Car Hire Itineraries

Blue skies and open road are waiting for you in Andalucia © Michelle Chaplow
Blue skies and open road are waiting for you in Andalucia

CAR HIRE ITINERARIES

In this section we have suggested some itineraries that you can use as a base for tours in Andalucia. These itineraries also link together many other information pages.

As always the greatest problem is how to fit so much in a limited period of time and have a holiday as well rather than win an endurance award. You will need a good map. Michelin Map 446 (Southern Spain) and 578 (Andalucia) are both excellent, or alternatively, to avoid all that folding, there's a handy spiral-bound (though less detailed) Michelin road map of Andalucia. See link to buy map online from Amazon on right hand margin of this page.

© iStock Enjoy the freedom of freedom of driving around Andalucia
Enjoy the freedom of driving around Andalucia

CAR HIRE ITINERARIES - TO AND FROM AIRPORTS

When you arrive in Andalucia, you may well choose to hire a car, for greater freedom and independence. There is so much to see, in terms of scenery - from beaches to mountain ranges, and fields with row after row of trees - olive, orange, lemon and almond; culture - flamenco, bullfighting, Semana Santa; architecture - the Mezquita, Alhambra and Giralda, monuments to Moorish days.

Discover the charming villages of Andalucia as you tour the region © Michelle Chaplow
Discover the charming villages of Andalucia as you tour the region.

The small towns on the way to wherever you're going will often provide a fascinating taste of the real southern Spain, an authentic view of what life is like in Andalucia away from trendy tapas bars and designer boutique hotels. Horses and carts, herds of goats, old men on pre-war motorcycles - all reminders that many Andalucians are still tied to the land in a way which seems incongruous beside the solar farms and busy motorways of 21st century Spain. Watch out for the iconic roadside bull as you travel around Andalucia.

Osborne Bull © Michelle Chaplow
Watch out for the iconic roadside bull as you travel around Andalucia

Here we offer some suggested itineraries for you to follow in your hire car, from day trips when just want to hire your car for 24 hours - if you're based in a city and prefer to come back so you can sleep in the same hotel and enjoy the buzzing nightlife, for example - to complete week-long adventures, where you collect your hire car at the airport and set off. Before you set off, make sure you have a good, detailed map, such as a Michelin, plenty of stay drinking water, and a torch.

There are five international airports in Andalucia, and we've created itineraries from each:

If you're arriving at Malaga airport, you don't have to head straight to the coast. There is lots more to see in this beautiful province, from the city itself, full of outstanding art galleries… More →

One-Day-Itinerary to explore the countryside around the towns of Ronda and Gaucin. This route starts at San Pedro de Alcantera, just past Puerto Banus, and ends up just a few kilometres down the… More →

If you want to visit a small but historic Andalucian city, then Almeria airport is where to collect your hire car. The surrounding area offers some of Spain's finest and most unusual beaches -… More →

From Granada airport, you can explore some spectacular mountain scenery nearby: choose from the Sierra Nevada, in winter Europe's southernmost ski resort, and in summer an excellent hiking… More →

Jerez de la Frontera is one of the most delightful airports in Spain - small and picturesque. The city itself is also compact and pretty, and nearby you will find the "sherry triangle", two other… More →

From Seville airport, you can head straight up into the Sierra de Aracena, a beautiful and little-known part of Andalucia. Visit a British-influenced mining town where football and golf were first… More →

Aracena (HUELVA)

Three superb, half day or full day itineraries from Aracena:

Heading to east and then north in the Sierra are some of the least visited villages of the Sierra, located on the perimeter of the Sierra and Andalucía. Take the N-433 towards Seville from Aracena… More →

This route mainly follows the N-433. Starting with the ruined castle in Aracena: follow the signs to the Castillo (castle). You can drive up the hill and park at the top. The church is usually… More →

This route passes through some of the prettiest villages in the Sierra de Aracena and woodland typical of this area. Leaving Aracena going west towards Portugal on the N-433, the road goes past… More →

INLAND FROM COSTA DEL SOL

A suggested routes inland from the Costa del Sol:

If you want a break from the clamour and crowds on the Costa then explore Mijas, Alhaurin, Coin, Monda, Ojen and also Istan. The scenery is quite spectacular and the roads are well-travelled, yet… More →

One-Day-Itinerary to explore the countryside around the towns of Ronda and Gaucin. This route starts at San Pedro de Alcantera, just past Puerto Banus, and ends up just a few kilometres down the… More →

Five excursions - Gibraltar and Los Barrios shopping, the Ruta del Toro to Jerez, Tarifa and the beaches and villages of the Costa de la Luz, Castillar, Jimena and inland villages and the Costa… More →

BACK PACKERS

A suggested Itinerary for the backpacker without a hire car is outlined by Lee Gutcher who also who offers advice for backpackers.

RUTAS

The various tourist boards have also created a number of themed tourist trails or routes called “Ruta de“ in Spanish. These highlight attraction of a specific interest, such as castles, wine, Romans, Moorish, all over or just part of Andalucia and 'join the dots' for you to make a route. Ideal to follow and you will have an adventure on the way.

CAR HIRE

Hiring a car is best way to tour Andalucia. Travel with ease, stop where you want and enjoy the beautiful views!. We have a page about every village including things to see. Consult our general Car Hire page for car hire tips and advice on rental groups, insurance excess, young drivers, DVLA code, fuel policy and security, plus links to a range of car hire companies. Check out our specific car hire pages in each of our airport and main train station pages. Malaga Airport Car hire, Gibraltar Airport Car Hire.