3 weeks in southern Spain

You might read through recent posts and answers in the Spain forum. There's a lot of good advice already there on destinations and how to allot days. (I don't mean that to sound snarky - I just learn so much myself from reading and find answers to,questions I didn't know enough to ask.)

Ok, will do. Thank you

Three weeks is a good amount of time, and enables you to broaden the scope of your trip. Something like this ...

Start in Malaga - 2 nights
To Nerja - 2 nights
To Granada - 3 nights
To Baeza + Ubeda - 2 nights
To Cordoba - 3 nights
To Ronda - 2 nights (with a day to white villages)
To Jerez - 3 nights (with a day to Cadiz)
Via Arcos de la Frontera to Seville - 4 nights
Depart from Seville

I enjoyed driving through the hills, enjoying the views and exploring pueblos blancos. Ronda is a good base for 3 nights if you don't mind more driving. Or you could stay in different towns, if you don't mind more packing/unpacking. There's enough in Ronda itself to fill a day.

I don't know what you mean by "too commercial." I liked Malaga, there are some "second-tier" museums and a good selection of other sights and restaurants. I would think that you'd be better off staying in places like that, since you will have less daylight hours at that time of year. That coast is pretty quiet in winter, but there may be more going on over the holiday period.

2 full days in Granada is enough time to see the main sights. Because of its elevation, it may be cooler than the rest of Andalucia. Cordoba is my favorite city, I suggest you spend a couple of nights there.

The only areas you need a car are exploring the coast, if you decide to do that (you won't need it if you stay in Malaga) and through the hills from Granada to Sevilla or Cordoba. Other than that, the trains are faster and more comfortable.

Thank you both for this very valuable information.

I would recommend a guidebook like Lonely Planet, or Moon series for getting you a little off the beaten track. Ronda in January may be less crowded, but is a frequent day trip from Malaga. Perhaps you want to add places that are not on a Viatar day trip list. Do you have a focus of interest? Perhaps follow that? I read a recent thread about castles in Spain...most are north however, following the frontier as it developed. They would be better accessed from Madrid, however, so maybe that would be a different trip. There is a Medina ruins outside of Cordoba, Roman ruins slightly outside of Seville. Perhaps a day trip to Cormona from Seville. If a nature lover or birdwatcher, then what about areas outside Antequerra or the UNESCO park el Donana on the coast south of Seville?
Once off the first blocks of the beach, Malaga offers interesting museums and ruins.

Baeza and Ubeda, suggested by David in an earlier post, are off the beaten track for American tourists.

But very well worth it and eminently doable if you have 3 weeks.

see my recent post under jlkwinone. We spent time in Sevilla, Granada and Cordoba

The coast around that area is not too commercial, Nerja is nice although I did notice a lot of English speaking! Malaga is also lovely and has some good cultural sightseeing as others have mentioned. I also hear that the coast will probably be warmer than inland areas in the winter time.

Have you heard of Cabo de Gata? It's a coastal reserve in Andalucia. Not touristy.

As other posters have said, Granada and Cordoba are awesome. I love them both. Definitely a lot of sights to see in both places and since you have a good amount of time, just relaxing and eating tapas and drinking wine. Since you have a car you will be able to visit smaller villages too. Do you like to hike? There are great trails in this area as well.

have fun!

Hi and excited for you. We have just returned from a month in Espana. You will love it . We stayed at the Parador in Malaga, if you decide this or just want to have a drink go to the Terrace beautiful views of Malaga. We stayed two nights and the old town is quaint and fun,. Also the Picasso museum since he was born in Malaga. We stayed at Casa Limones in the Mijas area for a week too.
We went to day trips in Frigiliana and Nerja. Drove to Cadiz about 2 hours south and stayed for a week by the beach. Also we went to Tangier for two nights, an experience for sure and we would recommend.
Also day trip to Jerez, took in tour at Tio Pepe, and close by went to Hamman Arab baths- you get the feel of the past. Make reservations on line prior. Maybe in Dec it will not be needed.
Oh and Yes Ronda is worth going to, we did as a day trip but would spend the night next time.
Seville the Alcazar you can buy tickets on line for. Hotel Amadeus was our hotel. If you can squeeze in Córdoba , the Mezquita a must. And Granada the Alhambra a must.
Rent a small car if you can, highways are fine, but city driving and streets are narrow, and parking is easier. Remember some stores still close for a couple hours in the afternoon, don't know in winter. If you want to know more about anything you can send a private message. Hope this helped. We used Waze instead of google maps and it was always right. As well as a physical map at times was helpful.

The information you have all posted is so valuable and very much appreciated! We did end up finding a lovely property in Granada with a terrace facing Alhambra and homeaway properties in Cordoba and Cadiz also with terraces and views. In Ronda we are staying at the Parador. We have just a few more places and we are done. Working on Seville and Malaga now. Once I return and I have checked out the properties, I would be happy to recommend them and help other travelers. Planning the trip is such a fun part of the journey and I thank you all so much.

In most of those places a car will be a liability, not an asset. You'll pay rental fees and parking fees and not use the car!