If you’re planning to visit Spain, there are good reasons why you may choose visiting the autonomous community region of Andalusia, located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula. Comprising eight provinces, this is the most populated community in the Kingdom of Spain, and the second largest of all seventeen Spanish autonomous communities.
The capital of Andalusia is Seville, but many tourists who visit Andalusia much prefer the offerings in terms of rural tourism. There is no shortage of breath-taking natural landscapes in Andalusia, and there’s also an abundance of little villages which are perfect for enjoying a peaceful holiday with a good measure of communing with nature.

Popular Tourist Activities in Andalusia

There are many things to see and do in Andalusia besides sitting around at the beach. If you are looking for some good walking or bicycling holidays, you will be pleased with the amazing beautiful landscapes you can enjoy visiting this region. Additionally, you can find several other points of interest such as museums, historic landmarks, and a range of other activities such as wine tasting.

Suggested routes for walking: one of the best ways to enjoy the natural sceneries in Andalusia is walking, and there are several official routes, normally located within natural parks. Some of the most popular trekking paths include Aracena, Grazalema, Alcornocales, Axarquia, The Alpujarras and Cazorla. Each walk will take over three hours, and you should make sure to use some sturdy boots, pants, a snack and plenty of water. A walking stick might also be useful, although you can improvise one during your walk.
Museums in Andalusia: For anyone who wants to know more about the historic heritage of Spain, there are several museums that must not be missed while visiting Andalusia. Notable examples include Museo de Almeria (specialized in archaeology and ancient ceramics), the Mudeo del Baile Flamenco (dedicated to the Flamenco dance) and the Picasso museum in Málaga, as well as the Casa Natal y Fundación Picasso (the birthplace of Picasso, which currently doubles as a museum and art gallery).
Wine tasting in Andalusia: If you enjoy tasting wine and you want to know the history of some of the most traditional and widely known Spanish wines, you should visit places such as Huelva, Cádiz, Córdoba and Málaga. These locales are best known as “denominaciones the origen”, and they are traditionally recognized as the main producers of wine in the region, so you’ll find plenty of wine tasting activities.

Rural Accommodation in Andalusia

If you’re interested in rural tourism you’ll find lots of country hotels, as well as villas for rent and even small cottages out in the country. The prices you should expect to pay naturally depend on the size and luxury of your chosen accommodation, but it’s usually simple finding a little cabin in the mountains for the same price you’d pay for a single room in the cities: between 40 or 60 euros per night (roughly $50-$80)

Climate in Andalusia and best times to visit

With its mild Mediterranean climate, Andalusia is a great place to visit all around the year… except perhaps during the winter, since it rains quite a bit. You might also want to avoid going there in the heights of summer (July and August) if you don’t enjoy scorching dry heat.
Depending on what you plan to do or how much you want to spend, you should program your journey accordingly. For example, if you like sighting birds you should visit Andalusia early in the spring, but if you’re looking for inexpensive rural vacations it’s probably better to postpone your trip to the fall, since that’s when prices tend to be lowest.
There are six gateway airports serving the region of Andalusia, so you shouldn’t have trouble reaching your desired destination. If you are a visitor from America, you will probably land in the Malaga international airport, and if you come from Europe you will probably land in Sevilla. There are also big airports in Cordoba, Granada, Murcia and Alicante, so you will usually be able to avoid long car drives if your plane lands in an airport next to the cities you plan to visit.