24 Best places to stay in Andalusia

One of Spain’s most sought-after hotels, this gorgeous Andalusian manor house, with rooms set around two picturesque courtyards, is surrounded by 23,000 square metres of glorious, flower-filled gardens.

Sitting between Sotogrande and Estepona, Finca Cortesin effortlessly blends Moorish and Castillian touches to luxurious effect. Its gorgeous, antique-filled bedrooms set around two shaded patios are inspired by Granada’s Alhambra Palace. There are three separate pools – including one adults-only – and a level of service that King Alhamar would have approved of in the Alhambra.

This is a destination unto itself – from the world-class golf course to the superb Thai-style spa (that also includes Spain’s first ice-cave) and Michelin-starred restaurant. The hotel’s exclusive beach club is a short shuttle ride away.

Since it opened in 2016, this 12-room hotel on a quiet street in the central El Arenal district has earned a reputation as Seville’s top, no-expense-spared, luxury bolthole.

From its former incarnation, the 19th-century Casa Palacio Castelar, there’s a marble-paved patio courtyard, now glassed, and a welcoming lounge with a splashing fountain. A magnificent sweeping stair (and a lift) lead up to the contemporary rooms and suites, many of which have private terraces.

None, however, can match the guests-only roof terrace with its pool, bar and solarium for unforgettable views over Seville, especially at sunset.

Sip perfect cocktails in the FIZZ bar, and enjoy creative  Andalusian cuisine in the hotel’s sleek Maria Luisa restaurant. It’s a lovely hotel for a special occasion or just to feel spoiled by the superb service.

Convenient for all of Cordoba’s main attractions and just 350m from the Mezquita, this four star hotel on a quiet street has bags of quirky charm and local flavour.  

Housed in a refurbished 18th-century building, it has a classic patio courtyard and two terraces on different levels looking out over the city’s brown-tile roofs and towers. Each of the 11 spacious rooms has a distinctive character, along with their coloured tile floors; the deluxe doubles are so romantic they could star in a film. 

There’s an exclusive hammam, just big enough for two, with optional massages. It’s perfect for couples looking for something a little magical in the heart of Cordoba. 

If you’re after poetic atmosphere, bags of character and enchanting views of the Alhambra, stay in this evocative hotel in a late 15th-century mansion in a peaceful corner of the Albayzin district, just up from the Darro river.

The house is named after its builders and decorators, the Moriscos (Muslims who remained in Spain after the Reconquista) whose beautiful wood, plasterwork and arches were lovingly restored by one of Granada’s top architects: the patio courtyard is exquisite.

The 14 rooms (the upper ones have the best views) have Moorish style furnishings, antiques, and comfy beds;  staff are wonderful and if you let them know in advance, they will save you a parking place by the hotel.

There are some lovely tapas bars nearby, too, all perfect for couples who want to enjoy Granada’s unique romantic atmosphere to the hilt.

This hip hotel enjoys the most enviable, peaceful location in all Seville: in the gardens of the Alcazar. Built on Moorish foundations, with a glassed-in patio lounge, the Legado deftly combines crisp, white walls with original wooden beams and ceilings, while public rooms have stone walls dating back to the 12th century.

Each room is different; the best have private terraces overlooking the gardens and their strutting peacocks. Fresh market ingredients go into the breakfasts, staff are cheerful and helpful, all the main sights are in easy walking distance, and you can park three minutes away.

It’s a wonderful, relaxing oasis, whether on your first or tenth visit to Seville.

The elegant 17th-century house, where poet Ximenez de Enciso was born, is now a plush boutique bolthole, only a three-minute walk from Seville’s Cathedral and Alcazar.

Visiting royals love it for the peaceful oasis it offers in the heart of Barrio Santa Cruz; the central patio, with its splashing fountain, is unabashedly romantic, decorated with trailing ivy and modern art, while the roof terrace offers a bird’s eye of La Giralda.

