UltimateGuide Andalusia
Our favourites
The Plaza de España in Seville in late-afternoon light The Plaza de España in Seville in late-afternoon light The Alhambra in Granada in the evening light, with the Sierra Nevada behind The red-and-white arches of the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba The Puente Nuevo spanning the gorge at Ronda

The region guide to Andalusia, Spain

Best of Andalusia

The Alhambra at dusk, the Alcázar’s gilded halls, the arches of the Mezquita, the white villages of the sierras and the sherry towns by the Atlantic.

Where to eatWhat to see
The Giralda bell tower of Seville Cathedral, lit at nightSeville, Málaga & JerezChristmas in AndalusiaLights, nativity fairs, zambombas and the Three KingsA cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resort

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to Andalusia

Andalusia is eight provinces and a dozen journeys: Seville, Granada and Córdoba, the great cities of al-Andalus; Málaga and its museums; Cádiz and the sherry towns; Ronda and the white villages; Renaissance Úbeda and Baeza among the olive groves; the volcanic coast of Almería; and the wetlands of Doñana. We’ve checked every listing against the venue’s own website or an official source, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm. Every hotel carries a price guide, from € to €€€€. For the Costa del Sol, see our Marbella guide.

Andalusia’s MICHELIN stars: the back story

Where to eat

Thirty MICHELIN stars

Andalusia·In depth

The MICHELIN Guide Spain 2026 gives Andalusia thirty starred restaurants, with three stars at Aponiente and Noor, and five new stars from Cádiz to Granada.

See every star

Choose your region

Nine region guides, plus the Costa del Sol and Sierra Nevada skiing in their own guides.

The Plaza de España in SevilleRegion guideSevilleThe Alcázar, the Giralda and TrianaThe Alhambra in Granada in the evening light, with the Sierra Nevada behindRegion guideGranadaThe Alhambra and the AlbaicínThe red-and-white arches of the Mosque-Cathedral of CórdobaRegion guideCórdobaThe Mezquita and the patiosThe coloured glass cube of the Centre Pompidou MálagaRegion guideMálagaPicasso’s cityThe rooftops and watchtowers of Cádiz above the bayRegion guideCádiz, Jerez & SotograndeThe Atlantic and the sherry townsThe Puente Nuevo spanning the gorge at RondaRegion guideRonda & the white villagesThe gorge and the sierrasThe Renaissance vault of the Sacra Capilla del Salvador in ÚbedaRegion guideJaén, Úbeda & BaezaRenaissance towns and olive grovesThe walls of the Alcazaba of AlmeríaRegion guideAlmería & Cabo de GataThe volcanic coastThe white town of Aracena in the Sierra de AracenaRegion guideHuelva & DoñanaWetlands, sierra and Atlantic beachesYachts in Puerto BanúsOur Marbella guideThe Costa del SolMarbella, Puerto Banús and EsteponaTrevélez in the Alpujarra, below the snows of the Sierra NevadaOur Ski Resorts guideSierra Nevada skiingThe mountains above Granada

Plan your trip

Routes and the practical things to know before you go.

The red-and-white arches of the Mosque-Cathedral of CórdobaItinerarySeville, Córdoba and GranadaFive days by trainZahara de la Sierra above its reservoirItineraryThe white villagesArcos to RondaThe Giralda bell tower of Seville Cathedral, lit at nightBefore you goAndalusia essentialsEntry, money, seasonsA pavilion of the Court of the Lions in the AlhambraTicketsTickets and stagesThe Alhambra, the Alcázar, flamenco

In depth: Andalusia’s back stories

Where to stay, where to eat and how buying works.

The entrance of the Hotel Alfonso XIII in SevilleThe back storyWhere to stayPalaces and ParadorsThe carved choir of Málaga CathedralThe back storyThirty MICHELIN starsFrom Cádiz to JaénThe Plaza de España in SevilleThe back storyBuying propertyHow it works

More of Spain

Our other guides to Spain.

