Andalusia Road Trip: One Week in Seville, Córdoba, Granada
Last updated: May 23, 2026
A one-week Andalusia road trip is enough time to see Seville, Córdoba, and Granada properly, with side trips to Ronda and Caminito del Rey if you plan the driving days carefully. Pick up your rental car in Seville or Málaga, loop east through the three cities, and drop the car back at the same airport to avoid one-way fees.
Last updated: May 23, 2026
The Route at a Glance
The classic Andalusia triangle is Seville → Córdoba → Granada, with optional detours through the white villages and Caminito del Rey. Distances are short by Spanish standards, but city parking and old-town traffic eat up more time than the kilometers suggest.
Day | Base | Driving | Main stops |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Seville | 0 km | Pick up car, Cathedral, Giralda |
2 | Seville | 0 km | Real Alcázar, Triana, Plaza de España |
3 | Córdoba | ~140 km | Drive to Córdoba, evening in the Judería |
4 | Córdoba → Granada | ~200 km | Mezquita-Catedral, drive to Granada |
5 | Granada | 0 km | Alhambra (full day) |
6 | Granada → Ronda | ~180 km | Caminito del Rey, on to Ronda |
7 | Ronda → Seville | ~130 km | Ronda bullring & gorge, return car |
Total driving across the week is roughly 650 km, which is well under 10 hours of pure highway time.
Before You Drive: Licenses, Tolls, and ZBEs
Spain tightened several rules in the last two years, so check this section even if you have driven here before.
- US drivers need both their home license and an International Driving Permit (IDP). In the US the IDP is issued only by AAA, costs around $20 to $25, and is valid for one year. You cannot obtain it after arriving in Spain.
- UK photocard license holders do not need an IDP for stays up to six months, under the UK–Spain reciprocal agreement in force since May 2022. Paper licenses and Gibraltar/Crown Dependency licenses still require an IDP.
- Minimum age for renting is typically 21, with a young-driver surcharge under 25. The legal driving age in Spain is 18.
- Speed limits: 20 km/h on shared-surface streets, 30 km/h on single-lane urban streets, 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h on conventional roads, and 120 km/h on autovías and autopistas.
- Alcohol limit: 0.5 g/L blood (0.25 mg/L breath) for experienced drivers, and 0.3 g/L for drivers with under two years of license.
- Phone in hand while driving: €200 fine and 6 demerit points.
- Equipment: Since January 2026 Spanish-registered cars must carry a V-16 connected emergency beacon. Rental cars handle this for you, but confirm at pickup that your car has either a V-16 or the traditional reflective vest and warning triangle.
- DGT fines are reduced by 50% if paid within 20 days. Under EU Directive 2015/413, Spain can pursue fines across member states.
Low Emission Zones (ZBE)
- Málaga's ZBE covers around 404 hectares of the historic centre, Soho, and port. Fines started 30 November 2025 at €200 per entry (€100 if paid within 20 days), with over 50 ANPR cameras. From 30 November 2026, only Zero, ECO, and C-labelled out-of-town vehicles will have unrestricted access.
- Seville's ZBE is currently active only in Isla Cartuja. A central ZBE for the Cathedral and Alcázar area is still under discussion.
- Spain's Climate Change Law requires all 29 Andalusian municipalities over 50,000 inhabitants to implement a ZBE. Standard fine is €200, reduced to €100 with early payment.
If you are driving through Málaga to reach Caminito del Rey or Ronda, route around the centre or park in a peripheral lot and walk in.
Tolls and Fuel
The AP-7 Costa del Sol between Málaga, Marbella, and Estepona is still a toll concession. 2026 normal-season car rates are €5.70 Málaga–Marbella (€9.25 high season) and €9.55 Málaga–Estepona (€15.50 in summer). Concession tolls rose between 3.64% and 4.68% from 1 January 2026; state-managed tolled motorways rose 2% and remain free between midnight and 6 a.m.
As of 18 May 2026, Spanish average fuel prices were €1.548/L for Euro-95 petrol and €1.685/L for diesel.
Day 1 and 2: Seville
Start in Seville. The old centre is mostly pedestrian and confusingly narrow, so park your rental in a covered lot (Plaza de la Magdalena, Cano y Cueto, or your hotel's garage) and do not drive again until departure day.
Seville Cathedral and Giralda are the obvious first stop. From 1 January 2026 the official prices are €13 online or €14 at the ticket office; reduced €7 online or €8 on site (65+, students up to 25, disabilities 33–65%, large-family adults); free under 14. Book online to skip the queue. The same operator runs the Iglesia del Salvador for €7 online or €8 at the gate, audio guide included.
On day two visit the Real Alcázar of Seville: general admission €15.50, reduced €8.00, with a €5.50 add-on for the Cuarto Real Alto. Summer hours (1 April to 30 September) are 9:30 to 19:00; winter hours (1 October to 31 March) are 9:30 to 17:00. The Alcázar closes on 1 January, 6 January, Good Friday, and 25 December.
Finish with sunset at Plaza de España, then dinner across the river in Triana.
For a different angle on combining Seville with bigger Spanish cities, see One Week in Spain: Madrid, Barcelona & Seville.
Day 3 and 4: Córdoba
The drive from Seville to Córdoba on the A-4 takes around 1h45 with no tolls. Pick up the car mid-morning, drop bags in Córdoba by lunch, and spend the afternoon wandering the Judería before the heat fades.
