A short introduction
Andalusia is the southern region of Spain. Apart from the beautiful weather (it’s usually warm and sunny – except during our last stay), the region attracts visitors with its history and cultural diversity. In this small area, European architecture mixes with Arab architecture. That’s why you can see both monumental Christian churches and huge, beautiful Muslim palaces here. Since they’re so close, when visiting Andalusia it’s also worth going to Gibraltar and Tangier (Morocco).
Trip summary
Our trip took place in the second half of January 2020. In just under 11 days we visited 10 places in 3 countries. Our route was almost 800 kilometres long. We spent most of the time in the south of Spain – in Andalusia. We devoted one day to Gibraltar, and the next we took a ferry to Tangier in Morocco. The weather was bearable at first, but within a few days it got much worse. Only on the day before our flight home did the sun come back – and it was there to stay for a long time. A pity – we were unlucky. Unfortunately, even with fairly intensive sightseeing, we didn’t manage to see everything we had planned.
Planning accommodation
Before the flight we had booked accommodation only for the first three nights (Málaga). We booked the rest spontaneously, sometimes even two hours in advance. We were there out of season, so it was no problem. The average price per night for a double room was €25 (6 different places). The cheapest night – Tangier (€20), the most expensive – Tarifa (€30) – but we had a whole apartment to ourselves.
Car rental
Moving around so often and with limited time, renting a car was the best option. We booked it a week in advance through the German website Check24. For 10 days (17–27 January 2020) we paid €108.00 for a Volkswagen Polo with full insurance. That was a great price, even considering the time of year. Our rental company (Helle Hollis) is close to Málaga airport, but not right next to it (a shuttle bus took us there).
Sightseeing map (11 days):
Sightseeing plan (11 days):
Click “article” to go to the article about a given place.
- Málaga – 17 Jan (evening) – 20 Jan (morning) – article
- Gibraltar – 20 Jan (morning) – 20 Jan (evening) – article
- Tarifa – 20 Jan (evening) – 21 Jan (morning)
- Tangier – 21 Jan (midday) – 22 Jan (midday) – article
- Cádiz – 22 Jan (afternoon) – article
- Seville – 22 Jan (evening) – 25 Jan (morning) – article
- Ronda – 25 Jan (midday) – 26 Jan (morning) – article
- Caminito del Rey – 26 Jan (morning) – article
- Torcal de Antequera – 26 Jan (afternoon) – article
- Torremolinos – 26 Jan (evening) – 27 Jan (afternoon)
Distances covered
- Málaga – Gibraltar – 132 km
- Gibraltar – Tarifa – 41 km
- Tarifa – Tangier – 32 km
- Tarifa – Cádiz – 106 km
- Cádiz – Seville – 127 km
- Seville – Ronda – 131 km
- Ronda – Caminito del Rey – 59 km
- Caminito del Rey – Torcal de Antequera – 63 km
- Torcal de Antequera – Torremolinos – 63 km
- Transport to/from the airport – 18 km
Total – 772 km
Cost of the trip
The cost per person came to just under €500 (two people in total), including accommodation, plane tickets, the ferry, car rental, fuel, admission to attractions, a Spanish SIM card and small souvenirs. We were lucky that on the Sunday in Málaga we could visit many places for free. We paid for attractions in Gibraltar, Seville and on the Caminito del Rey trail (the King’s Little Path).
What didn't we have time for?
We didn’t have time for Granada, the Sierra Nevada mountains, or Fort Bravo near Almería – a Wild West-style theme park. That will be an excuse for another trip to the region. All the more so because, apart from the weather, we really liked it, so we’ll be happy to come back.
The last day – Torremolinos
We started the last day with breakfast at the hostel (included in the price), then set off to see a bit of the town – Torremolinos. Unfortunately, as if out of spite, only then did the weather turn good – sunny, cloudless and over 20 degrees. From the beach you could see the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada, 100 km away. Before that it had been impossible because of the poor visibility. Before leaving for the airport we went to a restaurant to order a set lunch – it consisted of a starter, soup, a main course and cake.
Practical information:
- It’s best to get around by car. Car rental is cheap. We rented ours for €108 for 10 days (out of season)
- Be sure to try tapas and sangria – food is relatively cheap in bars and relatively expensive in shops
- Relatively few people speak English.
- Not every bar accepts cards.
- Accommodation is attractively priced (out of season). We always rented a room in a hostel – the average price was €25.
