Southern Spain Itinerary: 7 Days Without A Car (2024)
If you’re planning your Southern Spain itinerary, 7 days is the perfect time to get a taste of the region.
Having backpacked through Spain multiple times, Andalucia stands out as one of my favorite regions in this vibrant country.
I love the unique blend of cultures, vibrant cities, and the laid-back southern way of living.
Most people explore Andalucia on a road trip, but I traveled around Andalucia without a car. Public transport in Spain is great, and you can visit all the must-see places by train or bus!
If you’re ready to plan an itinerary for Southern Spain without a car, let’s get started!
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7 Days Southern Spain Itinerary At A Glance
Length: 7 days, 8 nights
Start And End Point: Start in Sevilla, end in Malaga
CIties To Visit: Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada, Malaga
- Day 1: Sevilla
- Day 2: Sevilla
- Day 3: Cordoba
- Day 4: Granada
- Day 5: Granada
- Day 6: Malaga
- Day 7: Malaga
You could also do this itinerary either way around, starting in Malaga or Seville, or simply returning where you started from.
I took a train from Madrid to Sevilla on my backpacking Spain route, so that’s why I started from there.
Both Sevilla and Malaga have large international airports, so it is easy to organize your flights if you’re coming from Europe.
It takes less than 3 hours to travel between Malaga and Sevilla by bus or train, so it won’t impact your itinerary that much.
You might wonder if you should visit Cordoba or Granada, but I say you should do both!
Let’s jump right in!
DAY 1 AND 2: Sevilla
You’ll start your Southern Spain trip from the vibrant city of Sevilla.
A must-visit in Andalucia, Sevilla perfectly encapsulates the essence of southern Spain and is an ideal starting point for your journey.
Sevilla is one of my favorite places in Spain and a place I would visit again and again on a short city break.
Best Things To Do In Sevilla, Andalucia
- Plaza de Espana
- The Real Alcázar de Sevilla
- Santa Cruz neighborhood
Start your day in Sevilla by exploring the city center.
Sevilla is a city where you can wander the streets, immersing yourself in its enchanting surroundings.
The most picturesque area is the narrow cobblestone streets of the Santa Cruz neighborhood.
Places you should not miss are Plaza de Espana, the largest Gothic Cathedral, and The Real Alcázar de Sevilla – both UNESCO World Heritage Sites!
You will want to book the Alcázar tour and Sevilla Cathedral tickets in advance, as both attractions get very busy in the high season!
The modern installation of Setas de Sevilla is a fun spot to visit, particularly popular for watching the sunset.
See Flamenco in Sevilla
When I think of Andalucia, I think of flamenco.
Sevilla is known as a home to flamenco, and I was expecting to run into people dancing on the street all the time.
The truth is most of the shows are private and you have to book in advance.
You can book your ticket for the best-rated Flamenco show in Sevilla here!
If you are on a budget, don’t despair – you can see flamenco for free in a couple of places!
One of them is at Plaza de Espagna. There, you will find people doing a free show for tips.
The second one is La Carboneria. I highly recommend you check it out, take a drink, and enjoy flamenco.
The place is very relaxed, and the drinks are cheap. It is truly a hidden gem in Sevilla, and it is a great place to discover Sevilla’s nightlife as a solo female traveler.
💃🏽 Book Flamenco Show In Seville!
Where To Stay In Sevilla
Budget Options
Onefam Catedral is the best backpacker hostel in Sevilla.
It is located in the heart of Santa Cruz and they organize activities so you can meet other travelers.
I stayed in The Nomad hostel in Sevilla, as the first one was fully booked when I visited.
The hostel is centrally located, and it is affordable and comfortable. There was a rooftop bar, a communal kitchen, and a living room, making it a great hostel to meet other backpackers!
Splurge Option
It doesn’t get much better than Hotel Casa del Poeta.
This hotel with a rooftop pool in the heart of Sevilla will transport you back in time and make you feel like Andalucian royalty!
Vegan Restaurants In Sevilla
There are quite a few restaurants with vegan options in Sevilla. As always, use the Happy Cow app to find vegan options.
With a whopping 96 restaurants offering vegan options in Sevilla, you practically don’t have to worry about the food.
I visited two restaurants on this trip.
- The first one is Veganitessen. It is a fully vegan restaurant located inside the market with an interesting menu.
- The other place is Milk Away. They had vegan options, but it is not a fully vegan restaurant, and it was more like a “healthy food” spot for days when you feel like you need to be more healthy on the road!
DAY 3: Cordoba
The next stop on our backpacking Andalucia itinerary is Cordoba.
