Car Hire Andalucía

Prepare for pleasure when you drive in Andalucía. You could choose to hug the coastline on the south, enjoying the play of the sun on the Mediterranean as you whistle past Marbella or Cadiz. You can plunge into the plethora of national parks you’ll find in the region, showcasing Andalucía’s natural charms. You can even choose to ignore the sea altogether, and weave your way through the interior, stopping off at tiny villages for a glimpse of the real Spain.

While you’re in the country, you’ll be driving on the right-hand side of the road in a left-hand drive car – all overtaking is on the left. As at home, it’s illegal to use a mobile phone while driving, and seatbelts are compulsory for the driver and all passengers.

The road network is easy to navigate, made up of a mixture of autovia – Spanish motorways – and more scenic routes. Autovia are prefixed with an ‘A’, while those that begin with 'AP’ are Autopista, where you’ll usually have to pay a toll.

Toll routes in this region include the AP-7 from Malaga to Estepona, the AP-4 from Seville to Cadiz and the AP-46 from Malaga to Alto de las Pedrizas. Charges aren’t too expensive, and you can pay at booths using cash or card. You can often find toll-free routes, but they are usually more circuitous and take longer.

Speed limits are in km/h, distances in kilometres. The top speed on motorways is 120km/h (74mph). In towns, cities and villages, there’s a maximum speed of 50km/h (31mph).

In some cities with historical centres, therearepedestrianised zones that are closed to cars – however there’s almost always large car parks close by these locations. Our local teams can always advise you on the best places to park and answer any other queries you may have about driving in Andalucía.

In some ways, the history of Andalucía is the history of southern Europe in microcosm – the invasions and liberations, the Moorish architecture and the Spanish. It makes for cities and towns with a vivid tapestry of styles, Arab baths next to Catholic churches – a heady mix.

If you’re after something more serene, almost a third of Andalucía is made up of protected parks, packed with local flora and fauna, and breathtaking landscapes.

Make the most of Malaga

Visitors to Malaga are in for a treat. On the one hand, there are the resorts and beaches of the Costa del Sol, where the sun is pretty much year-round. On the other, there’s the old town, amazing art and history baked by the sun into the streets.

Wander around the Moorish fortress – the Alcazaba – before admiring the brilliant collection of works at the Museu Picasso. Pablo Picasso was born here, and the museum does a great job of displaying and contextualising the work of the city’s favourite son.

The port area has been renovated and reenergised. Spend an afternoon in the Palm Garden of Surprises – while La Manquita, the city’s one-towered cathedral, always wows. It took some 250 years to finish – arguably, with just the one tower, it never was – and is a fine example of Renaissance architecture.

Before you move on, take a peek into the Teatro Romano and perhaps catch a live performance at this atmospheric 1^st century Roman theatre.

Sizzling Seville

There are few southern Spanish prospects more enticing than that of Seville. It’s an intoxicating mix of colossal cathedral and modern art, Flamenco dancing and lip-smacking food.

At its core is the Alcazar, which melds Mudejar and Christian design into an unforgettable, UNESCO-listed whole. Fans of Game of Thrones will have seen it on their screen, but the stories that have played out here in real life over the centuries – a fort has stood here since the 10^th century – are just as riveting.

The cathedral is the largest Gothic church in the whole world, built from 1434 to 1517 -although you can spot remains of an even earlier mosque on the site. Inside you’ll find lavish decoration, Columbus’ tomb and art by Goya - and don’t neglect the roof for incredible views as well.

For a taste of Seville’s modern side, take a lift up to the top of the Metropol Parasol – the iconic wooden mushrooms opened in 2011.

Grand Granada

Andalucía car hire means you can soak up sublime Granada too. It’s perhaps the most Moorish of all Spanish cities, with the peerless Alhambra the main attraction here – and one of the country’s finest sights. Book ahead for a timed ticket – you don’t want to wait in line here.

While much of the current construction is 13^th and 14^th century, there are elements that are supposedly hundreds of years older. History has played out here in the grandest way, with sultans carving out handsome homes such as the Generalife – a sun-kissed bolthole for powerful kings.

The main show is the Palacios Nazaries, however, a luxurious and intricate yet utterly beguiling palace. It often overshadows the rest of the city, but it shouldn’t. This is a place in a million.

Soak up every inch of perhaps Spain’s most vibrant region when you hire a car in Andalucía.