How to plan a road trip in Andalucia

Posted on 13 October 2021

Does an Andalucia road trip sound appealing? We can’t blame you. This beautiful region in Southern Spain is a must-visit, offering so much variety, incredible weather, and endless things to see and do. From its ancient capital in Seville and its beautiful beaches in Malaga to traditional villages off the beaten path, Andalucia is a delight to explore. But how do you make a road trip in Andalucia happen? It’s all so easy with a car hire in Malaga but in this guide, we offer some tips and advice to help you make your plans.

Research your Andalucia road trip

First things first, you will want to spend time doing a bit of research. Look into some popular routes that you can take, make a note of the locations you definitely want to visit and what attractions there are in the area. Take some time to research hotels in your price range, with good reviews, that would be convenient for you to stop and stay at during your road trip. Once you have familiarised yourself with the lay of the land and have noted down key places that you want to visit, you can then proceed to plan your route.

Another thing you will want to research is when is the right time to visit for you. Andalucia is a region of contrasts and depending on what you want to see and do, your chosen month or season to visit might change. There is no wrong answer, but if you want to avoid the hottest temperatures, perhaps travelling in spring or autumn will be to your taste. However, you might be looking forward to trying all the best beaches, so maybe the summer is the right option.

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Or, from the travel blog, My Path in the World, has shared her thoughts about when to visit Andalucia: “This region is definitely one of the best fall destinations in Europe. Our south of Spain road trip took place in September when the temperatures were a lot milder than in plain summer and it wasn’t overcrowded with tourists.

“For those reasons, spring would also be a good time to spend a week in Andalucia. With relatively warm temperatures even in winter, some people consider this region a great European winter destination.”

It’s also a good idea to research what it is actually like to drive in Spain if you have never done so before. For example, they drive on the right side of the road, as opposed to the left in the UK. There are a few things to consider when driving in Spain, though it’s far simpler and easy to do for international visitors if you opt for a car rental. This guide from the RAC breaks down what you need to know about driving in Spain, so take a look.

Plan your route in Andalucia

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Now that you have done your research into Andalucia, you can start planning your route. Think about the cities and towns you know you will want to visit and where they are in relation to each other. You can then start gauging your start and endpoint, all of your stops, and where you will need to book accommodation and when. Starting at Malaga is an obvious choice, for example, thanks to Malaga Airport. It also means you can visit one of the regions must-visit locations right away. Use a tool like Google Maps and add markers for all your destinations so you can work out how long your road trip will take. It’s also a good idea to think about your itinerary in each location. By working out what you want to visit in Seville, for example, you can decide how long you need to spend there before moving on.

Creating the perfect Andalucia route will be unique to each person based on their own tastes and desires. Not everyone will want to see the same things and not everyone will be visiting for the same amount of time. However, Naomi, from the travel blog Probe Around the Globe has shared her advice on planning a route based on her own road trip:

“My road trip through Andalucia was in November and I split my days in half. I drove during siesta time and arrived in my new city early evenings. This way, I had one evening to look around, a full day of exploring, and a morning of wandering around. This worked really well for me.”

Hire a car in Andalucia

To get the best out of your Andalucia road trip, hiring a car from Malaga airport is definitely a good idea. Malaga is a must-visit location in the region and the perfect place to start and end your road trip. You can touch down in the city, pick up your car, explore the delights of Malaga and head off in whatever direction you choose.

Hiring a car in Andalucia couldn’t be easier. Here at Helle Hollis, we are based next to Malaga airport and are open 24 hours a day, so whenever you land, you can pick up your car and get exploring. Just tell us your pickup and return date and time and we will give you a quote on a range of vehicles.

All of our rentals include:

FREE extra driver
Free cancellation
Unlimited mileage
24-hour roadside assistance.
Mandatory third-party insurance.
Courtesy bus (Malaga Airport 2 min away).
Refund of fuel (You take it away full and we will return what you have not used)

READ ALSO: Scenic drives around Malaga

Book your accommodation in Andalucia

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You will of course want a comfy place to rest your head and put up your feet after a long day exploring the delights of Andalucia, so booking yourself some nice accommodation on your route is important. With your route already planned out, find a hotel that suits your needs, with good parking and perhaps a restaurant, that will be easy for you to stop at the end of the day. Andalucia has a wide range of accommodation options depending on your price range, meaning everyone can enjoy a holiday in the region. Perhaps you want to stay at a fancy hotel in Seville with amazing city views or maybe you would be more than happy with a cosy hostel or campsite. You can even mix things up during your road trip to experience the full breadth of what Andalucia has to offer.

