~1 hr
Frigiliana
Named Spain's most beautiful village time and time again. The whitewashed lanes of the Moorish quarter tumble down towards the sea above Nerja.
Within 2 hours by car
Rent a car and Andalusia opens up. Travel times are approximate from Benalmádena.
Hidden gems & white villages
~1 hr
~1 hr 30
Júzcar – pueblo pitufo
The village in the Genal valley that was painted bright blue for the 2011 Smurfs film and never painted back. Full of Smurf murals and a curiosity of the first order.
~1 hr 30
Valle del Genal
The chestnut forests that glow copper-red in autumn – the "bosque de cobre" – with a string of white mountain villages. One of the best-preserved corners of Andalusia.
~1 hr 45
Setenil de las Bodegas
Houses built in under enormous rock overhangs – streets with the mountain for a roof. Surreal and completely genuine.
~1 hr
Casares
White houses stacked down the mountainside beneath a Moorish fortress. The postcard image of an Andalusian village, and far calmer than the ones on the coast.
~20 min
Mijas Pueblo
The nearest white village: donkey taxis, craft shops and a balcony straight out over the whole coast.
Nature & water
~40 min
Barranco Blanco
The hidden ravine near Coín with turquoise natural pools and small waterfalls – the locals' swimming spot. Bring sturdy shoes; the last stretch is gravel road and footpath.
~40 min
Montes de Málaga
The natural park of oak and pine forest north of Málaga, with hiking trails and viewpoints. Stop at a venta and order the "plato de los montes" – the classic mountain platter.
~1 hr
El Torcal de Antequera
A surreal limestone landscape with towering formations and easy walking loops. Best in soft morning or evening light.
~1 hr
Sierra de las Nieves
Spain's newest national park (2021), with the rare pinsapo fir and deep ravines above Ronda and Marbella.
~1 hr
Caminito del Rey
The dizzying cliff walkway through the El Chorro gorge – suspended a hundred metres above the river. Book tickets in advance, they sell out.
~1 hr
Fuente de Piedra
Andalusia's largest natural lake and one of Europe's most important breeding grounds for flamingos – thousands of pink birds in spring.
Cities & culture
~20 min
Málaga
The Picasso Museum, the Alcazaba & Gibralfaro, the cathedral and the harbour – and tapas in Soho.
~1 hr
Nerja & the caves
The Balcón de Europa above the sea, and the enormous prehistoric caves with limestone columns the size of cathedrals.
~1 hr 30
Ronda
The Puente Nuevo spanning the El Tajo gorge, and Spain's oldest bullring.
~1 hr 15
Gibraltar
The Rock, the Barbary macaques and the cable car up. Bring your passport – it's British territory.
~1 hr 45
Granada & Alhambra
The Nasrid palaces and the Generalife gardens. Book tickets well in advance.
~35 min
Marbella & Puerto Banús
Charming old town with orange trees on the square, and the luxury marina next door.
Image sources, day-trip photos: Photo: Nick Kenrick.. (CC BY) · Photo: Rafa Esteve (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Spencer Means (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Photo: image taken by Mathiasrex. Maciej Szczepańczyk (CC BY-SA) · Photo: manuelfloresv (CC BY 2.0) · Photo: rjime31 (CC BY-SA) · Photo: schwanhals (CC BY-SA) · Photo: sksachin (CC BY) · Photo: variable1979 (CC BY). Other photos: public domain/CC0 via Wikimedia Commons, Flickr and rawpixel.