Anyone done a trip around Andalucia?

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Pauliej

Well-known member
I know their has been various posts over the years about the different areas but has anyone done a trip and stayed at a few places?
We are looking at doing this next year and the early plan is to fly into Malaga airport, coach to Granada for three nights, train to Cordoba for three nights, train to Ronda for three nights then head to Benalmadena for five nights to finish off.
I know people will recommend driving but I'm not confident driving abroad but would do so at a push.
Any information or advice will be greatly appreciated as this is one we want to tick off our bucket list next year. We've stayed in Granada before and definitely want to revisit that place if we can.
 
borolad259 said:
Spend time in Malaga itself... a good 2 or 3 days, and dispense with Benalmadena. Otherwise sounds like a nice trip. Three nights in Ronda is probably more than you will need.
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Thanks mate, we've already done Malaga hence leaving it out. The Benalmadena part was to down tools and just have some time in the sun to finish off. Happy to do that anywhere along the Costa del sol though.
 
Pauliej said:
Thanks mate, we've already done Malaga hence leaving it out. The Benalmadena part was to down tools and just have some time in the sun to finish off. Happy to do that anywhere along the Costa del sol though.
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That whole stretch from Torremolinos through Benalmadena and down to Fuengirola is the pits - chavvy Brit central.

If you want somewhere nice to down tools I’d recommend Nerja …… though I’d still recommend staying in Malaga city
 
In late June we did 2 nights in Granada , 2 nights in Antequera , 2 nights in Seville and 1 in ronda followed by a week in Estepona . Loved it all.

Antequera was a less popular gem which we loved , truly loved Seville , very hot but so green , really loved it there and Estepona old town and nearby beaches were great , really family feel with people on the beaches till dark and lovely old town streets .

Loved it all
 
Thanks Malaguena, appreciate the advice.
Taking everything on board before we put the itinerary together. How easy is it to get back from Nerja to Malaga airport as the flight home is really early on the morning. Thats one of the reasons for heading back to Benalmadena for easy access to the airport.
 
Granada, Cordoba, Seville, Malaga. I’d disagree re Torremolinos to Fuengirola being the pits, there’s some nice stops along the way, but each to their own. That said, I’ve heard Nerja which is the other side of Malaga is lovely.
 
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The Spanish trains are great. We flew Ryanair Teesside to Malaga in June and used the trains to get to Cordoba and Seville. We only stayed one night in Malaga but we'll definitely return and stay longer, it's a lovely city. Cordoba was lovely too but 2 days was enough for us to see everything we wanted.
 
spanishman said:
So many people forget that Almería province exists. It is also part of Andalucía. As is Jaén.
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We're out of the way though aren't we? I can understand why people don't come compared to the good transport links to the places @Pauliej mentioned. And they are all great places too. I can't get enough of Córdoba and Granada
 
JaenBoro said:
We're out of the way though aren't we? I can understand why people don't come compared to the good transport links to the places @Pauliej mentioned. And they are all great places too. I can't get enough of Córdoba and Granada
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All being well the train issues within Andalucía from Almería are going to be improved a lot within 2-3 years.

With better connections to the rest of Europe by then or reasonably soon after that. Depending on completion of work on the north east coast of Spain.

Not sure of what is planned for Jaén province.
 
Have a look at the climate stats for various parts of Andalucía. If you are planning a trip for any time other than the summer.

As it is a big area with variable climate over the year. Particularly in the winter months.

Generally better than the UK. However it is not great in some parts of the year. Particularly winter. Also sometimes in spring and autumn as well. Depending on where you go.
 
We did a trip around Andalucia early this year, flew to Malaga then drove, we had three nights in Malaga and will go back it was fantastic. Didn’t go to Granada (we’d planned a day there) but wasted the previous day driving down the coast, didn’t like it, though Estapona was nice. Called at Cordoba, beautiful place, could easy spend three nights there. Went down to Valencia for a few nights, again fantastic. Went across to Huelva, nah, think Darlo by the sea, so jacked that and drove to Tavira in Portugal, lovely. All round a great trip and I’d do it again any time.
 
