In the South of Spain, also known as the region of Andalusia/Andalucia, there is a vibrant region full of charming towns and beautiful landscapes. You can enjoy flamenco performances, a dance that was born in the region; Moorish architecture; mountain views; beaches; and Spanish cuisine-all in this area. An Andalusia road trip is a wonderful way to explore the South of Spain and see all that it has to offer!

A one week Spain itinerary will be jam-packed with highlights but be enough for everything.  We could tour Andalusia for another week and still not get to it all. With that said, here are the best things to do on a 7 day-South of Spain Itinerary.

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Andalusia Road Trip Itinerary

Day 1-Arrival in Malaga

We flew in and out of Malaga airport (AGP), it seemed to have the best connections when we were looking. You can also look into flying into Seville, Jerez, Granada, or Almeria. Malaga is the largest and has the most options for flights, but depending on where you are coming from you may be able to find a better deal flying into one of the other airports.

Once you arrive in Malaga there are many options for things to do. You can simply wander the town; head to one of the nearby beaches like Magalueta; spend time in the park; visit the Picasso Museum; tour the Alcazaba, a Moorish palace; or head up to Castillo Gibralfaro for a great view over the city.

Malaga is a great family destination in Spain. Just outside of Malaga is a SEAlife aquarium, Tivoli World amusement park (check the schedule-its not open daily in the off-season), Selwo Marina (a dolphin and sea life park), and Aqualand (a waterpark). 

One of the best parts of traveling is sampling the local food scene, but when my husband and I see a Mexican restaurant in Europe with good reviews, we can’t help ourselves but to try it! We enjoyed tacos at Nina Bonita. Make sure to order the guacamole if you go!

Ending the day with ice cream is always a good idea. A local recommended us to go to Casa Mira for ice cream typical to Malaga.

Where to Stay in Malaga

We liked being centralling located in Malaga, close enough to walk to the park or to the waterfront. Here are some suggestions:

• 1 Bedroom Apartment in central Malaga

• Tandem Suites upscale apartment style hotel

• 2 Bedroom Apartment with A/C in a central location

• Hotel with family rooms available and a rooftop pool

• Luxury Boutique Hotel with family rooms available

Day 2-Drive to Granada

Distance from Malaga to Granada: 149 km (93 mi)

Driving Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Granada in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. You might be surprised to see snow-capped peaks just beyond the palm trees of Granada. It is quite a sight! Because of it’s proximity to the mountains, the climate is also different here. You should expect to need a few more layers than you need at the coast.

Spend some time wandering some of the different neighborhoods and go see Plaza Bib-Rambla with its fountain in the middle. Just down a few alleyways is the impressive Granada Cathedral. 

For a full guide to Granada, read this!

On your first evening in Granada, plan to make your way through the Albaicin neighborhood to catch the sunset at Mirador de San Nicolas which gives you an astounding view of the Alhambra with the mountains just behind it.

This viewpoint is no secret, plan to be there with lots of other people, but the views are worth it! Attend a flamenco show for a fun evening of entertainment after the sun goes down. Flamenco in Spain should not be missed, it is truly a beautiful experience.

While it may be a little harder for kids to stay up late for the show, I wouldn’t hesitate to bring kids. I have seen kids in the audience each time that I have gone to a show.

Where to Stay in Granada

The neighborhoods in central Granada are cozy, bustling, and full of Michelin star restaurants and tapas bars. You can also stay in the hills with a little more breathing room, quiet, and closer to the Alhambra.

• Hotel with family rooms and a pool near the Alhambra

• Apartments in the Albacin neighborhood near the best view point in Granada

• 3 Bedroom House with excellent balcony view of the Alhambra

• Boutique Hotel with family suites and a rooftop pool

Day 3-The Alhambra

No Andalusia road trip is complete without visiting the Alhambra, a UNESCO world heritage site and sprawling Moorish palace that was also home to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. This is also the place where the royal couple gave Christopher Columbus his endorsement for his expedition.

Ideally, you will arrive when the palace opens for your best chance of lower crowds and happy attitudes if you are with children. There is so much to explore here, you will have to decide how much your group can manage.

The can’t miss part here is the Nasrid palace which requires a timed ticket to enter. Kids will likely enjoy the gardens and Generalife areas the most. Without a doubt, this is one of the best places to visit in Southern Spain.

Booking a guided tour is one way to get tickets to the Nasrid Palace if the tickets are sold out for your dates. Your guide will also provide you with more understanding and details about the history of the palace and the architecture.

You could spend your entire day at the Alhambra. If you are traveling without kids, take your time and enjoy. If you have kids with you, you may need to keep it to half a day to keep them happy.

We took our children to the Parque de las Ciencias in the afternoon as a reward for being good-ish at Alhambra in the morning. It was a bit of a struggle to get through the palace with them, but I hope that your kids will tolerate it more than mine did that morning!