On day four, get to the Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba early. It is free Monday to Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., with access closed at 9:20 and no group visits permitted in that slot. Otherwise, standard adult admission is €13, reduced €10 (EU 65+ and students 15–26), €7 for children 10–14, and free for under-10s. If you can stay an extra night, the "El Alma de Córdoba" night visit is capped at 100 people per session and is worth booking well ahead.
After the Mezquita, walk the Roman Bridge, then drive on to Granada. The A-45/A-92 route is about 200 km and takes 2h15 to 2h30.
Day 5: Granada and the Alhambra
Give the Alhambra a full day. The general daytime ticket covering the Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba, and Generalife is officially €19.09, totalling approximately €22.73 with the booking fee on tickets.alhambra-patronato.es.
Four rules that catch tourists out every week:
- Tickets are nominative. Bring the national ID (EU) or passport you booked with. Mismatched names are turned away.
- Entry to the Nasrid Palaces is restricted to the exact time slot printed on the ticket. Miss it and the visit is forfeited, with no refund.
- Tickets are released up to three months in advance. July and August weekends, Easter week, and Spanish public holidays sell out weeks ahead.
- Allow at least 30 minutes between the Alhambra entrance gate and the Nasrid Palaces door. They are not adjacent.
In the evening, walk up to the Mirador de San Nicolás in the Albaicín for the postcard view of the palace against the Sierra Nevada.
Day 6: Caminito del Rey and Ronda
Drive west from Granada on the A-92 and A-357 toward El Chorro, about 1h45. The Caminito del Rey is a one-way 7.7 km cliffside walkway that needs advance booking.
- General admission: €10
- Guided tour: €18
- Parking: €2/day
- Shuttle bus (cash only): €2.50
- Minimum age: 8; under-18s must be with an adult. No pets, no crutches or canes, no flip-flops.
- Tickets for visits from 30 June to 6 December 2026 went on sale on 8 April 2026 at 10:00 on the official platform. Summer weekends sell out.
From Caminito it is another 1h15 to Ronda. The Puente Nuevo, the bullring (Plaza de Toros), and the El Tajo gorge are all walkable from any central hotel. Stay the night.
Day 7: Ronda to Seville
The A-374 and A-375 back to Seville (around 130 km, 1h45) cut through the Sierra de Grazalema and a string of pueblos blancos. Zahara de la Sierra and Grazalema itself are worth a 30-minute stop each. Aim to be back at the rental drop-off by mid-afternoon and have a final tapas night near the Cathedral.
Costs at a Glance (2026)
Item | Price |
|---|---|
Seville Cathedral + Giralda | €13 online / €14 on site |
Real Alcázar of Seville | €15.50 |
Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba | €13 (free 8:30–9:30 Mon–Sat) |
Alhambra general ticket | ~€22.73 incl. fee |
Caminito del Rey | €10 self / €18 guided |
AP-7 Málaga–Marbella (normal season) | €5.70 |
Petrol (Euro-95, May 2026) | €1.548/L |
Diesel (May 2026) | €1.685/L |
Common Pitfalls
- Driving into a ZBE without checking. Málaga's cameras are unforgiving. Park outside the zone unless your hotel has confirmed your plate with the city.
- Booking the Alhambra without ID match. The name on the ticket must match the document at the gate.
- Skipping the Nasrid Palaces time slot. The rest of the Alhambra has more flexibility; the Palaces do not.
- Underestimating Córdoba in summer. Temperatures regularly exceed 40 °C in July and August. Plan the Mezquita for the free early slot and the patios for after 18:00.
- Returning the car to a different airport. One-way fees between Seville, Málaga, and Granada are usually €60 to €120.
- Ignoring the 50% early-payment discount on traffic fines. Pay within 20 days via sedeclave.dgt.gob.es.
FAQs
Is a week enough for Seville, Córdoba, and Granada?
Yes, with two nights in Seville, one or two in Córdoba, two in Granada, and one in Ronda. You will not cover the coast in the same week without cutting one of the three cities.
Do I need a car for this itinerary?
The three main cities are connected by Renfe AVE trains, so if you want only the cities, take the train. A car becomes useful only if you add Ronda, Caminito del Rey, or the white villages.
Can US visitors drive in Spain on their home license?
Only with an International Driving Permit alongside it. The IDP must be obtained before leaving the US through AAA.
When should I book the Alhambra?
As soon as your dates are fixed, especially for visits between April and October. Tickets release three months ahead and Nasrid Palaces slots disappear quickly.
Is the Costa del Sol toll worth paying?
The parallel A-7 free road is slower and busier. For a one-off transit between Málaga and Marbella, the €5.70 normal-season toll usually saves 30 to 45 minutes.
What about driving in Granada's old town?
Avoid it. The Albaicín streets are narrow, partly restricted, and almost impossible to park in. Use a hotel with a garage or park near Plaza Puerta Real.
If you are spending serious time in Andalusia, picking up real Spanish (and not just menu Spanish) makes the trip noticeably better. Migaku turns Spanish shows, YouTube, and news into study material from native content, so try Migaku before you fly out. For neighbouring itineraries, see the 7 Day Algarve Road Trip Itinerary and One Week in Portugal: Lisbon and Porto.