Andalusia: Moorish Cities & Ronda

Destination 01

Seville

9 places

Andalusia's capital; stay 3 nights for palaces, flamenco and tapas.

• Photo: CIPRIANO LICENZA · Google

  Real Alcázar

  Royal palace of Mudéjar courtyards, tilework and gardens still used by the Spanish royal family.

  Tip Book the first entry slot online.

  SeeSanta Cruz$$2.5 hrOpening time
• Photo: Set Contreras · Google

  Seville Cathedral and La Giralda

  Largest Gothic cathedral, holding Columbus's tomb; ramps lead up the Giralda tower.

  Tip Buy a combined ticket with the Church of El Salvador.

  SeeCentro$$2 hrMorning
• Photo: Carlos Delgado · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Plaza de España

  Semicircular 1929 plaza with tiled alcoves for each Spanish province and a canal.

  Tip Walk on through María Luisa Park.

  SeeParque de María LuisaFree60 minLate afternoon
• Photo: Aureliano Costa · Google

  Setas de Sevilla

  Huge wooden canopy with a rooftop walkway and Roman ruins in the basement.

  Tip Go up at sunset.

  SeeEncarnación$60 minSunset
• Photo: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0

  Casa de Pilatos

  Noble palace mixing Mudéjar tiles and Renaissance courtyards, quieter than the Alcázar.

  SeeSan Bartolomé$$75 minMidday
• Photo: philippe salgarolo · Google

  Casa de la Memoria

  Intimate nightly flamenco shows in a historic courtyard.

  Tip Small venue; book a day or two ahead.

  DoCentro$$75 minEvening
• Photo: Eli · Google

  Mercado de Triana

  Market over the ruins of the Castillo de San Jorge, with produce and tapas bars.

  Tip Cross the Triana Bridge for river views.

  EatTriana$60 minLate morning
• Photo: Espacio Eslava · Google

  Eslava

  Popular tapas bar and restaurant known for creative small plates.

  Tip Arrive at opening for the bar; no bookings there.

  EatSan Lorenzo$$75 minDinner
• Photo: A.R.T. Goltenboth · Google

  El Rinconcillo

  Bar dating to 1670 where your tab is chalked on the wooden counter.

  Tip Order espinacas con garbanzos with a sherry.

  DrinkSanta Catalina$60 minEarly evening

Destination 02

Córdoba

10 places

Compact old town; 2 nights for the Mezquita and patios.

• Photo: Mato Kucka · Google

  Mezquita-Catedral

  Great mosque of red-and-white arches with a Renaissance cathedral built inside.

  Tip Early morning entry is often free; check times.

  SeeJudería$1.5 hrEarly morning
• Photo: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0

  Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos

  Fortress-palace with terraced gardens, pools and Roman mosaics.

  SeeJudería$75 minMorning
• Photo: Rafesmar · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Roman Bridge

  Bridge over the Guadalquivir leading to the Calahorra Tower.

  Tip Cross at sunset for views back to the Mezquita.

  SeeJuderíaFree30 minSunset
• Photo: Manuel JB · Google

  Palacio de Viana

  Palace with 12 courtyards showing the city's patio tradition.

  SeeSanta Marina$75 minMorning
• Photo: Nieves Fernández Valle · Google

  Judería and Calleja de las Flores

  Old Jewish quarter of whitewashed lanes, a medieval synagogue and pot-lined alleys.

  DoJuderíaFree1.5 hrMorning
• Photo: Ana María Rodríguez Rubio · Google

  Medina Azahara

  Ruins of a 10th-century caliphal palace city, UNESCO-listed, 8 km west.

  Tip Shuttle buses run from the city centre.

  SeeWest of cityFree2.5 hrMorning
• Photo: Hammam Al Ándalus Baños Árabes Córdoba · Google

  Hammam Al Ándalus Córdoba

  Arab-style baths with warm, hot and cold pools under arches.

  Tip Book a time slot ahead.

  DoJudería$$1.5 hrEvening
• Photo: Shahrukh Sayeedi · Google

  Taberna Salinas

  Old tavern serving salmorejo, aubergine with honey and stews around a patio.

  Tip No reservations; arrive at opening.

  EatCentro$75 minLunch
• Photo: Casa Pepe de La Judería · Google

  Casa Pepe de la Judería

  Andalusian cooking on a roof terrace near the Mezquita.

  EatJudería$$1.5 hrDinner
• Photo: Restaurante Córdoba Bodegas Campos · Google

  Bodegas Campos

  Historic winery and tavern with barrels signed by famous visitors.

  Tip Try a glass of local Montilla-Moriles.

  DrinkSan Pedro$$60 minEvening

Destination 03

Granada

10 places

Alhambra city under the Sierra Nevada; 2–3 nights.

• Photo: Adrián Ponferrada · Google

  Alhambra and Generalife

  Nasrid palaces, fortress and gardens on a hill above the city.

  Tip Your Nasrid Palaces entry time is strict.

  SeeAlhambra$$4 hrMorning
• Photo: M. W. · Google

  Mirador de San Nicolás

  Plaza in the Albaicín with a direct view of the Alhambra and mountains.

  Tip Come for sunset; take bus C31 up.

  SeeAlbaicínFree45 minSunset
• Photo: Ubaldo Naya · Google

  Albaicín

  Old Moorish quarter of steep lanes and carmen houses with walled gardens.

  DoAlbaicínFree2 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Mauricio Arango · Google

  Carrera del Darro

  Riverside street below the Alhambra lined with stone bridges and old facades.

  DoAlbaicínFree45 minEvening
• Photo: Heparina1985 · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Royal Chapel of Granada

  Burial place of Ferdinand and Isabella beside the cathedral.

  SeeCentro$45 minMorning
• Photo: Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte. Centro de Interpretación del Valle del Darro. · Google

  Sacromonte Caves Museum

  Cave homes on a hillside show the history of the Sacromonte community.

  SeeSacromonte$75 minAfternoon
• Photo: Lopezsuarez · CC0

  Sierra Nevada

  Mainland Spain's highest range; ski in winter, hike in summer, 45 minutes away.

  OutdoorsSierra Nevada$$6 hrWinter or summer
• Photo: Los Diamantes - Navas · Google

  Los Diamantes

  Busy bar for fried fish and seafood tapas.

  Tip Free tapa comes with each drink in Granada.

  EatCentro$60 minEvening
• Photo: Café Fútbol · Google

  Café Fútbol

  Café on Plaza Mariana Pineda, open since 1903, serving churros with thick chocolate.

  EatCentro$45 minBreakfast
• Photo: Bodegas Castañeda · Google

  Bodegas Castañeda

  Old bodega with barrels and hams, pouring local wine and vermouth.

  DrinkCentro$60 minEarly evening

Destination 04

Ronda

10 places

Cliff-top town over El Tajo gorge; 2 nights for town and white villages.

• Photo: Mark Gilbert · CC BY 3.0

  Puente Nuevo

  18th-century bridge spanning the 100-metre-deep El Tajo gorge.

  Tip Walk down to the Mirador de Aldehuela for the classic view.

  SeeCentroFree60 minMorning
• Photo: Itto Ogami · CC BY 3.0

  Plaza de Toros de Ronda

  One of Spain's oldest bullrings, with a museum on bullfighting history.

  SeeEl Mercadillo$60 minMidday
• Photo: Thomas S. · Google

  Baños Árabes

  13th-century Arab baths by the old Moorish bridge.

  SeeSan Miguel$30 minMorning
• Photo: Ibolya Kissné · Google

  Casa del Rey Moro

  Gardens and a stairway cut through the rock down to the river.

  Tip About 230 steps each way.

  SeeLa Ciudad$60 minMorning
• Photo: Wiki2Fred · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Setenil de las Bodegas

  White town with houses built under overhanging rock.

  Tip A 20-minute drive north.

  SeeSetenilFree2 hrMorning
• Photo: DE MELO Paul · Google

  Caminito del Rey

  Boardwalk pinned to the walls of the Gaitanes gorge.

  Tip Book tickets ahead; helmets provided.

  DoEl Chorro$4 hrMorning
• Photo: Miguel Angel Montes · Google

  Sierra de Grazalema

  Limestone peaks and pine forest around the village of Grazalema.

  OutdoorsGrazalemaFree4 hrSpring
• Photo: Bardal | Benito Gómez | Restaurante en Ronda · Google

  Bardal

  Two-Michelin-star tasting menus by chef Benito Gómez.

  Tip Book weeks ahead.

  EatCentro$$$$3 hrDinner
• Photo: Tragatá | Benito Gómez | Restaurante en Ronda · Google

  Tragatá

  Benito Gómez's casual tapas bar.

  EatCentro$$75 minLunch
• Photo: Antonio Jimenez · Google

  Bodega Descalzos Viejos

  Winery in a 16th-century convent below the town walls.

  Tip Book tours ahead.

  DrinkRonda$$1.5 hrAfternoon