All eight provinces
Everything worth knowing about the south of Spain
Practical, locally informed travel guides to all eight provinces of Andalucía.
Start with a provinceThe eight provinces
Compare them all →ProvinceAlmeríaCabo de Gata, desert landscapes used by the spaghetti westerns, and the emptiest beaches on the Mediterranean coast.ProvinceCádizAtlantic coast, sherry country and the oldest continuously inhabited city in western Europe. Where the white villages actually begin.ProvinceCórdobaThe Mezquita, the patios, and a compact old city that works as a day trip but rewards an overnight stay.ProvinceGranadaThe Alhambra, and a mountain range behind it. The only province in Andalucía where you can ski in the morning and reach the coast the same afternoon.ProvinceHuelvaDoñana, pine forest and long empty Atlantic sand. The least visited coastal province, and the departure point of the 1492 voyage.ProvinceJaénOlive country, the Renaissance towns of Úbeda and Baeza, and the largest protected natural area in Spain at Cazorla.ProvinceMálagaThe easiest arrival in Andalucía and the base most first trips start from. A serious museum city that also happens to sit on the Costa del Sol.ProvinceSevilleThe regional capital. Flamenco, the Alcázar and the Cathedral, and the two events that define the Andalusian year — Semana Santa and the Feria de Abril.
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What is on
All fiestas & events →Plan your trip
Four decisions, in this order
Most Andalucía trips go wrong in the planning, not on the ground. Get these four right and the rest tends to follow.
When to visit- Pick a provinceAlmería is desert, Cádiz is Atlantic, Jaén is olive groves. Where you land decides most of the trip.
- Pick a monthJuly inland is 40°C. Semana Santa fills every hotel. The calendar matters more here than in most of Europe.
- Decide about a carThe white villages need one. Seville, Granada and Córdoba are better without.
- Book the things that sell outAlhambra Nasrid Palaces, the Mezquita at night, feria accommodation. Weeks ahead, not days.
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Cities