Villas in Andalucia

The shoreline is blessed with a wide variety of beaches and secluded coves. Clear blue skies and year-round sunshine beat down on its pretty sands and sparkling clear waters.

Many of the busier seaside resorts have been awarded the Blue Flag for high standards and cleanliness. You’ll find a small selection of sun loungers, open air beach bars serving snacks and waterfront eateries. Discover deserted coves and unspoilt bays in the east – Andalucia’s wildest and least developed coastline.

Going from bar to bar sampling tapas - little portions of meat, fish, olives and Spanish omelette - is a real tradition in Andalucia. You’ll also find good seafood, paella and traditional migas (a local dish made with olive oil, garlic and semolina) along the coast. Try the locally-made sherry or an Andalucian beer, known to be good value and very drinkable.

Here, expect to re-tune your routine to take an afternoon siesta, eat early evening tapas and stay up late for dinner with the locals.

Andalucia has a good range of leisure activities, including a wide selection of golf courses. The region is also home to vast national parks and dramatic mountain scenery offering spectacular views.

Natural caves, filled with archaeological treasures, are also open to the public - the most famous of which can be found in Nerja. The rolling countryside and wooded valleys of this region are also packed with wildlife including ibex, deer, wild boar and an enormous variety of birds.

Flamenco is a traditional treat that can’t be missed in this region. During peak season, many villages and cities, like Granada, stage colourful and lively flamenco nights outdoors. You’ll find a wealth of tapas bars and street entertainers performing in a typically Spanish fashion.

Evenings in Andalucia’s smaller, more traditional resorts are low-key, usually just a stroll along the promenade before relaxing over dinner and a bottle of wine, while the more developed resorts along the coastline offer an abundance of busier bars and clubs.

• Take a drive through the Sierra Nevada mountains to Granada, one of the most beautiful cities in Spain with its gorgeous Alhambra Palace and romantic Generalife Gardens.

• Catch a concert in the caves of Nerja – the 63 metre high Sala de Cataclismo is the venue for a music and dance festival each summer in July.

• Join in a fiesta with fireworks, funfair, fino sherry and authentic flamenco dancing during the peak summer season.

• Visit the brand new Picasso Museum in Malaga – next door to a Roman theatre and a Renaissance-style cathedral – displaying rare works donated by the artist’s family.

• Get a taste of all things British - Gibraltar makes a great day out with its impressive naval history, great tax-free shopping and cheeky Barbary apes up on the rock.

• People watch at Puerto Banus marina. Maybe spot a celebrity or two!

• Tivoli World theme park, the biggest amusement park on the coast, makes for a special day out with family and friends.

• Take in a round of golf at one of the many golf courses dotted around the region.