Andalusia Circuit

The Journey

Spain's greatest hits in a single loop. The White Villages around Ronda perched on a gorge, the Alhambra in Granada, and the dramatic Caminito del Rey gorge walk near Málaga. Best done in spring or autumn — summer heat is intense and the crowds are punishing.

Day by Day

Your itinerary

Expand each day to discover the details and imagery of your destination.

1

Seville

The Heart of Andalusia

Arrive in Seville and pick up your car. Spend today on foot: the cathedral and its Giralda tower, the gardens of the Alcázar, and the labyrinthine streets of the Barrio Santa Cruz. Find a tablao for flamenco after dinner — Seville is the place to see it done right.

2

Arcos de la Frontera

The First White Village

Drive east from Seville into the Sierra de Grazalema, stopping first at Arcos de la Frontera — a dazzling white town on a sheer cliff above a river bend. This is the beginning of the Pueblos Blancos route. Continue through the hills toward Ronda.

3

Ronda

The Gorge

Ronda is one of the most dramatic towns in Europe: a city split by a 100-meter-deep gorge, connected by the 18th-century Puente Nuevo bridge. Hemingway came here to watch the bullfights in Spain's oldest bullring. The views from the Tajo gorge are vertiginous and spectacular.

4

Granada

The Alhambra

Drive east through the olive groves to Granada, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. The Alhambra is the most visited monument in Spain — and deserves every visitor. The Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife gardens, the Alcazaba: book tickets months in advance. The Moorish Albaicín quarter surrounds you at dusk.

5

Caminito del Rey

The King's Little Path

Drive south toward Málaga, stopping for the Caminito del Rey — a walkway pinned to the vertical walls of the El Chorro gorge, originally built for hydroelectric workers in 1905. Recently restored and now Spain's most spectacular hike. Two hours through the gorge, then back to the car.

6

Málaga

Mediterranean Farewell

End in Málaga — Picasso's birthplace and one of Spain's most underrated cities. Return your car and spend the last day in the Soho arts district, the Alcazaba, or simply at a café on the Paseo del Parque with a cold glass of mosto.