Andalucia is a region in the south of Spain. It is a region of contrasts: ancient cities and deserts, amazing beaches along the Costa del Sol and Costa de la Luz and the Sierra Nevada mountain range where the highest mountain in Spain is found and also the most southerly ski resort in Europe.
Andalucia encompasses an area of 87,268 km2 with a population of just under 8 million people. It spans almost the entire south of Spain and is bordered to the west by Portugal. To the south in the Province of Cádiz at the very tip of Spain lies the British colony of Gibraltar where it is separate from North Africa by just a few miles.
Understand
Andalucia has a rich Moorish heritage, including many fantastic examples of Moorish architecture which were built during the eight centuries when Andalucia was the centre of the Arab population in the Iberian peninsular. The Moorish rule effectively ended in 1492AD when the Christians recaptured Granada.
Nowaday, the region is a very popular tourist destination with a lot of British and German package holidayers coming to stay in the concrete resorts on the Costa del Sol. But if you stay away from the concrete resorts you will find lots of culture, amazing scenery and great food.
Malaga has the third biggest international airport in Spain, which a lot of discount airlines fly to. From Malaga, the A-7 E-15 motorway runs westwards along the coast to Gibraltar and eastwards to Almeria and beyond. To head north from Malaga, the A-45 motorway runs to Cordoba.
By train
Spain's railway network isn't as developed as those of many other European countries, but Algeciras, Almeria, Cadiz, Granada, Huelva, Jaen, Malaga, Cordoba and Sevilla are all served by regular train services. Some of the other smaller towns are served by less frequent services, see individual city guides for further details. For more info, see the .
Traveling around
Alsina Graells provides bus services around Andalucia. Timetables and ticket booking available at the website.
See
Moorish architecture in Granada, including the Alhambra
Lake Negratin is situated at the foothills of Mount Jabalcón. As one of Europes largest lakes, it really is worth seeing not least for the most magnificent lunar-landscape that surrounds it. I would liken the rock formations and the colours it produces during different times of the day to those of the Grand Canyon. There is a manmade beach where you can laze the day away, a number of restaurants dotted round the lake and on a nice day you can swim or take out a pedalo boat, which might lead you to pink flamingos and various other wildlife.
Seron is nestled on the lower slopes of the Sierra de los Filabres and is a picturesque town that cascades down the hillside. Dominated by its Castle, which sits at the very top, Seron is famous for its ham and provides a more traditional experience of Andalucian life. It is a beautiful location to start your exploration of the Filabres, or visit at the right time of year and you might find yourself submerged in a vibrant fiesta.
Las Menas, an old mining village abandoned thirty years ago, makes an interesting stop in the Sierra de los Filabres. You can investigate old ruins crumbling amidst the most breathtaking countryside, stop for coffee and cake at the hotel and even camp for the night.
Things to do
Long clean beaches on the Costa del Sol and the Costa del Luz
Walking and hiking in the Sierra Nevada
ANDAVENTUR GRANADA ADVENTURE COMPANY ; outdoor sports in the Sierra Nevada National park and Granada province, Tandem paraglider flights, Canyoning, Hiking, Ski, Rock Climbing, Horse riding...
SKI SCHOOL in Sierra Nevada ski resort
Rock Climbing Company, +34 952 742 962 / +44 (0)1492 641430, High quality rock climbing and scrambling courses in Andalucia. Courses based in Malaga province both on the coast and also inland near to the El Chorro gorge.
Horse riding and Spain go hand-in-hand and with such spectacular mountain ranges at your disposal as the Sierra Nevada and Alpujarra Hills; you have a feast of beautiful Andalucian trekking land to indulge in astride your faithful friend. There are several stables situated in these areas and all offer the option to ride for an hour, a day or even as long as 7 nights. Accommodation and food are included in prices and the whole experience offers a truly magical and unique way to see this amazing part of Spain. Prices vary from 25 to 1200 EUROS and there are so many options to choose from that you will undoubtedly find something to suit your level and requirements.
