25+ Best Things to Do in Andalucia For Every Traveller
I’m very proud to call Andalucia home. Born and raised in Malaga, I’ve always been into exploring my hometown and the surrounding towns and villages.
Whether this is your first or fifth time in Andalucia, you will soon realise there’s plenty to do and see. If you are a history seeker, you can immerse yourself in palaces and castles dating back to the Moorish period; if you love nature, you can hike in breathtaking nature parks and rivers; and if you love food as much as I do, you’re spoilt for choice. And the list continues.
I am a firm believer that we have something for every traveller.
In this article, I have included my favourite things to do in Andalucia, and to make it as helpful as possible, I have split them into categories depending on the type of traveller you are.
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Best things to do in Andalucia
Best activities in Andalucia for history lovers
Visit Cadiz Cathedral
Seville Cathedral is the one everyone knows, but Cadiz Cathedral is worth visiting too. It has several architectural styles, including Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical. It’s popularly known as the “New Cathedral” because it replaced a former building destroyed by fire.
The exterior is impressive, but you won’t want to miss the interior. The ticket includes an audio guide that highlights the cathedral’s most important spots. Expect to see beautiful carved choir stalls, religious statues, domes, and more.
What makes it unique, at least to me, is the crypt beneath it. This is the burial place for important people and local artists.
Explore the Alcazaba de Málaga
If I had to pick one historic building in Malaga, I would definitely pick the Alcazaba fortress palace. This building complex is rich in history and architecture. Built in the 11th century, the Alcazaba served as a residence and strategic stronghold, with some of the best views of the city and the sea.
Wandering the jasmine-scented courtyards, listening to water run through the fountains, and taking in the intricate architecture and city views is an experience in itself.
You can certainly visit on your own, but the best way to discover its history is with a guided tour like this.
Admire the Moorish architecture at La Alhambra Palace
When someone mentions Granada, everyone’s first image is the Alhambra Palace. It’s among the most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain.
Visiting the Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens is worth every single penny. The Moorish architecture, the marble fountains, the location, the manicured gardens- every corner is impressive.
If I were you, I would book tickets in advance to avoid disappointment, and schedule 3 to 4 hours to visit all the buildings and gardens in the Alhambra without rushing.
Go to Cordoba Mosque Cathedral
No visit to Cordoba is complete without seeing La Mezquita, the mosque cathedral. It’s a one-of-a-kind historic building that showcases how two different civilisations and religions coexisted.
You can appreciate the fusion of Christian and Moorish architecture across the building.
The two-coloured striped arches, orange-scented courtyard, and history make it unmissable.
After learning about the mosque cathedral, I also suggest visiting Cordoba’s patios.
These courtyards are beautifully decorated with plants, flowers and home decor. Locals take pride in showcasing their house facades and patios, and competitions even award the most beautiful courtyard.
Some are only accessible to the public in spring; however, Palacio de Viana is open all year round.
Wander Seville’s majestic palaces
It’s difficult to only pick one place to visit in Seville. The truth is the city is home to incredible historic buildings and palaces, and each has something unique about it, whether it’s the architecture, the history or the picturesque gardens.
Number one on the list is Real Alcazar de Sevilla. The city’s most famous and important palace.
If you do have time, visit it, but if they don’t have tickets when you go, good alternatives are Casa Pilatos and Palacio de las Dueñas.
Best activities in Andalucia for foodies
Attend a food festival
Andalucia is such a fantastic place for foodies because we love food. This is clear when you see families eating out and talking for ages, and the variety of dishes we have, but it’s even clearer when you learn how many food festivals we host.
As a local, I can talk about Malaga food festivals, but this applies to the other seven Andalusian cities. Each city (province) has towns and villages that celebrate food festivals every month, all linked to the local star ingredient.
For example, we have the sugar cane festival in Frigiliana, the cheese festival in Teba, the orange festival in Coín, and the list goes on. You can expect free tastings of dishes made with these ingredients!
Sherry tasting in Jerez
Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, is the go-to place for sherry lovers. It’s here that sherry wine originated, and you can visit emblematic wine cellars in town. Bodega Tio Pepe is the most famous!
Beyond wine, Jerez is an interesting place to explore, and it’s an easy day trip from Sevilla.
Olive oil tasting
Spanish olive oil is gold, that’s what we Spaniards say, and if you live abroad and love olive oil, you’ll definitely agree with this.