Parque de las Ciencias is one of the best things to do in Spain with kids! We spent the whole afternoon here and still didn’t see it all. There is a large indoor exhibition area as well as an extensive outdoor area.

Our kids loved all the hands-on exhibits, live animals, and outdoor play. The highlight for us was the birds of prey show where we got to see many different birds flying, diving, and walking around the audience. If you’re in Granada with kids, you shouldn’t miss this place! Even if your group is adults only, you would have a great time visiting.

Day 4-Drive to Seville

Distance from Granada to Seville: 248 km, 154 mi

Driving Time: 2 hours 40 min

One of the most beautiful places to visit in Spain is Seville, the capital of this region. Seville oozes charm and character. One of my favorite things to do here was to wander the streets admiring the colorful buildings and decorative doors. 

For a full guide on Seville, including where to eat and where to stay, read this!

For your first evening in Seville, visit Metropol Parasol just before sunset. Metropol Parasol or “Las Setas” is a modern-looking structure built in 2011 by a German architect. Take the elevator to the top and enjoy panoramic views of Seville. There is a small restaurant at the top where you can grab a pizza and some drinks and watch the sun go down.

It is such an interesting piece of architecture and makes for some really interesting photos. It almost feels like you’re in a Dr. Seuss book. Visiting at sunset will not only be beautiful but will also help your group from being under the beating Spanish sun. There’s not much shade up there!

Where to Stay in Seville

• 1 Bedroom Apartment centrally located

• 3 Bedroom Townhouse, this one is so beautiful

• Hotel Fernando III with family suites and a pool

• Old Spanish style hotel with pool-another gorgeous property

Day 5-Real Alcazar

Another UNESCO World Heritage site and Moorish palace is on tap for Day 5, but I promise you won’t be bored of it after visiting Alhambra. Real Alcazar is just as stunning and is equally and intriguing. The upper floors of this palace are still used by the Spanish Royal family as their official residence in Seville.

You might recognize parts of this palace from the movies Lawrence of Arabia and Kingdom of Heaven and from the show Game of Thrones. All of them had scenes shot here. The palace has expansive gardens with many colorfully tiled nooks and fountains. Keep your eye out for peacocks wandering the property as well! You can also book a guided tour to lead you through the property and explain the history.

This is the most popular spot in Seville, so your best chance for uncrowded photos is to visit when the palace opens in the morning. No matter how early you get there, expect to see a line of people already waiting.

When visiting Andalusia with kids, we found it helpful to visit a kid-oriented place in the afternoons after we visited a place geared more toward adults. So after a morning at the Alcazar, we walked to the aquarium.

The Seville Aquarium is along the riverfront and follows Magellan’s journey around the world to show you the different types of sea life he encountered on his journey. The aquarium is small enough that you can complete your visit in about an hour/hour and a half. I wouldn’t say it is a must visit by any means, but it works well for a kid-friendly place to go.

What I would’ve rather done is a tapas food tour so we could go around sampling tapas and learning about Spanish culture and food!

Day 6-Cathedral and Plaza de España

Seville’s cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and boasts La Giralda, a 343-foot bell tower and former minaret from the Mosque that formerly sat on this site. Buying a ticket in advance is a must for visiting, and even then you may expect to wait in line to enter the cathedral.

After visiting the cathedral, walk over to Plaza de España to see this half-mile long grand architectural centerpiece to the city. You will be in awe over the expanse, the colorfully painted tile work, decorative mosaics of every province of Spain, and the canal that runs through it. You can even rent a boat to cruise the waterway. Star Wars fans may recognize it as the City of Theed. You can also find live music and flamenco performances.

Though you can see flamenco performers for free in the Plaza, there is something more dramatic and special about watching a flamenco show in a more intimate venue.

The Plaza is adjacent to Maria Luisa Park, a great place for strolling and playing. You can also take a carriage ride starting in the plaza and going through the park. 

Make some time for treating yourself and the kids to churros! You’ve earned this treat after making it to the end of a week in Andalusia!

Day 7-Departure From Malaga

Distance from Seville to Malaga: 207 km, 129 mi

Driving Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

Make your way back to Malaga to fly home. If you have time before your flight you can squeeze in more of the Malaga sights mentioned earlier. Malaga is a large airport, allow time to get through check-in and security.

If you have lounge access, the lounge in Terminal 3 is great! It’s large, has areas for kids to play, and plenty of food options.

If you have more time to explore the region consider visiting Cordoba, Ronda, or Gibraltar.

This region could also easily add on to a trip to Lisbon, the Algarve, and Morocco. 

Best Time to Visit Southern Spain

Southern Spain is a perfect destination in Spring or Fall. We visited at the end of October and we had sunny days for the whole week with very comfortable temperatures. Seville was the warmest destination with daytime temperatures in the 70’s all day. We never needed jackets.