Walking and cycling holidays in rural Andalucia
Flamenco is the all-Andlusian art with a history stretching back over 3,000 years. The Museo del Baile Flamenco (Flamenco Dance Museum) is the ideal place to learn more about this phenomenon. Shows are offered on Friday and Saturday nights at 19:30, too. www.museoflamenco.com
Sleep
Altiplano Tipis (Altiplano Tipis) , +34 664835417, Canada SoSal 18800 Baza, Spain, Altiplano Tipis is a boutique accommodation offering where guests can experience eco-glamping (glamorous camping!) in a tipi or stay in a cave dwelling studio in the rugged, unspoilt countryside of Andalusia
Talk
Andalucian, Castilian, English,etc...
Safety
Generally very safe; take usual precautions,especially in some parts of Algeciras, Malaga, Seville, etc...
Provinces
Andalucia is divided into eight provinces, each having the same name as its respective provincial capital city.
Almería - seen in dozens of movies
Cádiz
Córdoba
Granada
Huelva
Jaén
Málaga - includes Costa del Sol
Sevilla
Contact & location
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Globe-trotter, Anthony Keane, Peter Fitzgerald, Peter Wilton, Hotels Combined, David Cross, Wandering, phil, Terence, Tim Sandell, Ryan Holliday, Jonny Erixon, Daniel Cowan, Colin Jensen, Evan Prodromou and Yann Forget, VolkovBot, Cacahuate, Morph, Andaventur, Episteme, Pz-engl, Hypatia, Allyak, Huttite, Sjc196 and Nils
This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at View full credits
Andalucia is a region in the south of Spain. It is a region of contrasts: ancient cities and deserts, amazing beaches along the Costa del Sol and Costa de la Luz and the Sierra Nevada mountain range where the highest mountain in Spain is found and also the most southerly ski resort in Europe.
Andalucia encompasses an area of 87,268 km2 with a population of just under 8 million people. It spans almost the entire south of Spain and is bordered to the west by Portugal. To the south in the Province of Cádiz at the very tip of Spain lies the British colony of Gibraltar where it is separate from North Africa by just a few miles.
Understand
Andalucia has a rich Moorish heritage, including many fantastic examples of Moorish architecture which were built during the eight centuries when Andalucia was the centre of the Arab population in the Iberian peninsular. The Moorish rule effectively ended in 1492AD when the Christians recaptured Granada.
Nowaday, the region is a very popular tourist destination with a lot of British and German package holidayers coming to stay in the concrete resorts on the Costa del Sol. But if you stay away from the concrete resorts you will find lots of culture, amazing scenery and great food.
Cities
Algeciras - gateway to Morocco
Cádiz - oldest city in Western Europe
Córdoba
Granada
Jerez de la Frontera
Malaga - a large harbour city
Marbella - Costa del Sol
Mijas
Ronda
Seville - the heart of flamenco and the capital and largest city of Andalucia
Tarifa - Ayuntamiento/Town Hall
Pitres
Santa Bárbara de casa
Other destinations
Sierra Nevada - the highest mountains in the Iberian Peninsula.
Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park
La Alpujarra - a mountainous district south of the Sierra Nevada.
La Axarchía - area north-east of Málaga, recently 'discovered.'
Alhama de Granada - an old spa village above a gorge.
Baza National Park - 53,649 hectares of Natural Park.
Doñana National Park - UNESCO World Heritage Site
Getting there
Major airports: Seville(Sevilla), Malaga, Almeria, Jerez de la Frontera.
By car
The main road routes into Andalucia are
The E-1 A-49 from the Algarve (Portugal) to Seville The E-803 A-66 from Portugal and western Spain to Seville The E-5 A-4 from Madrid to Cordoba and then Seville The E-15 A-7 from Valencia and Murcia to Almeria and along the coast
By plane
Malaga has the third biggest international airport in Spain, which a lot of discount airlines fly to. From Malaga, the A-7 E-15 motorway runs westwards along the coast to Gibraltar and eastwards to Almeria and beyond. To head north from Malaga, the A-45 motorway runs to Cordoba.
