The Province of Granada is one of the most beautiful places to drive around in Andalusia. It’s well known for the Alhambra and the Generalife Gardens, but outside of the city of Granada there are a lot of incredible towns, historic attractions, and breathtaking driving routes that shouldn’t be missed. Driving in Granada should be on everyone’s bucket list regardless of what time of the year you visit southern Spain.
During our road trip in Granada we took several driving routes that brought us through scenic countryside, along the coast, through mountain passes, and to various traditional Spanish villages. If you’re planning a trip to Andalusia, make sure you don’t miss out on everything that the Province of Granada has to offer like a lot of visitors unfortunately do.
Renting a car in southern Spain
Those of you flying into southern Spain will most likely land at Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport. As I’m sure you can imagine, with this area being so popular with holidaymakers, there are numerous car rental companies to choose from. I would highly recommend booking with Helle Hollis who always provide exceptional service and have a new fleet of vehicles ready to go. They’re one of the only companies that are open 24/7 as well which is very convenient if you have an early or late flight.
Driving in Granada requires a good vehicle to get around. For this road trip we chose the VW T-ROC R-line Cabrio with an automatic transmission. The weather in Andalusia is excellent for most of the year, so renting a convertible is never a bad option. Our vehicle was spotless when we picked it up and very roomy inside. The car also has CarPlay available which is perfect for road trips so you’re not distracted on your phone.
All of the vehicles at Helle Hollis come with a full-to-full petrol policy so there’s no need to worry about filling up the tank the moment you pick up your ride.
Places to visit in Granada
Guadix
One of the most unique places to visit while you’re driving in Granada is Guadix. It’s one of the oldest human settlements in Spain and people come from all over the country to visit the troglodyte habitat. There are a lot of cave-dwellings to see here, which makes the landscape even more incredible. After you take a walk through the neighbourhoods with the cave houses, your next stop should be the historic centre of the city.
Guadix isn’t a big city, but it’s home to a lot of important historic landmarks. Some of the top things to do in Guadix include visiting the Catedral de la Encarnacion de Guadix, exploring the Moorish castle, and walking around the old town. The landscape in and around Guadix is very popular in the filming industry, so you may recognize it from a few spaghetti westerns too.
Beas de Guadix
A short drive from the city of Guadix will bring you to Beas de Guadix. This is a fantastic spot to stop if you’re driving in Granada and you’re interested in unique landscapes. This town sits at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, and was once where the Roman road that connected Guadix to Granada ran through.
There isn’t much to do in the town itself, but most people come to catch a glimpse of what’s known as the badlands. This unique desert terrain landscape is best viewed from above rather than from road level. You’ll be able to spot some viewpoints by using Google Maps when you arrive. Some of the roads are very narrow though, but that’s what makes driving in Granada so much fun!
Orgiva
Orgiva is a small town in the Alpujarras of Granada that’s been influenced over the centuries by a variety of cultures. The town started out as a Greek colony and it grew in importance during the Nasrid period. Today the town is filled with bars and restaurants, and it’s a popular place for people to base themselves if they’re going hiking in the area.
This was one of our first stops while driving in Granada because the roads from here link up to many other towns and unique places of interest in the province. There isn’t too much to see in Orgiva so spending a couple of hours here will be enough.
Loja
The village of Loja is one of the best places to visit in Granada. It sits along the westernmost border of Granada, so it’s very easy to drive to if you’re based in Malaga. It has a rich history that’s evident as you walk through its old streets and admire its historic buildings. Two of the main things to see here are the Catedral de Loja and the Alcazaba de Loja. The fortress offers stunning views of the town and the surrounding countryside once you climb up to it, and it’s one of the many free attractions in Loja you can visit.
Salobreña
One of the most beautiful towns along the Costa Tropical is Salobreña. It has a history dating back to ancient times, far before the Phoenicians and Romans dominated the area. It was during the Nasrid period though that the town started to expand once the fortress was built in the 10th century. The Moorish fortress sits at the very top of the old town, so if you’re planning to walk up to it you can explore all that the town’s beautiful cobbled streets have to offer as well. Of course, you shouldn’t miss the chance to relax at one of the many beaches in Salobreña either.
Almuñecar
While you’re driving in Granada you’ll come across a number of beautiful coastal towns nestled close to one another. Just a short drive from Salobreña will bring you to Almuñécar. This charming town in Granada has one of the oldest old towns along this stretch of coastline so it’s rich in archaeological and historic heritage.
