Andalusia’s Cities and Seaside, Spain: Insider’s Guide

The insider advice on this page is from one of Wendy’s Trusted Travel Experts for Spain and Portugal: Virginia Irurita of Made for Spain & Portugal.

Trusted Travel Expert

Virginia Irurita

Born and raised in Spain, Virginia left a decade-long career in banking in London and Madrid to found her boutique trip-planning firm in 1999. By popular demand, she later expanded her scope to include Portugal too—a natural fit, given that she speaks Portuñol (a mix of Spanish and Portuguese). She has a little black book thick with the names of local experts—museum curators, architects, chefs, flamenco dancers—eager to show you their corners of the Iberian peninsula. Her bespoke itineraries extend to the Balearic Islands, Azores, and Madeira too. Virginia has a particularly keen interest in wine and winemaking—so keen, in fact, that she bought herself a vineyard on the banks of the Duoro River—and she is especially well-connected in the foodie world. Virginia’s savvy local drivers and clever guides will save you considerable time and hassle. If you prefer to rent a car and drive yourself, or you’re seeking more limited arrangements, click to Ask Wendy for a different recommendation.

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Expect trips orchestrated by Virginia to use 5-star hotels only, have a 7-night minimum, and start at $15,000 for two travelers. Virginia has a planning fee of 500 euros that serves as a deposit toward the trip cost. No villa rentals or self-drive trips.

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The golden hour casts the Alhambra in a warm glow. Photo: Ignacio M. Irurita.

Where to Stay and Eat

Hotels worth the splurge
On the Costa del Sol, Finca Cortesín is one of the country’s five best properties. The rooms are huge, the spa is exceptional, and the golf course has won several awards. On a clear day, you can see to Africa. Though the hotel itself isn’t on the water, guests have access to a beach club about a mile away (shuttles run regularly)—or you can just stay put and opt for a dip in one of three pools.

To feel the real Andalusian vibe, stay in the Hotel Mercer Sevilla, in the historic center of Seville. This 5-star boutique hotel is located in the Casa Palacio Castelar, a bourgeois palace from 1880, which has been completely renovated while preserving its original architectural elements around a typical Andalusian patio and a beautiful marble staircase. On the hotel’s roof you will find the wonderful Mercer terrace, with a swimming pool, solarium, and bar service.

Best bang-for-your-buck hotels
Staying at La Bobadilla Hotel is like being invited to a wealthy friend’s country estate (one that just happens to be conveniently located between Cordoba, Granada, and Seville). A whitewashed Mediterranean villa set among olive groves, the hotel has a spa and a gastronomic restaurant, as well as horses and bikes for exploring the extensive grounds—and yet, the room rates are very reasonable. Of La Bobadilla’s entry-level accommodations, number 47 is a prime pick for the beautiful Moorish woodwork in the ceiling.

If you are looking to stay right in the heart of Seville, the Hotel Colón Gran Meliá offers a combination of history, art, and culture: Each floor is inspired by one of the great Spanish painters and features furnishings by renowned designers.

Restaurants the locals love
In Córdoba: Casa Pepe de la Juderia. Sit on the rooftop terrace for a great view of the minaret of the old mosque, which is now the bell tower of the cathedral. Try the salmorejo—a chilled tomato soup—or any of the pork dishes.

For a more classic meal, go to Bodegas Campos, a renowned winery opened in 1908 and now one of Córdoba’s top spots for high-quality cuisine. Dinner on their patio is like a dream come true.

In Seville: Bodeguita Morales. This tapas bar has been around for over a century, with the atmosphere to prove it. Spinach and garbanzo beans are a typical Spanish dish, but the generous dose of cumin in their version gives it a North African flavor.

In Málaga: Have some tapas at the new Antonio Banderas-owned restaurant Barra de Doña Inés: good-quality food and cocktails, and splendid service.

Many restaurants in Andalusia have terraces; thanks to the mild climate, it’s possible to sit outside well into November.

Dishes to try
Cold soups, like salmorejo and ajo blanco, are a mainstay in Andalusia, as is fried fish (cooked in very hot olive oil that doesn’t permeate the meat, similar to the tempura technique of frying). Oxtail stew is another specialty—little surprise given the number of bull ranches in the south.

The langoustines (cousins of the lobster) at Casa Bigote, at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. It’s a casual place, but their seafood is delicious.