By train
Spain's railway network isn't as developed as those of many other European countries, but Algeciras, Almeria, Cadiz, Granada, Huelva, Jaen, Malaga, Cordoba and Sevilla are all served by regular train services. Some of the other smaller towns are served by less frequent services, see individual city guides for further details. For more info, see the .
Traveling around
See
Lake Negratin is situated at the foothills of Mount Jabalcón. As one of Europes largest lakes, it really is worth seeing not least for the most magnificent lunar-landscape that surrounds it. I would liken the rock formations and the colours it produces during different times of the day to those of the Grand Canyon. There is a manmade beach where you can laze the day away, a number of restaurants dotted round the lake and on a nice day you can swim or take out a pedalo boat, which might lead you to pink flamingos and various other wildlife.
Seron is nestled on the lower slopes of the Sierra de los Filabres and is a picturesque town that cascades down the hillside. Dominated by its Castle, which sits at the very top, Seron is famous for its ham and provides a more traditional experience of Andalucian life. It is a beautiful location to start your exploration of the Filabres, or visit at the right time of year and you might find yourself submerged in a vibrant fiesta.
Las Menas, an old mining village abandoned thirty years ago, makes an interesting stop in the Sierra de los Filabres. You can investigate old ruins crumbling amidst the most breathtaking countryside, stop for coffee and cake at the hotel and even camp for the night.
Things to do
Long clean beaches on the Costa del Sol and the Costa del Luz
Walking and hiking in the Sierra Nevada
SKI SCHOOL in Sierra Nevada ski resort
Rock Climbing Company , +34 952 742 962 / +44 (0)1492 641430, High quality rock climbing and scrambling courses in Andalucia. Courses based in Malaga province both on the coast and also inland near to the El Chorro gorge.
Horse riding and Spain go hand-in-hand and with such spectacular mountain ranges at your disposal as the Sierra Nevada and Alpujarra Hills; you have a feast of beautiful Andalucian trekking land to indulge in astride your faithful friend. There are several stables situated in these areas and all offer the option to ride for an hour, a day or even as long as 7 nights. Accommodation and food are included in prices and the whole experience offers a truly magical and unique way to see this amazing part of Spain. Prices vary from 25 to 1200 EUROS and there are so many options to choose from that you will undoubtedly find something to suit your level and requirements.
Walking and cycling holidays in rural Andalucia
Flamenco is the all-Andlusian art with a history stretching back over 3,000 years. The Museo del Baile Flamenco (Flamenco Dance Museum) is the ideal place to learn more about this phenomenon. Shows are offered on Friday and Saturday nights at 19:30, too. www.museoflamenco.com
Sleep
Talk
Andalucian, Castilian, English,etc...
Safety
Generally very safe; take usual precautions,especially in some parts of Algeciras, Malaga, Seville, etc...
Provinces
Andalucia is divided into eight provinces, each having the same name as its respective provincial capital city.
Almería - seen in dozens of movies
Cádiz
Córdoba
Granada
Huelva
Jaén
Málaga - includes Costa del Sol
Sevilla
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
name_7052, name_7053, name_612, name_6984, name_361
Some photos courtesy of:
. The photos provided by Flickr are under the copyright of their owners.
This travel guide also includes text from Wikitravel articles, all available at
View full credits
Globe-trotter, Anthony Keane, Peter Fitzgerald, Peter Wilton, Hotels Combined, David Cross, Wandering, phil, Terence, Tim Sandell, Ryan Holliday, Jonny Erixon, Daniel Cowan, Colin Jensen, Evan Prodromou and Yann Forget, VolkovBot, Cacahuate, Morph, Andaventur, Episteme, Pz-engl, Hypatia, Allyak, Huttite, Sjc196 and Nils
This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at
View full credits