Southern Spain by Road: The Heart of Andalucía
7 nights from €1,670 per person
Highlights
- Explore Granada’s Alhambra with a guide, walking through the Nasrid Palaces, courtyards and gardens of the hilltop complex that became one of AndalucÃa’s defining landmarks.
- Continue to Córdoba for a guided visit to the Mosque-Cathedral, where Islamic arches sit around a later Christian cathedral at the heart of the old city.
- Walk through Córdoba’s historic Jewish Quarter and visit the Alcázar, the fortified palace and gardens used by Spanish monarchs.
- Reach Seville for a small-group tour of the Royal Alcázar, cathedral and Giralda, bringing together the city’s royal, Islamic and Christian history in one morning.
- Drive into the mountains to Ronda, where the old and new parts of town sit on opposite sides of the deep El Tajo gorge.
- Finish in Málaga with the car still at your disposal, giving you time on the Costa del Sol before returning it at the airport.
Granada and the Alhambra
Begin in Granada, where the Sierra Nevada rises behind a city shaped by centuries of Islamic and Christian rule. The main reason to start here is the Alhambra, the vast palace and fortress complex above the city. Your guided visit takes you through its decorated rooms, courtyards and gardens, while a second night gives you time to explore Granada below, from the old AlbaicÃn neighbourhood to tapas bars around the centre.
Across AndalucÃa to Córdoba
The drive north-west brings you to Córdoba, once one of the most important cities in medieval Europe. At its centre is the Mosque-Cathedral, where rows of red-and-white arches from the former mosque surround a Renaissance cathedral built centuries later. Your guided tour also continues through the narrow streets of the Jewish Quarter and into the Alcázar, a fortified royal residence with gardens beside the Guadalquivir River.
Seville
Continue west to AndalucÃa’s capital, where the scale of the monuments changes again. The Royal Alcázar began as a medieval fortress before becoming a palace used by generations of Spanish monarchs, while Seville Cathedral is one of the largest Gothic churches in the world. Your small-group tour also takes in the Giralda, the former mosque minaret that became the cathedral’s bell tower, before you have the rest of the day to explore the city for yourself.
Ronda and Málaga
Leave the larger cities behind for the mountain roads towards Ronda. The town is built around El Tajo, a gorge crossed by the 18th-century Puente Nuevo bridge, with viewpoints looking across the surrounding hills of Málaga province. From here, continue south for the final night in Málaga, where the old centre, waterfront and Mediterranean coast bring the road trip back towards the sea.
Terms and Conditions
Return economy flights from Dublin to Málaga, departing on 01-05-2027. Eight days’ automatic Toyota C-HR hybrid car hire or similar are included from Málaga Airport. Stay two nights in Granada in a Standard Double Room, two nights in Córdoba in a Standard Double Room, followed by stays in Seville, Ronda and Málaga, with breakfast included in Ronda and Málaga. Guided experiences include the Alhambra in Granada, the Mosque-Cathedral, Jewish Quarter and Alcázar in Córdoba, and the Royal Alcázar, Seville Cathedral and Giralda in Seville. The price is based on two adults.
7 nights from €1,670 per person
The Small Print
All bookings are subject to Travel Counsellors' standard booking conditions, copies of which are available on request. Travel Counsellors Ireland is licenced and bonded with the Irish Aviation Authority, licence number TA 621. We strongly recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking. Prices are per person based on the stated number of passengers sharing and are subject to availability at the time of booking.
