Grand palaces, flamenco rhythms and whitewashed villages: How to enjoy the ultimate Spanish road trip in Andalucia
- Fly into Malaga and drive through richly cultured cities such as Seville and Granada as you explore at your own pace.
Ad feature by British Airways Holidays
PUBLISHED: 08:50, 01 August 2023
With its sun-kissed beaches, whitewashed villages and intricate Moorish palaces, the sultry Spanish region of Andalucia is a vibrant world that is best explored at your own pace.
A fly-drive holiday is a great way to stitch together some of the region’s highlights, with short, scenic journeys between Andalucia’s most striking cities, mountain hideaways and coastal towns – leaving you plenty of time to soak up each destination.
It’s also easy to book your road trip in one convenient package with British Airways Holidays and its exclusive care hire partner Avis.
From glamorous city-centre escapes to five-star beachfront resorts, you simply take your pick from a curated collection of hotels, with flights and your perfect vehicle included in one simple ATOL-protected package.
You’ll enjoy a 23kg baggage allowance per person for your flight, 24-hour roadside assistance, and handy extras available to pre-book, such as child seats and GPS navigation.
With regular British Airways flights in and out of Malaga, you can book your self-drive adventure with a low deposit from just £75 per person. Then it’s time to explore. Consider this road trip, taking in Seville, Cordoba, Granada and Malaga, as a way to explore Andalucia in depth.
Malaga, is enjoying a moment in the spotlight with scrubbed-up neighbourhoods, a sun-kissed promenade and a collection of incredible museums
Malaga to Seville
Your arrival destination, Malaga, is enjoying a moment in the spotlight with scrubbed-up neighbourhoods, a sun-kissed promenade and a collection of incredible museums just moments from the sweeping sands.
From the ancient amphitheatre to the sea-view castle, the birthplace of Picasso to art galleries overflowing with Old Master traditions, there’s so much to see.
Infused with the fragrance of orange blossom and studded with treasures of the Golden Age of Spain, Seville lies just a 2.5-hour drive away. So when you’ve explored the coastal city, it’s an easy journey to take in the flower-clad walls of the whitewashed Jewish Quarter, the hippie hangouts of Triana, a former gypsy neighbourhood with a rich flamenco heritage, and the ethereal sunset from the gardens of the Alcazar Royal Palace.
If you have an extra day, make a slight diversion to Ronda, famous for a dramatic 18th-century bridge that rises from the plunging gorge, connecting the two halves of the town in true Middle Earth fashion.
Seville Cathedral and Giralda tower
Seville to Cordoba
Before you depart Seville, savour an al fresco breakfast in a sun-splashed square, drop into the cathedral to witness the resting place of Christopher Columbus and enjoy a lazy stroll along the vast Guadalquivir River, whose slow and steady pace seems to encapsulate the Spanish way of life.
A relaxed drive of an hour and 40 minutes north-east will deliver you to Cordoba, capital of the Islamic Kingdom in Spain and a treasure trove of traditional architecture and cultural heritage.
Among them, the multi-arched Mezquita combines Moorish, Gothic, and Byzantine elements in one of the world’s best examples of historic Islamic architecture.
Unfurling away from the ancient building, windowing cobblestone streets host delicate balconies overflowing with streaming flowers, and hole-in-the-wall tapas bars offer an authentic taste of Spain. Wander the fragrant gardens of the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos, duck into the royal baths or climb the ramparts for uninterrupted views of the higgledy-piggledy rooftops.
Cordoba, capital of the Islamic Kingdom in Spain and a treasure trove of traditional architecture and cultural heritage
Cordoba to Granada
A 2.5-hour drive southeast stitches together pretty villages and lush woodlands with rugged mountains and spectacular views. Stop off in the Moorish town of Alcala la Real for a traditional ‘menu del dia’ set lunch, then stroll the quiet streets to admire the walled perimeters of the fort, the 16th-century church, and the charming arcades of the town square.
Further on, set among the snow-dusted peaks of the Sierra Nevada, the city of Granada is bathed in flamenco traditions, Renaissance art and unforgettable Islamic architecture. A sunset walk to the heights of Mirador San Nicolas reveals the city’s most mesmerising panorama, that of the 13th-century Alhambra Palace.
Book ahead to enjoy a guided tour through this enchanting palace, admiring the intricate mosaics, the elaborate arches and the flowing script of Islamic poetry etched into the walls. Finish the evening by savouring all the complimentary tapas the city has to offer, served up alongside your drinks.
The city of Granada is bathed in flamenco traditions, Renaissance art and unforgettable Islamic architecture
Granada to Malaga
Spend a morning soaking up the unique light of the mountain-flanked city, then take an easy inland route through the rugged mountains that guides you back to Malaga in 1.5 hours.
Or you can head south to Motril to for a scenic coastal journey that only adds half an hour to your drive.
A pit stop in the whitewashed village of Nerja offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy a final tapas lunch before heading underground to explore a subterranean cave system – a world of immense halls and intricate labyrinths. Or if you’re happier on the surface, discover any one of 12 pristine beaches and admire the infinite Mediterranean views from the elegant Balcon de Europa.
The picture-perfect drive back to buzzing Malaga offers a final farewell to the verdant Sierra Almijara, the cobalt waters of the Mediterranean Sea, and the flower-clad villages that freckle the sun-kissed coast. Enjoy the sweeping urban beach, the vibrant city galleries and the authentic Andalucian cuisine before your flight back home.
Awesome Andalucia
The Alhambra in Granada, Spain
Where colourful ceramics and hanging flowers bring life to the streets, elegant chiringuitos line the golden sands and snow-capped mountains offer scenic drives, Andalucia is the perfect destination for a self-drive adventure to remember.
Weave together the traces of the empires, the traditional gypsy cultures, and the glorious coast, with short drive times and a whole host of whitewashed villages offering the perfect stop for lunch.
Explore a curated collection of fantastic hotels with British Airways Holidays, add a car with Avis, and craft the perfect package so you can take to the open road.
As an Executive Club Member, you’ll also benefits from an additional driver with every rental, preferential services, such as priority check-in and boarding, and the chance to collect Avios with Avis.
Book your Spanish fly-drive holiday at ba.com/flydrives