It has a long history that dates back to 800 BC when it was founded as a trading colony by the Phoenicians. Due to its strategic location, a castle was built to protect the town during the time of Moorish rule. If you’re a fan of seafood, you’ll have plenty of restaurants to choose from that offer everything from paella to skewered sardines.
Lanjaron
The Province of Granada is home to numerous impressive castles and fortresses. One of the most scenic castles in the province is located on the outskirts of Lanjaron. This village is known for its medicinal waters and it has a popular spa resort within it. However, what you really need to see while you’re driving in Granada is Castillo de Lanjaron.
This Moorish castle has been heavily rebuilt, and still lies in a somewhat ruined state. It was built around the 13th century and was meant to guard the roads leading from Granada to the coast. It’s completely free to enter and there’s a spacious parking lot at the base of it. Once you climb to the top you’ll be overwhelmed by the mountain views.
Alhama de Granada
One of the most famous towns in the Province of Granada is Alhama de Granada. Any road trip in Granada needs to have this town added to the itinerary, because there’s a lot to see here besides its popular Arab thermal baths. It was once an important stronghold during the Nasrid period and it played a significant role in the War of Granada too. The town was able to hold out until 1482 when it was eventually handed over to the Christians.
Not only is this town filled with stunning cobbled streets and breathtaking historical buildings, it’s also very well connected to popular hiking trails in the area. If you’re driving in Granada and you want to visit hidden gems, Alhama de Granada is a great option.
Trevelez
Did you know that the highest village in Andalusia is located in the Province of Granada? Luckily, if you’re driving in Granada you can easily make your way up the winding mountainous roads to Trevelez. This village is well known for its air-cured hams that are famous throughout southern Spain. You can expect a lot of miniature statues dedicated to both hams and pigs dotted around the village.
Trevelez is a beautiful village of Roman origin and during the Christian reconquest of Granada the troops were never able to make it this high. Instead, the area became a refuge and many people turned into bandits, so there are plenty of interesting myths and legends tied to this village as well. Driving up to Trevelez is very scenic but try to avoid driving here in the dark if you’re not fond of mountain roads.
Soportujar
White villages in Andalusia don’t come much more bizarre than Soportujar. It’s often referred to as the “village of witches” since the people of the village were once known for being witches and sorcerers. The people of the village have fully embraced this and Soportujar is now full of unique attractions that are dedicated to the myths and culture of the area.
As soon as you arrive in Soportujar you’ll be greeted by a giant statue of a witch’s head, and it doesn’t get any less crazier from there. Make sure you add this village to your list as you’re driving in Granada – it might just end up being your favourite place in the province!
Castillo de La Calahorra
Southern Spain certainly isn’t short of castles, and Granada is home to quite a few impressive castles and fortresses that once played important strategic roles. Castillo de La Calahorra dates back to 1509 and has been perfectly preserved in its Italian Renaissance glory. It sits at the top of a hill overlooking the small village below, with a stunning mountain backdrop. The road leading up to the castle is very uneven, so make sure you go up slowly if you’re driving. The castle isn’t open all of the time either, so we’re yet to actually enter it, but it’s very impressive to look at from the outside.
The village of La Calahorra is incredibly small but it’s worth staying in if you want to explore more of the surrounding area. We stayed at Hospederia del Zenete for one night after driving in Granada for most of the day. From here we had easy access to the road leading to Guadix.
La Carretera de la Cabra
If you’re the type of person who enjoys scenic drives through stunning landscapes, you’ll want to add La Carretera de la Cabra to your itinerary. This driving route in Granada takes you off the main highway and connects the southern tip of the city of Granada with the coastline. The highlight of this route is driving through the mountain pass where you’ll get a stunning view of the coast in the distance.
This route is very popular on weekends as well as with bikers, so make sure you’re driving carefully. There are plenty of viewpoints along the route that you can pull over at and take photos before you start your descent out of the mountains.
Planning a road trip in Andalusia
Planning a road trip in Andalusia is hard work, but you’ll want to make sure you add driving in Granada to your schedule. The province as a whole is often overlooked by tourists who either stay along the coast or head straight for the city of Granada. There are a lot of incredible places to drive to around the province though, and many of these destinations have historic relevance and are still very much hidden gems in southern Spain. The best option is to rent a car in Malaga (we always book with Helle Hollis) and explore different areas of Granada that you probably hadn’t considered before.
If you’re planning on driving in Granada but you’re not sure where to start, please feel free to reach out. I’m happy to answer any questions you have or point you in the right direction. You can also get in touch with me through Instagram and follow along with my latest adventures for more travel tips and advice.
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