As so many people are looking for maps of Spain, we offer a guide to the maps that are available, particularly for Andalucia and southern Spain. Here is a map of Spain that shows all the 47 provinces. Some of the 17 regions are also marked. Andalucia is the southern region in light blue that is made up of the eight provinces of Huelva, Sevilla, Cordoba, Jaen, Cadiz, Malaga, Granada and Almeria.
Here is a link to a modern shaded relief map showing the major cities. Map of Spain
Printed Motoring Maps
Michelin publishes the best motoring maps of Spain.
A motoring map of the whole of Spain at a scale of 1:1.000.000 or 10 kilometres per centimetre is the "Michelin Map 990: Spain".
Michelin also publishes more detailed motoring maps of individual areas of Spain at a scale of 1:400.000 or 2.5 kilometres per centimetre as follows:
- Michelin Map 441 Spain North and West
- Michelin Map 442 Spain North and Central
- Michelin Map 443 Spain Nth and East
- Michelin Map 444 Spain Central and West
- Michelin Map 445 Spain Centre/East
- Michelin Map 446 Spain Southern
Here is an example of the detail of these maps:
Detailed Maps of Spain, Andalucia and Southern Spain for Walkers, Hikers, Mountain Bikers, 4x4 Drivers and Off-Road Drivers.
Unfortunately good quality detailed large scale maps of Spain showing routes for walking, hiking, and off-road driving are hard to find. The best are the maps produced by Spain's IGN (Instituto Geographico Nacional) and the CGDE (Centro Geografico del Ejercito). These organisations publish large-scale maps (1: 25.000) in a series of sheets. They are good geographic maps with contour lines. They are often called "military maps" because of their former use by the armed forces. In fact it is only recently that these maps of Spain have become available to the general public. These maps are not up to date and often do not show new roads, and they don't differentiate between the quality of rural roads. For example, it's not possible to determine whether a rural track can be traversed in a family car, a 4x4 or only on a donkey. Farmers and landowners are very tolerant of the curious traveller exploring the territory. And, in fact, because of the difficulties involved in finding information, often the best option is to get out and explore for yourself.
All of Spain is published in maps with a scale of 1:50.000. Each 1:50.000 sheet divides into four maps on a scale of 1:25.000. There are two official bodies that publish 1:25.000 maps. One is The Centro Geográfico del Ejército (CGDE) whose maps are often referred to as the "mapas militares" or military maps. The other is the Instituto Geográfico Nacional or IGN. The IGN publishes most of Spain in 1:25.000 whereas the CGDE just publish various sheets.
A 50.000 map scale sheet number of 1052, for example, becomes 1052 IV for the 1:25.000 maps according to the diagram.
IGN/CGDE maps can be purchased online from the "Tienda Verde", which offers this map of Spain.
Each sheet costs about three Euros.
Some sheets are grouped together and published as special editions covering specific areas such as natural parks. These larger sheets are much more economic and cost about six Euros. Those for Andalucia are listed below.
- Estrecho de Gibraltar 1:100.000
- Map/Guide Sierra Nevada 1:50.000
- Natural Area Marismas del Odiel 1:25.000
- Sierra Nevada National Park 1:25.000
- Natural Park Cadiz Bay 1:50.000
- Donaña National Park 1:50.000
- Sierras Subeticas Natural Park 1:50.000
- Sierra de los Nieves Natural Park 1:50.000
- Sierra Norte Natural Park 1:100.000
- Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park 1:50.000
- Montes de Malaga Natural Park 1:25.000
- Sierra de Grazalama Natural Park 1:50.000
They can still be difficult to find in bookshops.
Bookshops stocking a selection of IGN/CGDE maps include Longman's Bookshop, Estepona, Malaga.
Weather Satellite Map
For the best weather satellite map of Spain see the satellite image from which contributes to a global meteorological satellite observing system co-ordinated with other nations and which is updated hourly. EUMETSAT is an intergovernmental organisation created through an international convention agreed by 18 European countries.
Historical Maps
Hispania - Map of Spain
From A Classical Atlas of Ancient Geography by Alexander G. Findlay. New York: Harper and Brothers 1849
1030 AD Here is a map of the Spanish Kingdom - Map of Spain
This map of Spain is from the Atlas To Freeman's Historical Geography, Edited by J.B. Bury, Longmans Green and Co. Third Edition 1903.
1519-1556 Spanish Kingdoms Under Charles the Fifth the Holy Roman Emperor
This map of Spain is from the Atlas To Freeman's Historical Geography, edited by J.B. Bury, Longmans Green and Co. Third Edition 1903.
1730 Italian Map of Andalucia published for the local market.
Antonio Zatta produced an elegant and concise design, complete with an intricate title cartouche showing Andalusia's agricultural products. This is a map of Andalucia and southern Spain.
Online Maps
If you want to buy online a digital map of Spain in either vector or raster format then you can do so from Maps.com
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