Travel advice for Spain
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Spain
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written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 17.07.2019
The Alhambra in Granada; the Mezquita in Córdoba; the Alcazar and the Barrio de Santa Cruz in Seville... Andalucía certainly isn’t short of big-name sights. But beyond the cities (with their throngs of visitors) and crowning the dramatic landscapes that stretch away, lies another, just as appealing side: the stunning white villages of Andalucia.
9 days / from2468 USD
Andalucía Explored
Discover the best of Andalucía's breathtaking palaces, churches, museums, vineyards, and more, as you travel through spectacular scenery dotted with pueblos blancos and bordered by rugged mountains and coast en route to Granada, Seville, Ronda and Jerez de la Frontera.
view tour ⤍4 days / from643 USD
A culinary experience in Seville
Explore the cuisine and surroundings of Seville in Andalucia. From Iberian ham over sherry wines to the production and secrets of olive oil, this tour is an ideal weekend getaway. Decide yourself if you prefer a rental car or a chauffeur-driven car to explore the beauty of Andalucia.
view tour ⤍10 days / from3791 USD
Spanish Honeymoon
Discover Andalusia, starting with the cultural city of Seville, then on to Córdoba and Granada, home of the stunning Alhambra Palace. Next you'll visit Granada and the Albayzin Arab quarter, then enjoy a stunning hot-air balloon ride, before ending your trip with a luxury boat trip from Marbella!
view tour ⤍5 days / from1480 USD
Made for Madrid
Take to the Spanish capital for art, culture and a taste of life in the city, Madrileño-style. Explore age-old churches and pretty plazas, stroll through the lovely Buen Retiro Park and visit captivating Toledo. Then, come sundown, discover the city's vibrant barrios and lively nightlife.
view tour ⤍4 days / from1399 USD
A Madrid getaway
Spend four days discovering the wonders of Spain's capital Madrid: from fascinating museums like El Prado and Reina Sofia over exploring unknown corners with your private guide to a day trip to the surroundings, this itinerary packs the best of Madrid.
view tour ⤍18 days / from4590 USD
Hidden Spain - From Barcelona to Basque Country
Do you want to explore highlights in Spain while staying in nature at the same time? Look no further. Start your Spanish adventure in Barcelona before heading off to the mountains - drive your rental car to Andorra and further on to Basque Country. Decide between driving yourself or guided tours.
view tour ⤍8 days / from2360 USD
Andalucía by Car
Enjoy this road trip through Spain’s exuberant Andalucía, which will take you through the charming cities of Malaga, Seville, Granada and various 'white villages', including Ronda, with its vertiginous views across the sweeping Andalucían countryside.
view tour ⤍5 days / from1717 USD
The Lands of Wine from Madrid
Spain is well known for its amazing wines and this itinerary allows you to explore two famous regions: Ribera del Duero and La Rioja. Four different wineries, from traditional to modern, and many restaurants on the way await your visit.
view tour ⤍9 days / from1490 USD
The Cities, Mountains and Beaches of Northern Spain
Southern Spain has been a busy tourist destination for many years. This self-drive trip avoids the touristy area along the southern Spanish coast, instead opting to take in the culture of the north and its natural beauty and the rugged beaches and coast.
view tour ⤍4 days / from902 USD
Simply Seville
Make the most of a city break in one of Spain's most atmospheric cities. The home of flamenco, Seville is a veritable feast for all the senses. Come here for the tantalising cuisine and fragrant orange trees, awe-inspiring Gothic cathedral, pretty plazas and many excellent museums and galleries.
view tour ⤍13 days / from6572 USD
Cultural Cities of Spain
From Barcelona down to Granada in the deep South, see the best of Spain on this multi-city tour that takes in Madrid, Córdoba and Seville, too. Get to grips with Gaudí, see historic Toledo, wander through the Prado, see the Alhambra, and more on this cultural extravaganza of Spain's finest cities.
view tour ⤍7 days / from2700 USD
The tale of two cities: Madrid and Barcelona
Explore the capital of Spain Madrid with a unique city tour before heading about an hour outside of the city, to visit Europe's longest zip-line in historic Toledo. Afterwards, board a train to explore the second-largest city of Spain, Barcelona.
