Top 10 things to see and do in Andalucía, Spain

Andalucía is one of Spain’s most beloved tourist hotspots, evoking thoughts of white-washed buildings, red wine, tapas, sunshine and beaches. This is where the earliest Islamic influence in southern Spain harks back to the 8th century, following the Moorish invasion of the Iberian Peninsula.

But did you also know that Andalucía is home to Europe’s second highest mountain range, the Sistema Penibético, and the country’s most important wetlands reserve?

Andalucía’s three principal cities, Granada, Seville (the region’s capital) and Córdoba, are bursting with world-class heritage sites and plenty of romantic spots for couples to enjoy, such as the beautiful gardens at the fortified palace of Alcàzar de los Reyes Cristianos in Córdoba.

To help you make the most of your visit, we have compiled a list of our favourite things to see and do across the region of Andalucía.

TOP TIP: For more inspiration, pick up a copy of DK Eyewitness’ Top 10 Andalucía and the Costa Del Sol, a pocket guide with insider tips, colour photos and pull-out laminated map of the region.

Top 10 Andalucía and the Costa del Sol DK

1Discover Andalucía’s Moorish heritage at the Alhambra

The Alhambra palace and fortress complex in Granada

The earliest Islamic influence in southern Spain harks back to the 8th century, following the Moorish invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. Consisting largely of the Amazigh people of North Africa, they ruled for some 800 years and left an impressive cultural legacy. Among them is one of the best-preserved medieval Arab palaces in the world, the Alhambra.

Built over several centuries, this grand monument sits on the largely inaccessible Sabika Hill overlooking Granada, and is most famous for the qu’lat al-Hamra (Red Fort).

The complex comprises numerous palaces, such as the Palacio de Comares, which was built in the mid-14th century for the Sultan. Here he would receive dignitaries and deal with diplomatic issues. When you step onto the ramparts of Plaza de los Aljibes you get amazing views of Granada.

As you leave the site, stroll through the gardens and admire the five porticoed arches (pictured) – all that’s left of an area that used to have palaces of its own.

2Visit the golden-domed Cathedral at Cadiz 

Cadiz is one of Europe’s oldest cities in the region, with an archaeological record dating back more than 3,000 years.

In the Roman era, this is where Julias Ceasar held his first public office and was a favourite holiday spot of Lord Byron.

The city has retained its age-old charm with its attractive vistas, ancient city walls (found in the Old Town) and well-preserved historical landmarks. One such landmark is the golden-domed Roman Catholic cathedral. Built between 1772 and 1838, it was known as the “Cathedral of the Americas” as it was built from money earned from trade between Spain and America. The Cathedral towers above the rest of the city and you can enter the Levante Tower to enjoy wonderful views of the coast.

3Relax on the beach in relative peace 

Playa De La Calahonda in Nerja

Andalucía may be a tourist hot spot, but it’s still possible to enjoy an afternoon of sunbathing in relative peace. Pick up a car and drive to Huelva Province’s Costa de la Luz, where there are several remote beaches including Mazagón, located 23 km (14 miles) southeast of Huelva.

The picturesque dune beaches are framed by pine trees and a low-key vibe. Though popular with Spanish families in the summer months, there’s plenty of spots to find some glorious solitude.

If you want to stick to the Costa del Sol, Playa De La Calahonda in Nerja is a dinky beach (just 120m long) with gorgeous views of craggy cliffs. It’s a lovely spot outside of the peak season, and even during the summer, it’s quieter than many of Costa del Sol’s central beaches.

Discover more fantastic beaches in DK’s Top 10 guide to Andalucía

4Spot amazing wildlife at Parque Nacional de Doñana 

Animal spotting in Parque Nacional de Doñana

Established in 1969, the Parque Nacional de Doñana in western Andalucía is an important wetlands reserve in southern Spain and covers an impressive 2,470 sq km (954 sg miles).

The variety of habitats (dunes, pine & cork forests and wetlands) make this a prime site for migrating birds. The park has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Guided tours depart from the Visitor Centres twice a day and itineraries change depending on the time of year. Spot flamingos, purple gallinule (crane-like birds with big feet and bright red beaks), white storks and if you’re really lucky, one of 50 rare Iberian eagles.

Mammals to look out for include Spanish red deer (pictured), spur-thighed tortoises and the Iberian lynx – the emblem of the park and currently the most threatened feline on earth.

5Check out the incredible views at Ronda 

Amazing views at Ronda

The must-see town in the mountainous region of the Serranía de Ronda is the most famous of the pueblos blancos.

The “White Towns” of Andalucía, located in the northern provinces of Cadiz and Malaga, are characterised by their whitewashed houses with red or brownda perches upon a sheer outcrop that is separated by the 100m-deep El Tajo gorge.

The spectacular 18th century Puente Nuevo bridge connects the old city, La Ciudad, with the new. La Ciudad contains some beautiful Moorish palaces and gardens as well as the excellently preserved Baños Árabes (Moorish baths).

To get the best pictures of Ronda, walk down into the gorge along the Camino de los Molinos. During the springtime, the area is awash with flowers and offers unbeatable views of the Puente Nuevo bridge.

