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spain iti

spain iti

GRANADA, SEVILLE & BARCELONA1 week Itinerary Andalusia Spain

Andalusia is vast and its no mean task to zero in on locations that you want to spend rambling in the sun. I knew I had to experience the metro of Barcelona but didn’t want to skip out traditional Andalusia as well. The desires of scampering to every nook and cranny!

These 1 week itineraries are routes we’ve been on and thoroughly enjoyed.

P.S. I will put in notes for attractions that may have caused me a tad bit of misery, so that you guys don’t face the same!

Have fun planning!

THE TRIPAN 8 DAY ITINERARY 

DAY 1:Fly to Malaga. We opted for an evening flight [RyanAir] as the flights were cheap. There are airport bus transfers to the city center that cost approx. 10 Euros, no prior bookings required. However, do note that the last bus to Granada (and probably Nerja and Marbella) are about the same time, so your best bet is to stay in the city.

STAY: Opt for a 1 night stay in an AirBnB, if you’re not looking to spend a lot, are ready to adjust and don’t plan to stay longer than a day in Malaga. [You can make out that I’m not a huge fan of AirBnB – because of mixed experiences! Unless of course you rent out the whole place]Tere and Al are a delightful couple and the rooms are as advertised & clean.

Take a stroll through the main street, Calle Marqués de Larios. You’ll definitely be grinning after checking out the electric street atmosphere, the cafe’s and the spirit in general.

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

DAY 2:Morning:Time to get down to La Malagueta beach! Maybe have a tasty Tortilla española for breakfast?There are lovely cafes lining the beach, but its Spain and a lot may not open till late. Stroll along the beach, relax and take a deep breath – you are after all in Spain!

Although we did not head out for sightseeing, here are a few options to check out in Malaga:

ATTRACTIONS:

  • The Museum of Glass and Crystal

  • The Automotive Museum

  • Malaga Cathedral

  • The Malaga port

Later head down to the Malaga bus station [Estación de Autobuses – Paseo de los Tilos s/n] to catch a bus to Granada.  You need not buy advance tickets. It’s approximately 12 Euros one way and takes ~2 hours.

STAY: A 2 day stay at A Cave house! This was of course an AirBnB find and I was very delighted to have come across it. Olga is a pleasant host and the cave house is very well maintained. The best part : You have a marvelous, unobstructed view of the Alhambra!

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

Noon:  Now that you’re finally in one of the gems of Andalusia, relax and head off for some fuel! Bar Kiki is a quick 5 mins away from the cave house – very convenient [try the duck- its delish!] Time for the highlight of Granada – Alhambra. Do ensure to get your tickets here. There are timed slots and it’s important to head off in time to the Nasrid Palaces [although the Spanish are nice and do let you in if you’re a couple of minutes late 🙂 ]

Allot a good 4 hours to wander around. It is a very vast attraction and one of the very best. Even if you are not a very keen enthusiast [although I’m pretty sure, you will be in awe], you will still need the time to sit and relax in between skipping to the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba and the Generalife. You could allot an entire day as well to the same, it does deserve it!

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

In the evening, wander around Plaza Mirador de San Nicolas for some stunning views of the lit up Alhambra and spectacular views of the city. You could even opt to have dinner at Bar Kiki again, since it is 2 mins away from the Plaza.Watching the sunset from the Albayzin is magical, all the brown blades of grass light up golden.

DAY 3:

A day for fun and leisure!A Segway tour is the best manner to get around in Granada and explore the Sacromonte region. The reps at Play Granada are great and they have a variety of other tour options too. A morning tour should be great and its not a bad option to cool off in the cave before heading off for a hammam experience at Hammam Al Andalus, in the evening. It’s a great way to unwind and a very unique experience. For as low as 24 Euros you could have a session sans the massage.Ensure you book both the experiences in advance.

OTHER OPTIONS:

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

DAY 4:

Off to Seville!Catch an early morning train ride to Seville. The journey should take approx. 3 hours to the Santa Justa station and should cost around 40 Euros if booked in advance of about a month or so. Once in Seville transfer to hotel. Ensure you’re staying somewhere in the vicinity of the Seville Cathedral, its centrally located and is a short walk away from all the sightseeing options.

STAY: Options: A 1 night stay at the budget Hotel Plaza. There’s also the Alcazar hotel which is centrally located.

After lunch head off to catch the sights around the quarters.Since there’s only noon to spare today, visit the Seville Cathedral that is bound to take your breath away [Admission price : 9 Euros]. Once you’re done marveling at the architecture, head to the Giralda Tower to catch remarkable views of the city and see the enormous Church bells. Its a steep 17 storey trek sans stairs. Head next to the Royal Alcázar of Seville, a royal palace still in use! [It’s not that it isn’t worth a visit, don’t get me wrong, but when weighed against the Cathedral, it could be skipped]

day seville spain cathedral altar

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

day seville spain plaza de espana

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

A break at the Plaza de España to watch the world pass by, is great 🙂 If you’re lucky you could even catch a rainbow in on of the fountains! There are mini boat tours you could take as well at the Plaza, albeit you would have to row yourself.

