Self Drive Holidays In Spain
Getting around Spain
The best way to get around Spain is to hire a car & drive yourself! This provides the freedom to linger in places that interest you or to rush through those that don't.
A suggested itinerary that will take approximately 7 days (or as long as you like!) is shown below.
Fly in to Málaga and base yourself somewhere close to the coast such as Marbella on the Costa del Sol. This is an area of Southern Spain, known for it's long stretches of beach-side towns, spectacular weather (over 300 days of sunshine per year!) and holiday-makers galore!
We stayed at Los Jardines de Santa Maria Golf resort, even though we don't play golf! The resort was located in the Elviria district, just 5 minutes drive from the beach. We booked a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment which was superb. It had a balcony, full kitchen, washer/dryer, and all modern facilities. The resort offered a swimming pool, underground parking, and there was a supermarket close by.
From here you can do a few day-trips including:
Córdoba
Famous for the Islamic mosque La Mezquita that dates back to 784AD & features a multi-columned prayer hall with Byzantine mosaics. This is a full day journey by the time you walk around the old city, spend time in the mosque, have some lunch, and then head home. Here's a few pics to whet your appetite:
Le Mezquita © Holidays Beckon
Cordoba © Holidays Beckon
Cordoba © Holidays Beckon
Cordoba © Holidays Beckon
Seville
This is another full day journey as you drive through hundreds & hundreds of olive groves. The countryside is sparse, dry, and reminded me of an outback western movie. Question: How many olives does it take to make a bottle of olive oil? Apparently 1,375 olives that take 47 minutes to pick! Fascinating the stuff you refer to Professor Google when you are a back seat passenger filling in time!
Seville is a lovely place to visit, and is home to the Alcázar castle, built during the Moorish Almohad dynasty. Some may recognise this as Dorne from the TV series The Game of Thrones. There are also plenty of nice walks, gardens, eateries, & things to see, such as the Gothic Seville Cathedral site of the Christopher Columbus tomb.
Seville © Holidays Beckon
Seville © Holidays Beckon
Seville © Holidays Beckon
The Alcazar © Holidays Beckon
The Alcazar © Holidays Beckon
The Alcazar © Holidays Beckon
Ronda
Another great place to visit & a full day journey.
Ronda was first declared a city by Julius Caesar in the late 4C AD. It is perched on a mountain top in Andalusia above a deep gorge. This gorge separates the old town from the new town. A stone bridge, Puente Nuevo, spans the gorge and there is a lookout that offers spectacular views of the countryside. The 18th-century bullring Plaza de Toro is one of the towns most recognised features.
The drive consists of a very windy road up the mountain from the coast. It can get very busy & slow moving, especially with people heading home from a big day out. Take your time & don't feel pressured by some of the mad-men on the road!
We enjoyed Spanish paella for lunch & later a cold beer at a small café off the main drag. We then stayed on until after dusk to see the town lit up at night.
Ronda © Holidays Beckon
Ronda © Holidays Beckon
Ronda © Holidays Beckon
Ronda by night © Holidays Beckon
Ronda © Holidays Beckon
Gibraltar & Cádiz
Yet another full day trip!
We decided the quickest way to see Gibraltar was on the top deck of a double decker bus. It was a lovely sunny day & provided some great photo opportunities. The most bizarre thing about Gibraltar is that the city's airport runway crosses the main road into town! When planes land they block off the road so that pedestrians & delivery vehicles can't cross!
Gibraltar © Holidays Beckon
Gibraltar © Holidays Beckon
Gibraltar © Holidays Beckon
After Gibraltar we headed to Cadiz, an ancient port city that is built on a strip of land surrounded by sea. Home to the Spanish Navy, the port boomed in the 16th-century resulting from exploration and trade. It is considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in Europe. There are more than 100 watchtowers, including Torre Tavira. It also boasts the 18th-century Cádiz Cathedral which is built on the waterfront.
Cadiz © Holidays Beckon
Cadiz © Holidays Beckon
Cadiz © Holidays Beckon
Cadiz © Holidays Beckon
Once you have satisfied your appetite with this area of Spain, start heading towards Barcelona via Granada, Alicante & Valencia.
Granada
Granada is famous for the spectacular Moorish Alhambra & gardens (the Red Castle) dating back to the 9th century. Allow 2 days here.
Be aware that entry is restricted to specific times. Allow sufficient time to see it all! Opening times are available here: https://www.alhambradegranada.org/en/info/openingtimes.asp
Alhambra © Holidays Beckon
Alhambra © Holidays Beckon
Alhambra © Holidays Beckon
A fantastic tradition here in Granada is the free tapas that is offered when purchasing drinks at various bars & cafés. Make sure to take the time to sit, relax and watch the world go by whilst enjoying the tasty treats & a refreshing ale or two!
After leaving Granada head for Valencia via Alicante. Whilst there isn't much to see in Alicante it provides the opportunity to have a break from behind the wheel, have a bite to eat & still arrive in Valencia before dark.
València via Alicante
Alicante
Sadly we encountered wet weather along the way, so the only memory I have of Alicante is the rain! We did have lunch here, but didn't get to look around very much.
Alicante © Holidays Beckon
Valencia
We stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment close to the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències). The weather had certainly turned since our previous travels through Andalusia.
Valencia © Andrew Aylesbury
Valencia © Andrew Aylesbury
After leaving Valencia we headed to Barcelona via Peniscola & Tarragona, two small towns that provided a coffee break, some lunch, and a rest before hitting Barcelona where we dropped the car off at the airport and caught the bus into town.
Peniscola © Holidays Beckon
Tarragona © Holidays Beckon
Tarragona © Holidays Beckon
Tarragona © Holidays Beckon
Barcelona
What can I say about Barcelona that I haven't said before? This city has a vibe all of its own, from the moment you step foot in the place. There is a liveliness, a feeling of warmth & friendship, somewhere that puts a smile on your face!
There is so much to see & do in Barcelona, from sitting at a sidewalk café watching the world go by, to visiting one of the many Gaudi attractions, such as Casa Batlló, Park Güell, Casa Milà or la Sagrada Família. It is truly amazing architecture and very much a part of Barcelona.
You can also visit the Gothic quarter or take a gondola from Barcelona harbour to Montjuic hill, and on to San Sebastian beach near Barceloneta beach.
Another great idea is to find a trendy place where you can sit at the bar and watch as the chef prepares & serves a tasty tapas menu, right before your eyes!! Our hotel concierge pointed us in the direction of such a place, and we had a truly fantastic experience. It was just a matter of asking a local!
Casa Batlló Barcelona © Holidays Beckon
Park Güell © Holidays Beckon
La Pedrera Barcelona © Holidays Beckon
Sagrada Familia Barcelona © Holidays Beckon
Sagrada Familia Barcelona © Holidays Beckon
Sagrada Familia Barcelona © Holidays Beckon
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