🇪🇸 Andalusia road trip: our 6-day itinerary, budget and map

Andalusia road trip: our 6-day itinerary, budget and map

Our trip ran from 22 February to 1 March 2025. We landed in Málaga late on the first evening, then spent six full days exploring a loop through the Costa del Sol, Caminito del Rey, the white villages, Cádiz, Seville and Córdoba. On 1 March, before our return flight, we still had a few hours to enjoy Málaga.

This pace reflects the way we like to travel: we would rather get a broad feel for a city, walk a lot and connect different atmospheres than spend an entire day inside every monument. In Seville, for example, we focused on the city on foot and saw the major monuments from the outside; in Córdoba, however, we had pre-booked the Mezquita-Catedral and also visited the Alcázar.

Our road trip cost roughly €1,700 for two people, or around €850 per person, with a few estimated items such as fuel and meals.

Our Andalusia itinerary day by day

Late arrival — Málaga

We arrived on 22 February at around 11 pm to pick up the car. We spent the night at Hotel Málaga Vibes (€93.63), chosen mainly for convenience.

Day 1 — Colomares, Mijas and El Chorro

Our first proper day started at the Castillo Monumento Colomares, where around an hour was enough for the outdoor visit, followed by Mijas Pueblo, its white streets and Plaza de Toros. We ended the day in El Chorro at Hotel La Garganta.

Read the full stage: Málaga, Colomares & Mijas →

Day 2 — Caminito del Rey, Setenil, Júzcar and Ronda

We started with the Caminito del Rey. As standard tickets were sold out, we booked the official guided visit; once there, after the initial briefing, we were allowed to continue at our own pace. We then headed to Setenil de las Bodegas, had lunch in Júzcar at Bar Parriba Pabajo, and finished in Ronda with walks down both sides of the Puente Nuevo.

Read the full stage: Caminito del Rey →

Day 3 — Zahara de la Sierra, Arcos and arrival in Cádiz

We spent about two hours in Zahara de la Sierra, walking through the village and climbing to the foot of the castle. At Arcos de la Frontera, we stayed on the opposite side to enjoy the view rather than entering the old town, as we wanted to reach Cádiz early enough to enjoy the city.

Read the full stage: Zahara, Arcos & Cádiz →

Day 4 — Cádiz, then Seville

Cádiz is ideal to explore on foot. We walked through the historic centre, along the waterfront and past the main monuments from the outside. Its maritime atmosphere was one of the biggest surprises of the trip. We then drove on to Seville.

Read the full stage: Seville →

Day 5 — Seville on foot, then Córdoba

In Seville we opted for a broad walking tour: Plaza de España, the Cathedral and Giralda from the outside, the Real Alcázar area, Torre del Oro and Metropol Parasol. For Las Setas, we preferred the view from the Abba Sevilla rooftop rather than paying for the elevated walkway.

Read the full stage: Seville →

Day 6 — Córdoba, then overnight near Villanueva del Rosario

In Córdoba we deliberately slowed down: the Mezquita-Catedral was booked in advance, and we also visited the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, San Basilio, the Roman Bridge and Torre de Guadalcabrillas. After the visit, we stayed at Hacienda Fresneda María before heading back towards Málaga.

Read the full stage: Córdoba & Málaga →

1 March — a few hours in Málaga before our flight

We finished with a quick visit to Málaga: the city centre, the beach, the famous Málaga sign and the climb to Mirador de Gibralfaro for the view over the city and bay. Our last meal was at Rincón de los Pintores, before returning the car and heading to the airport.

Read the full stage: Córdoba & Málaga →

Main driving legs of our loop

The distances below are approximate and mainly useful for understanding the pace of the trip. Always recalculate the route before departure.

Budget for our Andalusia road trip for two

Our budget combines exact amounts from our bookings with a few reasonable estimates for expenses we did not track to the cent, mainly fuel and meals.

This budget reflects our style of travel: simple but well-located hotels, breakfast included, quick lunches and tapas-style dinners without alcohol. Ticket and hotel prices can vary by season and booking date.

What we liked about Andalusia in February

February allowed us to walk a lot without the intense summer heat and to visit several places in a relatively calm atmosphere. That does not mean every attraction is empty: Caminito del Rey, for example, still needs advance booking. For the way we travel, though, this period was an excellent compromise.

The 6 detailed stages of our Andalusia road trip

• Stage 1 — Málaga, Colomares & Mijas
• Stage 2 — Caminito del Rey
• Stage 3 — Setenil, Júzcar & Ronda
• Stage 4 — Zahara, Arcos & Cádiz
• Stage 5 — Seville
• Stage 6 — Córdoba & Málaga

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