14-Day Andalusia Spain Itinerary: The Ultimate Trip Guide
August 17, 202613 min read
14-Day Andalusia Spain Itinerary
Meta description: Plan the perfect 14 day Andalusia itinerary with day-by-day highlights, costs, restaurants, and local tips from Spain Unveiled.
Andalusia is Spain at its most intoxicating: whitewashed hill villages, Moorish palaces, flamenco echoing from tavern doorways, and beaches that stretch from the Costa del Sol to the wild Cabo de Gata. This 14 day Andalusia itinerary is designed to give you the region's greatest hits without racing through them — you'll linger over tapas in Seville, watch sunset from the Alhambra's gardens, hike white villages, and dip your toes in two seas. Whether you're planning a honeymoon, a milestone birthday trip, or a first big Europe adventure, this Andalusia travel plan balances the essential monuments with slow afternoons and long lunches.
Trip Overview
Who this itinerary is for: Couples, solo travelers, and small groups who want a rich cultural experience with a mix of cities, nature, and coast. It suits first-time visitors to southern Spain as well as returning travelers seeking a deeper regional loop. Families with older kids (10+) can follow it comfortably; the pace is moderate, with two-to-three-night stays in most bases.
Budget range (per person, excluding flights):
Budget backpacker: $1,650–$2,000
Mid-range: $2,600–$3,400
Luxury: $5,500+
Best time to visit: Late April through mid-June, and mid-September through October. Spring brings orange blossoms in Seville, the Feria de Abril, and comfortable 70s°F weather. Autumn delivers warm sea temperatures without the searing July–August heat, which can push past 105°F in Seville and Córdoba.
Base locations: Rather than one hub, this Spain 14 day trip flows across five bases — Málaga, Granada, Córdoba, Seville, and Cádiz/Tarifa — connected by Spain's excellent AVE high-speed trains and short car rentals for the white villages and Cabo de Gata. A car is recommended for Days 6–8 and Days 12–14 only.
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Day 1: Arrival in Málaga — Sea, Tapas, and a Gentle Start
Morning (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Fly into Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP), the easiest gateway for a 14 days in Andalusia Spain trip. Take the C-1 Cercanías train ($2.20) or a taxi ($30) into the center. Drop bags at your hotel in the Soho or Centro Histórico neighborhood.
Afternoon (12:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Beat jet lag with a walk along the Muelle Uno marina and up to the Alcazaba of Málaga ($4.50 combined with Gibralfaro Castle). Lunch at El Pimpi, an iconic Málaga bodega — order boquerones fritos and a glass of local Moscatel (~$25 per person).
Evening (7:00 PM – 10:00 PM)
Dinner at Uvedoble Taberna in the old town. Their oxtail brioche and tuna tataki are standouts (~$35 per person). Follow with a stroll to Plaza de la Merced, Picasso's birth square, for a nightcap.
Alternatives: Prefer beach time? Head straight to La Malagueta beach for a leisurely afternoon and dinner at a chiringuito serving espeto de sardinas.
Pro tip: Don't schedule anything ambitious on arrival day. Málaga is warm, walkable, and forgiving of tired travelers.
Day 2: Málaga's Culture and Costa Sunset
Morning (9:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Coffee and tostada at Casa Aranda ($5), then visit the Picasso Museum ($14) followed by the striking Centre Pompidou Málaga ($9). Málaga has quietly become Spain's museum capital.
Afternoon (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Lunch at Mercado Atarazanas, the 19th-century iron-and-glass market. Grab tapas at various stalls (~$20). Spend the afternoon on Playa de la Malagueta or head 30 minutes west to Nerja if you'd rather see the coast.
Evening (7:00 PM – 10:00 PM)
Sunset from the Gibralfaro viewpoint — one of the best panoramas in southern Spain. Dinner at José Carlos García for modern Andalusian tasting menus ($90) or, more casually, Los Patios de Beatas for wine and tapas ($40).
Alternatives: Day-trip to the Caminito del Rey ($20 entry, must book weeks in advance) — a thrilling cliffside walkway 1 hour north.
Day 3: Málaga to Granada — The Alhambra Awaits
Morning (8:00 AM – 12:30 PM)
Pick up a rental car or take the ALSA bus ($15, 1h45m) to Granada. Check in around the Albaicín or Realejo quarters.
Afternoon (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Lunch at Bar Los Diamantes — Granada is still the land of free tapas with every drink ($15–20 for a proper crawl). Wander the twisting lanes of the Albaicín.
Evening (6:00 PM – 10:00 PM)
Sunset at Mirador de San Nicolás — the Alhambra glowing pink against the Sierra Nevada is the definitive Granada image. Dinner at Carmen Mirador de Aixa with terrace views (~$55).
Book the Alhambra now if you haven't. Tickets sell out 2–3 months ahead in high season. Aim for a morning slot on Day 4.
