Further afield

One of the great things about being based in Mijas is the amazing access to some of Spain’s best loved cities, and its best kept secrets. And for those days when you don’t want to lounge in the sun, you can easily spend a day in places like Granada, or Cadiz and still be back in time for a sundowner.

Below are some of the fantastic places you get easily get to when you want to venture further afield. We’ve actually done a road trip linking up many of these over an intense, but enjoyable, three-day trip – there’s some notes at the end if you want to do something similar and explore more of the most beautiful and historic parts of Andalusia.

Gibraltar

Head along the coast, past Marbella, and within 90 minutes or so, you’ll find yourself in Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory located at the southern tip of Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is a popular tourist destination, known for its stunning views and diverse wildlife. Visitors can take a cable car to the top of the rock, where they can see the famous apes and visit the many tunnels and galleries.

Our top tip is to take the cable car up, and walk all the way back down, so you can make the most what’s there. It’s close enough that you could easily plan a leisurely morning and still be in Gibraltar for lunch.

Tarifa

From Gibraltar, it’s not far to drive to Tarifa, which is located on the southernmost point of continental Europe. The town is known for its windsurfing and kitesurfing, as well as its beautiful beaches and historic castle. It’s also a great spot for whale and dolphin watching and has a laid-back character. Head into the cobbled streets by the cathedral for a drink and some more great Spanish cakes.

Cadiz

If you’re following a route, the drive to Cadiz takes you through national parks and beautiful marshlands. If you’re heading straight from the apartment you’ll travel through mountains and past lakes on a trip that will take just over two and a half hours.

Cadiz itself is one of the oldest cities in Europe and well worth staying a night. Aim for the old town, which is full of great places to eat and cobbled squares to discover. With the Cathedral of Cadiz and the Roman Theatre amongst its attractions, if you only do one thing in the historic center, make sure it’s the camera obscura at the top of the Torre Tavira which will give you the most in depth, and entertaining, view of a city full of landmarks.

Jerez

Just 30 minutes from Cadiz, is Jerez, which is known for its sherry and its horse shows. Make sure you take a tour of one of the many bodegas and experience the unique culture of sherry production. A personal favourite is the tour at Gonzalez Byass. Not only is it an amazing experience, with a great selection of sherries to taste at the end (top tip, make sure you book to sample four sherries, as those who only get to sample two always look disappointed!), but it’s right in the centre of town, which allows you to explore the rest of the city too.

The other world-famous attraction, not to be missed, is the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. The museum and exhibition are worth seeing in their own right, but the real star attraction is the show that they put on twice a week. It’s worth planning ahead, however, because the school doesn’t open in the afternoons, and shows are only on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the time of writing.

Seville

If you’re doing the trip, and are laden with bottles of sherry, you can get back to the apartment in a little over two hours from Jerez, or you can swing north and continue your travels to Seville.

The drive up from Jerez takes about an hour, so you could easily spend time in the wetland reserve of Parque Nacional de Donana on route. For birders, this is a must.

Seville is the capital of Andalusia and known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture. It’s a great place to spend a couple of days and there’s really three things that should be on your list to see. The first is the Alcazar, which has traditionally been the summer residence of the Spanish Royal Family, who still use it for that purpose. It’s a magnificent palace, with equally lovely gardens and a fantastic mix of Moorish and Western styles. Book tickets online in advance, preferably a day or two before. as it operates a timed-entry system.

The same is true of the Cathedral, which is a short walk away, and features the Giralda Tower, a great bell tower that you can walk right to the top of to enjoy amazing views. The Cathedral itself is spectacular, and huge, and also holds the tomb of luminaries such as Christopher Columbus. It’s well worth a look.

In the streets around the Cathedral, you’ll find one of the largest Old Towns in Europe and a dazzling array of places to browse and eat. But head towards the bull ring, and across the El Cachorro Bridge and you’ll soon find yourself in the heart of Seville’s gypsy quarter, Triana, and the traditional birthplace of flamenco.

Ronda

The final must-see spot on a tour of Andalucia is the magnificent spectacle of Ronda, sitting high in the Serrania de Ronda mountains, and straddling the El Tajo gorge. From Seville, you can reach Ronda in less than two hours. From the apartment, Ronda is less than ninety minutes, making for a spectacular day trip in its own right.

You’ll want to see the famous Puente Nuevo bridge, which offers great views of the town and the surrounding countryside, and maybe even hike down to the bottom. If its your thing, legend has it that the bull ring in Ronda is where it all began. It certainly beguiled Hemingway enough for him to spend much time there, and beget his novel Death in the Afternoon.

Granada

In another direction altogether, a 90 minute drive will get you to one of the most fantastic Spanish cities of them all, Granada. A day trip to this gem of a place will be well worth it. It’s a fantastically walkable city, with squares and streets lined with stalls, and markets, and tapas. You’ll find bustling life everywhere you go, especially by the Cathedral but, of course, the main reason for going to Granada is to see the Alhambra.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, high on a hill above the city, this complex of palaces and fortresses was built by the Moors in the 14th century. The Alhambra is full of intricate tilework, arabesque decorations, and stunning gardens. It is considered one of the most significant examples of Islamic architecture in the world and is well worth the trip. A word of warning, though, we’ve known tickets to be sold out more than ten days in advance, especially for weekends – so plan ahead and make sure you’re not disappointed.

Click here for a three day itinerary you can follow that links many of these together.