🏖️ The coast
Nerja (about 1¼ hours)
A lovely seaside town with a real buzz. The road to it accross the hills is spectacular but very winding. When you get to Nerja stroll out to the Balcón de Europa, a palm-lined viewpoint jutting out over the sea, then find a beach. Burriana is the liveliest, with chiringuitos (beach bars) grilling sardines on the sand. Just outside town, the Cuevas de Nerja are vast and spectacular caves, well worth an hour. On a hot day, the Río Chíllar walk (on the road to Jayena) is brilliant fun: you literally walk up the river through a narrow gorge, so wear shoes you don't mind getting wet.
Frigiliana (just above Nerja)
Often called one of the prettiest villages in Andalucía, with whitewashed houses, flower-filled lanes and views down to the sea. Combine it with a day in Nerja.
Almuñécar and Salobreña (about 1 hour)
Almuñécar is our nearest stretch of coast, reached down a spectacular mountain road. It has pebbly beaches, a Moorish castle, and avocado and mango groves climbing the hills behind. Next door, Salobreña is a white town piled up on a rock around its castle, with long beaches below.
Motril (about 1 hour)
More of a working port town than a postcard, but it has long, uncrowded beaches such as Playa Granada and good fish restaurants. It's handy if you just want sun, sea and a paella.
⛰️ The Alpujarras (1–1½ hours)
Tucked into the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, the Alpujarras are a world of their own. White villages with flat-roofed, Berber-style houses cling to the hillsides, linked by ancient footpaths.
Lanjarón is the gateway, famous for its spa and mineral water.
Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira sit stacked up the Poqueira gorge. They're full of little craft shops, cafés and fabulous walks between the villages.
Trevélez, one of the highest villages in Spain, is famous for its cured ham. Stop for a plate of jamón.
It's a great place for a day's walking, or just a slow drive with lots of stops. It's even better as an overnight trip.
⛷️ Sierra Nevada (about 1½ hours)
In winter, roughly December to April, Sierra Nevada is Europe's most southerly ski resort. You can ski in the morning and be on the beach by the afternoon, if you're feeling energetic! In summer, the high mountains are wonderful for walking, and the brave can tackle Mulhacén, the highest peak in mainland Spain.
🏙️ A bit further
Málaga (about 1¾ hours) has the Picasso Museum, a lovely old town and great food.
Córdoba (about 2 hours) is home to the extraordinary Mezquita. It's a long day, but an unforgettable one.
Jaen (about 2 1/2 hours) has a Renaissance cathedral, Arab baths and its sea of olive groves, and visit Alcalá la Real, a hilltop fortress on the way there.