If Southern Spain is on top of your travel wishlist for this year, you’re probably overwhelmed by the number of activities and places there are to explore.
First, there is the Southern Golden Triangle consisting of the cities of Seville, Granada, and Cordoba, then, the whole coastline of Costa del Sol, and finally all the small villages in between. Southern Spain has some of the most visited monuments and tourist attractions in the whole country, which get pretty crowded in the summer months and you will have to book weeks in advance to secure tickets to places like the Alhambra in Granada, Mezquita Cathedral in Cordoba or the Royal Alcazar of Seville.
If you want to see this part of Spain like a local, discovering more authentic places and experiences, I have put together this short guide with lots of ideas for unique things to do in Southern Spain.
No matter what your budget or travel preferences are, this guide has something to choose from for everyone, focusing on local experiences in food, sights, and nature.
10+ Unique Things To Do in Southern Spain
1. Visiting Teterias in Albaicin, Granada
Granada may be known for its famous ancient Alhambra palace, but there is much more to discover and enjoy! For instance, thanks to its history, Granada is one of the Spanish cities with the strongest Arabic influence, and missing out on a trip to a Teteria would be a huge mistake…
Teterias are local tea shops scattered around the Albaicin neighborhood. They are the perfect places to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and experience the authentic tradition of Arabic tea.
Enter one of these exotic-looking places, and dive into the menu filled with tea blends, perfectly matched with an oriental-inspired selection of cakes. One of my favorites that I kept returning to was Kasbah Teahouse in Albaicin, known for its wide selection of teas and the most authentic Arabic decor. On weekends they even have belly dancers!
2. Free Tapas in Each Restaurant, in Granada
While in Granada, don’t be surprised if you are served small dishes with each drink you order.
Granada is in fact, one of the few cities that still honors the tradition of free tapas with each drink. Enjoy this hospitality to its full extent – in my experience, stopping in a few places as you discover the city to grab a drink will fill you up enough that you might want to skip lunch completely!
For those who want to enjoy a view with their drink, I can recommend stopping in any of the restaurants on Paseo de Los Tristes, from where you can admire beautiful views of Alhambra, without having to climb the hills of the old town.
3. Sunrise breakfast at the beach, Fuengirola
Most people appreciate the Souther Spanish beach with a rented sunbed and umbrella, under the scorching summer sun. However, for those who aren’t much into sunbathing on holiday, you can still enjoy the beach… first thing in the morning!
While getting up early in the morning may be the last thing you want on your trip, the sunrise is pretty late in winter and spring (around 8 am before they change the clocks in October), There is nothing like watching the sunrise, while enjoying a hot tea and a croissant from one of the cafes across the street.
One of the best places for sunrise breakfast is in Fuengirola, which has over 7 km of sandy beaches. You are certain to have plenty of space to enjoy this serene moment by yourself.
4. Local wine tasting in Malaga
The region of Malaga is known for its wine production, and for such a small place it produces a large variety of very good wines.
There are a few ways you can explore the wine region in Southern Spain. You can walk into a Bodega in town and ask for a local wine by the glass. You can also book a winery tour, or alternatively, visit the Wine Museum in Malaga which also includes a tasting of some of the most popular wines from the region.
Wine also makes a great – and very appreciated – souvenir you can bring back home to your family and friends.
5. Visiting the caves of Southern Spain, Nerja
Southern Spain is a country rich in natural wonders, and caves are certainly some of the best ones to explore in Europe. If you’re staying along the coastline, Nerja should probably be your first pick to explore this hidden underworld. It is only a short drive from the main travel hub of Malaga.
The caves can be found just on the outskirts of the town, and stretch for over 5km, making them one of the most popular natural attractions in Southern Spain.
If you want to make your experience even more special, check the schedule of the concerts that are held in one of the chambers of the cave, which is used as an amphitheater – a truly unforgettable experience. PS – Don’t forget to bring warm clothes!