If you are on a budget when it comes to accommodation, that’s no problem either. Paulina, from the travel blog Paulina on the Road, shares the following advice for those who want to keep things cheap: “For people on a tight budget, finding a decent place to stay can often be a problem. This is not the case in Andalucia, where every city has one or more hostel, offering beds for the night. Do your research on websites like TripAdvisor before selecting a hostel, with summertime prices starting from around 15€ per night. Camping is also a great option, with many campgrounds along the coast offering tent pitches for around 20€ per night.”

What to pack for Andalucia

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Part of planning any holiday includes finding out what you will need to pack, and an Andalucia road trip is no different. So, research the locations you plan to visit and write up a list of items that you think you will need.

For example, the south of Spain is a very hot place, so typical summer wear will be key, as will plenty of sun cream, but if you are planning to visit any of the region’s mountainous areas, where there can be snow, you will need to accommodate for that too with warmer clothes.

During your road trip, you will likely be exploring lots of old cities and cobbled streets during your trip, so comfortable footwear is a must – a pair of flip flops won’t cut it and are certainly not the appropriate driving footwear. Sensible footwear will be a must for any Andalucia road trip so think of comfort over style.

Of course, you will need to make sure to bring important documents with you for your travels and this includes your driver’s licence. Spain also uses a different type of plug socket than the UK, so make sure you bring a power plug adapter for Spain so you can use all of your electronic devices like phones and laptops.

Lauren, from the travel blog Never Ending Footsteps, has the following recommendations for what to pack for a trip to Spain: “In general, you’ll want to bring plenty of warm weather gear with you, as Spain can be bright and sunny even in the depths of winter. If you’re going to be visiting in the height of summer, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of clothing to keep you cool and buckets of sunscreen. Planning on doing a lot of walking? Make sure you have proper walking shoes, a decent backpack, and clothes for every weather condition.”

What to see in Andalucia

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When it comes to actually working out what you want to see and do in Andalucia, you are truly spoilt for choice. You could spend a whole week in Malaga, for example, and never be bored. Malaga has great beaches and top attractions, including some amazing historical attractions like a Roman theatre and the wonderful Alcazaba fortress. There is even a host of family-friendly things to do in the city.

READ ALSO: Free things to do in Malaga

Then there is the capital of Andalucia, Seville, a wonderful city with an ancient past, a plethora of fascinating attractions, gorgeous architecture and a tasty tapas scene. One of the highlights of the city has to be the stunning Plaza de España, an architectural marvel and a filming location for Game of Thrones and Star Wars. If you fancy spending a day or two in the capital, read our itinerary for 48 hours in Seville. Or learn more about the city with our interesting facts about Seville article.

READ ALSO: Free things to do in Seville

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Or how about lovely Córdoba? The city has an important historic legacy with both Roman and Islamic ties. As a result, Córdoba is a marvel to behold and offers so much to see and do, including the spectacular Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba.

Córdoba is the top choice in Andalucia for Claire, from the travel blog ZigZag on Earth: “Córdoba is the main town and it is magnificent (my favourite) – walking around town with the bridge and the narrow streets feels like travelling back in time. Plus, the mosque-cathedral is so unique and impressive.”

READ ALSO: The top places to eat in Córdoba

Another popular location is Ronda, a mountain-top town in the province of Malaga, famous for its dramatic gorge and breathtaking bridge. This is a location that should certainly be added to your route for a glimpse of the gorge alone.

Chloe, from the travel blog Wanderlust Chloe, has been dying to return ever since she first visited Ronda, sharing: “It’s one of those cities that captures your imagination. From beautiful alleyways and cobbled streets to ancient city walls, the famous new bridge and incredible sweeping landscapes, it’s easily one of the most photogenic cities in Spain.”

READ ALSO: Where to eat in Ronda

Andalucia has so much to offer and the above are just a few examples, a large list of locations to visit on a road trip might include:

– Malaga

– Seville

– Cordoba

– Ronda

– Almeria

– Cádiz

– Granada

– Jaén

– Antequera

– Huelva

There are many other wonderful towns and locations that you can add to your list. Do your research and see what takes your fancy!

Tips for planning an Andalucia road trip

We hope the tips and advice prove helpful when it comes to planning your own road trip to Andalucia. There is so much waiting to be explored; the only challenge is fitting it all in!

For more tips, guides, and advice, make sure to visit our blog.