Hi all,

This November my family and I are going on a 2,5 week roadrip to Andalucia. We are travelling with three young kids (6y, 3y, 6 months) so I would really like to have some feedback on the itinerary that I have in mind. In general we like to slowly explore medium to small sized cities, easy hiking/walks in nature and just enjoying ourselves on a nice terrace. And off course we do this in a very slow pace with the kids, meaning not a too high ambition level for a day, enough time for a playground and sometimes just do nothing 😁. We also prefer to stay about 2/3 days in one place to avoid packing and travelling each day. Here is the itinerary:
- fly into Malaga from the Netherlands, pick up a rental car and drive to Ronda for 2 nights (how is the road towards Ronda? My oldest daugther can get quite car sick with too many curves)
- Cadiz area (3 nights)
- Sevilla (4 nights, been here before and love this place but 4 days is maybe too much)
- Cordoba (3 nights)
- Ubeda area (2 nights)
- Granada (4 nights, is this too much? And does anyone have experience going to the Alhambra with young kids?)
- drive back to Malaga airport and fly out
Furthermore I am keen to hear if there are jnteresting alternatives I have missed and if you have any specific recommendations to do with young kids in the mentioned places.

Many thanks for your help!

Since Ubeda is the hardest of those to get to, I'd be tempted to take a night out of Granada and move it there. We spent two nights in Ubeda itself, but 6 nights in what might be called the area. We are very slow travelers, many folks would die of boredom on our trips, but we were in no hurry to leave the region.

Since it's the outlier and fits your requirements, maybe spend an extra night there. Sorry, can't help on the young kids part.

I think your plan looks wonderful!

The much talked about coast up to Ronda road, the A-397, is safe and incredibly scenic but you do deal with non-stop curves. I've driven it.
If you want to avoid the many, many curves of this A-397 from San Pedro de Alc�ntara up to Ronda, there's an alternate "high road" route through the Guadalhorce valley--
you can take the A-357 running between M�laga and Campillos and then after Ardales (but before reaching Campillos) take the A 367 west which takes you into Ronda. This route has fewer curves and is used by Damas buses as their Malaga-Ronda route.

I did have a second thought about something to do with kids. Outside of Cordoba, maybe a 30 minute drive as I recall, is Castillo de Almodovar. We enjoyed it there and I think perfect for kids.
https://castillodealmodovar.com/en/

In addition to Renaissance Ubeda, neighboring Baeza also has its share of impressive Renaissance structures and lots of cobblestones. And in this Ja�n province there's olive oil tourism.
https://www.oliveoiltimes.com/olive-...ig-thing/66227
But Ubeda, as Nelson says, is the outlier in your itinerary.

I'll just make a pitch for M�laga. We spent time there again last November with warm, sunny, not needing coats during the day. The city claims to be blessed with 320 days of sun a year.

With children, I would think M�laga would make an "easy" home base, being one of Spain's most lively and highly walkable cities.
Inside the historic district it doesn't seem large & impersonal. The whole historic center is now pedestrianized, so easy to walk around, bike, Segway and stroller friendly, with a long, palm tree-lined seafront promenade, the Palmeral, a Parque de la Alameda and lots of activities around the pier, Muelle Uno. For food sampling you'd have a lively central market, Casa Aranda for churros/chocolate and outdoor caf� terraces galore, on every square.

M�laga also boasts a 10th century fortress, the Alcazaba, the 14th century Gibralfaro castle, a Great Wheel, beaches lined with "chiringuitos", those casual beachside terraces (but you'll have plenty of beaches to walk on in C�diz, so maybe not necessary?).
M�laga has become a city of museums (37 of them), and for kids, there's the Museum of the Imagination and the Automobile Museum.

Nearby, there's also a Selwod Marina Delfinarium, a Sea Life and a Tiffany Amusement Park in nearby Benalm�dena, and a Bioparc in Fuengirola, all open in November, if any of those holds family appeal (they may or may not.. you know best).

For a day trip to Ronda there are bus/train connections.
I don't think 4 nights in Sevilla is too much, but it's a city I can spend a week in, relax and sometimes "do" nothing and never tire of it, same as M�laga.
Just some thoughts.

Koosmien,
Two nights should be ok for M�laga or 3 with one full day in Ronda, if that appeals, via train/bus.
I was thinking about the pure ease of your family's walking around, strolling through M�laga with all of its pedestrianized areas and green space.

Agree with M.
We stayed in Malaga for 3 night , would return. Nice place for kids.
3 night in Granada, more than enough time.
Nov. could be rainy...

Hi Maribel, we're also planning to be in the area later in the year (December) and I couldn't find more than a couple of services a day between Ronda and Malaga. I think I must be looking at the wrong timetables. Do you happen to know the name of the bus company, or better still, a link to their website? thank you!

Hi dreamom,
The bus company that now has the contract for the Ronda-M�laga route is Damas (used to be Amarillos). It takes the "high" route up the valley (with fewer curves).
NUEVAS RUTAS, VJA-089 (Sevilla ? Ronda ? Chipiona ? M�laga)

There's also an Avanzabus option that takes the serpentine road up to Ronda from San Pedro de Alc�ntara on the coast.
Autobuses, autocares, buses, transporte de pasajeros Costa del Sol M�laga y Algeciras

There's also an MD train that leaves at 9:42 am, arriving in Ronda at 11:42 am. For the train return, there's an MD that departs Ronda at 4:10 pm and arrives M�laga at 6:53 pm.
Renfe*

Some people when doing a full day M�laga-Ronda day trip, take the earliest bus up (the Damas departure at 8 am) and the bus or train back. This bus gets to Ronda at 9:45 am before the loads of bus tours from the coast.

Thank you so much, Maribel. I hadn't found the Damas one so that's super helpful!