There are several places to do olive oil tasting across southern Spain, and you’re going to get high-quality olive oil regardless of the location. However, if you want the best of the best, you must visit Jaen.
Here are some highly-rated olive oil tastings across the region:
Book a cooking lesson
If you feel nostalgic after your trip to southern Spain, a good way to help you with that is to have Andalusian food.
When you book a cooking lesson, you can interact with locals, learn real recipes for authentic dishes, and have a good time doing something completely different.
I recommend checking out cooking experiences with EatWith and Sazón the Folk Cook.
If you don’t want to be hands-on with cooking, you can just do a tapas tour.
Visit Rute for Christmas sweets and chocolates
I love Christmas, and anyone who loves the combination of Christmas and sweets must visit Rute, a small town in Cordoba.
What makes this place unique is its food culture, specifically its sweets. It’s where many of the Christmas biscuits are produced in southern Spain, and they set up a giant nativity scene made of chocolate. It’s so magical to see!
I remember going to Rute from Malaga for a day out with my family when I was a kid. We used to buy lots of mantecados and chocolates for the festive season.
Nowadays, it’s even more famous, so be aware of the crowds, especially in December, but I still think it’s worth it.
🍪Cristina’s tip: Looking for another good place to buy Christmas biscuits? Check out Antequera. I love their mantecados too, and it’s less crowded than Rute.
Best activities in Andalucia for adventurers
Hike El Caminito del Rey
Caminito del Rey (The King’s Little Pathway) is one of Southern Spain’s most famous hiking trails. As you walk this path, you can enjoy breathtaking mountain and gorge views.
It’s possible to do it on your own, but I highly recommend booking a guided tour to learn about the history, nature and fauna of this unique place. I took this tour and couldn’t have been happier with the guide’s explanations and the logistics of getting there.
It gets booked out months in advance, so get your tickets as soon as you know you are visiting Andalusia.
Explore Granada Geopark
It’s one of the most underrated places I’ve ever visited in my region. However, it’s a hundred per cent worth visiting for anyone who loves rugged landscapes and archaeology.
Visit the archaeological sites, stop by tiny villages like Gor for welcoming locals and authentic food, stargaze, take a hot-air balloon ride to take in the rocky formations and landscapes, and sleep in a cave house (I stayed in this one).
The only downside is that it isn’t as accessible as other places, so you’ll need a car for this trip.
Horseback riding
One of the most unique experiences in Andalusia for couples is horseback riding, and it’s even more magical on the beach.
Doñana National Park is a popular location for this, where you can also spot flamingos and other wildlife. While I haven’t done it yet, it’s on my list.
This two-hour activity includes horseback riding at sunset in Doñana. All led by a professional instructor. Another good horseback riding, but this one is in the river.
Visit the Tabernas Desert
El Desierto de Tabernas is Europe’s only recognised desert, making it a unique destination for nature lovers.
The arid landscapes transport you to another world and make you feel like you’re in a Western film.
Take in the views, learn about the Oro del Desierto olive mill, hike the trails, and visit MiniHollywood Oasys, which is popular with families.
Best activities in Andalucia for beach lovers
Surf in Tarifa
I’ve never surfed, so I can’t speak from experience, but Tarifa is considered the best European spot for surfing because of the wind conditions here.
If you’re a beginner, Surf Fun Tarifa offers surfing lessons.
Beyond surfing, I highly recommend exploring Tarifa. I love its hipster, laid-back vibes, sand dunes, and food.
Kayak in Maro
Another fun thing to do in Andalusia for anyone who loves water activities is kayaking, and the best place is just an hour from my hometown.
Maro Beach, just outside Nerja, is a kayaking paradise. It’s small, but you can see crystal-clear water and a hidden waterfall accessible only by water.
Best activities in Andalucia for couples
Treat yourself to a five-star hotel stay
A honeymoon, an anniversary, or your other half’s birthday is a special occasion for couples to treat themselves to a unique hotel stay.
Many accommodation options offer top-notch experiences, so it depends on the type of city break or holiday you want.
For example, I would choose Marbella for a summer holiday or a romantic spring getaway before the crowds arrive. I love Nobu (you can read my review here) and La Fonda.
However, if you’re after a royal-like experience, Hotel Alfonso III in Sevilla won’t disappoint you.
Book a sunset cruise
Sunset is one of my favourite times of the day. The sky’s colours, set against a beautiful backdrop with your other half, tick all the boxes for a romantic experience.
