Want to avoid the crowds of tourists and discover lessen know gems?
Check out my suggestions of 10 amazing places in Andalucia off the beaten path with photos, tips and map.
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Andalucia:

My favorite platform to rent a car in Andalucia: DiscoverCars

The unmissable visit: Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces

My favorite excursion from Seville: White villages and Ronda

My favorite places to stay:
- Seville, to explore the vibrant city – see best rated accommodations
- Cadiz, the charm by the sea – see best rated accommodations
- Ronda, to explore the white villages – see best rated accommodations
- Nerja, pour la Costa del Sol – see best rated accommodations

Andalucia off the beaten path – Overview & Map
Next in this article, you can see pictures and learn more about each of those destination but for a quick glance my suggestion for Andalucia off the beaten path are:
- Cerro del Hierro – colorful rock formations
- Puerto de las Palomas – stunning drive over a lake
- Zuheros – charming white village
- Lake Negratin – superb rock formations around deep blue water
- Megalithic Park of Gorafe – dolmens and stunning views
- Montoro – photogenic village
- Cala Enmedio – Hidden beach reached by hiking
- Acinipo ruins – roman ruins surrounded by mountains
- Medonia Sidonia – intriguing old town center
- Jaen – alternative town
Some of them do get crowded with locals during summer holidays, but all of them are overlooked by foreign tourist.
Below is a map to help you locate them:

All these locations (and more) are included (with GPS coordinates and practical tips) in my Travel Guide eBook that helps you easily plan your road trip around Andalucia:
#1 – Cerro del Hierro – loved by locals

Why visit?
At Cerro del Hierro, you can enjoy a short walk to an impressive natural monument, the result of activity by nature and man.
Because of the iron in the hill, mining started with the Romans. And it lasted until the 10th century.
What remains is a landscape with needles, sink holes, caves, chasms and many more formations from the limestone rocks.
Plus some buildings till remain from the mining period.
Note that it is popular with the locals, so on weekends and during school holidays, you can see quite a lot of people. But you will hardly see any foreign tourists!
Tips
- Drive is not difficult
- Seville to Cerro del Hierro = 1h30min drive
- North of Constantina in the Sierra Norte Mountains
- Plan 1h to walk the path around the formations
- In Summer, avoid midday, there is no shade
- Check out accommodations in nearby Constantina
#2 – Drive to Puerto de las Palomas

Why visit?
Many people visit the white villages around the town of Ronda. Some are very popular like Setenil de las Bodegas and its rocks.
However, less people visit Zahara de la Sierra, and even less take the time to drive the road through Puerto de las Palomas.
Yet, the drive is breathtaking, with on one side, views over the Zahara-el Gastor Lake and on the other side the mountains covered with forest.
Tips
- It is a mountain road but wide and with some spot to park and admire the view
- Northwest of Ronda
- Ronda to Zahara de la Sierra = 40min drive (2h from Malaga)
- It is not a long drive, and it will take you to even more villages and beautiful spots
- Check out the best rated accommodations in Ronda
#3 – Zuheros

Why visit?
It is a little bit of a detour to visit Zuheros but I think it is worth it. The white village is well maintained and surrounded by beautiful mountains and a canyon.
Its castle is beautifully integrated with the rocks and the cliffs. Its current version probably dates back to the 11th or 12th century and modified in the 14th.
It is one of my favorite white villages in Andalucia (see my list).
More photos in my article about Zuheros.
Tips
- Drive not difficult – West of Jaen, in the National Park ‘Las Sierras Subbeticas’
- Cordoba to Zuheros = 1h10 drive
- Not many parking spaces at the village level – visit early if you want one – other parking in down in the gorge and the walk back up is steep
- Easy to walk around the village
- Plan 2h
- There are a few accommodations in Zuheros
Need to rent a car in Andalucia?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Don’t take a car too large, since village streets can be narrow
- Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

#4 – Lake Negratin (Reservoir)

Why visit?
The Negratin reservoir is, in my opinion, the most beautiful lake in Andalucia in terms of scenery.
You can drive around it for many different views.
The color of the lake varies from deep blue to turquoise. And it is surrounded by colorful rock formations. And, at one end, Mount Jabalcon (1494m – 490ft) is overlooking the lake.
It is popular with Spanish people in Summer for water activities but there is nobody there off season! We had the lake for ourselves when we visited!
Tips
- Take the time to drive all around, the views from the different side of the lake offer a variety of landscapes
- Northeast of Guadix
- Granada to Negratin = 1h10 drive
- Guadix to Negratin = 45min drive
- There are a few restaurants in the area, but it is not extremely developed
- Check out the best rated accommodations in Guadix
#5 – Megalithic Park of Gorafe – Andalucia off the beaten track