The spacious rooms, decorated with hand-painted murals, come in soft tones; the bar, all red and gold is irresistibly plush, and the cheerful staff couldn’t be more helpful. All in all, a perfect base for enjoying Seville in style.

If you’d love to combine the enchantment of Granada with hikes in the Sierra Nevada, this rustic-chic hotel, (‘Almunia’ is Arabic for country estate) immersed in gorgeous mountain scenery, has it all.

Located a 10-minute drive from Granada and 20 minutes from the ski resort, it combines comfy designer furnishings, contemporary art, and stone and slate throughout. There’s a beautiful outdoor pool, and after a day’s exploring, you can sink into a sofa in the big common room by the fireplace, and peruse the hotel’s library of travel books over a cocktail.

An exceptional buffet breakfast starts the day, and guests can book delicious dinners made with local produce, served on the panoramic terrace.

Hosts Patricia and Manuel are delightful and know all the local trails; the one through Los Cahorros Gorge, one of the great beauty spots of the sierra, is only 2km away.

A few steps from the Alhambra’s Puerta de la Justicia, this 1820’s hotel was rebuilt in sleek, five-star style in 2016. Quotes on the walls recall American writer Washington Irving, whose charming Tales of the Alhambra, was written after a stay at the palace in 1828 (you can examine a first edition in the hotel library).

Rooms are plush and very peaceful – quite a few overlook the Alhambra walls and gardens – and a dip in the rooftop pool and drink in the summer bar are very welcome after you’ve spent a hard day sightseeing.

Breakfasts are good, and there’s an extremely helpful concierge. Best of all, it’s easy to be at the gate when the Alhambra opens in the morning, before the crowds ascend.

Located on Ronda’s high street, this chic hotel is a two-minute walk from the spectacular gorge-spanning Puente Nuevo.  

The x-factor here is the irresistible infinity pool and rooftop bar, offering breathtaking views into the historic 18th–century ‘cathedral of bull fighting’ and across to the Sierra de Grazalema mountains, at their most beautiful when backlit by frisson-giving sunsets. 

Rooms, in metallic bronze, gold and silver tones, are comfortable and filled with light; some suites have balconies, and there’s parking nearby, making it a great stopover for anyone touring the White Villages.  

You won’t find a better location in Cordoba: on this hotel’s rooftop balcony over the city, you feel as if you can stretch out your hand and touch La Mezquita, only 20m away.

Housed in an evocative 17th-century building, its three pebble-paved courtyards are decorated with architectural fragments, flowers and fountains. Rooms, named after goddesses, are plush and serene, in soft neutral and earth tones (Anahita, the junior suite, has the best views and a lovely private terrace).

Everything is relaxing, soothing, and delightful, from breakfast and dinner at the Pairi Daeza (‘Paradise’) Mediterranean restaurant in the romantic garden courtyard, to sunset cocktails on the terrace, watching the lights flicker on in the city below.

It’s a lovely base for exploring the city, with a simpatico staff who make it feel like a home away from home.

Near the historic centre of Cadiz, a five-minute walk from the train station and beach, this atmospheric hotel in a handsome Dominican convent of 1635 is unusual in that part of it is still inhabited by friars (although you probably won’t run into them).

The bedrooms in the former cells, however, are no longer monkish, but comfortably done up in chocolate and oatmeal tones, all facing the pretty tiled cloister with its sculpted marble wells; some also overlook the port.

The staff are very friendly (if you’re driving, be sure to ask in advance about parking, which is tricky in Cadiz). They do a hearty buffet breakfast, and will tell you about the best restaurants and tapas bars are close by. It makes a great base for whatever you want to do in Cadiz, and for its fun-packed carnival.

Seville invites extravagance, and you can go the whole hog in this palatial hotel, built by King Alfonso XIII for his fellow royals attending the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition.

Moorish opulence prevails in the public areas, while beds are king size (of course!) with rooms that combine a mix of modern, Castilian and Arabic.

The Ena restaurant on the garden terrace serves a superb fusion of Catalonian and Andalusian cuisine.