Many people choose to visit Cordoba on a day trip from Sevilla. However, I feel like it deserves a whole day.
You can take a bus from Sevilla to Cordoba. The bus ride was about 45 minutes. You could also take a train, but the bus was cheaper and it takes about the same time anyway.
Compare the prices and book your ticket from Sevilla to Cordoba here!
Best Things To Do In Cordoba, Andalucia
- Mezquita Cathedral de Cordoba
- Flower Patios
- Puente Romano Bridge
The main sight in Cordoba is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Mezquita Cathedral de Cordoba.
I loved exploring the old town of Cordoba, with its charming cobblestone streets feels like getting lost in time.
Walk along the river across the Puente Romano bridge, and then back to the city. This route is especially charming at night when the city walls light up.
A fun fact about Cordoba is that people take really good care of their patios, so you can enjoy some pretty flowers as well.
Flower pots on the walls are somewhat of a symbol of the city as well.
Where To Stay In Cordoba
I stayed in Pension Internacional.
I shared a private room with a bathroom with a friend, which ended up being cheaper than staying in a hostel. The Pension was centrally located, and it had air conditioning.
Vegan Restaurants In Cordoba
According to the Happy Cow app, there are currently no fully vegan or vegetarian restaurants in Cordoba.
However, there are a couple of restaurants with vegan options.
As it was already my third day in the region, I wanted to try some accidentally vegan Andalucian food.
One of them was Salamorejo. It is an accidentally vegan tomato and bread soup that they usually top with some non-vegan toppings, so you have to ask them not to put it.
I had salamorejo soup in Taberna San Miguel Casa el Pisto and it was delicious!
DAY 4 AND 5: Granada
From Cordoba, you will take a 3-hour bus to Granada.
You could also take a train, but the bus was cheaper, and there was no significant difference in the duration of the trip.
Compare the prices and book your ticket from Cordoba to Granada here!
Best Things To Do In Granada, Andalucia
- Alhambra of Granada
- Albayzin neighborhood
- Hiking in the Sierra Nevada
The main tourist attraction is Alhambra of Granada. It is incredible and it should not be missed.
Alhambra is a popular site, so you need to book the tickets in advance, and you are only allowed to enter at the time indicated on your ticket.
You do not need to book a guided tour if that’s not your thing, you can simply just get an Alhambra entrance ticket.
If all non-guided tickets are sold out for the day you’re visiting, booking this guided Alhambra tour is an excellent way around it.
However, there’s more to Granada than just Alhambra. The architecture in the city is one of the prime examples of Islamic influence in the region.
Albayzin neighborhood, the medieval Moorish district, is the most picturesque quarter in Granada. It is very characteristic and great for getting lost in the streets.
I stumbled upon a girl playing guitar and singing on one of the streets, and ti was such a great atmosphere as more people gathered to listen.
If you appreciate a good viewpoint as much as I do, the best spot to watch the sunset is Mirador de San Nicolas.
Hiking in Granada, Sierra Nevada
If you like hiking, you should consider staying longer than two days in Granada.
Granada is the best base for hikes in the Sierra Nevada mountain region.
There are a couple of hikes that can be done using public transport. I suggest you check out this guide on Hikes accessible by public transport to see your options!
Join A Hiking Tour In Sierra Nevada!
Where To Stay In Granada
El Granado Hostel is the best backpacker hostel in Granada.
Alternatively, you can go for a family-run accommodation like Casa Vestali.
I stayed in one with a friend, as it was cheaper for us to book a private room than two hostel beds.
Vegan Restaurants In Granada
After no vegan restaurants in Cordoba, I was worried about the situation in Granada. However, Granada is a great destination for vegans and there were so many options.
The Happy Cow app showed almost 70 places with at least vegan options, so I checked out a couple of places.
- Papas Elvira is a small place but with many vegan options. I tried empanadas, because I have never had them before, and they were tasty!
- The Good Burger chain had a vegan burger option. However, the burger was overpriced and tiny. I would not recommend it.
- Wild Food restaurant offers a fine dining experience. I tried several of their cakes, and they were amazing! Highly recommended!
DAY 6 AND 7: Malaga
You’ll finish your South of Spain itinerary with a visit to Malaga.
You can see all the main tourist attractions in Malaga in 1 day, and the second day you can spend enjoying Costa del Sol beaches or going for a hike!
Best Things To Do In Malaga, Andalucia
- Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castle
- Picasso Museum
- Caminito del Rey
Malaga is the birthplace of the famous artist Picasso, so if you like art, you have to visit the Picasso Museum.
