Driving in Sevilla/Granada/White Villages
 

I have read all the horror stories about driving in Spain. We have driven throughout Italy and survived. Is southern Spain any worse to drive in than Italy? We like to have a car since we tend to stay in one or two cities and then make day trips. We also know to rent smaller cars-and fold in the mirrors when necessary.

IMHO driving in Spain is no big deal. We've done several times iwth no problems. Just be sure that in cities you park in a secure lot (we left out car in the hotel garage) and don't leave anything visible in it.

If you're used to driving in cities with limited space this simply isn't an issue

If you've survived Italy, then Spain should be a cinch. Even finding yourself on a narrow street that seems to get tighter and tighter as you inch your way along is not really a problem unless you panic easily. If worst comes to worst, you can always back up, unless there is a car sitting behind you, waiting for you to do something. I've scrapped a few fenders and mirrors in our adventures in small villages, but things like that happen from time to time.

In a city like Sevilla there are three main problems, one-way streets that lead you away from where you want to go, street parking, which really doesn't exist in a number of places, and traffic, especially during a festival. We always let the taxi drive deal with these issues.

One of the problems in driving in some of the quaint white villages is a lack of signage. How many times have you ended up at someone's front door or in their front yard after making a turn, trying to find your way through the narrow streets of the village? Sometimes there is no way to differentiate between the cobblestone street and a pedestrian walkway. There are some villages, like Benalauria, where only residents are allowed to drive, so you’ll end up parking outside and walking in.

As has been said, the driving is not much different than in Italy and I found the highway driving easier--less aggressive. But the towns are a different matter. I did not drive in Sevilla but picked up our car there and drove to Arcos where we got into the proverbial "tight spot" necessitating retraction of the mirrors and carefully squeezing thru an arched stone alley--i.e. it can happen! There will be many tight spots but don't panic. I did not attempt to drive in Granada as our landlord strongly advised against it. After taking the taxi into the center, we understood why. Had no problems with Ronda and some of the other areas.

One consistent problem was on street parking. The locals park literally inches from your front and back bumper--any extra space is quickly used by a motorcycle or scooter. Getting out can be a real challenge to impossible. Best of luck and I still think it gives you the best way to explore. Paul

Driving in Spin is fine, except for a few tight spots in some cities. There are areas in Seville where a car just can't go easily. Even worse in Toledo. Avoid those areas if you can.

Our favourite driving routes and places in Andalusia:
White villages route in Cadiz: Ronda - Grazalema - Benamahoma - Ubrique - Benaocaz - Villaluenga del Rosario. This circuit route in the Nature park of Sierra de Grazalema is scenic. You will find the map and lots of photos from here: http://www.topwalks.net/en/sierra_grazalema.htm
You might like to visit Zahara de la Sierra and Arcos de la Frontera as well in Cadiz.
Parque Natural de Torcal de Antequera is worth visiting while driving from Seville to Granada. The rock formations are very, very special and you can make a short and easy hike between the rock walls. The hike is only 3 kilometres but rather nice.
From Granada I would make a trip round the National park of Sierra Nevada: Granada - Pampaneira - Trevelez (Alpujarra) - Berchules - Laroles - Puerto de la Ragua (a pass over the mountains) - La Calahorra (see the beautiful castle where parts of the El Cid was filmed) - Guadix (visit the cave houses) - Granada.
Güéjar Sierra is also worth visiting and the road up to Pradollano skiing centre is very interesting.
The Nature park of Cabo de Gata-Nijar is two hours drive from Granada. On the way to Almería (on A-92) you will pass Tabernas, where the "spaguetti westerns" were filmed.

Thanks for your help. I'm going to go rent my car!

i just came back from a driving tour. we went to ronda granada cordoba and seville. i have one peice of essential advise. Splurge for a gps. It saved us and i really think the trip would have been horrendous without it!

It's true that parking spaces are tight - esp if you come from an area where you usually park your car in your own garage or driveway or in front of your house.

If you're used to parking in a city with tight spots (like NYC) Spain is really not worse. It's true the spaces are smaller, but then so are most of the cars. And it's true you should fold your mirrors in when you park - but then we do that here too - almost everyone does after having one scratched or damaged by people parking or double parking too closely.

We drove through Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Ubeda, Ronda and several of the other white towns - and didn;t have a problem in any. If the space gets tight, just drive more slowly.

In major cities, you will find (mostly underground) parking at the edges of the historic centers. For example, in Sevilla you will have those underground parkings along the major thoroughfare that follows the river. It's only a 5min walk to the Old Town from there, and you will never drive on anything but 4 to 6-lane city streets.
In Arcos, the central parking garage is before you enter the historic town center (10-15min uphill "hike") - as many white villages have parking lots outside the walls.
Street parking in the historic town centers is often limited by time (only an hour or two) or by usage (residents, loading/ unloading, etc.), so it's not a good idea to go hunting for a place to park inside that area when you can find hundreds of spots in parking garages or lots outside.

In towns, you will often find traffic signposts with a bit irritating number of signs, like this:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...s_Alicante.jpg
Also at roundabouts (of which there are many), you may only find signs before you enter the roundabout, but not necessarily again at every "exit".

In general, I found driving around Andalucia nothing to be afraid of. Mountain roads are very well maintained, but as a courtesy to local drivers, it is a good idea to use turn-outs or viewpoint parking lots to let those pass who want or need to go faster.