Self-Drive: Seville, Cádiz & the White Villages of Andalusia - 7 Days

Highlights

• Eat tapas at local taverns and enjoy a flamenco show in Seville
• Pamper yourself with a traditional Arab bath experience
• Watch a live Spanish guitar show in Ronda
• Walk through Cádiz with a local and end with a wine tasting

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Seville, Tapas & Flamenco Experience

Welcome to Spain and the historic capital of Andalusia, Seville. After picking up your rental car and driving from the airport to your accommodation, you'll have time to settle in before enjoying your first evening in the city.

Tonight, you'll dig deep into Spanish culture and enjoy a quintessential evening of tapas and flamenco in Seville with a stroll through an authentic Sevillian neighborhood. Flamenco was born in Andalusia, so Seville's historic Jewish Quarter and Triana districts are excellent places to experience a genuine show and learn about architecture and history from Romans, Arabs, Christians, Muslims, and more.

Your stroll ends at a family-owned tavern, where you'll enjoy a round of tapas and a couple of drinks. Then, head to an authentic flamenco theater for an hour-long performance. Your guide will help you understand how this dance style combines vocals, stomping, clapping, dancing, wrist and arm movements, colorful clothing, and music to craft a genuinely emotional experience. After the performance, you'll taste more tapas and sip drinks at two other taverns.

Day 2: Private Stroll in Seville, Cathedral & Alcázar, Ancient Bath Experience

Start your day in Seville with a guided walk, learning about the city's 2,000-year history. You'll stop to admire Seville's most important monuments: Seville Cathedral and the Royal Alcázar. The cathedral in Seville is the world's largest Gothic cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, complete with a bell tower, La Giralda, the minaret of the site's former mosque. Then visit the Alcázar, a royal palace replacing the original Moorish fortress with one of the country's best examples of Mudejar architecture.

You'll then walk to the orange tree-filled Santa Cruz neighborhood, known as the Jewish Quarter, with its narrow streets and quaint squares. It's a colorful and well-preserved part of the historic center, with many cafés and tapas bars—the perfect excuse to take a break and enjoy small plates and local wine if you wish. You'll conclude your walk at the banks of the Guadalquivir River.

Day 3: Drive to Ronda, Visit a White Village, Live Guitar Show

It's time to start your road trip through Andalusia by making the 2-hour journey from Seville to your accommodation in Ronda. But, since this road trip is about Andalusia's Pueblos Blancos (White Villages), you might want to make a stop or two along the way.

The official "Route of the White Villages" passes through 20 towns, and the stretch from Seville to Ronda passes by a few worthy villages. You can make a slight detour and visit Arcos de la Frontera, known for its dramatic cliffs and double hills, one topped with a castle and the other a beautiful church. Or, you could stop in Grazalema, known for its hiking routes and viewpoints. Read more about what to do on a road trip from Seville to Ronda here.

Day 4: Walk in Ronda, Self-Guided Visit to Ardales

Start your day with a walk through Ronda with a local guide, starting in one of the city's oldest and most traditional neighborhoods, where narrow streets, traditional monuments, and viewpoints await. Listen to your guide share the history of the Arabic center that once stood here, and visit the preserved 13th- and 14th-century Arab Baths. Of course, you'll traverse the city's famous bridges that crisscross El Tajo Gorge, including Puente Nuevo, the city's most famous site.

After exploring Ronda, it's time to visit another white village, Ardales. Though a small town, it's one of the most popular, as it's the gateway to the Caminito del Rey hiking trail. Plus, it's a town that pairs nicely with other white villages, including Zahara de la Sierra and Grazalema, if you didn't visit them yesterday. 

Visitors flock to Ardales to enjoy its cultural aspects and natural environment. The historic Old Town sits just below two dramatic buildings atop the hill above, the church and Ardales Castle. At the very top, you'll find the hermitage Ermita del Calvario. Surrounding the town are several lakes, reservoirs, river gorges, and mountains, so the area is perfect for an active adventure. 

Day 5: Drive to Cádiz, White Villages, History, Culture & Wine Tour

Today will take you from the hills of Ronda to Cádiz. The journey takes a little under two hours, but you might want to make a few stops along the way. This area has many historical influences, including Roman, Visigoth, and Berber, resulting in unique elements like cave-like homes and rock paintings. Stop in places like Setenil de las Bodegas to stroll streets under rocks or Olvera for its incredible views. Learn more about making this most of a road trip from Ronda to Cádiz here. 

After settling into your accommodation, enjoy a culture and history walk in Cádiz. This city is the world's oldest still-inhabited city, and your guide will share all the historical details and colorful architecture that tell its unique story. Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, and Arabs all settled in this region, primarily thanks to its proximity to the sea. Stop to admire the city's parks, markets, monuments, and more, then end your stroll at a local tavern to taste a few wine varietals. 

Day 6: Self-Guided Beach Day from Cádiz

For your final full day in Spain, it's time to relax at the beach. Cádiz sits on the southern edge of Andalusia along the Atlantic coastline. This relatively short stretch of Spain's coast is home to some of the country's best beaches. And though they're a bit wilder than those on the Mediterranean, you'll get endless and uncrowded stretches of sand perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and surfing. 

You don't even need to leave the city to enjoy a beach day, as you'll find several options along its coast, including Playa La Caleta and Playa de la Victoria, but the best beaches require a drive. You'll get complete details about all your options, but for a little inspiration, consider Cala de Roche. It's the perfect swimming cove protected by sea cliffs and rock formations. Or, head toward Tarifa or Huelva for some of the widest and wildest beaches, such as Playa Bolonia, Playa de Cuesta Maneli, and Playa de Castilla. And if you like surfing, El Palmar is known as the "surf capital of Andalusia."

Day 7: Return to Seville, Depart Spain

It's time to say goodbye to Spain, but your adventure isn't over yet. Today, you'll drive back to Seville to drop off your rental car at the airport. Before doing so, however, stop in the Moorish town of Jerez de la Frontera, famous for its sherry wine production. It's also home to the Royal Equestrian Academy, one of the premier riding schools in the country. The horse-racing culture in this region runs deep and dates back to the earliest days of Muslim rule in Spain.

Upon arrival in Seville, you'll return your car at the Seville Airport and be on your way. Safe travel and adiós!

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