Yachts in Puerto BanúsULTIMATE guideMarbellaThe Costa del SolThe Sagrada Família lit up at nightULTIMATE guideBarcelonaGaudí, the Gothic Quarter and the beachesLa Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la MarULTIMATE guideMallorcaPalma, the Serra de Tramuntana and the covesThe road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open seaULTIMATE guideThe Balearic IslandsMallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

The Acropolis of Athens by day, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open seaSpainULTIMATE Balearic IslandsMallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera side by side, and how to hop between them by ferry.Visit the guide The Sagrada Família lit up at nightSpainULTIMATE BarcelonaGaudí and the Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter, four Three-Star MICHELIN kitchens, the beaches and day trips to Montserrat and Girona.Visit the guide Belgrade's old town and the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael above the Sava at sunsetSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegroships & regions)ULTIMATE Cruises (linesThe world’s cruise lines for every budget, from family resort ships to yachts, expedition ships and river boats, with the cruising regions port by port.Visit the guide Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide Helsinki Cathedral above the South HarbourFinlandULTIMATE HelsinkiSuomenlinna and the South Harbour, saunas by the sea, Aalto and the Design District, two-starred Palace and day trips to Porvoo and Tallinn.Visit the guide The Golden Horn and the mosques of the old city, IstanbulTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide The Triple Bridge over the LjubljanicaSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth TowerUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, world-class museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la MarSpainULTIMATE MallorcaPalma’s cathedral and palace hotels, the UNESCO Tramuntana, Deià and Sóller, nine MICHELIN-starred kitchens, and Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Matterhorn in winter above ZermattOur sister guideULTIMATE Ski Resorts (Europe & North America)Ski resorts in Europe and North America, country by country, for every budget: season dates, hotels, mountain restaurants, après, ski schools and getting there.Visit the guide The Stone Bridge over the VardarNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide The gilded domes of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, SofiaBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey MosqueAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide Rolling green hills and a farmhouse near Pienza in the Val d’OrciaItalyULTIMATE TuscanyFlorence, Chianti, Siena, the Val d’Orcia, Pisa and Lucca, Versilia, Bolgheri, the Maremma, Arezzo and Elba.Visit the guide The tiled roof of St Mark’s Church in Zagreb’s Upper TownCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coastUSAULTIMATE CaliforniaSan Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and the national parks.Visit the guide The beach at Rosemary Beach on the Gulf of MexicoUSAULTIMATE FloridaOrlando and the theme parks, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Scenic Highway 30A.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Griffith Observatory with downtown Los Angeles beyondCaliforniaULTIMATE Los AngelesHollywood and the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills’ grand hotels, the Sunset Strip, the Getty and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide The New York City skyline from Top of the RockNew YorkULTIMATE New YorkManhattan’s grand hotels and MICHELIN dining, Broadway and the Met, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park and the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.Visit the guide The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery SpencerCaliforniaULTIMATE San FranciscoCable cars over Nob Hill, North Beach cafés, the murals of the Mission, three-star tables and the Golden Gate Bridge.Visit the guide Goat Cay and the turquoise shallows of the ExumasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide The Grand Palace reflected at dawnThailandULTIMATE BangkokThe Grand Palace and Wat Arun on the river, the grand hotels of Charoen Krung, MICHELIN stars from street food to tasting menus, rooftop bars and the Thai islands.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbourIndiaULTIMATE MumbaiThe Taj and the Gateway of India, Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace, three UNESCO sites, modern Indian restaurants and day trips to Elephanta and the Ghats.Visit the guide The Lujiazui skyline lit up at night across the Huangpu RiverChinaULTIMATE ShanghaiThe grand hotels of the Bund facing the towers of Pudong, every MICHELIN star, Yu Garden, the two Shanghai Museums and day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.Visit the guide A caparisoned elephant in the Esala Perahera procession, KandyOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hourUnited Arab EmiratesULTIMATE DubaiBurj Khalifa and the Fountain, abras on the Creek, resorts on the Palm, every MICHELIN star of 2026 and day trips to Abu Dhabi and Hatta.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and locals talking about Andalusia, its restaurants, theatres, museums and neighbourhoods.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    The Alhambra and the Generalife

    Good to know

    The Alhambra and the Generalife

    Granada·Palace and gardens

    Alhambra tickets are in your name: bring the original passport or ID you booked with. The time for the Nasrid Palaces printed on your ticket is fixed, and if you miss it you lose that part of the visit. Buy only on the official ticket website.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    The Plaza de España in SevilleItineraryA day in SevilleOne day, on footThe red-and-white arches of the Mosque-Cathedral of CórdobaItinerarySeville, Córdoba and Granada by trainFive days, by trainThe rooftops and watchtowers of Cádiz above the bayItinerarySherry and the Cádiz coastTwo days, by carZahara de la Sierra above its reservoirItineraryThe white villages and RondaTwo days, by carThe coloured glass cube of the Centre Pompidou MálagaItineraryMálaga and the coast in four daysFour daysThe Plaza de España in SevilleItineraryA property-viewing day: Seville and SotograndeTwo days

    Know your regions

    Seville

    The Real Alcázar and the cathedral, Santa Cruz and Triana, the Plaza de España, flamenco and three MICHELIN-starred restaurants.