view tour ⤍4 days / from1539 USD
A weekend getaway to Malaga
Malaga is a coastal city in Andalusia, right on the famous 'Costa del Sol'. This weekend getaway allows you to explore the city, as well as the well-known surrounding cities of Ronda and Marbella. Yellow sand beaches, fascinating museums and a delicious cuisine await to be discovered.
view tour ⤍4 days / from1582 USD
City break Valencia
Spain's third largest city offers a beautiful old city quarter, plentiful history and a vibrant culture to be discovered. Palaces, museums and a rich cuisine make Valencia an attractive weekend getaway destination, as does the nearby wine region of Requena.
view tour ⤍12 days / from4012 USD
Iconic Cities of Spain: Madrid, Seville, Valencia and Barcelona
Spend a wonderful 12 days exploring the best that Spain has to offer on a trip including city tours of historical Madrid, Granada, Seville, Valencia, and Barcelona. Enjoy palatial-style boutique accommodation throughout the holiday, and savour delicious cuisine and regional wine. Be inspired!
view tour ⤍29 days / from9245 USD
From the South to the North - a Spanish Immersion
The ultimate trip for Spain lovers - explore the country at a leisurely pace from the South to the North. Start in Seville and make your way to Madrid via Granada and Cordoba. From Madrid, continue to the North - the Camino de Santiago, Basque Country and mountains await.
view tour ⤍16 days / from2538 USD
Gems in Southern Spain
Discover the gems of Southern Spain at a leisurely pace. Start and end is in Seville. From there, you will venture out to visit Cordoba, Granada, Ronda, Nerja, Malaga and the Costa del Sol, and much more on the way. Transportation and accommodation options are diverse and yours to choose.
view tour ⤍10 days / from4590 USD
Spanish Discovery - Barcelona, Seville & Madrid
This unique trip is ideal for everyone wanting to get a real taste of Spain. Private guides or small group tours await to show you Barcelona, Figueres, Seville, Cordoba, Toledo, and Madrid. Stay in luxurious Boutique Hotels conveniently located so you can explore the cities on your own as well.
view tour ⤍7 days / from3062 USD
Iberian Blend - Porto and Galicia
Neighbour countries - Portugal and Spain, different and similar at the same time, will surprise you with hospitality and loveliness. This itinerary includes the route of the Northwest part of Iberian Peninsula and offers you to meet beautiful Porto and stunning Vigo in Galicia/Spain.
view tour ⤍15 days / from5913 USD
Camino de Santiago & Portugal Deluxe
Hike the 'Way of Saint James', more precisely - the Portuguese Route, a World Heritage Site. After 5 days of beautiful hikes, it's time to say goodbye to Spain and hop on a plane to Portugal. Lisbon and Porto await before exploring the wineries of Douro Valley. A truly exceptional trip.
view tour ⤍4 days / from2538 USD
A Luxury Journey through the Vineyards of La Rioja
Visit La Rioja, Spain's most renowned wine-producing region, and discover the secrets of Spanish wine making. By the time this unique trip is over, you'll have sampled a wide range of fine Spanish wines, and you're sure to be going home as an expert.
view tour ⤍18 days / from5962 USD
Self Drive in Northern Spain
This tour is perfect for the independent traveller, with a sense of adventure and a love for food. Start in Santiago and discover among others Galicia and Asturia, all the way to Basque Country. On the way, Michelin starred restaurants and beautiful vineyards await. Finish your trip in Barcelona.
view tour ⤍8 days / from2479 USD
Castilian Castles: A Luxury Spanish Road Trip
Welcome to the driving trip of a lifetime through the Castile region, a picturesque land full of regenerated medieval castles and farmed plains. Explore places like Rioja Alavesa, a privileged microclimate for vine cultivation, and the majestic locations of Albarracin and Alarcón, at your own pace.
view tour ⤍9 days / from5935 USD
Unique Spain - Cultural Getaway
A trip filled with history, amazing landscapes and cultural attractions. Starting with walking tours around the cities hearts, to exploring the gastronomy, the arts and the folklore. Your trip begins in Barcelona before proceeding to Madrid and finishing in Seville - Andalusia's capital.
view tour ⤍The approach to Alhama de Granada, as you leave the coast from Malaga and head inland towards Granada, is a spectacular one. First you squeeze through the high Zafarraya Pass – a narrow crack in the mountains – before plateauing out and snaking through copses of holm oak and fields of waving corn.
