A road trip in Andalusia is an experience that is so much more fun and enriching than visiting the big cities. A drive through Andalusia, the beautiful region of Southern Spain, will take you through rich fields of sunflowers, orange blossoms, hills of olive groves, rugged mountains and the pristine beaches of Costa del Sol. This post has affiliate links for your convenience.
Charting out a path
A road trip with kids in Andalusia will need careful planning. Get into Spain on a flight to Barcelona or Madrid and then board one of the high-speed trains or a local flight to Seville. Then, pick up your rental car from the airport or train station. This way, you will avoid driving through busy city roads.
Suggestion for a seven-day road trip through Southern Spain
Start your road trip in Andalusia with one day or two in Seville. It gets very hot in the summer so plan for morning activities, then get the kids out of the sun.
Interesting things to do here are exploring the Real Alcazar or Royal Palace that still serves as a Royal Residence and climbing the bell tower at the Seville Cathedral which is the tallest Gothic cathedral. You can also take a carriage ride, a boat cruise at Guadalquivir River and see a Flamenco show.
You can then drive your rental car to Marbella on the coast where you can explore some of Andalusia’s famous towns or Pueblos Blancos in Spanish, which are so called because of the whitewashed buildings.
At Ronda, see the 100-meter deep El Tajo gorge that is in between the new bridge in the heart of the town center. This is also the place to see where modern bullfighting started and country’s oldest bullfight ring that has a small museum nearby.
From Ronda, head to Marbella, a busy seaside resort town. This old city has cobblestone streets and piazzas full of flowers. The food here is amazing and so are the places to shop. The kids will take great delight in entertainment places such as Sea Life Benalmadena, Aqualand Torremolinos, Tivoli World and Selwo Adventura.
There will also love spending time on the beach and dipping into the ocean in between building sand castles.
After a day or two in Marbella, you can take a day trip to Gibraltar. Just be sure to carry your passports because this is a British territory. Leave early because border crossings can be a tedious process. You can drive your rental car across the border or park it at the bus station and cross over on foot. The big attractions to see here are the Upper Rock Nature Preserve, the labyrinth of tunnels known as the Great Siege Tunnels and Apes Den where apes and monkeys live.
From here, take a two-hour drive to Granada.
A must-see here is Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alhambra is one of the great ancient palaces of the world. Note that this can tire out the kids so do it in the morning, then retire back to your hotel and call it a day.
The next day, which should be your last, you can spend the morning shopping then get packed for your flight to Madrid.
Places to stay on a road trip with kids in Andalusia
It goes without saying that you want to stay in a place that will accommodate the needs of young ones.
In this regard, Hotel Silken is ideal. It is located in the heart of Malaga, near the local train station. Breakfast buffets are served daily and an on-site gastro bar serves local Andalusian dishes. There are also places of interest nearby including Picasso Museum and the Cathedral. The beach, shops and a supermarket are also nearby.
Hotel Silken has another branch too, conveniently located in the gardens of Heliopolis district which is close to Maria Luisa Park and Plaza de Espana, the main square: Hotel Silken Al Andalus Palace is a comfortable and quiet accommodation, ideal for families travelling with kids. It is only ten minutes away from the historical center of Seville, close both to the airport and Santa Justa Station.
Hotel Hacienda Posada de Vallina, in the heart of Barrio de la Juderia, is well appointed and ideally situated. It is just 2 km from Cordoba’s train station and 170 km from Malaga Airport. It is close to places like Palacio de la Merced, the Cathedral de Cordoba, Puente Romano and other attraction sites.
Reluctant goodbye
Like many before you, you will say a reluctant goodbye to Andalusia. A part of your heart will remain behind and you will be thinking of going back even as you leave.
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Great post. I ‘m facing a couple of these difficulties.