The 9 things to do in Andalusia

Are you going to visit Andalusia for your holidays and don’t know what to do? Here's our top 10 things to do in Andalusia!

What to do in Andalusia? Here's a nice question that has been tagging you since you booked your flight to Seville or Malaga. Andalusia is one of the nineteen autonomous communities located south of Spain. Bordered by the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, it enjoys a dream climate: it is one of the hottest regions in Europe. So what about Andalusia? Here is our top 10 of the must-see to visit Andalusia.

1. Cordoba

A forced passage to Cordoba is the Córdoba mosque-cathedrale – the ancient capital of the Córdoba califate, which has run almost all the Iberian Peninsula from the 8th to the 15th centuries -, which has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Inside, it contains 856 columns in the form of white and red arcades. Don’t miss photographing the famous Roman Pont – the vestige of the Roman Empire – and going to many festivities: the Holy Week (Passions), the Carnival, the Batalla de las Flores , Cruces de Mayo , Patios de Córdoba (May), the guitar festival (July) and the day of Saint Rafael (24 October).

2. Seville

Warm, colourful, romantic and sensual, Seville is one of the jewels of the region. Andalusian capital and impregnated by the Roman, Muslim, Jewish and Christian cultures, it is a point of passage for anyone who comes to visit Andalusia. L’ Alcázar – to UNESCO’s heritage – is a set of palaces, patios and lush gardens. It is a crossroads of civilizations, mixing the almohade, mudéjar, gothic, Renaissance and baroque arts. Not to miss Cathedral of Seville and Plaza de España . Finish on the flamenco shows that take place throughout the year. On the road between Seville and Granada, try the detour by the village of Marinaleda, a commune representing a left social experience based on self-management and direct democracy, since 1979 and the end of the Franco dictatorship.

3. Grenada

Famous for its rich culture and history, Granada – Granada – has crossed the Roman, Moorish, Christian and Jewish cultures. De Sacromonte – the gypsy quarter – at the Albaicin - , the streets of Granada offer their visitors a testimony of the Time that passes to open sky. Of course. Palais de l’Alhambra is the uncontournable city for you who will visit Andalusia. This is the most visited monument in Spain. You can walk in the gardens of the Generalife. Join the Costa Tropical in Almuñecar, with its subtropical climate, bathed by a sea with turquoise waters.

4. Malaga

Famous seaside resort between Almería and Gibraltar, Malaga is a destination for sun and beach lovers but it is also a cultural and gastronomic city. Visit it Pablo Picasso Museum and Cultural Centre Pompidou . But above all, the Alcazaba, a medieval fortress built on the ancient Roman amphitheatre, in the historic center of Malaga. From the walls of the Gibralfaro , enjoy a splendid view of the city and the port and savor them tapas in the city centre: at the top 4 of the impossible to visit Andalusia.

5. Cadiz

Cadiz is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe, founded by the Phoenicians, which houses archaeological remains of more than 3,100 years. Rock in the middle of the sea, it looks like it’s a platform off-shore . It is a renowned destination for the hospitality of its residents, its flowered places, its architecture, its wall falling to peak in the ocean and its old town. If you visit Andalusia in February, don’t miss the carnival. To be seen in Cadiz: the new cathedral of Cadiz, the castle of Santa Catalina, the ramparts and the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville.

6. Ronda

What to do in Andalusia? This small village between the Natural Park of the Sierra de Grazalema and the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park will solve this question. This beautiful village is split in two by the Pont-Neuf – Ponte Nuevo – stirring a steep gorge, and delimiting the old town on one side and the modern city on the other. Ronda is built on a hole at 700 meters high, which gives a spectacular and breathtaking landscape.

7. Marbella

If you’re rather amateur of relaxation and, to visit Andalusia, you want to put your luggage and stroll under the sun, then aim the sublime beaches of Marbella . The dunes on the side of Cabopino beach – also known as the dunes of Artola – are a vast area protected from the wind, and where the sea is quieter than elsewhere. It rests peacefully between beach and pine forest, refreshing in crystal clear and shallow waters: the dulce vida !

8. Jerez de la Frontera

If you like riding, Jerez de la Frontera – not far from Cadix – will fill your passion: the province of Jerez works to preserve traditional baroque riding. You can visit the Andalusian Royal School of Equestrian Art and attend equestrian dance shows: a good combination of dressage and Spanish music. Another must to visit Andalusia is a wine getaway in Jerez de la Frontera. Jerez counts dozens of wineries – in Puerto de Santa Maria too – where you can taste wines loaded with sugar and gorgés of sun. Here we cultivate grapes almost religiously, it has been an institution for generations.

9. Huelva and Doñana National Park

Doñana National Park is one of the largest protected natural sites in Europe. Just that! Just tell you that visiting Andalusia without going would be like visiting Rome without seeing the Colosseum or the Sistine Chapel! The Park is located in Huelva province, west of the Andalusian coast. It has been classified as the world heritage of humanity since 1994. More than 500,000 birds of water come to winter each year, but 300 species of vertebrates and crustaceans also live there. There are pink flamingos, imperial eagles (about 15 couples), chameleons, deer, daims, mangotes, crabs. The park is the last habitat of the most rare and endangered feline of the planet: the lynx of Spain, or the pardelle lynx. This Iberian lynx may be, in a short time, the first feline to disappear from the Earth's surface for 10,000 years.

How to get to Andalusia?

Malaga airport is the main gateway to Andalusia, followed by Seville and Jerez de la Frontera airports. The airports in Granada and Almeria mainly provide national flights and host only a few international companies. To find cheap flights to Andalusia, you can search our partner’s website Ulysses .

Where to stay in Andalusia?

To discover the region of Andalusia in Spain, you will need to stay in different cities. You can house in Seville , to Grenada , Malaga or Marbella . You can find a cheap hotel in Andalusia by searching for this Compare hotels .