10-Day Andalusia Itinerary: Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga

Andalusia rewards the traveler who sleeps a little later and lingers a little longer. Ten days is enough to see the four headline cities without sprinting.

Why Andalusia in 10 Days

Andalusia has four headline cities — Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga — each worth two to three days on its own. Ten days threads them in geographic order without backtracking: Seville in the northwest, Córdoba as a day trip east, Granada northeast of that, Málaga on the coast to close the loop. The high-speed rail network makes it work without a car.

Getting There and Moving Around

Fly into Málaga (most direct international connections) or Madrid (more frequent long-haul options). From Madrid, the AVE to Seville takes 2h30m. From Málaga, the train to Seville is about 2 hours. All inter-city legs on this itinerary run on the RENFE high-speed network — book 30–60 days out for the best prices. Expect €20–50 per leg booked early, €80+ if you wait.

Day 1–3 · Seville

Arrive and check in near Santa Cruz or El Centro — anywhere inside the old city puts most sights within walking distance. Day one: Real Alcázar in the morning (book timed entry online, €14.50), then the cathedral and up the Giralda for the view. Day two: cross to Triana for breakfast, spend the morning at the Mercado de Triana, walk back along the river at noon. Evening: head to the Metropol Parasol (Setas de Sevilla) 30 minutes before sunset — free to enter the structure, €3 for the top walkway. Day three: slow morning in Barrio Santa Cruz, visit the Museo de Bellas Artes (free for EU citizens), tapa lunch. Don't book a table before 14:00 — doors open but kitchens don't run before then. Dinner: any place without an English menu posted in the window.

Day 4 · Córdoba Day Trip

The earliest train from Seville leaves around 07:00 and gets you in by 07:30. The city is compact enough for one long day. Go straight to the Mezquita-Catedral — it opens at 08:30 and crowds build fast (€13). After: the Judería (old Jewish quarter), the Calleja de las Flores for the photograph everyone takes, then the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos if you have time. Lunch around the streets off Plaza de la Corredera. Walk the Puente Romano before you leave. The last train back to Seville runs around 22:00 — no need to rush.

Day 5–7 · Granada

Train or bus from Seville: the ALVIA takes about 3 hours; the Flixbus or ALSA coach is slower but cheaper. Stay in Realejo or near Plaza Nueva — both put you within easy walking distance of the Alhambra hill. The Alhambra and Generalife is the single most visited monument in Spain. Tickets sell out weeks ahead — booking a month in advance is not an exaggeration (€19 general access, more for the Nasrid Palaces time slot). Arrive without tickets and the Alcazaba section occasionally has same-day availability, but the Nasrid Palaces almost never do. Day six: walk up to Mirador de San Nicolás in the Albaicín for sunset views directly across to the Alhambra. Grab tea afterwards in one of the Moroccan tea houses on Calderería Nueva. Day seven: free tapas culture. Granada is one of the last cities in Spain where every drink comes with a free tapa — Calle Navas and the streets around Plaza de Bib-Rambla are the best grounds. Budget two drinks per bar and move often.

Day 8–10 · Málaga and Caminito del Rey

Direct train from Granada takes around 1h30m. Málaga is warmer, more relaxed, and consistently underestimated. Check in near the Centro Histórico or the port. Day eight: Alcazaba (€3.50), Museo Picasso Málaga (€12 — Picasso was born three streets away in Casa Natal), then walk the Muelle Uno waterfront in the afternoon. Day nine: Caminito del Rey — a 7 km path pinned to the cliff walls of the Guadalhorce gorge. Book online well in advance (€18–22). Without a car: take a train from Málaga to El Chorro (about 1 hour), walk to the ticket office, return the same way or pre-arrange a shuttle. Day ten: final morning in the old city. Coffee at Café Central on Plaza de la Constitución, last stop at the Mercado de Atarazanas. Evening flight from Málaga Airport — 20 minutes from the city centre by taxi or bus line A.

Best Time to Visit

March to May and September to November. Summer in Seville and Córdoba regularly hits 40°C — the cities function, but sightseeing between 11:00 and 17:00 is punishing. Granada sits at higher altitude and is several degrees cooler, but still hot in July and August. Spring and autumn give you mid-20s temperatures and shorter queues at the Alhambra. Easter week (Semana Santa) in Seville is extraordinary — processions fill every street — but accommodation books out a year ahead.

Practical Notes

  • Budget: €80–120 per day mid-range, all in. Less if you eat where locals eat and buy RENFE tickets early.
  • Book ahead: Alhambra Nasrid Palaces (1 month), Real Alcázar (1 week in peak season), Caminito del Rey (2 weeks).
  • Meal timing: lunch 14:00–16:00, dinner 21:00–23:00. Eating earlier marks you as a tourist and gets you the tourist experience.
  • Language: Andalusian Spanish drops consonants at speed. A few words go further here than almost anywhere else in Spain.
  • Tap water: safe to drink in all four cities.

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