While you can watch the sunset on a beach promenade, on a hike or on a hotel balcony, a sunset cruise makes it extra special.
You can do this experience in most cities in Andalusia. Some of my preferred places for a sunset cruise are Marbella, where you might even be lucky enough to see dolphins, and Seville, on the Guadalquivir River.
Wine tasting in Ronda
When talking about wine, La Rioja region is widely known around the world. However, we also have other amazing wines in southern Spain even if they aren’t as popular.
Wine tasting in Ronda is a fun and must-do activity for couples who love a good glass of wine.
Bodega Doña Felisa is the one that comes to mind first, but there are smaller wineries offering great tastings with tapas too.
Watch a flamenco show in Sevilla
One of the best cultural experiences for couples is to watch a flamenco show. While these are available across Andalucia, Seville is the birthplace of flamenco, so you’ll find really good shows here.
Many shows also include a drink or a meal, like this one.
💃🏻 Not travelling to Seville? Granada has fantastic flamenco shows too, especially in a Sacromonte cave.
Have a spa day
Another type of tourism in Andalusia that isn’t spoken enough is wellness tourism. If you love spas, massages and relaxing treatments, there are plenty of options.
A spa day is a fantastic activity to book for yourself and your partner. You can both disconnect from the daily routine and work and focus on yourselves.
My advice is to look for a hotel with a spa, but if that doesn’t work for you, check out spa passes on websites like Groupon, which actually work out cheaper.
In Malaga, I recommend the Arab Baths in the city centre. My husband and I booked tickets with a massage included and really enjoyed it. We definitely want to repeat soon.
Enjoy a meal overlooking the Alhambra
If you asked me what I want for an anniversary or special occasion, I would always say a food experience is a good idea.
I’ve visited quite a few unique restaurants, but one of my highlight dining experiences was my meal at Restaurante Carmen De Aben Humeya overlooking the Alhambra Palace.
This restaurant offers lunch and dinner service, but I actually recommend dinner for a more romantic setting. The price is high, but the food is exceptional, so I think it’s worth it.
Each dish is beautifully presented and packed with unique flavours. You can read my full review here.
Best activities in Andalucia for kids
Go to Isla Mágica theme park
The most famous themed parks are in Madrid, Barcelona and Alicante, to be honest. We don’t have many in Southern Spain, but the one that stands out is Isla Mágica in Seville.
It has many fun attractions for all ages, interactive shows, and it’s linked to a waterpark open in the summer.
It’s a good place to visit year-round, but it’s even more fun at Halloween and Christmas.
Visit Selwo Aventura
Zoos are typically one of the most booked activities among families with children, which isn’t a surprise. There are several zoos in Andalucia, including the famous Fuengirola BIOPARC, but my favourite is actually Selwo Aventura in Estepona.
It feels different from a typical zoo because it is quite big, and the animals live in semi-captive conditions, with plenty of space to roam. It’s set up a bit like a safari.
Here you can see everything from otters and meerkats to tigers, monkeys, lions and elephants. All the animals looked well cared for every time I’ve visited.
Another good thing about this place is the activities such as zip-lining, archery and animal talks.
Spend the day at a water park
Coming to Andalucia during the summer holidays? It’s very hot across the region; however, coastal cities are milder and a better escape for families with little ones. I strongly recommend going to the Costa del Sol (Malaga, Costa Tropical (Granada) or Costa de la Luz (Cadiz).
On the Costa del Sol, head to Aqualand. It isn’t cheap, but it’s the best waterpark in my opinion. It has plenty of slides, kids’ pools, slow rivers, and other fun attractions.
Celebrate Christmas time in Andalusia
German Christmas markets, Santa visits in Lapland and snowmen are the norm for a winter Christmas holiday. These are amazing, but if you want a different Christmas experience, your kids will love Spain too.
Every city offers plenty of activities for families with kids at Christmas. However, one of the best experiences is the Three Kings Parade, which takes place on the afternoon of the 5th of January.
Dressed-up adults and kids in different costumes throw sweets from themed floats to the kids attending the parade.
This is also a chance for kids to see and learn about the Three Kings, our equivalent of Santa, although we now do both: Santa on the 25th of December and the Three Kings on the 6th of January.
Conclusion
I’ve listed some of my favourite activities and experiences above, but there are even more fun things to do.
If you need help planning your southern Spain adventure, check out my one-to-one calls and itinerary services. I can’t wait to put together a plan for you.
Have a great time in Andalucia!
Cristina
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