Located by the former tobacco company (where Bizet’s Carmen rolled her cigars, now part of the university), it’s a 10-minute walk from the Cathedral, but there’s a pool to cool off in, and a great art deco bar for cocktails.

This dreamy hotel in Benaojan, 14km from Ronda, is surrounded by the gorgeous hills of the Serrania de Ronda.

Converted from an old flour and olive mill by its British owners, Andy Chapell and Pauline Elkin, its 18 bedrooms and suites are all very different but all inviting, distributed in or around the mill and looking onto the garden terrace with its solar-heated pool.

Many have terraces or balconies, and some are within earshot of the gurgling river that runs past the property. The exceptional restaurant, a favourite among the locals, features seasonal dishes, top Andalusian wines and gourmet barbecues; sitting out by candlelight on the terrace on a summer’s starry night is bliss.

It’s ideal for couples or families who want to hike or bike in the sierra, tour the Sierra de Grazalema and the White Villages, or just seek a delicious rural interlude.

High in the Sierra Nevada, surrounded by majestic mountain views, this chic woodsy Nordic-style hotel offers high altitude glamour.

Perfect for active visitors, it offers a range of ski packages (including lessons for beginners), with direct access to over 40 pistes and a seductive apres ski scene in its cosy bar.

Even if you don’t ski, you can dive into the Sierra Nevada’s only open-air, heated pool, then bask on the sun deck, or go for a deep massage in the spa, sink into the deep cushions of the leather sofas by the open fire in the lounge with a perfectly mixed cocktail, then drink in the surrounding beauty over a gourmet meal.

There are 93 paradors in Spain, but this is the most requested of them all. Located on the grounds of the Alhambra, it occupies a late 15th-century monastery built by Granada’s conquerors, Ferdinand and Isabella, built over a Nasrid palace.

The parador is chock-full of original features: the cloister-patio, pebble courtyards, arches, dark wood and iron work, beams and rose-tinted bricks, and there’s even one room from the lost palace.

Guests are free to wander the grounds of the Alhambra after dark, especially romantic on a moonlit or starry night.

The friendly professional staff, great breakfast and wonderful views all contribute to a pricy but unforgettable way to experience Granada and its ineffably beautiful star attraction.

Andalusia has no end of beaches, but few are located in a city as fascinating as Cadiz. If you yearn to combine sand, sea and culture, this big modern beach hotel overlooking sandy Playa de Victoria might be just the ticket.

Also known as TRYP Cadiz la Caleta, it’s located 2.5km from the central Cadiz, a pleasant walk on the seafront promenade or a short hop on a city bus, and has an underground garage if you’ve brought the car.

Rooms have been recently renovated and include family rooms with bunk beds; premium rooms have sea views. Staff are cheerful and helpful, endowed with that special Cadiz sparkle of fun.

Cadiz’s parador is a big, bold contemporary statement in glass and steel, in a bodacious seafront setting next to La Caleta beach on the edge of the Old Town.

The famous light from the Bay of Cadiz pours through windows that occupy the entire outer walls of the rooms, offering superb sea views (others overlook the Parque Genoves gardens), and illuminating comfortable, unfussy minimalist interiors.

There’s a handsome spa and gym but the x-factor has to be the vast seaside pool and sun terrace, although the glass-walled tapas bar comes in a close second.

Definitely a place for few days of seaside R&R while enjoying the charms of Cadiz.

On the edge of Old Malaga, this sleek new five-star hotel envelopes the patio of a previous building and a section of the city’s old Arab walls in its nether regions.

Well-positioned for seeing the sights – the Picasso Museum, Cathedral and arty Soho district are a short walk away, the Posada del Patio has big bedrooms in soothing tones, and there’s a small rooftop pool for a cool dip after a day’s sightseeing.

The buffet breakfast is excellent, and there’s a smart restaurant, Le Diner and bar. But in spite of all its bells and whistles, it’s the friendly, helpful smiling staff who make it an ideal place to stay for getting the most out of Malaga.