6Explore Roman ruins in Seville 

During the Roman times, Andalucía became one of the empire’s wealthiest outpost thanks to its abundance of produce which is why the region is dotted with so many Roman ruins.

One of the most famous sites is Itálca, Spain’s first Roman town built in 206 BC. The complex is a short drive from Seville and features a magnificent Roman amphitheatre that was a filming location for the thrilling season 7 finale of Game of Thrones.

The town was the birthplace of two famous Roman emperors: Trajan and Hadrian, who invested much wealth into the town. You can view a series of stunning mosaics, many of which are complete. This includes the House of Birds depicting many different species of bird and the House of Neptune which portrays Neptune riding a chariot drawn by seahorses.

7Cycle through the mountains of Malaga

Cycling in Atajate in Malaga

Andalucía has some excellent cycling paths to suit all levels of ability, whether you’re looking for a gentle cycle along the beach or a high-octane adventure in the mountains.

While there are plenty of cycling options throughout the region, head to Malaga for a pick of the best.

If you’re feeling adventurous (and have some mountain biking experience) start at the village of El Colmenar and climb through the Bética Mountains via the TransAndulus route. Pass stunning gorges, cycle through the nature reserve of the Sierra de las Nieves and cross the Guadalhorce River at El Chorro dam.

Another fabulous mountain route starts at the pueblo blanco of Cortes de la Frontera. Take in the amazing scenic views and climb to Atajata, one of the smallest villages in the Malaga province. Then its downhill all the way to Ronda.

8Family fun in the Costa del Sol 

Andalucía is a family-friendly destination and the Costa del Sol is designed to keep your kids entertained. The “Sun Coast” is made of cities including Marbella and Malaga, and is sunny 320 days a year. While it may not be high on culture, it is lively, exuberant and packed with things to do.

Younger kids will love Funny Beach on Marbella’s beachfront, which has a go-karting track, trampolines, a pool, children’s rides and a family-focused restaurant. Within half an hour of Marbella, you will also find several water parks, Bioparc Zoo (where you can sign up to be a “Keeper for a day”, and the Tivoli World Amusement Park in Benalmadena.

For a family-friendly adventure head to Elviria (a 10-minute drive from the east end of Marbella) and try the high ropes course at Adventure Amazonia, which includes a fun obstacle course in the treetops complete with zip wires. If you need to keep the grumpy teens entertained, there are plenty of organisations along the coast that organise scuba diving, quad biking and paint-balling.

9Hike from Alájar to Linares de la Sierra

Enjoy some beautiful scenery on this hike from Alájar to Linares de Sierra, a quaint medieval-looking village in the province of Huelva.

The 6km (4 miles) marked trail is defined by soaring cliffs and follows an old road through the abandoned hamlet of Los Madroñeros. There’s only one steep section and the path to Linares de la Sierra is a little overgrown, but’s a lovely, peaceful walk with plenty of spots among the olive groves to stop and have a picnic.

10Skiing in The Sierra Nevada 

Skiing in the Sierra Nevada

The Sierra Nevada (“Snowy Mountains”), made a national park in 1999, includes Spain’s tallest peak, the Mulhacén, making it a popular spot for winter sports. The main ski resort, Sol y Nieve (meaning “sun and snow”) has almost 100km of pistes including the 6km “Aguila”, so there is plenty to keep you entertained for a day or two.

Sol y Nieve is Europe’s most southerly ski resort and operates from December to April (and sometimes May if it stays cold enough) offering good pistes and reasonable accommodation options. Its claim to fame is that the region hosted the 1996 FIS World Cup Ski Championship race.

More about DK Eyewitness

DK Eyewitness travel guides are filled with expert advice, colour photographs and useful maps. DK Eyewitness publish guides to more than 200 destinations, from handy pocket-sized city guides to comprehensive country guides.

DK’s Top 10 Andalucía and the Costa Del Sol is part of their Top 10 range – small in size but packed with information and beautiful illustrations.

6 Destinations To Visit In Europe

Best Destinations in Europe

When visiting Europe, there are a number of elements to consider such as ordering your European health insurance card and organizing flights but what about your final destination. With a number of amazing locations, narrowing it down can be time-consuming. But we have a solution. In this article, we will be giving you a list of 6 destinations in Europe that you need to visit in your lifetime.

Paris, France

The city of love is the perfect place to visit if you are looking for rest and relaxation amongst some of the worlds most beautiful architecture. With amazing restaurants, a number of museums and the world-famous Eiffel tower, you can see the sites and experience some of the world’s best architecture and soak up the culture.

Venice, Italy

venice

Another historic location that is perfect for a romantic getaway is Venice in Italy. With architecture dating back centuries and the world’s most extensive networks of rivers, this water city is a popular location for tourists all year round. With a number of luxury hotels as well as restaurants serving some of the very best Italian food, you can have a holiday of a lifetime when visiting here.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Another popular location for you to visit with the family is the city of Amsterdam. With the Van Gogh Museum, Damn Square and Anne Frank’s house, you can learn about the history and begin to explore some of the world’s most historic landmarks. There are also a number of picturesque locations for you and the family to explore when spending time here.

