2 min summary When to go Map & highlights Catalonia Andalucia Picos de Europa Activities Top 10 walks Cycling Families Advice Responsible tourism

Things to see & do in Andalucia

Rich with influences from Moorish, Roman, Greek, Phoenician and Byzantine civilisations, holidays to Andalucía introduce one of the most diverse and fascinating regions of Spain. Add to that a landscape of beaches, mountains and arid desert, and you’ll discover a region that, while part of Spain, is still very much its own.

Home\Europe\Spain

Things to see and do in Andalucia

Andalucía holidays take you deep into the heart of rural Spain, where you'll find a charming, rustic way of life amongst the rugged limestone landscapes. The highest mountains in the country are found here, thick with ancient pine and oak woods. And then there are white hilltop villages, Moorish palaces, empty beaches backed by Roman ruins and spectacular wildflowers that dust the landscape in spring.

Small group and tailor made tours take you to explore the countryside on foot, bike or via a multitude of high-adrenaline activities. Creative types can spend their time dancing, painting or photographing the rugged landscape. Read on to discover what you can do on a holiday to Andalucía.

See all our Spain Holidays

Give us a call

Our Spain Holidays

Things to do in Andalucía

Walk this way

Walking in Spain’s southernmost region leads you along rural tracks and paths to diverse landscapes, sun-washed sea views and mountain monasteries. Plus, you’ve got incredible seafood and a warm Andalucían welcome, far away from the beachside tourist traps. Las Alpujarras, on the south slopes of the Sierra Nevada range, is home to lakes fed by mountain streams, lush valleys, Roman ruins and tiny whitewashed pueblos. Meanwhile, stays in Almeria allow you to trek the surreal landscape of the Sierra de los Filabres. Nearby, the protected coastal desert of Cabo de Gata has several walking trails, as well an incredibly rich array of plants and birdlife.

Andalucía walking holidays cater to a range of abilities, and you’ll hit the trails for up to eight hours a day. Small group holidays – where you’ll travel with up to 14 likeminded travellers, as well as an experienced walking guide – are a popular choice in this part of Spain. On these trips you’ll either be based in one hotel or guesthouse, exploring a different part of the local countryside each day, or you’ll move from place to place, with your luggage transferred for you.

Tailor made self guided tours are also popular. Again, you might be based at one location or you might move on daily, following quiet paths from village to village through forests and hills, and staying in comfortable inns and hotels with your bags are delivered ahead for you each day. Or you could enjoy the freedom of a self drive trip. Either way, the days will be well-paced, with maps and walking notes provided.

Get active

If you like your holidays crammed full of action, then Andalucía offers a plethora of activity holidays – from five-day taster sessions to two-week extravaganzas. They’ll get your heart racing, your brain in gear and your taste buds tingling. If variety is your bag, then you could plump for a multi activity holiday. This means that you can try something different every day – canyoning, rafting, kayaking or stargazing, for example – without being tied to one sole activity.

Alternatively, you could choose to focus on a single activity, from flamenco lessons, cycling or horse riding, to offbeat picks such as searching for the critically endangered Iberian lynx through the grasslands and forests of the Sierra de Andujar. And loads are designed for families.

Fancy a more leisurely pursuit? Then sign up for a week of language lessons in gorgeous Granada, practicing the lingo by day and spending your evenings at tapas bars, theatre shows and concerts. Or gourmands can take an Andalucía foodie tour, exploring the region’s distinctive cuisine, from the fish markets and tapas bars of Cadiz to local producers of jamon iberico and olive oil.

Unleash your creativity

Andalucía’s landscapes are stunning and varied. Dazzling sunlight endures year-round, even when the rest of the continent is cloaked in winter gloom – making it ideal for both painting and photography holidays. On both types of trip, you’ll be based for a week in a guesthouse in one of Andalucía’s famous white villages, along with a small group of around 10 fellow enthusiasts.

You’ll paint or brush up on your photography skills in a variety of locations, including spectacular valleys, mountains and beaches. Evenings are spent getting to know your fellow travellers in family-run restaurants and bars. You’ll need to bring paints and brushes, or a camera, but other equipment and expert instruction will be included.

Get to grips with the past

You can’t visit Andalucía without feeling the pull of the past, with remnants of its Phoenician, Roman, Moorish and Iberian history scattered throughout the countryside. The cities of Seville, Granada and Cordoba all date back as far as Roman times, and the pueblos blancos (white towns) of Malaga and Granada provinces are a series of whitewashed hillside villages with Moorish and Roman roots. Join small group tours of historic Andalucía to get to know the region’s history, architecture and fiery character.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Spain or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Practicalities

There’s a huge range of holidays in Andalucía, ranging from four-day short breaks to two-week explorations. Train links in Andalucía are excellent, and there are major international airports in Granada, Seville, Almeria and Malaga.

The best time to visit is autumn or spring, when wildflowers are in bloom and citrus trees scent the air. Temperatures are scorching and crowds are at their highest in summer, though you can still find relief in the mountains. If you’re prepared to risk a bit of rain, winter can be a good time for walking holidays, with highs of 16°C to 20°C and the inspiring backdrop of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains.

Call us for the best time to go to Spain

More about Spain

Best time to visit Spain

Spain holds a rich variety of landscapes which will no doubt have an effect on the best time to visit Spain where personal interests are concerned.

Spain travel guide

Our Spain travel guide includes everything from a brief history of Spain to food, shopping & people to help you travel like a local on your Spain holiday.

Places to visit in Spain

Check out our interactive highlights map detailing our favourite places to visit in Spain as well as information on travel times between larger cities such as Barcelona and Madrid.

Things to do in Spain

Our top activities in Spain take you off, or on, the beaten track and range from cycling and languages to a trek on the Camino de Santiago.

Activity holidays in Spain

Areas like the Altiplano de Granada and Sierra de Castril mountains will make you forget days by the pool, offering everything from hiking and biking to canyoning.

Top 10 walks in Spain

Unlock the secrets of Spain as you walk the country’s mountainous interior and wonderfully wild coastlines, discovering an authentic slice of Spanish life, with not a parasol in sight.

Things to see & do in Catalonia

Catalonia packs a world of landscapes into one region, from 3,000m snow-capped Pyrenean peaks, to the warm turquoise waters of the Mediterranean.

Things to see & do in the Picos de Europa

You’ll have a wild and wonderful walking holiday in the Picos de Europa, where small group and tailor made trips get your adrenalin pumping against the most bucolic of backdrops.

Yoga holidays in Spain

Yoga holidays in Spain rejuvenate the senses with a combination of Pilates, language lessons and guided meditation adding to the joys of year round warmth and sensational Spanish cuisine.

Cycling holidays in Spain

Leave the tourist trails on two wheels and see a side of the country far removed from the costas and the big smoke.

Winter holidays in Spain

Winter holidays in Spain don’t necessarily mean sun-seeking along the coast. Instead, look upwards, to the mountainous magnificence of the Sierra Nevada and the Spanish Pyrenees.

Top 6 small ship cruising holidays in Spain

Our best small ship cruising holidays in Spain unlock the Moorish heritage of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as providing safe passage to the ports of Portugal, Morocco, France and the Netherlands.

Tips for the first time traveller to Spain

The countryside is a wonder, with mountains, desert scrubland and forests to explore. Meanwhile, big city life in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia delivers world-class art, music and diverse and delicious cuisine.

Spain with kids

From the sites of spaghetti westerns to whitewater rafting, we know what to do with little ones so all you have to do is pack and go.

Spain travel advice

We value tips from our friends in Spain really highly so read on for recommendations from the experts and from travellers who have been there.

Responsible tourism in Spain

Travel right in Spain and you’ll quickly discover why the brain drain, dolphinaria, bull fighting and corruption in the construction industry are all worth researching.

All our Spain guides

Find all of our Spain guides in one place, from guides to Andalucia, Valencia or the Canary Islands to advice on activity holidays including walking and cycling.