Andalusia from Málaga: the Alhambra, white villages and the Costa del Sol, for families and couples

Who this guide is for

Families with kids and couples going to Andalusia for the first time, flying into Málaga and planning 7 to 14 days. It’s for people who want both sides of the south of Spain: the beach on the Costa del Sol and the big names inland, the Alhambra in Granada, Seville, Córdoba and Ronda. We show how to see all of it from one base, with a rental car and day trips, so you unpack only once.

It’s not the right guide if you’d rather move to a new hotel every two days on a long road trip around the whole region, or if you’re coming mainly for the nightlife. We also don’t cover the Atlantic coast around Cádiz in detail: it’s almost three hours from Málaga and deserves its own trip.

What’s inside

Twelve chapters and a map. We start with where to stay (Málaga city or the beach towns next to it), when to go and how many days you need, then cover the airport, the train, renting a car and the rules for driving into old towns. Next come the Alhambra and Granada, Málaga itself, day trips to Ronda, Seville, Córdoba, Nerja and Gibraltar, the Caminito del Rey and other days outdoors, and the beaches and quieter places. We finish with hand-picked stays in three towns, what to eat and where, a real week’s budget for a family, and the tips that save the most time and money. Every place is also on one map.

The twelve question marks are the places we’d plan an Andalusia trip around. They open, with names and photos, in the full guide, together with a Google map of every place, beach and stay we mention.

Prices checked in September 2026 for the 2026–27 season.

Want a plan built around your dates, your kids’ ages and your budget? Order a custom trip plan.