By Car in Andalusia

The main road from Madrid is the A4/E5 through Córdoba to Seville, a four-lane autovía (highway). From Granada or Málaga, head for Antequera; then take A92 autovía by way of Osuna to Seville. Road trips from Seville to Córdoba, Granada, and the Costa del Sol (by way of Ronda) are slow but scenic. Driving within Western Andalusia is easy—the terrain is mostly flat land or slightly hilly, and the roads are straight. From Seville to Jerez and Cádiz, the A4/E5 toll road gets you to Cádiz in under an hour. The only way to access Doñana National Park by road is to take the A49/E1 Seville-Huelva highway, exit for Almonte/Bollullos par del Condado, then follow the signs for El Rocío and Matalascañas. The A49/E1 west of Seville will also lead you to the freeway to Portugal and the Algarve.

With the exception of parts of La Alpujarra, most roads in this region are smooth; touring by car is one of the most enjoyable ways to see the countryside. Local tourist offices can advise about scenic drives. One good route heads northwest from Seville on the N433 passing through stunning scenery; turn northeast on the N435 to Santa Olalla de Cala to the village of Zufre, dramatically set at the edge of a gorge. Backtrack and continue on to Aracena. Return via the Minas de Riotinto (signposted from Aracena), which will bring you back to the N433 heading east to Seville.

Getting in and out of Seville is not difficult thanks to the SE30 ring road, but getting around the city by car is problematic. In Seville and Cádiz, avoid the lunchtime rush hour (around 2-3 PM) and the evening 7:15-8:30 PM rush hour. Bringing a car to Cádiz at Carnival time (pre-Lent) or to Seville during Holy Week or the April Fair can be difficult as processions close most of the streets to traffic. Check with your hotel about access to hotel parking during these ferias.

In the big cities, especially Granada and Córdoba, it's best to park in an underground lot or your hotel garage or parking area. Follow the large blue "P" signs, which will guide you to the city center and the nearest underground lot. You can expect to pay around EUR 1.20 an hour. Blue lines on the street mean you must pay at the nearest meter to park during working hours, around EUR 0.50 an hour. Yellow lines mean no parking. If your car is towed, you will be fined about EUR 150.

Rental Agencies

Autopro (Málaga. 952/176030. www.autopro.es). Crown Car Hire (952/176486. www.crowncarhire.com). Niza Cars (952/236179. www.nizacars.com).