Why visit?
Gorafe is one of the small villages with cave houses in the Guadix area. The road to reach it is beautiful.
I have chosen this one because there is another attraction nearby: the Megalithic Park of Gorafe: the unpaved road takes you to several small dolmens and offers magnificent views of the valley!
For those who enjoy geology and archeology, this is great!
Tips
- It is unpaved but an easy drive, the most difficult part is the drive down to Gorafe, but if you prefer you can drive back to the main road.You can also park at the beginning of the path and walk to see the dolmens and views
- Granada to Gorafe= 1h10 drive
- Free access
- Plan 1h to drive slowly and stop all the time
- And if you have a 4WDs, the area is full of trails to enjoy, off the beaten track
- You can find a few accommodations in Gorafe, of you can stay in a cave house or classic accommodation in Guadix (see the best rated)!
#6 – Montoro

Why visit?
Montoro is a very photogenic village niched inside a curve of the Guadalquivir River.
The narrow alleys up the hill are lined with white houses and the village is surrounded by a fertile valley.
Plus it offers several great viewpoints for photography.
Tips
- East of Cordoba, easy to access, just off Motorway A4
- Cordoba to Montoro = 40min drive
- Plan 2h if you explore inside or 30min to admire from around the village
- Check out the best rated accommodations in Cordoba
#7 – Cala de Enmedio

Why visit?
This beach is located in Cabo de Gata, which is already less touristic that the beaches of Costa del Sol.
Plus, this fine sand beach with eroded fossil dunes is only accessible on foot.
If are looking for an isolated beach and are ready to hike, this is the place for you.
The hike takes you over Agua Amarga with beautiful views over the bay from above as you approach.
Tips
- Plan at least 2h to walk there, admire the place and walk back
- Hike departs in Agua Amarga (45min drive from Alemria)
- Some steep sections
- Best light in the morning
- Check out the best rated accommodations in Agua Amarga
#8 – Acinipo ruins, Andalucia away from the crowds

Why visit?
Small archeological site, off the beaten track.
The main feature is what remains of the Roman theater including part of the wall from the 1st century AD.
The site also offers beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and mountains.
Part of the ruins are even from a Bronze age settlement.
Those are not the size of Italica, near Seville, but, if you visit early you could be almost alone in the place!
Tips
- North of Ronda, easy to access
- Ronda to Acinip = 30min drive
- Plan 45min to explore the ruins
- Closed on Mondays and Sunday afternoons – opening times are normally 10 am to 5pm
- Check out the best rated accommodations in Ronda
Where to stay in Andalucia?
My favorites on a road trip:
- In Sevilla, to explore the vibrant city – see best rated accommodations
- In Cadiz, the charm by the sea – see best rated accommodations
- In Ronda, to explore the white villages – see best rated accommodations
- In Granada, for the history – see best rated accommodations
- In Nerja, pour la Costa del Sol – see best rated accommodations

#9 – Medina Sidonia

Why visit?
The old center of Medina Sidonia has something different but I can’t find the words to explain. IT is probably the mix of architecture.
The main entrance with an Arab style door is a great start for your exploration.
Enjoy the 16th century buildings in the lower parts of town. Or head to the top, through the narrow streets, to visit the hilltop church and the ruins of the castle.
There are so many beautiful white villages and towns in this area, that some don’t get the love they deserve from tourists. This is one of them, in my opinion.
Tips
- East of Cadiz, short detour from main road A381
- Cadiz to Medina Sidonia = 35Min drive
- Free access, plan half a day to explore
- On a hill, so expect slopes and narrow streets with old pavement
- Check out the best rated accommodations in Medina Sidonia
#10 – Jaen – less touristic town

Why visit?
OK. Let’s be honest, it is a big city. Therefore, it is crowded by default.
However, it is not touristy. Not at all compared to Cordoba, Seville and Granada.
In my opinion, it has a few points of interest worth a detour if you have the time: for example, it offers magnificent views with the narrow streets, the cathedral standing out and the hills covered with olive trees.
Tips
- Cordoba to Jaen = 1h30 drive
- Plan half a day to explore
- Hilly with old pavement in the old town
- Driving in Jaen was the worst of our experience in Andalusian cities, so we quickly found an underground carpark and moved on foot.
- Check out the best rated accommodations in Jaen
Want to see more of the best Andalucia has to offer?
- Best landscapes in Andalucia in 40 pictures – read article
- 17 most beautiful white villages in Andalucia – read article
- 20 best beaches in Andalucia – read article
- 21+ best cities and towns in Andalucia – read article
- Cordoba vs Sevilla vs Granada – where to go? – read article
- Tips to plan a road trip around Andalucia – read article
Planning a trip to Andalucia?
Check out my travel guide to help you plan:
And keep track of your own trip!

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Best castles and palaces in Andalucia

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