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It’s official: Andalucia is celebrating its best year in history for tourism. 35 million tourists will explore the region before the end of the year!
This news doesn’t come as much surprise to me.
This sunny and charming Spanish region has been on the radar of us British tourists for years!
Now, 14.6% of all foreign visitors that visit Spain go to Andalusia, and the region has seen a 44% in American visitors so far this year.
Whether you want to relax on the buzzing beaches of the Costa Del Sol or explore UNESCO heritage sites such as the iconic Alhambra Palace, there’s a side of Andalucia for everyone.
Picture-Perfect Beach Vacations
Andalucia is best known for its beaches, thanks to its incredible 160km stretch of coastline.
White sand, golden sand, seemingly manicured and ruggedly wild, the beaches here are as diverse as they are beautiful.
If you’re looking for a buzzing beach with an excellent vibe and plenty of beach clubs, then try Torremolinos, which has a reputation for its party atmosphere.
Los Álamos Beach is the best beach here.
Prefer a traditional beach with as wide a stretch of sand as possible?
Playa La Carihuela is a huge expanse of sand and the water is calm enough here for watersports, meaning that this beach is popular with families.
Have a taste for the high life? Marbella is known for being the playground of the rich and famous!
Puerto Banús Beach is packed full of restaurants and is known as the best place to see and be seen.
Andalucia’s beaches are considered the jewel in its crown, attracting travelers from all over the world to the region.
But to spend your whole time in Andalucia relaxing on a beach would be a huge mistake!
Andalucian City Breaks
There are 4 major cities located in the Andalucian region. These are Malaga, Seville, Granada, and Cordoba. Each has its own unique personality and its own charms.
I have a soft spot for Malaga, the birthplace of Picasso and a city still devoted to its most famous son.
There are two Picasso museums in Malaga, one of which is located in the house where he was born.
The Casa Natal Picasso is his birthplace museum (with entry priced at €4/$4.22 per person) and is dedicated to his early life while the Picasso Museum contains over 200 of his works. Entry here costs €12 ($12.66) per person.
Malaga also has a beautiful Cathedral, and the Atarazanas Market is a pretty old-school-covered food market that’s a great place for foodies to explore.
If you’re interested in history, then the must-visit attraction in Andalusia that you really shouldn’t miss is Granada’s Alhambra Palace, a Moorish fortified palace.
The Alhambra is a breathtakingly beautiful structure that dominates the skyline over the city.
Although it’s in the heart of Southern Spain, this is one of the best-preserved palaces of the historic Islamic world, and you should allow plenty of time to explore.
Much of the Alhambra (including its gardens) is free to explore, but if you want a ticket to enter the palace including a guided tour then this will cost €35 ($36.94) per person.
Explore The Region‘s White Villages
As well as its better-known beach resorts with high-rise hotels of the Costa Del Sol, Andalucia is also well known for its distinctive pueblos blancos (white villages), which are pretty villages packed full of white houses with distinctive flat roofs.
These white villages tend to be away from the region’s coastlines, and the most distinctive of these sit in the Sierra Nevada mountains, meaning that they don’t attract as many tourists as the coastal towns in Andalusia.
The prettiest of the white villages is Capileira, just outside of Granada. This sits 1,436 meters above sea level and boasts amazing mountain views.
It’s a great place for hiking, a base for exploring the Sierra Nevada National Park, and a spot to get away from it all.
This may be a lesser-known attraction of Andalucia, but it’s one well worth exploring.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.