Day 4: The Alhambra and Sacromonte Flamenco
Morning (8:30 AM – 1:00 PM)
Enter the Alhambra ($20 general, $22 with Nasrid Palaces). Allow at least 3.5 hours for the Nasrid Palaces, Generalife gardens, and Alcazaba. Bring water and a sun hat.
Afternoon (1:30 PM – 5:00 PM)
Lunch downhill at Restaurante Ruta del Azafrán by the Darro River ($30). Rest during siesta hours — Granada takes them seriously.
Evening (7:30 PM – 11:00 PM)
Head to Sacromonte for an authentic zambra flamenco show in a cave venue. Cueva de la Rocío offers dinner-and-show packages ($55). Alternatively, Casa del Arte Flamenco in the center delivers a more intimate, purist experience ($25).
Alternatives: Hikers can skip flamenco and drive 40 minutes to the Sierra Nevada foothills for an afternoon trail.
Day 5: Day Trip to the Alpujarras
Morning (9:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Rent a car for the day or join a small-group tour (~$75). Drive south into the Alpujarras, the mountain villages where Moors retreated after 1492. Stop in Pampaneira, Bubión, and Capileira — a trio of whitewashed hamlets stacked up the Poqueira Gorge.
Afternoon (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Lunch in Capileira at Restaurante El Corral del Castaño — try the plato alpujarreño with mountain ham, morcilla, and fried egg ($20). Browse handwoven jarapa rugs.
Evening (7:00 PM – 10:00 PM)
Back in Granada, dinner at Bodegas Castañeda, a classic tapas institution (~$25). Turn in early — tomorrow is a train day.
Day 6: Granada to Córdoba
Morning (9:00 AM – 12:30 PM)
Take the AVE train from Granada to Córdoba (1h40m, ~$40). Drop bags in the Judería (Jewish Quarter) near the Mezquita.
Afternoon (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Lunch at Casa Pepe de la Judería — order salmorejo and flamenquín ($30). Wander the flower-draped Calleja de las Flores and cross the Roman Bridge.
Evening (6:00 PM – 10:00 PM)
Visit the Mezquita-Catedral at 6 PM when tour groups thin out ($14, free 8:30–9:30 AM Mon–Sat). Dinner at Bodegas Campos, a labyrinthine 1908 tavern (~$45).
Alternatives: In May, prioritize the Patios Festival — private courtyards throughout the city open to visitors.
Day 7: Medina Azahara and Córdoba's Slow Side
Morning (9:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Bus or taxi to Medina Azahara ($10 shuttle from Paseo de la Victoria), the ruined 10th-century caliphal city. Site entry is free for EU citizens, $2 otherwise. Allow 2.5 hours.
Afternoon (1:30 PM – 5:00 PM)
Lunch back in town at Taberna Salinas ($25). Visit the Palacio de Viana ($10) with its 12 patios — Córdoba's quieter alternative to the Mezquita.
Evening (7:00 PM – 10:30 PM)
Dinner at Bodegas Mezquita, a great sampler of Cordoban classics — try the rabo de toro (oxtail) and Montilla-Moriles wine ($35).
Day 8: Córdoba to Seville
Morning (10:00 AM – 12:30 PM)
Quick AVE to Seville (45 minutes, ~$30). Check into a hotel in Santa Cruz, Alfalfa, or Triana.
Afternoon (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Lunch at Bar Alfalfa — tiny, buzzy, Italian-Andalusian tapas ($20). Wander into the Barrio de Santa Cruz, Seville's former Jewish quarter, a maze of orange trees and hidden squares.
Evening (7:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
Aperitivo at El Rinconcillo, Seville's oldest tavern (est. 1670). Dinner at Eslava in San Lorenzo — reserve or arrive at 8 PM sharp for their honey-glazed pork ribs ($35).
Day 9: Seville's Icons
Morning (9:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
The Royal Alcázar ($15, book online) opens at 9:30 — go first. Then the Seville Cathedral and Giralda ($13), the world's largest Gothic cathedral.
Afternoon (1:30 PM – 5:00 PM)
Lunch at Casa Morales, a 1850 bodega with barrels lining the walls ($20). Siesta or a slow paddle in a rowboat on the Plaza de España moat ($8).
Evening (7:30 PM – 11:00 PM)
Flamenco at Casa de la Memoria ($22, book ahead) — 60 minutes of raw brilliance in a small courtyard. Dinner after at Bodega Santa Cruz "Las Columnas" — write your bill in chalk on the bar ($15).
Day 10: Triana and the Slow Seville
Morning (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Cross the Isabel II bridge to Triana, the flamenco and ceramics quarter. Browse Cerámica Triana and the Mercado de Triana. Visit the Castillo de San Jorge (free), an old Inquisition prison beneath the market.
Afternoon (1:30 PM – 5:00 PM)
Lunch at Las Golondrinas — spinach with chickpeas and pork skewers ($20). Cross back for a rooftop drink at Hotel EME overlooking the Cathedral ($15 cocktail).
