Welcome to the ultimate guide on the top day trips in the enchanting southern region of Spain! From picturesque coastal towns to historic landmarks and breathtaking natural wonders, this region has it all. Join us as we delve into the must-visit destinations and hidden gems that will make your trip to the south of Spain an unforgettable experience. So, grab your sunscreen, pack your camera, and let’s embark on a journey filled with sun, culture, and adventure! Don’t miss out on these incredible day trips – start planning your southern Spain day trips today!
A Day in the City: Madrid
This one is a given! Madrid is a close and easy train ride that is perfect for a quick trip! This city feels like the New York City of Spain and is full of castles, great food, incredible architecture, and whimsical gardens. There are also countless museums containing pieces by Picasso and other famous artists. I actually have a whole separate post on everything you need to do and see while in Madrid! Click here for your perfect itinerary for Madrid!
- Travel tip: The easiest way to find a train or bus ticket from anywhere else in Spain is through Omio! It’s seriously my personal favorite and makes traveling so much easier. Here’s the link to find your ticket!
The Windiest Place on Earth: Tarifa
Are you a fan of kitesurfing? I’m not. But still I loved spending the day in Tarifa at the southern tip of Spain! There’s great ice cream, insane winds, kitesurfing, and you can also see Morocco from the beach! Check out this southern Spain day trip below!
Here are a couple ways to spend your day in Tarifa!
- Take kitesurfing lessons.
- Go dolphin/whale watching.
- Hike the Parque Natural del Estrecho.
- Start at the Observatorio del Estrecho and hike about 4.8 miles to the Torre de Guadalmesí.
- Spend a day at the beach!
- Bring a snorkel or go scuba diving.
- Explore the night life in Tarifa.
- Discoteca and bar suggestions
- Mombassa
- La Ruina
- Café Del Mar
- Discoteca and bar suggestions
- Travel tip: there are also old Roman ruins right next to the city that are definitely worth checking out. The area is called Baelo Claudia. Click here for information.
One Day on Another Continent: Tangier
Tangier is a city on the northern tip of Morocco. I went to Morocco briefly when I was backpacking Spain and Africa, and it is simply incredible. Its also incredibly convenient to get to! You can literally spend one day in Africa and then hop back over to Spain! Its totally worth it.
While you could easily plan if by yourself by taking a train, booking a ferry, and then exploring the town, you can also do this AWESOME DAY TRIP with lunch AND camel riding AND so much more! Even better, it’ll be cheaper than organizing all this yourself as well! Click HERE for your pre-planned adventure to Tangier.
Beach and Adventure Day: Malaga
If you’re looking for a beach day with a little spice, you HAVE to go to Malaga. This place is incredible; not only is it super nice and boujee, but it has cliff jumping, take a book tour, and a beautiful downtown with tons of shops!
Here are some of my suggestions for this best things to do in Malaga!
- Explore the beaches! Malaga is full of beautiful beaches and waters worth exploring.
- Go cliff jumping! Book a tour or go alone (but definitely do some research to make sure it’s legal to jump from certain areas… certain fines reaches over 1000 euros)!
- Book a caravan tour with some buddies! Relax in the sun on a boat all day.
- Explore the city and all of its stores and boutiques.
- Dive into the history… for example, Alcazaba de Malaga!
Get Your Snacks Stolen By Monkeys… But It’s Worth It: Gibraltar
Gibraltar is one of the craziest places I’ve ever been. It’s technically a part of the United Kingdom and so its not exactly a southern Spain say trip, but it’s close enough. You have to have your passport to cross the border. There are red phone boxes, pubs, fish and chips, and tons of people with British accents. It’s pretty bizarre, especially coming from Spain. The downtown area of Gibraltar is really neat, and there are also tons of small streets with stacked houses; overall, a trip down to Gibraltar is easy by train and definitely worth the visit.
If you have extra time, you have to hike the Rock of Gibraltar! You can see this massive rock from the border; it’s literally a giant stone sticking out of the ground overlooking the ocean. I recommend starting at the Pillars of Hercules trailhead, hiking to the top, taking pictures of the monkeys, then heading back down on the cable car!
- Travel tips
- You have to buy a ticket for the hike and the cable car before hiking.
- Don’t bring snacks!!! The monkeys will steal them.
- If you want to hear my crazy monkey story, head on over to my Gibraltar / Morocco blog.
Caves and Beaches and Pizza, Oh My: Nerja
Nerja is a perfect day trip because it has pretty much everything you could ask for: nature, caves, beaches, pizza, and ice cream. I can’t think of a better day! Here are my suggestions for your Nerja day trip!
- Cueva de Nerja
- Beaches
- Every beach is Nerja is gorgeous. They are also filled with incredible saline and every type of fish imaginable! (I say that not knowing much about fish… but the fish I saw looked pretty and happy 😉 I went to Carabeo Beach, which is right next to downtown Nerja and a beautiful lookout, but you really can’t go wrong with beaches!
- If you have more time to spend in Nerja, consider some of the things on this great list!
A Day With the Romans: Cordoba
Ready to step back in time a few thousand years? Head over to Cordoba! It’s a great place for a history buff to spend the day; the streets are screaming with ancient tales just waiting to be discovered. Below are your best places to spend a day in Cordoba!
- Puente Romano
- Roman Bridge
- Cathedral of Cordoba
- Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos
- Mezquita Cathedral of Cordoba
- This was one of my favorite things in Spain! 100000% recommend.
- Jewish Quarter
- Córdoba Synagogue
- Los Patios Restaurant
- This is a hidden little restaurant with a beautiful interior with a big garden! I loved it a lot!
Chill Beach Vibes: Cadiz
If you’re looking for a relaxing beach weekend, Cádiz is your spot! I actually have a whole itinerary for Cádiz, so click here to hop on over to that post!
The Hike of a Lifetime: Caminito del Rey
My biggest regret during my summer in Spain was missing out on this insane hike! It’s rated as one of the top day hikes in the world, and it was also considered one of the most dangerous hikes before the paths were redone recently. It takes about 4-5 hours to complete and is about 5 hours. You do have to buy a ticket or book a tour beforehand, and tickets sell out pretty far in advance. However, don’t let this hinder your sense of adventure! You HAVE TO DO THIS HIKE! Click here for more information about the hike and booking tickets! This is absolutely one of the best southern Spain day trips!
One response to “Explore the Best Day Trips in Southern Spain – Plan Your Adventure Now!”
Love this! I definitely want to visit all of these places now.