Granada was much cooler, even cold in the morning. We definitely needed coats for the mornings and when the sun went down, but nothing too heavy. Malaga was very mild and we only needed a light sweater in the mornings and evenings. 

I would highly recommend you do not visit this region in July and August! Temperatures in Seville can be easily over 100 degrees during the day and only cool down to the mid 90’s at night. Visiting these spots would be near unbearable in heat like that. Granada would be more tolerable, but still with high temperatures and high summer crowds I think it’s best to choose another time of year. 

If you must go in summer, do yourself a favor and bring one of these little fans with you.

The winter in Andalusia is known to be mild but can be rainy. Therefore I think the best times to visit Andalusia are September-October and April-June. Be sure to keep in mind religious holidays like Easter, as well as national holidays when you are planning your visit. Holidays can affect business’ opening hours, crowds, and hotel prices.

Transportation in Southern Spain

Travel in Southern Spain by Car

Renting a car is my preferred method of getting around to different places with kids in tow. I like the flexibility self-driving allows for your schedule. It is easier to manage if you are having a late morning or want to adjust your itinerary slightly.

Parking was a challenge in each city. Streets are very narrow, sometimes precariously so. It was difficult to find a parking garage close to our apartment in Seville, so we had to park the car with hazard lights on and drop me off with the luggage while my husband parked the car. Parking was also not cheap at roughly 20 Euros a night. This could be mitigated by staying at hotels with parking included but we opted to stay in apartments.

Driving between each city was easy, the autovias (freeways) were easy to navigate and well constructed. We came across one toll during our week there. It was less than 3.50 and we were able to pay by card. Remember also to keep your speed down. There were several signs for speed cameras on the autovia. Nothing sours a vacation like getting a speeding ticket!

The final expense of renting a car is fuel. We filled up one time at 75 Euros. Don’t forget, fuel is more expensive in Europe than in the US!

Train Travel in Southern Spain

This region is well connected by rail and it is possible to do this southern Spain itinerary by train. I would encourage you to do the math to compare taking the train versus renting a car or taking the bus. Don’t forget to compare the duration of the different train journeys because some tickets take longer than others. 

Children under 4 can travel free, but can not occupy a seat. So if you want your 4-year-old to have a seat, you will need to buy them a ticket at a 40% discounted rate from the adult ticket.

You can use Trainline to compare fares and purchase tickets.

When you arrive in each city, you will then need to figure out how to get from each train station to your accommodation, so factor that in when you are deciding on the best mode of transportation for your trip. In Spain you are required to use a car seat for babies, you will not be allowed in a taxi without one.

Travel by Bus in Southern Spain

It is also possible to travel the region by bus. The tickets are generally cheaper than train tickets however, the time can be significantly longer. You can compare routes and fares at Omio. 

Southern Spain FAQ

What is the currency in Spain?

Spain uses the Euro. Most businesses we came across accepted credit cards but it is always wise to have cash on hand. When paying with a card if you are given to option to have it charged in Euros or your country’s currency, choose Euros. You will get a better rate on the conversion.

We never use a currency exchange either. We simply pull money out of an ATM. Make sure you know your bank’s policy on International Transaction Fees and ATM fees.

Is Southern Spain safe?

Yes! We found each place to be very safe. Always keep an eye and close hand on your bags when you are at the top tourist sights, as that is where pickpockets are known to prey. 

Do I need to be able to speak Spanish?

As with any place, knowing a few keywords and phrases in the local language helps. In most places we went, we were able to communicate in English or by using our limited high school Spanish skills. With the help of Google translate, you should be fine even if you don’t speak any Spanish.

Should I bring a stroller?

Yes! In most places we went we were able to use our umbrella stroller easily. You can not take a stroller into the Alhambra, so you should also bring a baby carrier if possible or be prepared to have children walk. 

What about Siesta time? Will I be able to find a place to eat?

Siesta is an afternoon/evening period where many places close down for a few hours. Even though we did see many restaurants closed during the 4:00-7:00 window, we were always able to find a place that was open in order to get something to eat.

When traveling with small children it is important to keep this time frame in mind and plan accordingly so you don’t end up with hungry kids melting down. Either have snacks on hand or make sure you know the hours of restaurants you’d like to eat at.

If you’re looking for more help on planning a trip to Andalusia, check out this website with tons of information on Spain.

Europe Travel Quick Tips:

• Get your eSIM with Airalo for the easiest way to have data while traveling abroad.

• Compare train routes and tickets with Omio to find the best deals.

• Get your rental car here for the most flexibility in your travel. Driving in these countries is easy and nothing to worry about.

Our family had a wonderful time visiting Southern Spain. We would’ve loved to have more time in order to visit some of the other nearby places like Cordoba, Ronda, Gibralter, and Nerja. That’s always the dilemma of travel it seems-there’s never enough time! I have no doubt we will be back to explore Andalusia again.

Please let me know if you have any questions or if you have any hidden gems to share from your travels in the region!

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