, and Puerta del León

Stay:

Destination Eight | Jerez de la Frontera

Visit: Alcázar de Jerez, Jerez Cathedral, Tio Pepe sherry bodega, Plaza del Arenal, and nearby white villages Arcos de la Frontera and Zahara de la Sierra.

Stay:

Destination Nine | Cadiz

Visit: Cadiz Cathedral, Teatro Roman ruins, Plaza de las Flores, and Mirador Playa de las Mujeres. Nearby, the city of El Puerto de Santa Maria is worth a visit for its gastronomic scene.

Stay:

Destination Ten | Costa de la Luz beaches + coastal towns

Visit: Costa de la Luz coastal towns: El Palmar, Los Caños de Meca, Chipiona, and Tarifa.

Stay:

Destination Eleven | Vejer de la Frontera

Visit: Castillo de Vejer, El Jardín del Califa, Arcos de la Judería, Puerta de la Villa, and Plaza de España.

Stay:

Destination Twelve | Nerja

Visit: Balcón de Europa, Playa de la Calahonda, Playa el Salón, and Mirador de Chanquete.

Stay:

 

Read next: Nerja Travel Guide + Beaches

 

Destination Thirteen | Frigiliana

Visit: Palacio de los Condes, historic centre, historic steps, and panoramic viewpoint.

Stay:

Destination Fourteen | Granada

Visit: The Alhambra, Generalife, Carrera del Darro, Albaicin, and Sacromonte.

Stay:

Adding a “things to do” list for each of the above places made this itinerary WAY too long and somewhat unmanageable! So, I’ve included the highlights and absolute must-visits for each location. However, you can find each destination and read more about its best parts in this Southern Spain + Andalusia highlights post (coming soon).

Southern Spain Itinerary | Planning + Useful Tips

Whether you’re planning a self-drive road trip, or holiday with day trips, here are are some practical tips that I found the most useful for getting around Andalusia:

  • Getting around Southern Spain

Unless you’ve driven over from the UK, you’ll need to rent a car for your time in Southern Spain. Some main cities are accessible by train; however, public transport generally doesn’t connect the smaller coastal towns and mountain villages.

The best option is to rent a car, which allows you to explore independently. Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com are great companies that allow you to compare multiple car rental companies across various locations and book in advance.

  • Can I base myself somewhere and take day trips?

While the best way to experience Southern Spain is by road trip, the other amazing option is to choose a base of operations; day trips and tours mean less driving and less hotel hopping.

If that appeals to you, use this itinerary to plan trips (whether self-drive or organised) to the destinations listed below.

Personally, I would choose either Malaga or Seville as a base - each city has beautiful hotels, excellent public transport links to the rest of Spain, and highly rated bookable tours like the options below:

Powered by GetYourGuide
 

  • How much time do I need for a Southern Spain road trip?

The second largest region in Spain, Andalusia covers a vast area, and as such, there is a considerable amount to explore.

The most important questions to ask yourself when planning a Southern Spain itinerary are: how much time do I want on the beach? How much time do I want to spend in the mountains/hiking days? How much time do I want to spend in the cities?

So, while the itinerary below is fourteen days, which is the right amount of time to see a little of all these destinations, you could easily extend it to three weeks. This is especially perfect if you want to explore less hurriedly and add more city, mountain, or beach time to the itinerary.

Similarly, you can adapt this itinerary to seven or ten days, with cuts to beaches or cities. For example, you can visit only three of the five historic towns of Seville, Jerez, Cadiz, Granada, and Cordoba. Or focus on the area around the Costa del Sol and take day trips to the closest locations, such as Ronda, charming Casares, and Frigiliana.

As a note, the main attraction in Granada is the Alhambra, but if you’re not drawn to the Moorish palace, this section can easily be removed.

I’ve spent six months exploring Andalusia over three trips, and I recommend adding as many days to your itinerary as possible. Much like the northeast coast, this region is a treasure trove of magical destinations, and there is something to suit every travel style.

  • When to visit Southern Spain

There’s no wrong time to visit Southern Spain, but consider the weather and crowds. In summer, the mercury soars, and it’s scorching. This is especially true inland, in cities like Sevilla and Cordoba, where August temperatures regularly reach an unbearable 40°C / 104 °F.

In comparison, Andalusia generally has wonderfully warm, sunny days during the winter months. Though there’s a slight chance of rain and, in my experience, it’s cold at night, winter in Southern Spain is a beautiful season of orange trees, lunch al fresco, peaceful wanders, and days on the beach.

Having taken a road trip through Andalusia in summer and winter, I recommend the shoulder seasons, March through June and September to October. Weather aside, the crowds are also fewer, and getting tickets to major attractions such as the Alhambra and Caminito is far easier.

  • Banks and ATMs

Always carry a little spare cash (Euros) with you, as small businesses tend to prefer this, though most are happy to take card payments. Free ATMs can be difficult to find in mountain villages but are readily available across most other parts of Andalusia.

In Spain, the best ATM with no fees is Unicaja, which is your best option for withdrawing cash from the bank.

  • Finally, Learn a Little Spanish

As many of Southern Spain’s major towns are tourist hotspots, English is widely spoken in restaurants and hotels. However, I recommend brushing up on your basic Spanish to help you get by.

Plus, not everyone in the less touristed or rural villages is guaranteed to speak English, so know how to say please and thank you and order essentials, like your favourite drink.

 

Best of Southern Spain: 14-Day Itinerary

That’s a wrap on my best of Southern Spain itinerary! I hope this guide to Southern Spain and it’s most iconic region, Andalusia, helps you plan a perfect trip. Having travelled around this magical area, I think 14-days is the ideal length of time to see the best parts of the area.

If you only have a week, I would stay on the coast and focus on day trips to the historic cities. And if you have three weeks, extend your time and spend more time between the beach, mountains, and towns.

For those looking to spend more time in Southern Spain, make sure to check out my best places to visit in Andalusia.

 
 
Lesley Stewart

Lesley is a travel writer, content creator, and blogger from Scotland. She specialises in slow travel stories, champions remarkable stays, eateries, and activities, and showcases small, independent businesses wherever possible.

https://www.wandersomewhere.com/
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