If you’re staying in Sevilla for more than a few days, I highly recommend booking a rental car and driving across the Andalucían countryside to visit another city or town. Whenever I visit Sevilla, I always leave time to visit another city for the day. Here are my favorite days trips from Sevilla, and all are within a few hour drive (or a quick train ride, if you’d prefer). If you’re lucky enough to visit in May or June, you’ll find miles and miles of yellow sunflower fields.
Córdoba
Córdoba is home to one of the most unique cathedrals in the world, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption or The Great Mosque of Córdoba (commonly referred to as ‘La Mezquita’ in Spain) . The former mosque was built in the 8th Century, but today it’s only used as a Cathedral, lined with many features of the original Mosque: a mihrab, muqarnas (ornamental vaulted naves), horseshoe arches, and Moorish doorways. It’s a massive structure with history that spans many cultures and civilizations; archeologists believe the granite arches were mined from a former Roman amphitheater in Meridia, Spain.
If you choose to drive from Sevilla to Córdoba, you should plan to stop at Castillo de Almodóvar del Río, a well-preserved castle with Berber and Moorish roots. This hilltop fortress overlooking the Guadalquivir River was used as a filming location in the HBO series, Game of Thrones, where it served as the set for Highgarden Castle of House Tyrell.
Cádiz
Cádiz is a sleepy resort town and a weekend beach destination for many Sevillanas. It’s a quick 90-minute train ride into the Old Town of Cádiz, and there are several beaches within a 15 minute walk of the main train station: Santa Maria del Mar, Cortadura, and La Caleta. Santa Maria del Mar is the most popular beach and closest to the train station. A few minutes further down the coast is Cortadura, a massive beach lined with many hotels and resorts. If you’re looking for a small, calm and family-friendly beach, La Caleta is a great option. All of these beaches are sufficient for a quick getaway, but Cádiz is located on the Atlantic Ocean so expect cooler temperatures than the beaches on the Mediterranean coast.
Granada
Granada is one of the most historically significant cities in Spain. In 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella marched through the Gate of Elvira and into Granada, marking the completion of the Spanish Reconquista and ending 800 years of Islamic rule on the Iberian Peninsula. The Moorish influence is still prevalent today, headlined by the Alhambra, the palace and fortress for the Emirate of Granada.
With over 2 million annual visitors, the Alhambra is Spain’s most visited monument and main attraction in Granada. It’s a must see for anyone visiting Andalucía. I found buying admission tickets to the Alhambra to be extremely difficult, and nearly every day is sold out months in advance. Part of the reason is that the Alhambra strongly encourages visitors to book their visit through an official tour guide. I booked my tour guide through the hotel I was staying at in Sevilla. He was very knowledgeable but I did find the tour of the palace to be a bit rushed; I would have enjoyed more time to relax and enjoy the outdoor gardens in between the Alhambra and Generalife.
After touring the Alhambra, head across the river to Albaicín, a hillside neighborhood which offers the best views of this ancient palace. My favorite lookout is Mirador San Nicolás — go here for the iconic postcard photo.
Ronda
It’s hard to imagine a more perfect Spanish town than Ronda. It’s perched 100 meters above a waterfall, overlooking the green, oak-filled Andalucían countryside. If you visit Ronda, be sure to hike down the gorge to this view point; it offers the best view of the town.
Ronda was first put on the map by Munro Leaf’s The Story of Ferdinand, where Ronda’s Puente Nuevo was featured in several illustrations. The Story of Ferdinand highlights Andalucía’s rich equine and bull fighting history and was frequently visited by author Ernest Hemingway and director Orson Welles.
Costa del Sol
Costa del Sol has some of the most beautiful beaches in mainland Spain. It’s much farther than Cadiz but this Mediterranean coastline well worth the trip if you have time. Several beaches found here can be accessed via a day trip from Sevilla (3-4 hour drive).