Additionally, the flights and hotels are also highly affordable allowing you to have the perfect holiday regardless of who you are travelling with.

Athens, Greece

athens

Greece is yet another amazing location that is worth you visiting particularly if you love taking images in some of the world’s most picturesque locations. With ancient history around every corner and beautiful sunshine throughout the summer months, you can see the sites and make memories here all without breaking the bank. With the Acropolis, the Parthenon and the Plaka temples for you to visit, this is the perfect affordable holiday in the heart of Greece.

The Arctic Coast Way, Iceland

icelandImage Source: Maxpixel

This amazing location is where the warmth of the volcano meets the chill of the sea creating black sandy beaches and some of the world’s most spectacular cliffs. With a glacial river and high mountains, this is a location that has to be seen to be believed. With 5 beautiful islands for you or explore, bird watching locations as well as boat tours, this is the perfect location for those that love animals, sightseeing and spending time in some of the most unusual locations.

Shetland, Scotland

destinations in EuropeImage Source: Pixabay

The final place to visit on this list is Shetland in Scotland. With a number of must-visit locations such as the town of Lerwick, Mainland Shetland as well as the Fair Isle, there are plenty of places that you can visit to explore the wildlife and enjoy some of the most amazing coastlines. This is the perfect place for those that are looking to escape as you can go on long country walks and explore the mountains and other grass regions.

Whether you are looking to travel to one of the warmest locations in Europe, or you are looking to explore the farms in Scotland, you can be sure you will have the best possible holiday for you and your family. Which will you be visiting first?

Important things you should know for Mount Agung hiking

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A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.

On her way she met a copy. The copy warned the Little Blind Text, that where it came from it would have been rewritten a thousand times and everything that was left from its origin would be the word “and” and the Little Blind Text should turn around and return to its own, safe country.

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.

But nothing the copy said could convince her and so it didn’t take long until a few insidious Copy Writers ambushed her, made her drunk with Longe and Parole and dragged her into their agency, where they abused her for their projects again and again. And if she hasn’t been rewritten, then they are still using her.

When The Sun Goes Down

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.

A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame. It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer.

Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad. “How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense”, he thought, but that was something he was unable to do because he was used to sleeping on his right, and in his present state couldn’t get into that position. However hard he threw himself onto his right, he always rolled back to where he was.

The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.

One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.

His room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls. A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame.

It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer. Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad.

Secret Escapes curates luxe hotel deals online, causes serious wanderlust offline

Dropcap the popularization of the “ideal measure” has led to advice such as “Increase font size for large screens and reduce font size for small screens.” While a good measure does improve the reading experience, it’s only one rule for good typography. Another rule is to maintain a comfortable font size.

Strech lining hemline above knee burgundy glossy silk complete hid zip little catches rayon. Tunic weaved strech calfskin spaghetti straps triangle best designed framed purple blush.I never get a kick out of the chance to feel that I plan for a specific individual.

Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.

On her way she met a copy. The copy warned the Little Blind Text, that where it came from it would have been rewritten a thousand times and everything that was left from its origin would be the word “and” and the Little Blind Text should turn around and return to its own, safe country.

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.

But nothing the copy said could convince her and so it didn’t take long until a few insidious Copy Writers ambushed her, made her drunk with Longe and Parole and dragged her into their agency, where they abused her for their projects again and again. And if she hasn’t been rewritten, then they are still using her.

When The Sun Goes Down

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.

A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame. It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer.

Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad. “How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense”, he thought, but that was something he was unable to do because he was used to sleeping on his right, and in his present state couldn’t get into that position. However hard he threw himself onto his right, he always rolled back to where he was.

The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.

One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.

His room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls. A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame.

It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer. Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad.

Where to go in 2017: Start making your travel plans for this year

Dropcap the popularization of the “ideal measure” has led to advice such as “Increase font size for large screens and reduce font size for small screens.” While a good measure does improve the reading experience, it’s only one rule for good typography. Another rule is to maintain a comfortable font size.

Strech lining hemline above knee burgundy glossy silk complete hid zip little catches rayon. Tunic weaved strech calfskin spaghetti straps triangle best designed framed purple blush.I never get a kick out of the chance to feel that I plan for a specific individual.

Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.

On her way she met a copy. The copy warned the Little Blind Text, that where it came from it would have been rewritten a thousand times and everything that was left from its origin would be the word “and” and the Little Blind Text should turn around and return to its own, safe country.

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.

But nothing the copy said could convince her and so it didn’t take long until a few insidious Copy Writers ambushed her, made her drunk with Longe and Parole and dragged her into their agency, where they abused her for their projects again and again. And if she hasn’t been rewritten, then they are still using her.

When The Sun Goes Down

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.

A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame. It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer.

Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad. “How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense”, he thought, but that was something he was unable to do because he was used to sleeping on his right, and in his present state couldn’t get into that position. However hard he threw himself onto his right, he always rolled back to where he was.

The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.

One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.

His room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls. A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame.

It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer. Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad.