ANDALUCIA - The Grand Tour

Andalucía welcomed almost 38 million tourists in 2025, a record for the region and 4.9 per cent more than the year before.

Every one of the eight provinces shared in that growth.

The beach is where most trips begin so for many people that means flying into Malaga. A great starting point for a road trip which takes in all eight provinces in the region and brings you back to Malaga again.

Malaga and the Costa del Sol

Malaga makes a natural starting point for your journey, but it's well worth spending a few days in the city before heading west. In recent years Malaga has reinvented itself. Based around its connection to Pablo Picasso, born in the city, it is home to his Casa Natal (birth house) and the Picasso Museum. But Malaga is much more. It has a range of museums and the revitalised Old Part and the upgraded harbour area add to the city's charms. Add to that the excavated Roman amphitheatre and the views from Gibralfaro mountain and you can see why Malaga has jumped up the must-see rankings.

West of the city, the Costa del Sol is the most familiar part of the trip, with a string of resorts built around sunshine and long lunches in chiringuitos on the beach: Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Marbella, Puerto Banus and San Pedro de Alcantara. A side trip up to Ronda from San Pedro is more than worth while and cries out for at least an overnight stay.

Back to the coast and we have elegant Estepona and a string of less developed resorts all the way to expensive and classy Sotogrande at the eastern end of Malaga province.

Cadiz and the Atlantic Coast

Skip Algeciras, an ugly port town. Instead head for Tarifa, the southernmost point in Europe. Here the Mediterranean and the Atlantic meet, making the winds ideal for a range of water sports. Hence, Tarifa has the feel of a surf town and the age profile is definitely on the young side.

Moving further west you come to Bolonia with its stunning beach and nearby Baelo Claudio, a well-restored Roman town.

Continuing up the Atlantic coast the terrain is much wilder than hitherto until you come to the hill town of Vejer de la Frontera, an absolute delight with its views over the coast. Nearby is the beach of La Palmera with its long sandy beach, part of which is an unofficial nudist beach.

Eventually you come to the magnificent capital of the province, Cadiz city. An ancient port almost surrounded by water this city has everything. It is walkable and boasts a Camera Oscura, vibrant market, a stunning cathedral, fantastic restaurants and even a smattering of real ale pubs. Cadiz is my favourite provincial capital city in Andalucía.