South Spain Road Trip: Discovering Andalusia

From Seville, drive your campervan on the A-92 motorway towards Granada. Take a break from the long drive that kicks off your South Spain road trip and stop at Antequera, one of Andalusia’s most important towns.

Admire its historical streets and buildings, and visit the area’s ancient dolmens, a UNESCO Heritage Site.

Resume your Seville road trip and get to Granada, one of Spain’s most beautiful cities. Its location at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and its Islamic heritage makes it one of the most visited places in the country.

The highlight is La Alhambra, the fortress and palace completed in the 14th century by Muslim rulers and one of the symbols of the kingdom of Al Andalus. Do not miss El Generalife, the garden area attached to La Alhambra, and the old narrow streets of Albaicín, Granada’s most interesting neighbourhood.

Almería’s location on the Southeastern end of the Iberian Peninsula makes it one of the driest regions in Europe—it’s also one of its most unique! Several famous movies have been filmed on its arid landscape, like Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns, Lawrence of Arabia, Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and even some Game of Thrones episodes.

Except you haven’t come to Almería to shoot a film but to explore its wonderful coast. Sunny days are guaranteed as this area is the only region in mainland Europe with a true hot desert climate.

Head to Spain’s southeastern corner, to Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, and discover a volcanic landscape full of coves, cliffs, and sandy beaches. Do not miss Níjar, a little Moorish village of whitewashed houses and an interesting addition to your South Spain road trip.

Continue your South Spain road trip driving west along the Mediterranean coast. Facing South on the foothills of Sierra Nevada, La Alpujarra is an enchanting little region of small villages boasting incredible scenery, including almond trees and vineyards grown on terraces.

The contrast of the high mountains and the views of the Mediterranean sea makes driving through La Alpujarra an unforgettable experience.

In all, La Alpujarra contains about 50 small villages. Lanjarón, the region’s gate town, and Órgiva, its capital, are both worth a stop.

The whitewashed villages of Cañar, Soportújar, and Carataunas are called El Balcón de La Alpujarra (Alpujarra’s Balcony) for their breathtaking views. Pampaneira, Bubión, and Capileira are also worth visiting.

If you feel adventurous, drive your campervan to Trevélez, one of the highest villages in Western Europe, and savor its famous jamón serrano with a glass of wine.

Leave behind the gorgeous landscapes of Almería and La Alpujarra and continue your South Spain road trip with a couple of days of urban excitement. Málaga, Spain’s sixth largest city, has transformed itself into a vibrant city by combining its long history with thriving modernity.

Start exploring Málaga’s rich past at La Alcazaba, a Moorish fortress dating from the 11th century built next to the ancient Roman amphitheatre. Continue with the city’s Renaissance cathedral and Santiago’s church, a great showcase of Málaga’s mixed architecture.

• Málaga also features some fantastic museums worth checking out:
• Museo Picasso
• Museo Carmen Thyssen
• Museo de Málaga
• Centre Pompidou Málaga

And don’t forget the tapas! With a bustling gastronomic scene, the city offers a fantastic range of bars and top restaurants.

As your campervan enters the last leg of this thrilling South Spain road trip, you start one of the most incredible itineraries you can do in Spain: the White Villages Route.

It contains a total of 19 villages of whitewashed houses, some in stunning natural settings. Like Setenil de las Bodegas, built straight into the bedrock of a narrow river gorge. Or Zahara de la Sierra, it’s ancient castle built atop a craggy rock overlooking the surrounding lake and plains.

Take your pick and you won’t be disappointed.

Some of the villages are inside Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, which contains several hiking routes of extraordinary natural beauty.

Not only will you find rolling green hills, limestone peaks, and gigantic griffon vultures on the final leg of this South Spain road trip, but Grazalema itself is one of the white villages worth checking out.