If you are on a budget Malaga Museum is free, and you can see some of Picasso’s art there!
I suggest hiking up to Mirador de Gibralfaro. It is a great viewpoint to see the whole of Malaga.
Malaga is a great base to explore the rest of Costa del Sol, so that is what I am going to suggest to you.
Beaches In Malaga
I must be honest, I did not like Playa de la Malagueta too much. It was too close to the large port for my liking.
However, I am from a small coastal town in Croatia, so I have quite high standards for beaches.
Still, if you are staying in Malaga you could easily do a day trip to some of the smaller towns with better beaches. They are not the cheapest European beach towns, but they are not super expensive either!
Some of the best beaches near Malaga are in Nerja.
Day Trips From Malaga
Malaga is a great base for day trips. With 2 days in Malaga, you can go on a day trip to Ronda or Caminito del Rey.
If you want to do the Caminito del Rey hike, be sure to book it in advance.
I tried booking a week before I was supposed to be in Malaga, and all the good entrance slots were already booked. I was not willing to hike at 14h in 30 degrees heat.
If you don’t have a car, the simplest way to get to Caminito del Rey is to join the Caminito del Rey bus tour from Malaga.
Where To Stay In Malaga
I stayed in two different hostels in Malaga.
The first one I would not recommend. Therefore, I will not link it. I will use this opportunity to remind you to read the reviews.
The second hostel I stayed at was The Urban Jungle Hostel. The hostel had a cool rooftop bar and great location, but there was no kitchen and the bathrooms didn’t have a proper door.
Vegan Restaurants In Malaga, Spain
Malaga is a big city. Therefore, there were many vegan options. Happy Cow said almost 80 places with at least vegan options.
Yet, sometimes when faced with many choices, we tend to make mistakes. Therefore, I only have two places to recommend out of those I tried out.
- Recyclo Bike Cafe had a couple of nice, vegan lunch options that were pretty affordable.
- Restaurante Japones Udon Malaga had a couple of vegan dishes on their menu, including a delicious Udon dish!
More Places To Visit In Andalucia
As you can see, you don’t need to choose between Seville and Granada, as you have plenty of time to visit both cities even with just a week in the region!
If you have more time to spend exploring Andalucia, there are a couple of destinations that I would put on the itinerary.
- Cadiz is a beachside town famous for surfing and its history.
- Gibraltar is feasible as a day trip from Malaga and you can add a visit to another “country” to your list.
- Ronda is quite an impressive town, and also one of the day trips I would consider taking from Malaga.
- Pueblos Blancos, the whitewashed villages are a fun day trip if you rent a car in Andalucia.
How To Get Around Andalucia Without A Car
You don’t need to rent a car when visiting the South of Spain.
Spain is one of the best European countries for backpackers, and Andalucia is well connected by an extensive network of buses and trains.
It is possible to reach virtually every notable tourist destination by reliable public transport, which is perfect for backpacking Andalucia on a budget.
You can book your tickets online or at the stations, and I suggest you do it in advance because the prices get higher closer to the travel date.
I use this website to book and compare bus and train tickets between different operators, to make sure that I’m getting the best deal!
Budget For One Week In Andalucia
Andalucia is not one of the most expensive areas in Europe, but it is not as cheap as Eastern Europe.
Your budget will mainly depend on when you decide to visit since the prices tend to fluctuate seasonally.
The currency in Spain is the euro.
I budgeted around 50 – 70€ per day for backpacking Andalucia in the summer.
That covered accommodation in hostels and pensions (it is like a budget version of a hotel, usually run by a family), food, transportation, entry tickets, and free walking tours.
Depending on your travel style, it might be higher or lower.
Is Andalucia Safe For Solo Female Travellers?
I felt as safe in Andalucia as in any other European country. That means as long as you keep an average level of awareness, you should be fine.
Pickpocketing is common in big cities, so keep an eye on your valuables. It is safe to walk around with your camera and a phone out because everybody does that.
I felt safe walking around at night since the streets were busy until late evening.
Summary: Andalucia Itinerary 7 Days
This 7 day Southern Spain itinerary covers all the must-see spots in Andalucia – from colorful Sevilla to magical Alhambra and sandy beaches along Costa del Sol.
However, it still gives you the flexibility to spend more or less time at each destination and add other places to the itinerary.
Day trips to Gibraltar, surfing in Tavira, or picturesque Pueblos Blancos are more fun experiences to consider when backpacking Andalucia.
So, where are you going after Andalucia? You can continue your trip to the north to Madrid or Barcelona on the coast!
