Where to stay in Andalusia, from the coast to caves and hill towns

Where to stay in Andalusia by area

Andalusia is too big to cover in one go, so it makes sense to choose an area and stay in it. The seventeen places are grouped by how close they are, from east to west.

Almería

A dry, sunny coast, postcard deserts and seaside villages. Here you can find everything from a beach hotel to a house built into a cave.

• Hotel ELE Andarax, in Aguadulce. A three-star hotel a few minutes' walk from the beach and the marina, with a seasonal pool and a buffet. Good for simple beach stays, less so for anyone wanting quiet.
• Hostal Playa Dreams Náutico, in Garrucha. An adults-only hostel on the Paseo del Malecón, with a restaurant and a bar. Suits couples who want good food with sea views.
• Cortijo Maya, in Alhama de Almería. A rural cave-style house with a pool, a garden and plenty of silence. You need to accept loose animals and a host who is very present.

Granada and the Costa Tropical

Mountains and sea within a short distance of each other, which is the best thing about this province.

• La Casona de la Luz, in Guadix. A hostel in the old town with a courtyard, a garden, a sun terrace and a shared kitchen. Good for families, groups of friends and tight budgets.
• Hotel Lanjarón, in Lanjarón. A simple, family-run hotel at the edge of the Sierra Nevada, with a terrace and views, and it accepts pets. Good for walkers, less so for anyone wanting silence or a really comfortable bed.
• Urbanización Albatros, in Motril. Quiet apartments in Playa Granada, with a seasonal pool, gardens and parking. The reviews ask for more care with maintenance and service.

Jaén

Endless olive groves and Renaissance towns. It is best visited on the way or as part of a cultural route.

• Alojamiento los Poetas, in Baeza. A family accommodation with rooms that have private bathrooms, a little way from the old town. Good for visiting Baeza and Úbeda, and for anyone who values a personal welcome.
• Hostal Restaurante Alcántara, in Bailén. A hostel with a bar-restaurant beside the road from Madrid to Cádiz, with refurbished rooms and a large car park. A practical night, although the reviews are mixed.

Córdoba and its countryside

A quiet interior of old squares and sierra.

• Hotel Hospedería la Querencia, in Bujalance. A hotel with a restaurant on the Plaza Mayor. Guests praise the roomy rooms, the cleanliness, the food and the staff, while the bar downstairs gets complaints about service.
• Casa Rural del Guadalora, in Hornachuelos. A country house with two bedrooms, a terrace with views of the sierra and a seasonal pool. Good for families and small groups who like to cook for themselves.
• Restaurante Apartahotel El Cañuelo, in Monturque. Small houses with a restaurant and a pool beside the road. Handy for one night or a motorbike route; check before you go that the pool and restaurant are open.

Cádiz and Huelva

Long, open beaches with a relaxed seaside feel.

• Alojamiento Rural Al'Mare, in Conil de la Frontera. A complex of houses and rooms in a quiet area, with private parking. Good for resting close to the beaches, though without services on the doorstep.
• Arena House Conil, in Conil de la Frontera. In the middle of town, with bright rooms, a terrace and a shared kitchen. Walkable to the beach and the bars.
• Hotel Victoria, in Matalascañas. A quiet hotel a step from the beach, with its own car park. Some rooms are weak on soundproofing.

Málaga and Seville

Cities to explore on foot, with small places in the old quarters.

• Casa Rustica Ronda, in Ronda. A country house in the old town with a fitted kitchen, a private courtyard with views and a roof terrace. There is some noise.
• Molucano Themed Rooms, in Ronda. A central guesthouse with rooms themed on world cultures. Guests praise the cleanliness and the welcome.
• Pensión San Benito Abad, in Seville. A family-run place on a pedestrian street in the Santa Cruz quarter, with rooms around an Andalusian patio. Simplicity and a good welcome rather than luxury.

What kind of accommodation you will find in Andalusia

The range is very varied, with hostels and pensiones in the cities, apartments and hotels on the coast, and country houses inland. There is no single style.

In cities and towns with an old quarter, such as Seville or Ronda, small family places with a patio are the norm. On the coast, simple hotels and apartments with a seasonal pool. And in the sierra and the countryside, the country houses and farmhouses, rented so you can live at your own pace.

Which one to choose for your trip

First decide whether you want beach, city or countryside, then narrow down the type of place.

When to go to Andalusia and how to get around

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, especially for cities and inland routes. Summer is very hot inland, and it is when the coast fills up. Winter is mild on the coast and cooler in the sierra.

To explore, the car is the most practical choice: many of these places are in villages or beside the road. In Seville and Ronda, however, it is better to leave the car and walk. If you plan to cover several provinces, spread your nights out and do not try to see everything in one trip, because Andalusia is best enjoyed slowly.