Routes
Andalusia in 5 days from Málaga: a road trip loop
From Málaga Airport the classic sights of Andalusia form a loop: east along the coast, inland to Granada, west through Antequera to Ronda and back down to the Costa del Sol. The drives are long enough to need a plan but none takes more than about two hours, and the one booking that decides your dates is the Alhambra.
In short
- Book Alhambra tickets on the official site as soon as you have dates; the Nasrid Palaces have a fixed half-hour slot and late arrivals are not let in.
- The Caminito del Rey is closed on Mondays and needs a ticket for a time slot; children under 8 are not allowed.
- The fast AP-7 along the coast is tolled between Málaga and Guadiaro; the free A-7 runs alongside it.
- Car pick-up at Málaga Airport is by a short shuttle to the rental car.
- Drive times are approximate, for normal traffic, without stops.
Before you go: the two bookings
Buy Alhambra tickets first, on tickets.alhambra-patronato.es, and build the rest of the route around your Nasrid Palaces time. Tickets are issued in your name and checked against your passport or ID card. If you want the Caminito del Rey walk, book it next and keep it off a Monday.
Day 1: Málaga Airport to Nerja and Frigiliana
Nerja
Seaside town with the Balcón de Europa viewpoint and, just outside, the Nerja Caves.
- Drive
- Approx. 50 min from Málaga Airport on the A-7 east
- Parking
- Underground car parks near the Balcón de Europa.
- Time to allow
- 2 to 3 hours with the caves
Frigiliana
White village on the hill above Nerja with steep, stepped lanes.
- Drive
- Approx. 15 min from Nerja
- Parking
- Car park at the entrance of the village; do not drive into the old lanes.
- Time to allow
- 1.5 hours
- Families
- Lots of steps; a baby carrier is easier than a buggy.
Day 2: Granada and the Alhambra
Granada
Spend the day around your Alhambra slot: Alcazaba and Generalife before the palaces, the Albaicín quarter at sunset.
- Drive
- Approx. 1 hour 15 min from Nerja via the A-7 and A-44
- Parking
- Alhambra car park for the visit; leave the car at the hotel for the old town, where traffic is restricted.
- Time to allow
- A full day
Arrive at the Alhambra at least an hour before your Nasrid Palaces time: the palaces are a long walk from the main entrance.
Day 3: Antequera and El Torcal (optional Caminito del Rey)
Antequera Dolmens and El Torcal
Prehistoric dolmens on the edge of town and the limestone rock formations of El Torcal nature reserve above it.
- Drive
- Approx. 1 hour 15 min from Granada on the A-92
- Parking
- Car parks at the dolmens visitor site and at the El Torcal visitor centre.
- Time to allow
- Half a day
Caminito del Rey (if booked)
Walkway through the Gaitanes gorge, one way from north to south, about 7.7 km. Helmets are provided.
- Drive
- Approx. 45 min from Antequera to the northern access at Ardales
- Parking
- Park at the south end and take the shuttle bus to the start, so the car waits where you finish.
- Time to allow
- 3 to 4 hours including the shuttle
- Families
- Not allowed for children under 8.
Day 4: Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas
Ronda
Town split by the El Tajo gorge and joined by the Puente Nuevo bridge.
- Drive
- Approx. 1 hour 15 min from Antequera
- Parking
- Underground car parks in the centre; follow the signs, the old town lanes are narrow.
- Time to allow
- Half a day
Setenil de las Bodegas
Village where houses are built into the rock overhangs of the river gorge.
- Drive
- Approx. 20 min from Ronda
- Parking
- Car parks at the edge of the village.
- Time to allow
- 1 to 1.5 hours
Day 5: down to the coast and back to Málaga
Ronda to Marbella
The A-397 descends through the Sierra de las Nieves in a long series of bends. Drive it in daylight and expect slow traffic behind trucks.
- Drive
- Approx. 1 hour
- Time to allow
- Old town and seafront in Marbella, 2 hours
From Marbella to Málaga Airport allow about 45 minutes. The AP-7 is quicker but tolled; the free A-7 is busier around Fuengirola and Torremolinos. Leave an hour of margin before the car return.
Sources
- Alhambra official ticket sales, Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife (checked October 27, 2026)
- Caminito del Rey official site, Diputación de Málaga (checked October 27, 2026)
- El Caminito del Rey: timetable and rules, La Garganta (checked October 27, 2026)
- AP-7 Málaga toll prices 2026, El Independiente (checked October 27, 2026)
- Alhambra: visiting the Nasrid Palaces, Andalucia.com (checked October 27, 2026)
Rules, prices and opening hours change. Check the official source before you travel. Drive times are approximate.
More guides
Day trips from Málaga by car: six that work in one day
Ronda, the Caminito del Rey, Nerja and Frigiliana, Antequera and El Torcal, Mijas and Granada as day trips from Málaga, with drive times, parking and what to book.
Driving in Málaga and on the Costa del Sol: pick-up, tolls and city rules
How the airport shuttle pick-up works, when the AP-7 toll is worth it, what Málaga's low-emission zone means for a rental car, and where to park.
Costa del Sol in winter: what to do by car from November to February
Málaga's Christmas lights, skiing in the Sierra Nevada, quieter Ronda and Granada, and walks that are too hot in summer: a winter plan for the Costa del Sol by car.