Where would you recommend in Andalucia?

[Fanda26]

We’ve booking a last minute trip somewhere sunny & somewhere in this region probably looks best bet at the moment.

I’ve already been to Seville, Cadiz, Ronda and Malaga (and loved) so whilst we would probably fly into Malaga I wouldn’t need to spend too much time exploring them.

We won’t have a car so would need to get around with public transport. We were thinking fly to Malaga and then Granada for a few days, then bus to a nearby town with some nice scenery and good access to walking, a few restaurants, but there are so many and it’s really difficult to work out what they are actually like!

I’m not really keen on the overly touristy coastal areas with lots of British (acknowledging that I am British myself ) so nowhere with lots of British pubs, karaoke bars and so on..which probably rules out Costa Del Sol area, I’m imagining.

Has anyone got any recommendations for areas accessible by public transport?

And maybe could include staying somewhere more rural for great views and a pool, but just would have to be able to get there!

As coastal resorts Nerja and Estepona are nice - but neither served by rail . I imagine you could get a bus from the airport or Malaga centre though .

Thank you, what are both like, things to do etc?

Mijas? Beautiful little place.

If you're based in the South East, you could fly directly to Granada from Gatwick instead of going via Malaga. Definitely worth at least a couple of days/nights. The Alhambra is quite unmissable and the gardens of the Generalife are gorgeous. Must book ahead though.

Bus from Granada to the Sierra Nevada is about an hour according to the Rome to Rio site. Plenty of accommodation there for the skiers.

Bus back to Granada and then a two and a half hour train journey will take you to the city of Almeria. It's not unlike Malaga but on a smaller scale. Apparently the underground tunnels people sheltered in during the Civil War are fascinating.

You could make your way out from Almeria to Cabo de Gata natural park. It's easiest by car but possible to do most of the way by bus and then a taxi. There look to be some lovely B and Bs with pools there.

Then back to the city and out to the airport at Almeria - good bus service. Blissfully tiny airport with a public viewing area over the runway and to Cabo de Gata in the distance.

It will all be sweltering and Granada will be busy but Almeria is much more of a working city, not too mobbed with tourists.

Mijas is a good shout but the public transport from Granada looks arduous, according to Google maps at least.

Look at Lanjaron, it's a rural town that markets itself as a mecca for walkers. Plus it's just over an hour on the coach from Granada. It does look like you'll have to go back to Granada to get back to Malaga airport though.

Antequera is nice but not sure about transport there.

Check out the Irish bar, just off the main square!

Thanks, will look this up! Do you have any recommendations of what to do there?

If you can get there, I recommend the posada del torcal hotel. We spent a long holiday there just reading and swimming and eating the insanely lovely food. It's fantastic.

Thank you I have come across this too! Is it accessible by public transport do you know, or are there any places to walk to? Is the restaurant there good?

Gaucin! We went a few years ago and coincided with the town's feria- it was awesome! Easy striking distance to Granada etc

This is one of the places we were looking at too! Are there enough things there to keep us occupied for a few days? Hiking maybe?

Cordoba - beautiful city and stunning cathedral.

Jerez and Cordoba are both beautiful and the Alhambra in Granada is stunning.

Cordoba - beautiful small city, very walkable frequent fast trains from Malaga.

Ahhh I have been to Cordoba actually, loved it!

lived in Southern Spain for several years. Don’t go anywhere inland in the summer, it’s way too hot. Even in recent weeks it’s been up to 40°c in Córdoba, and can get up to 48°c with temperatures staying in the 30s overnight.

Thanks! Temps in the area were looking at seem to be 22-27 next week, it must be a bit cooler than usual! Hot in Seville, has been unbearable when I’ve been there in June before!

Not sure how to get there by car but Nerja is a lovely place with excellent beaches and great tapas restaurants. For adventure you can get a cab to the Rio chillar and walk through the river canyon which is beautiful. Also by train from Malaga is the caminito del rey, a cliff-hugging hike which is just breathtaking, the scenery all around us just stunning. Train from Malaga to el chorro.

If you can't hire car/taxi, give Fuengirola a look, yes it's built up but there's an odd town for great tapas and atmosphere, didn't see too many roast dinners/Irish bars/Chinese restaurants and it's an easy trip from Malaga by train

I've stayed in Malaga city/town itself several times and loved it. We did a day, train journey to/from Ronda. I could have stayed a few days there though. It might be an option if you haven't been there?

@Fanda26 sorry I can't remember how long the journey was from malaga, we stayed there in 2003! (though I did look at it again recently when we were booking a short trip)

Cordoba or Granada. We made the mistake of staying a night in Nerja to take our son to the beach and visit the caves. The hotel we stayed in was nice but we found the town itself to be far too touristy.