Centrally located in Barrio Santa Cruz, the Casa 1800 is just a three-minute walk from Seville’s cathedral and Alcazar.

This romantic, recently renovated 21-room hotel occupies an early 19th-century townhouse, where you can dream of Seville’s heyday amid antiques and beautiful parquet floors, moldings, exposed bricks and beams, wrought ironwork, murals and chandeliers.

Unwind or catch a siesta beside the pool on the rooftop terrace, while contemplating the gorgeous views of the Giralda. The big American-style breakfast, available until 11am, will keep you going until a late Andalusian lunch; add in tea and snacks in the afternoon, and lovely friendly staff, and  you have one of the finest small boutique hotels for experiencing the history and charm of Seville.

Brand new, and nothing less than the world’s first sherry hotel, the Tio Pepe is located in Plaza Encarnacion, the heart of Jerez de la Frontera, and adjacent to the Gonzalez Byass dynasty’s beautiful bodega.  

Many of its luminous, contemporary rooms and suites (some are ideal for families) overlook the city’s beautiful Baroque cathedral, and have gorgeous beds.  

There are great views from the roof terrace garden, along with a little plunge pool. Staff are a delight, there’s an a la carte breakfast, fitness centre and  a useful public pay car park nearby. And it’s perfectly placed for a sherry tour. 

Right in the heart of the action, with to-die-for views of Seville’s Cathedral from its beautiful roof terrace, this urbane, cosmopolitan five-star hotel is perfectly placed for watching the Semana Santa processions.

But it’s also ideal for the other 51 weeks of the year; for a dip in the rooftop pool, soaking up the rays or watching the setting sun bathe the cathedral and La Giralda in golden light.

The hotel building dates back to the 16th century, but the rooms are minimalist contemporary; the suites are the ones with the blow-out views. Al Lado, the street-level restaurant, is informal and fun, specializing in pizzas in a wood-burning oven.

Jerez sets the bar high with its aristocratic sherry houses and dancing horses – and this gorgeous new hotel, right in the heart of town.  

In the 19th-century, this was a casino for the city’s smart set: you can just imagine the grandees hobnobbing in the black and white tiled central atrium, with its elegant wrought iron balconies and chandelier.  

Every corner is a delight, embellished with deco styling and contemporary art; the rooms, with sumptuous marble baths and heavenly beds, are filled with details including stained glass and hand painted murals, and overlook the palm trees of the plaza or lush back garden.  

With a rooftop plunge pool, clubby bar, gourmet restaurant, and superb service it’s the most memorable place to stay for miles around.  

This handsome palace, built in 1776, is on a quiet pedestrian street in the old Jewish Quarter, near some of the city’s top restaurants and tapas bars and only a minute’s walk from the Picasso Museum and ten minutes from La Malagueta Beach.

The coolly sophisticated, understated bedrooms are a haven to return to (the secluded tower room has a wonderful private terrace, overlooking much of the city).

An elegant restaurant fills the glassed-in patio courtyard, bathed in natural light, where breakfast is served and where the Balausta restaurant, run by Michelin-starred chef Jose Carlos Garcia serves up creative, gastronomic Andalusian cuisine.

The staff are exceptional, and they’ll make sure you get the most out of arty, up-and-coming Malaga.

Just outside Seville’s Santa Cruz district, this 5-star design hotel occupies an 18th-century palace from the city’s glory days.

Today, it’s the perfect small luxury hotel, deftly combining 21st-century creature comforts with original features: an elegant black and white tiled central patio with marble columns, another with a seashell mosaic and fountain linked to the pilgrimage route to Santiago, and a third large patio filled with fragrant orange trees.

There’s a bar and a fine restaurant – Los Rincones del Marques – that features gourmet takes on Andalusian dishes and occasional flamenco shows on summer nights.

The roof terrace and pool have enchanting views over the Cathedral and La Giralda, and nothing is ever too difficult for the staff. The only problem is ever leaving.