Pauliej said:
Thanks Malaguena, appreciate the advice.
Taking everything on board before we put the itinerary together. How easy is it to get back from Nerja to Malaga airport as the flight home is really early on the morning. Thats one of the reasons for heading back to Benalmadena for easy access to the airport.
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I’d respectfully disagree with B-Man - Torre down to Fuengirola is definitely the pits but as said, depends what you want - you may miss Irish Pubs, Fish and Chips and loud and lary drunken Brits

Nerja is gorgeous - early morning flight would mean a pre-booked taxi - about 70€ last time we did it many moons ago - or you could get the bus the evening before and stay over at the Holiday Inn Express at the airport or even a hotel in the centre of Malaga - the Don Curro is central, decent, and reasonably priced.
 
spanishman said:
So many people forget that Almería province exists. It is also part of Andalucía. As is Jaén.
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I think because compared to Malaga, Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba, etc, there’s not a lot there and not as many options for getting there.

Edit - just seen Jaen’s post basically saying exactly this
 
JaenBoro said:
We're out of the way though aren't we? I can understand why people don't come compared to the good transport links to the places @Pauliej mentioned. And they are all great places too. I can't get enough of Córdoba and Granada
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Weird isn’t it - I’m distinctly underwhelmed by Granada - a small city totally and utterly focussed on ferrying people to and from the Alhambra.
 
To add to my above post Paulij I drive pretty much half the year abroad and outside the cities Anadalucia is easy, but inside Valencia, Cordoba and Malaga is a nightmare. One way streets one car wide, if you’re not confident maybe taxis and trains.
 
Malaguena said:
I’d respectfully disagree with B-Man - Torre down to Fuengirola is definitely the pits but as said, depends what you want - you may miss Irish Pubs, Fish and Chips and loud and lary drunken Brits
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It is a big urban sprawl radiating out from Málaga along the coast, but I never been until a few years ago and I enjoyed it, the difference for me is I'm comfortable around Spanish people, I can have simple conversations and usually end up making holiday friendships with the Spanish staff and Spanish tourists I meet so I end up avoiding to a large degree the British places, wether they have chavs or up market Brits, I prefer it that way, so for me that coastal zone feels very Spanish.

To go back to the OP, I spent a week in Cordoba, a week in the Alparrajas and a few days around Almeria and the Caba de Gata coast particularly before they started building on it @25 years ago. Granda is a good shout, but don't forget your are two hours by public transport to Mt Mulhacen in the Sierra Nevada, and it is accessible from village of Trevelez, it worth going there for the road s that lead there through white washed villages in a sea of green in the Alparrajas and the roads which go back and forth as you overlook down from the heights.
Cordoba is very charming and more sedate and traditional, I like it. Málaga is on of the cities of the EU that is booming, when I used to go around 2000, it was cutthroat central but now it is very gentrified and there is a lot going on.
 
exeterboro said:
It is a big urban sprawl radiating out from Málaga along the coast, but I never been until a few years ago and I enjoyed it, the difference for me is I'm comfortable around Spanish people, I can have simple conversations and usually end up making holiday friendships with the Spanish staff and Spanish tourists I meet so I end up avoiding to a large degree the British places, wether they have chavs or up market Brits, I prefer it that way, so for me that coastal zone feels very Spanish.

To go back to the OP, I spent a week in Cordoba, a week in the Alparrajas and a few days around Almeria and the Caba de Gata coast particularly before they started building on it @25 years ago. Granda is a good shout, but don't forget your are two hours by public transport to Mt Mulhacen in the Sierra Nevada, and it is accessible from village of Trevelez, it worth going there for the road s that lead there through white washed villages in a sea of green in the Alparrajas and the roads which go back and forth as you overlook down from the heights.
Cordoba is very charming and more sedate and traditional, I like it. Málaga is on of the cities of the EU that is booming, when I used to go around 2000, it was cutthroat central but now it is very gentrified and there is a lot going on.
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Before covid we did lots of day trips to the Alpujarras. To the parts in both Granada and Almería provinces. The area is really beautiful. With lots of interesting small towns.

There are low land areas that are good. If you do not like driving on narrow roads that are high up.

I used to like driving over the top of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Then driving back home on the dual carriageway that goes from Guadix to Almeria.

There is a ski resort in the mountains in the winter.

Another good drive in Granada province is the one from Motril on the coast. Up towards Granada. Some great views and some nice small towns to call in to.

Also look out for bodegas you can go to for visits.

I will have to try visiting the Alpujarras again soon.
 
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