Evening (7:30 PM – 10:30 PM)
Sunset from Metropol Parasol (Las Setas) rooftop ($15). Dinner at Ovejas Negras — small plates, big flavors ($40).
Alternatives: Book a Guadalquivir river cruise at sunset ($20) for a different view of the city.
Day 11: Seville to the White Villages and Cádiz
Morning (9:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Pick up a rental car. Drive 1h30m to Arcos de la Frontera, the gateway to the pueblos blancos. Wander cliff-edge streets and visit Plaza del Cabildo.
Afternoon (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Lunch at Aljibe in Arcos ($25). Continue to Vejer de la Frontera (1h drive), arguably the most magical of the white villages.
Evening (7:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
Check into a small hotel in Vejer. Dinner at Corredera 55 — modern Andalusian with tuna from nearby Barbate ($45).
Day 12: Cabo de Trafalgar and Cádiz
Morning (9:30 AM – 1:00 PM)
Drive to Playa El Palmar or Cabo de Trafalgar for morning beach time — long, wild, and windswept. Free.
Afternoon (1:30 PM – 5:00 PM)
Continue to Cádiz (1 hour). One of Europe's oldest cities, wrapped by the Atlantic. Lunch at Casa Manteca in La Viña — chicharrones and payoyo cheese ($20).
Evening (7:00 PM – 10:30 PM)
Sunset at La Caleta beach, then climb the Torre Tavira ($9) for panoramic views. Dinner at El Faro de Cádiz — the classic fried seafood spot ($45).
Day 13: Tarifa and the Two Seas
Morning (9:00 AM – 12:30 PM)
Drive south to Tarifa (1h15m), where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean and Morocco sits 9 miles across the strait. Walk the medina-like old town and see the Puerta de Jerez.
Afternoon (1:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
Lunch at El Lola ($25). Head to Playa de Bolonia — a stunning white-sand beach and the impressive Baelo Claudia Roman ruins (free for EU, $2 otherwise). Kite-surfing lessons available for adventurous travelers ($75 for a group class).
Evening (8:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
Sunset drinks at Waves Tarifa on the beach. Dinner at Surla — global tapas with a young, surfy crowd ($35).
Alternatives: Take the ferry to Tangier, Morocco for a day-trip (~$65 round-trip, 1 hour). A stamp-worthy detour.
Day 14: Return to Málaga
Morning (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Scenic coastal drive back toward Málaga (2h30m via the AP-7). Stop in Gibraltar if you fancy a British-tinged detour (bring your passport), or in Marbella's old town for coffee and a final wander.
Afternoon (12:30 PM – 4:00 PM)
Final lunch in Málaga at a chiringuito on the beach — grilled sardines on a stick, the classic espeto, and a cold Cruzcampo ($20). Return the rental car and head to the airport, or extend your Andalusia Spain trip with a Costa del Sol resort night.
Packing Essentials
Lightweight walking shoes — Andalusia's cobbles are brutal on flimsy sandals
Modest-shoulders top or wrap for cathedrals and mosques
Wide-brim sun hat and reef-safe sunscreen — hard to find quality options locally
Refillable water bottle — tap water is safe in all major cities
Small daypack for the Alhambra and Medina Azahara
Swimwear and quick-dry towel for beaches and hotel pools
Light layers/cardigan — evenings can cool 20°F, especially in Granada
Adapter (Type F, European) and a portable power bank
Sunglasses with UV protection — Andalusian glare is intense
Cash for small tapas bars — many under-$10 spots are card-averse
Phrasebook or offline Google Translate — English is patchy outside tourist zones
Anti-chafe sticks for long walking days in summer
Reusable shopping tote for markets like Atarazanas and Triana
Prices reflect current Andalusia averages and assume double occupancy for accommodation.
Booking Tips
Book well in advance (2–3 months):
Alhambra tickets — the single most important reservation of the trip. Book directly through the official Alhambra Patronato site to avoid resale markups.
Caminito del Rey if you're adding it as a day-trip.
AVE train tickets — cheapest at 60+ days out via Renfe.
Book 2–4 weeks ahead:
Flamenco shows (Casa de la Memoria, Casa del Arte Flamenco, Cueva de la Rocío).
Popular restaurants like Eslava and Corredera 55.
Rental cars for Days 5, 11–14 — compare via Discover Cars or AutoEurope.
Arrange on arrival:
Tapas crawls — walking in is part of the fun.
Beach club chairs on the Costa del Sol.
Alpujarras day tours (plenty of same-week availability).
Save money:
Many cathedrals and museums offer free entry windows (Mezquita 8:30–9:30 AM weekdays; Alcázar Monday evenings). Check current times on arrival.
Order tapas at the bar rather than the table — often 15–20% cheaper.
Buy AVE tickets as "Elige" or "Básico" fares; the differences are minimal for short hops.
With this Andalusia travel plan, you'll finish your two weeks not just having seen the region — but genuinely having lived in it. ¡Buen viaje!
