Itinerary: One Week in Andalucia
The southwest corner of Andalucía provides a concentration of Spanishness that you can experience in just a few days—but be warned, it’s going to be intense!
Fly into Málaga and out of Sevilla for a passionate week of flamenco, matadors, prancing horses, and world-famous wines.
Day 1: Málaga
Let Picasso be your guide in this picturesque port city. At the unmissable Museo Picasso you’ll see plenty of images to introduce you the spirit of Andalucía, from his famous doves of peace to his beloved bullfights. Then visit a traditional bodega like Antigua Casa de Guardia to try Málaga’s famous sweet wines. Visit a traditional bodega to taste Málaga’s famous wines, then dine among the barrels at El Pimpi.
Day 2: Ronda
Pick up a rental car in the morning and drive inland to Ronda, one of Andalucía’s most dramatic towns. Nineteenth-century travelers fell for its edginess, and you will too. Visit the museum at Spain’s oldest bullring, and lunch on oxtail at Pedro Romero, named after its most famous matador. But mostly, marvel at the drama of its gorge and the soaring Puente Nuevo bridge that spans it.
Day 3: Pueblos Blancos
Drive west across the Sierra de Grazalema through the Pueblos Blancos—the white towns scattered across the mountains. They include extraordinary cave houses at Setenil de las Bodegas, the Moorish hilltop redoubt of Zahara de la Sierra, and green Grazalema, an ideal stop for a rustic lunch. Then continue to Arcos de la Frontera and overnight at its parador for spectacular views of the valley.
Day 4: Jerez de la Frontera
It’s a 30-minute drive from Arcos to Jerez, the capital of sherry. Book a tour at one of its famous wineries. Bodegas Tradición offers rare old sherries and an enviable collection of Spanish art, including the wonderful Bandolero Torero (Bandit Bullfighter) by José Jimenez Aranda. Catch a performance of the dancing Andalucian horses at the Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre and round off your day with a tour of the tabancos, the tiny sherry bars where informal flamenco flourishes.
Day 5: Cádiz
It’s another 30 minutes by car from Jerez to Cádiz, where you can drop your rental car at the railway station. The Armada-era fortifications and sandy beaches of this famous sea-facing city are best appreciated on foot. Let the smell of frying fish guide you to its traditional restaurants, and try local delicacies served on waxed paper in characterful bars like Casa Manteca.
Day 6: Sevilla
There’s a regular fast train from Cádiz to Sevilla. After the Alcázar and the Catedral, the Real Maestranza—considered Spain’s most important bullring—is the city’s most visited site, and the area around is full of atmosphere. Savor the Spaniards’ favorite jamón Ibérico ham at Cinco Jotas (p. ###), and book a passionate flamenco show at Tablao El Arenal.
Day 7: Sevilla’s Triana
Triana, the working-class quarter across the Guadalquivír River, is where many of the great bullfighters and flamenco artists were born. If along the way you’ve fallen in love with Andalucia’s decorative ceramics, visit the Centro Cerámica Triana, and pick up a souvenir plate or tile at one of the workshops nearby. After a riverfront dinner, visit a late-night bar for impromptu song and dance. You can always sleep on your flight home.