6. Enjoying a free flamenco performance in Granada
Granada’s Sacromonte district may be known for its flamenco performances in caves, but not a lot of people realize you can watch an authentic flamenco show for free!
On Plaza de St Ana, you can often catch a couple or two performing this traditional beautiful dance, in front of a crowd that gathers pretty quickly. They are usually students who earn some money mastering this beautiful art, and they do so with absolute perfection.
7. Hiking in the Mijas mountains, Mijas Pueblo
What better way to explore Costa del Sol than from high ground?
In the hills above the village of Mijas Pueblo (worth visiting too!), you will find a well-established network of hiking trails that will take you to the nearby hills, such as Pico Mijas (1150m). This hike is the most popular in the area, but also the most difficult one, so be prepared.
Be careful especially in spring as the trails can be very slippery from the rain, and always bring a lot of water with you.
8. Shopping for local pottery, Mijas Pueblo
Andalusia has some of the most beautiful pottery art in Spain, and if you want to bring an original souvenir, I highly recommend venturing to one of the pottery shops!
My favorite one called Exposición Artesanía de España is located in the old town of Mijas Pueblo (Calle Malaga 1), with beautifully decorated pots and plates displayed outside on the street.
9. Visiting the meeting point of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, Tarifa
Fancy a dip in the sea? In that case head to one of the most unique places to make it happen. Tarifa is a town found in the far south, where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea meet.
While the sea here is a little rougher than along the rest of the Southern Spanish Coast, it’s certainly a unique experience that deserves a spot on any bucket list. It is also a great spot to go surfing in Spain.
10. Exploring less-known white towns of Andalusia, Jerez de la Frontera
Southern Spain is known for its whitewashed traditional towns (Pueblos Blancos), some of them prettier than others.
Possibly the most famous example is Frigiliana, declared several times as the prettiest town in Southern Spain, but many other less-known places also deserve your attention.
Jerez de la Frontera for instance.Known for its cherry production and bodegas scattered around the town, it is one of the local gems that deserve a visit. Stroll through the narrow cobblestone streets, stop at the local bodega to taste the local sherry wine, and visit the local Alcatraz fortress and the ancient cathedral.
11. Visiting lesser-known churches, Granada
Basilica de San Juan de Dios was my recent discovery on a trip to Granada – this beautiful church hiding behind a scaffolding is a wonder of baroque architecture. Its crowning glory is the intricately decorated altar covered in gold, with the resting place of St Juan de Dios which can be found behind it.
Once you look away from the dazzling shine of gold from the altar, you can explore the beautifully decorated vaulted ceiling, and art displayed all around the basilica, and even venture through a side staircase that leads you to the middle room behind the altar with the remains of the Saint.
A truly memorable experience.
12. Enjoy a real Andalusian Arab bath experience, Granada
After all the exploring, you might want to give yourself a little treat, and that’s exactly what Arab baths are made for! These Spanish hot springs are found in larger cities like Malaga, but the best ones are near Plaza de St Ana in Granada.
The traditional Al Andalus Hamman Bath offers a range of different treatments, but you can also just get access to the plunge pool and enjoy a day of relaxation and reflection.
I hope you enjoyed this list of the most unique experiences in Southern Spain. Whether some of these will make it to your itinerary or not, I’m sure you will have a lot of fun exploring this part of Spain!
ARE YOU ON PINTEREST?
What about saving this post to your Pinterest board?
Click on the photo to save this blog post for later. We are also on the platform and we love pinning great travel tips. Follow Tales From The Lens’ boards to see our latest pins.
Don’t be shy, come say hi!
Please note │ This blog post may also include affiliate links to hostels or products we recommend, which means if you buy something following a link on this page, we’ll get a small commission. This will be of no extra cost to you but will help us continue running this blog. Thank you for your support.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lucia – Guest Writer
Lucia is a Slovak expat living in Southern Spain. On her blog Viva la Vita, she shares her discoveries about beautiful locations, hidden gems, and authentic experiences from Costa del Sol and beyond.