Evening: Seville is apparently the birthplace of Flamenco and a great location to catch a show in one of the tablao’s. The fervor with which the dancers perform is mesmerizing. They also have a flamenco museum and the weight of some of the costumes will make you gawk!

day seville spain flamenco museo de baile

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

Here’s a quaint local eatery for one of the best tapas I found in Seville, in fact one of the best tapas on this trip! : Taberna Coloniales

DAY 5:

Why not pay a visit to Plaza de Toros de Sevilla. Bullfighting is gruesome, but the museum is great!

All the major cities have a bullfighting arena and the history is fascinating. Plaza de Toros in Seville has guided tours and you can buy tickets on spot. You could check out one of the bullfights as well, although you would need to ensure you get tickets in advance.You can check the timetable here.

day seville spain bullfighting plaza de toros

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

After having a hearty meal, catch an evening flight to Barcelona. The flight lasts for about 40 mins and saves important vacation time 🙂

Stay for 4 nights in Barcelona.

DAY 6: 

The Montjuïc has spectacular views of the entire city and you could opt for a trek or take the cable car ride up, you will definitely be rewarded 🙂

I’m not always keen to visit Cathedral’s in every city but the Seville Cathedral was lovely and you just can’t skip Gaudi’s marvel – the Sagrada Família, which has been in the making for over a century. Yes it is touristy, but if you have purchased the tickets in advance it should take you not more than 5 minutes to get into the Cathedral.Marvel at the architecture, the faith and ensure you allot about 3 hours to the visit.

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

Here are a few options to take up in the evening:

  • Casa Mila – the Origins show in the evening definitely had me hooked[it is expensive, but it was a little treat to myself on my birthday 🙂 ]

  • Casa Batlló

  • A walk around La Rambla – again touristy but free, however do note restaurants here can be quite expensive

  • Wander around the El Barri Gòtic quarter – gargoyles + quaint cobbled streets provide lots of photo op’s and of course its free!

  • Parc Güell – You would need to purchase tickets in advance , its a minimal cost but is vast and worth it

  • Port Olímpic – lovely to stroll around.One of the best paella I had in Spain was at La Fonda del Port Olímpic. Do try if possible, you will definitely love it!

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

DAY 7:

Explore the amazing cities in the vicinity today. Some might take you by surprise!

Explore Catalunya has a variety of options. I opted for the one that included Costa Brava (which also included Girona and Pals). One of my best memories of Spain is wandering through the village of Pals. This tiny marvel is what movie sets are made of!Relaxed pace, not rushed and value for money.

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

1 week itinerary andalusia spain granada seville perfect

DAY 8: 

Why not take up something out of the options above? Or like we did, do nothing at Platja de la Mar Bella?

Rent an umbrella, pop a beer and try to keep the glum thoughts away, of an end coming to the holiday!

Say Adiós to Spain in the evening and promise to return!

You could split the trip to include only Andalusia/Barcelona.

You can print off a detailed map

HERE

. A gist is also available on the map below.

Hope this 1 week Itinerary for Andalusia Spain made planning easier and fun for you!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

BEST TIME TO VISIT

We went in July. The days are long and its a good time to be on the beach, however the sun is scorching. I would suggest going somewhere in September when the heat is milder and the crowds fewer.

SOME FESTIVALS YOU COULD ATTEND

Feb:         Seville tapas fair, Jerez(Cadiz) Flamenco FestivalMarch:     Fallas Festival in ValenciaApril:       Holy week and Feria de Abril in SevilleMay:        El Rocio Pilgrimage, San Isidro in Madrid, Corpus Christi in ToledoJune:       La Tomatina at Bunyol near Valencia, Sonar Festival Barcelona, Haro Wine Festival atLa Rioja, Madrid pride weekJuly:         San Fermin Running of the BullsAugust :   Feria de Malaga

Spain has festivals around the year from the crowded to the weird. Ensure you confirm the dates during your holiday. You might be lucky to attend one!

COST

Expect to pay about £35 on average for accommodation in an AirBnb and about £50 in a mid-range hotel per night.Public transport is cheap.A multitude of options for food in every range.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Bus transport is convenient but the frequency reduces drastically in the evening.Trains are great and convenient although it is advisable to purchase tickets in advance.Both modes are practically priced.

Taxis are convenient but can be expensive in Barcelona due to traffic congestion.

WHERE TO STAY

  • Malaga: In the vicinity of the Malaga Cathedral

  • Granada: The Albaycin is awesome for great views but can get irksome considering public transport connectivity, you have to walk/take a taxi when in a hurry

  • Barcelona: The Barric Gothic locality is a good ares

  • Seville: In the vicinity of the Seville Cathedral

SOUVENIRS

  • Galletas – Spanish cookies

  • Alioli – Garlicky tasting mayo-like dipping sauce

  • Cava – A local Catalan bubbly

  • Music CD’s from the local performers (usually all bars have 1)

  • Flamenco hair accessories

  • Handmade Fans

  • Pate

  • Chorizo

  • Jamón ibérico [Ham]

  • Smoked Pimientos – tiny peppers

  • Paprika

  • Turron Candy

  • Rabitos – Chocolate covered figs

  • Spanish Shawls

  • Manzanilla [Dry Sherry]

  • Olives and Olive oil

If you are flying out, do check if you can get meat into the country!

HAPPY TRAVELS!

PIN FOR LATER!

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Let me know if you found the 1 week itinerary useful! 🙂

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Continent Hop is a travel and culture blog curated by Lavinia. You’ll find detailed itineraries, cultural and food guides to Europe and beyond, together with stunning photography to help travellers get the most from their next vacay!