As for the town itself: perched on the edge of a gorge, it gazes out across the rolling plains of the Sierra de Tejeda. Its ramshackle network of narrow streets hides some grand old houses, one or two interesting churches and a former Inquisition stronghold, La Casa de la Inquisición; just outside the town there’s an old Moorish bathhouse to explore – and even bathe in.
Recommended place to stay: La Seguiriya, Calle las Peñas, 12; a fantastic little boutique hotel with an excellent bar/restaurant.
While not quite as picturesquely situated as Arcos or Vejer de la Frontera, once you’re inside the hilltop village of Medina Sidonia there’s plenty to catch the eye. Pretty doesn’t quite cut it, though; faded grandeur is more the order of the day. Despite its size, it was once one of Spain’s most prestigious ducal seats, and before that, an important Moorish and Roman town.
And in its Moorish gates, some well-preserved Roman sewers and its handsome mansions, there’s still a sense of the weight of its long history. These days, though, it has a pleasingly sleepy, rather forgotten about feel; stray cats sleep in the shade, while old men noisily fill the bars out on stiflingly hot afternoons – leaving the town pretty much yours for the wandering…
Recommended place to stay: Casa Rural Los Balcones, Calle la Loba, 26; a well renovated 19th-century mansion.
Evan Frank/Shutterstock
It may seem a little strange not to include anywhere from the Alpujarras in a list of the most beautiful white villages of Andalucia. But in Montefrio, we’ve plumped for a Granada village, which, rising high above the mile after rolling mile of dusty olive groves, has a real sense of drama in its setting.
The village itself has a couple of fine churches – one of which, La Iglesia de la Villa, contains a museum dedicated to the reconquest and is surrounded by the ruins of the Moorish alcazaba (fortress). A short drive away, the important Neolithic site of Las Peñas de los Gitanos (which consists of caves and stone tombs), is also well worth a visit.
Recommended place to stay: Hotel la Enrea, Paraje la Enrea; a former watermill situated just outside the village in a river gorge.
A stone's throw from the high-rise developments of the costa is one of the most accessible of all the white villages of Andalucia: Casares. As you drive towards it, you see the usual sparkling white houses, stacked up like sugar lumps, one on top of another, clustered around the ever-present Moorish castle.
At close quarters, there’s little to do in the village but stroll around, admiring the views and stopping for the occasional coffee or cold beer. Although it could be quite easily seen in a day trip from Malaga, it’s a far better idea to stay the night and visit the nearby Roman sulphur baths – which were said to have attracted Caesar, and given the village its name.
Recommended place to stay: Hotel Casares, Calle Copera, 52; a selection of pleasant rooms, many with excellent views of the village and surrounding countryside.
When in Malaga Province, we recommend that you visit the capital. And our guide to the best things to do in Malaga will help you plan your visit.
Perched high on its impregnable rocky outcrop and visible for miles around, Arcos de la Frontera is perhaps the most impressive of all the white villages of Andalucia. In many respects, like Medina Sidonia, Arcos is more of a town than a village, and as a result it’s got more than its fair share of tempting tapas options to try out…
And once you’ve managed to pull yourself away from the bar, with its echoing cobbled streets, and tucked away nooks and crannies, Arcos has a mysterious quality to it. In fact, the town is said to have something of a dark history, with all sorts of whispers of witchcraft and madness. All of which, of course, simply adds to the romantic appeal of the place!
Recommended place to stay: Hotel los Olivos; Paseo de Boliches, 30; this attractive casa antigua with a cool, plant-filled patio makes for an atmospheric bed for the night.
When planning a trip to the villages of Andalucía, also check out our list of the best places to stay in Andalucía.
Top image © Caron Badkin/Shutterstock
written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 17.07.2019
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From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Spain