Meals worth the splurge
Aponiente, in Cádiz, is Andalusía’s only restaurant with three Michelin stars. Chef Angel Leon has revolutionized the way seafood is prepared.

In Seville, Cañabota serves the best products of the sea, coming from the coasts of Cádiz and occasionally from Galicia, and cooked on the embers. For a less formal meal, go next door to La Barra de Cañabota.

The Alhambra sits beneath the Sierra Nevada mountains. Photo: Ignacio M. Irurita.

What to See and Do

Don’t miss
The entire Cadiz province—both the inland villages and the coastal towns. It’s that unbeatable combination of great landscape, fantastic food and wine, incredible beaches, and low prices—all yet to be discovered by foreign travelers.

The Capilla del Salvador in Úbeda, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Photo: Ignacio M. Irurita.

The twin cities of Úbeda and Baeza (collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site) have beautiful Renaissance architecture and strong Arabic heritage, but not many visitors. Situated in Jaen province and neighboring the world’s biggest olive grove, both towns are full of small restaurants and outdoor cafés offering delicious tapas based on Andalusia’s agricultural bounty. The Parador de Ubeda—a lovely, 16th-century palace turned hotel—makes overnighting here a no-brainer.

Don’t bother
Politically, Gibraltar is part of the United Kingdom, but geographically it’s located in Andalusia. Regardless, travelers who insist on visiting always come back agreeing that it was a waste of time. Perhaps you’ve heard stories of the semi-wild monkeys; there aren’t many left. And while the shopping is VAT–free, the options are meager and nothing special.

Hidden gem
Ronda, located in the Málaga region, sits on either side of the Tajo del Ronda, a narrow gorge more than 500 feet deep. Celts, Phoenicians, Romans, and Arabs all inhabited these lands, which were eventually reconquered by the Catholic monarchs. Ronda still preserves its walls and the most important gates that gave access to the city. It is famous for its dramatic escarpments and views, and for the deep gorge that carries the Guadalevín River through its center. Go to the 18th-century Puente Nuevo bridge, which straddles a 300-foot chasm, for its unparalleled views out over the Serranía de Ronda Mountains. Ronda is also the birthplace of modern bullfighting, today glimpsed at the spectacular Feria Goyesca every September; fighters and some of the audience dress in the manner of Goya’s sketches of life in the region.

Cheap thrill
Tapas used to be served free to bar patrons throughout Spain; these days the tradition is carried on only in Granada. Every drink you order gets you another tapa, each bigger and better than the last—no need for dinner!

Bragging rights
Enjoy a private visit with the owner of one of the best preserved medieval castles in the world: Castillo de Almodóvar (Almodóvar’s Castle). She will take you through its towers, dungeon, hexagonal chapel, and much more. You’ll have access to the parts of the castle where the owner and her family still live. And if you watch Game of Thrones, welcome to Highgarden!

Virginia can also arrange a private visit to the medieval Synagogue of Water in Úbeda, unearthed only about ten years ago just as construction for a new apartment building was about to begin. You’ll meet the site’s developer, who discovered the ruins (which include seven wells, a ritual bath, and a number of artifacts) and, instead of building the new apartments, dedicated himself to restoring the ancient synagogue. Hearing the stories of the Jewish community in Úbeda before the Inquisition and the site’s most significant archaeological discoveries makes for a thrilling history lesson.

The souvenirs
The best shopping in the region is found in Seville, especially if you’re looking for traditional items that are typical of the region. For a wide selection of beautiful fans, or abanicos, go to Abanicos Diaz (not just for flamenco dancers, abanicos were historically used by the women of Andalusia to stave off the summer heat). For mantónes de Manila—those large embroidered shawls named after the Spanish colony—head to Juan Foronda. And check out Sevillarte for ceramics made using Moorish and Renaissance techniques that originated in the 15th and 16th centuries (you can also buy similar pieces in Granada, near the Cathedral).

It is worth a visit the oldest hat shop in Seville, Maquedano, founded in 1896 in a jewel of a modernist building that preserves its original layout. One of the most curious and charming shops in the city is the Old Chandelier of El Salvador, a family candle shop founded in 1845 and one of the few establishments that continue to make wax the old-fashioned way.

You can also buy good-quality versions of any of the items above at El Corte Inglés, a department store with outlets in almost every city of Spain.

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