Roadtripping 'Real' Spain
For my last birthday I decided to experience some Spanish cities with a mix of Salsa, Gypsy Jazz, sightseeing and Alhambra Sunsets. The route looked like this - 2 nights Granada, 2 nights Cordoba, 3 nights Seville, 4 nights Marbella/Puerto Banus and then Malaga.
At 602km drive, this totals up to around 7.5hours driving time. Don’t let that put you off though, these drives are pretty and well spread out, so the average drive time sits at around 1hr 45 mins between cities.
If you’re a fan of using your BA airmiles or just prefer to fly BA, you’ll enjoy this route - with flights direct from LCY into Granada and returning from Malaga to either LHR or LGW there’s plenty of opportunity to redeem (or collect) those precious airmiles.
Granada
You could be forgiven for thinking you might be in Morocco here, leathers and coloured fabrics lining the cobbled streets and the strong scent of incense twists up into the hillside. As you wander through the snake like streets you will visually see the architecture change. The modern buildings give way to brightly coloured, fabric coloured walk ways. Allow your nose to be your guide, led by the spices and aromatic pull of the Moorish, old quarter of the city - Albaicin.
Top tips for this city
• Head up to the El Mirador de San Cristóbal in time for sunset, the uphill walk is quickly forgotten once you see the red of the evening sunset totally encompass The Alhambra Palace and city below. People watch the beautiful Granada Gypsy families as they sell their hand made jewellery, play live music and generally chill into the evening sun. For a real authentic taste of Granada pre-book a trip to the Caves set high into the hillside and experience Spain’s finest live flamenco! • Order a drink in traditional Albaicin eateries and make the most of the complimentary ‘house tapas’, often consists of breads/olives or house stew!
Córdoba
A cute buzzy little city with a flair of its own, Lonely Planet calls this city ‘a natural film set’ and I know what it means. The Moorish feel continues here, once the capital of Islamic Spain and western Europe's biggest, most cultured city. Every turn delivers you into a new square or flowery patio, more cobbled alleyways bring you to quaint eateries and bars, perfect to sit and watch the world go by. This city has no shortage of wonderful tapas bars and even when you get lost (which you will), you find yourself being glad of it, as you discover more of Spain’s most fantastic foodie fusions.
My top tips for this city
• Visit during the ‘Cordoba Flower Festival’ or ‘Battle of the Flowers’ in May – with patios filled to bursting with beautiful hanging baskets & unique parades featuring flowers as the key elements. This is held to herald the beginning of a month of festivities in Cordoba. • Take a walk along the river at sunset and see the ‘Roman bridge of Córdoba’ glow.
Seville
‘The city of a thousand doors’, Seville is full of striking buildings, maze like alleyways and oh so many beautiful, ornate doorways. A perfect mix of fantastic shopping, traditional tapas and medieval lanes. At the heart of that historic centre is a colossal Gothic cathedral. Flamenco clubs are small bit mighty and keep the intimacy and intensity of this centuries-old tradition alive. Fear not there is a fantastic ‘open all hours’ nightlife scene here and in the true style of a Spanish night out you can expect to dance into the night and return home at 5am!
My top tips for this city
• Check out the utterly delightful and unforgettable Plaza de España, if it’s a hot day be sure to dance in the fountains! • Skip the horse an cart and take the bicycle tour of Seville and see the city through the eyes of one of the local guides. • Head to the pretty riverside ‘Puerto de Cuba’ for evening drinks, there is an outdoor nightclub attached if a little dancing appeals!
Marbella
Marbella & Puerto Banus need little introduction. The jewel in the ultra-sparkly Costa Del Sol’s Crown, these two uber swanky resorts are a short 15 mins drive apart and stretch along the coastline.
Marbella has two distinct halves, the ‘Golden Mile’ with its beachside collection of star-studded clubs, super shiny restaurants and ultra-luxurious hotels. Come nightfall you can leave the flip flops behind, the flappy lashes and sparkly Louboutin’s are very much at home in these affluent party playgrounds.
As a real contrast just a couple of blocks back from the water are the charming passages that lead to Marbella Old Town. With twinkly fairy lights leading the way, you find a small maze of restaurants and bars. Locals and tourists blend side by side with tasty seafood and tapas dishes the order of the day.
Puerto Banus, just a short taxi ride from Marbella ups the ante in terms of all out bling, with supercars & superyachts this place is far from understated! In the same way Vegas impresses with its sheer gold clad grandeur, Puerto Banus is a real eye opener of how ‘the other half live’. With short flights, fine dining and cocktail bars galore peak summer season does have a tendency to attract large groups so do make your dinner reservations in advance.
My top tips for this area
• To avoid the crowds and party scene head for these resort in the shoulder season to really get the best of them. April, May, June and September, October all hold the temperatures well with warm sunny days. • Keep the car hire on an extra day or so and explore neighbouring Estepona, with its pretty white building and old town it’s definitely worth a day trip. • Be sure to take a little time to enjoy Malaga before your flight home, aim for an evening flight and spend the day exploring this understated city before you fly home.
I have the most wonderful memories from my adventures in Spain, the people warm and welcoming, the food is phenomenal, and the sun is always shining! For a tailored trip for you and your favourite people please ask me for details.
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