Maybe you have ventured to Barcelona or Madrid, those big, alluring cities in Spain that impress with museums such as the Prado and the psychedelic architecture of Antoni Gaudí. Both are great options, but today I want to encourage you to look further afield in Spain. Look south. Way south. Not quite to Morocco (although that would be fun, too). Look to Andalusia.

The region of Andalusia holds some hot spots when it comes to history, architecture, dance, and food. You have probably heard of Sevilla and possibly also La Alhambra. Let’s take a look at the top five spots to visit in this vast area: this is the Hit List.

Visit the Royal Alcazar in Seville this spring.

Number 1: Sevilla

This city gets position numero uno on the list because of the immense amount of history layered here in addition to being incredibly pretty. Horse-drawn carriages line the streets in the city center and well-manicured locals strut along cobblestone streets. Seville oozes charm and also holds the Royal Alcazar, ancient palaces once used by the Moors, then the Catholic Monarchs (Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, you know, the ones who sent Columbus off to the Americas).

Number 2: Granada

Come for La Alhambra – Spain’s most visited site – and stay for the tapas, friendly locals, and ancient lanes of the Albaycin neighborhood. Framed by mountains, Granada is beautiful in a dramatic way. Don’t forget to try the hammams while you’re in town.

Take a spin in a horse-drawn carriage in Sevilla and see the Maria Luisa Park.

Number 3: Cordoba

Another wonderful city in the South of Spain and an easy day trip from Seville. Come to Cordoba to see the wild Mezquita, which was once a mosque and is now a cathedral (this shift happens a lot in this part of the country). Plan ahead to visit during the city’s Patio Festival.

Number 4: Ronda

It’s all about drama in Ronda, which is set along a deep gorge called El Tajo. There are Arab baths from the 13th century in this famous white town (white because of the color of all the buildings) and sturdy bridges that connect the 15th-century portion of town to the newer area. Ronda makes for a great day trip.

Number 5: Málaga

You could spend all of your time inland touring around the white-washed villages and drinking sherry in Sevilla. But don’t forget that Andalusia has many miles of coastline. Málaga sits along the beaches or Southern Spain, as does nearby Marbella and Nerja. Málaga is also an easy destination to fly in and out of if you’re heading off to another part of the country or Europe.

We plan solo trips for women to the South of Spain. Come with us in May to explore Seville, Granada, Ronda, and Cordoba. Or plan a trip on your own and start exploring this rich area. We recommend you rent a car to get out of the cities and see some of the smaller towns.

Do you have questions about Andalusia? You can email us here.