Founded by the Phoenicians as a trading colony, Cádiz remained an important port city under the Romans. It came to the fore again in 1717, when the monopoly on trade with the Americas was transferred to Cádiz. Its coastal defences and watchtowers are testaments to its maritime heritage and strategic location.
Sunny Almería is overlooked by a Moorish Alcazaba and it’s full of elegant squares and boulevards lined with neoclassical mansions. It’s undergoing a renaissance with the pedestrianisation of the Paseo de Almería and port redevelopment.
Base yourself in the elegant city of Málaga, which has undergone a complete transformation in recent decades. As well as enjoying what the city itself has to offer, you can use its excellent transport links to go on day trips to other great destinations in Andalucía.
Marbella makes a great day trip from Málaga or any of the resorts on the Costa del Sol. It has a charming old town with flower-filled white-washed streets and a seaside promenade that goes on for miles.
From 1238 to 1492, the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada held on as the last Muslim kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula. Starting and ending in Málaga, this 10-day circuit takes you to some of the key locations in the kingdom.
The Guadalquivir has played a pivotal role in Andalcuía’s history and development. This itinerary takes you the whole length of the river, from its source in the Sierras de Cazorla to its mouth at Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Málaga has become popular for city breaks since its city centre blossomed with the addition of a new cruise port terminal and several art museums, capitalising on its status as the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. It can get pretty busy at times, but you don’t need to go far to get away from the hordes.
