We are flying into Malaga and plan to rent a car at the Malaga airport and head directly to Granada for a couple of days before wandering over the next week to Ronda, Cadiz, Jerez and Seville, where we will ditch the car and then train to our final destinations of Cordoba and Madrid for our flight back to the U.S. Has anyone attempted a similar itinerary? Thanks for input.
Posted by
Atlanta
995 posts
Went to all those places except Malaga and Cordoba by car with a round trip rental from Madrid with no problems. Spanish roads are good, and in April parking was never a problem. Spain is a big country, and distances were sometimes greater than I had thought. Loved Seville especially but didn't warm to Granada so much. A car was a good choice for us in Spain.
Posted by
Fairfax, Virginia
348 posts
I've done similar by car, at least most of the same towns in a different order. It is very workable, but advanced planning on route, parking, and hotel selection is a good idea.
Posted by
Victoria, BC, Canada
372 posts
We did this exact route in April. Flew in to Malaga but bussed to Granada after a couple nights in Malaga. The bus was easy, direct and cheap. We picked up rental car at the end of our stay in Granada, and drove to Ronda, stopping at a couple of places enroute. Once we reached Ronda we did a circle trip from Ronda through Grazelema and Zahara, returning to Ronda. Drove to Sevilla where we dropped the car. Trained to Jerez then Cadiz. Trained from Cadiz direct to Cordoba, then train from Cordoba to Madrid. We did a bit of backtracking due to tickets to see FC Barca in Sevilla. Roads were great and well signed, little traffic in April. The bus and trains were clean, fast and reasonable - you really only need a car if you are trying to get somewhere that is not well served by public transportation, such as the white hill towns. Happy to provide more info if you send me a PM. Enjoy your trip to Andalusia!
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
It sounds like a perfectly feasible plan. In fact I like a refinement much like Kathleen's ...
Fly in to Malaga
Bus to Granada
Pick up rental car in Granada for drive to Ronda
Circle trip from Ronda through Grazelema and Zahara, returning to Ronda
DrIve to Jerez via Arcos de la Frontera
Drive to Cadiz via Vejer de la Frontera and drop off rental car
Train to Sevilla
Train to Cordoba
Train to Madrid
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles
14 posts
Refinement suggestions well taken. I think we do want to keep the car until we get to Seville for flexibility, but the bus from Malaga to Granada is in our future. We'll be there two nights and won't need a car really until it's time to head to the White Hill Towns. Thanks all.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
In 2007 we drove Granada - Ronda - Cadiz - Sevilla - Cordoba.
Even the mountain roads are of a high standard, reasonably wide and easy for the driver. Enjoy.