    Granada

    The Alhambra and the Generalife, the Albaicín and the Sacromonte, the Parador in the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada behind.

    Córdoba

    The Mosque-Cathedral, the Roman bridge, the patios, Medina Azahara and three-star Noor.

    Málaga

    The Museo Picasso and Picasso’s birthplace, the Pompidou, the Alcazaba, Nerja’s cave and the Antequera dolmens.

    Cádiz, Jerez & Sotogrande

    Old Cádiz, Jerez’s bodegas and horses, manzanilla at Sanlúcar, Aponiente’s three stars, Tarifa and polo at Sotogrande.

    Ronda & the white villages

    Ronda’s Puente Nuevo, Bardal’s two stars, Setenil, Zahara, Vejer, Arcos and the Sierra de Grazalema.

    Jaén, Úbeda & Baeza

    UNESCO-listed Úbeda and Baeza, Jaén’s cathedral and castle, five starred restaurants and the Sierras de Cazorla.

    Almería & Cabo de Gata

    The Alcazaba of Almería, the coves of Cabo de Gata and the white town of Mojácar.

    Huelva & Doñana

    Doñana National Park, the Sierra de Aracena, Riotinto and the Paradors of Mazagón and Ayamonte.

    The Costa del Sol

    Marbella, Puerto Banús, Estepona and Benahavís: see our dedicated Marbella guide.

    Our favourites right now

    Hotels

    1. 1Where to stay in Andalusia: the back storyAndalusia · In depth
    2. 2Hotel Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection HotelSeville · Grand hotel
    3. 3Mercer SevillaSeville · Palace hotel
    See all 47

    Restaurants

    1. 1Andalusia’s MICHELIN stars: the back storyAndalusia · In depth
    2. 2AponienteEl Puerto de Santa María · Fine dining
    3. 3NoorCórdoba · Fine dining
    See all 29

    Sherry & Wine

    1. 1González Byass (Tío Pepe)Jerez de la Frontera · Bodega
    2. 2Bodegas LustauJerez de la Frontera · Bodega
    3. 3Bodegas BarbadilloSanlúcar de Barrameda · Bodega
    See all 5

    Sights

    1. 1Real Alcázar of SevilleSeville · Royal palace
    2. 2Seville Cathedral and the GiraldaSeville · Cathedral
    3. 3Plaza de EspañaSeville · Square
    See all 32

    Art & Flamenco

    1. 1Museo Picasso MálagaMálaga · Museum
    2. 2Museo Casa Natal PicassoMálaga · Museum
    3. 3Centre Pompidou MálagaMálaga · Museum
    See all 12

    Nature

    1. 1Doñana National ParkSeville and Cádiz · National park
    2. 2Sierra Nevada National ParkGranada and Almería · National park
    3. 3Sierra de las Nieves National ParkMálaga province · National park
    See all 7

    Walks

    1. 1The Albaicín to San NicolásGranada · Walk
    2. 2Across the Roman bridge to the Mosque-CathedralCórdoba · Walk
    3. 3Ronda’s gorge and bridgesRonda · Walk
    See all 6

    Shopping

    1. 1Calle Sierpes and Calle TetuánSeville · Shopping streets
    2. 2Calle LariosMálaga · Shopping street
    3. 3The AlcaiceríaGranada · Market lanes
    See all 5

    Health & Spas

    1. 1Emergency number 112Andalusia · Emergencies
    2. 2Hospital Universitario Virgen del RocíoSeville · Public hospital
    3. 3AIRE Ancient Baths SevillaSeville · Baths
    See all 5

    Property

    1. 1Buying property in Andalusia: the back storyAndalusia · In depth
    2. 2Engel & Völkers SevillaSeville · Estate agent
    3. 3Engel & Völkers SotograndeSotogrande · Estate agent
    See all 6

    Developments

    1. 1Seville Metro Line 3 (north)Seville · Infrastructure
    2. 2Málaga Metro to the city centreMálaga · Infrastructure
    3. 3Jaén tramJaén · Infrastructure
    See all 5

    Motoring

    1. 1Circuito de Jerez Ángel NietoJerez de la Frontera · Racing circuit
    2. 2Car hire at the airportsAndalusia · Car hire
    3. 3The white villages driveCádiz and Málaga provinces · Scenic drive
    See all 5

    Getting Around

    1. 1Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP)Málaga · Airport
    2. 2Seville Airport (SVQ)Seville · Airport
    3. 3Jerez Airport (XRY)Jerez de la Frontera · Airport
    See all 12

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