t Wooden steps leading to the remote beach at Mazagón
The autonomous region of Andalucía dominates southern Spain. It’s a land of dramatic landscapes, with deserts, wetlands, snowcapped mountains and, of course, sunny beaches. The cities, too, are equally beguiling, with their intriguing mixture of architecture, from Moorish to modern.
EXPERIENCE Andalucía
Steeped in ageless charm, Andalucía’s western extremities are rarely explored by visitors. Here, you can imagine Roman gladiators roaring in the amphitheatre at Itálica or bask in the seductive town of Carmona, which exudes its Arabic past. Away from the towns and cities, there are wild, isolated beaches along Huelva’s Atlantic coast. If you like wildlife, head for the dunes and marshes of the Parque Nacional de Doñana and, if walking is your thing, the craggy mountains of the northern sierras invite endless exploration.
Best for Getting out in nature
Home to Parque Nacional de Doñana
Experience A 4WD tour of the Parque Nacional de Doñana
EXPERIENCE Andalucía
t Wooden steps leading to the remote beach at Mazagón
EXPERIENCE Andalucía
Running across the north of these two provinces is the Sierra Morena, where deer and boar shelter in forest and scrub, while gold expanses of sunflowers and corn lie to the south. In between, you’ll find some of Andalucía’s best architecture. Home to the most UNESCO World Heritage sites in the world, including the vast great mosque La Mezquita, the city of Córdoba is a must-visit. If Córdoba province is a Moorish masterpiece, then Jaén is a Renaissance rival, with its enchanting twin cities of Úbeda and Baeza.
Best for Amazing architecture
Home to Córdoba, Jaén, Úbeda, Baeza
Experience Stargazing in the Sierra Morena, a UNESCO Starlight Reserve
Experience Andalucía
t A steep street in the city of Jaén, looking towards its magnificent cathedral
EXPERIENCE Andalucía
Andalucía’s southern provinces offer striking contrasts. Málaga’s jagged cliffs, peppered with whitewashed villages and abandoned fortresses, drop off abruptly to fashionable seaside resorts. Inland from the Costa del Sol are forested mountains and awesome natural wonders, such as the Garganta del Chorro, and to the west are the verdant farmlands and vineyards of Cádiz, home to the age-old sherry industry. Here, the proximity of North Africa is palpable not just in the sight of Morocco across the Strait, but in the lingering Moorish aura.
Best for Bodegas and beaches
Home to Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Ronda, Málaga
Experience Grape stomping in Jerez de la Frontera
EXPERIENCE Andalucía
t A buzzing bar on the beach at Zahara de los Atunes, near Barbate
EXPERIENCE Andalucía
How many places offer the opportunity to go skiing on powdered pistes one day and swimming in crystal-clear waters the next? Bisected by the snowy Sierra Nevada mountain range and skirted by the golden beaches of the Costa Tropical, Granada province is unique. To the east, you can play cowboy in the dry deserts of Almería or relax on the secluded sands of the Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata. The cities, too, are equally enchanting. Don’t miss Granada itself and its magical Moorish palace – the Alhambra.
Best for Snow and sand
Home to Granada, Almería
Experience Skiing in the Sierra Nevada
EXPERIENCE Andalucía
t Dramatic rock formations in the Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata