{"id":321,"date":"2021-09-18T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-18T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/?p=321"},"modified":"2026-04-09T19:07:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T19:07:14","slug":"spanien-andalusien-granada-costa-del-sol-reisebericht","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/spain-andalusia-granada-costa-del-sol-travelogue\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain Part 2 \u2013 Andalusia, Granada & the beaches of\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Andalusia<\/strong> \u2013 the south of Spain \u2013 was the emotional highlight of our Spain stage<\/a>. The blend of Moorish architecture, flamenco culture, white mountain villages, and the wild Atlantic coast makes Andalusia one of the most diverse regions in Europe. Andalusia travelogue<\/strong> I will share our route, the most beautiful places, and practical tips.<\/p>\n

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Granada & the Alhambra \u2013 Moorish Masterpiece<\/h2>\n

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The Alhambra<\/strong> The Generalife in Granada is the most impressive building I have seen in Europe \u2013 and I have seen many. The intricate details of the Islamic ornamentation, the water features of the Generalife gardens, and the view over Granada to the Sierra Nevada are breathtaking. Important:<\/strong> Tickets MUST be booked online weeks in advance. Sold out on site = no chance.<\/p>\n

The Albaic\u00edn district<\/strong> (UNESCO) with its white alleyways and viewpoints is magical at sunset \u2013 when the Alhambra glows golden against the backdrop of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada. Mirador de San Nicol\u00e1s<\/strong> It's THE sunset spot, but don't expect solitude: there are 200 other tourists there.<\/p>\n

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Seville, C\u00f3rdoba & the white villages<\/h2>\n

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Seville<\/strong> is the most passionate city in Spain: Flamenco in the bars of the Triana district, tapas for \u20ac2-3 per portion, the Giralda Cathedral and the Alc\u00e1zar Palace (Game of Thrones filming location!). C\u00f3rdoba<\/strong> Impressive with the Mezquita \u2013 a mosque in a cathedral in a mosque, an architectural paradox that must be seen to be understood.<\/p>\n

The Pueblos Blancos<\/strong> (White villages) in the mountains between Ronda and C\u00e1diz are pure Andalusia: whitewashed houses, narrow streets, flower pots on every corner. Ronda<\/strong> Its spectacular bridge over the 100m deep gorge is the highlight \u2013 and a fantastic drone subject.<\/p>\n

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Costa de la Luz \u2013 Andalusia\u2019s wild Atlantic coast<\/h2>\n

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The Costa de la Luz<\/strong> Between C\u00e1diz and Tarifa lies Andalusia's best-kept secret: endless golden sandy beaches, constant winds for kitesurfing, and an atmosphere light years away from the high-rise hotels of the Costa del Sol. Tarifa<\/strong> It is the southernmost point of mainland Europe and the kitesurfing capital of Europe \u2013 on clear days you can see Africa on the horizon.<\/p>\n

For campers:<\/strong> The Costa de la Luz is one of the last havens for van life in Southern Europe. Away from the main beaches, there are still tolerated campsites right by the sea. How long this will remain the case is uncertain \u2013 so take advantage of it while you can.<\/p>\n

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FAQ \u2013 Andalusia Travel<\/h2>\n

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What are the must-see sights in Andalusia?<\/strong>
\nThe Alhambra in Granada (book tickets in advance!), Seville (Alc\u00e1zar + Flamenco), C\u00f3rdoba (Mezquita), Ronda (bridge) and the Costa de la Luz.<\/p>\n

How many days do you need for Andalusia?<\/strong>
\nMinimum 7 days for Granada + Seville + C\u00f3rdoba + coast. Ideal: 10-14 days for a relaxed experience including the White Villages.<\/p>\n

When is the best time to travel to Andalusia?<\/strong>
\nMarch-May and September-October. In the height of summer (July\/August) it becomes unbearably hot (40\u00b0C+ in Seville\/C\u00f3rdoba).<\/p>\n

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From Andalusia we continued to Portugal<\/a>. Back: Spain Mediterranean<\/a> | Van Life Overview<\/a> | Request Collaboration<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n

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Through the Desierto de Tabernas (the only desert in Europe) and past the Sierra Nevada (Spain's highest mountain range), we continued on to the Francisco Abell\u00e1n Reservoir - a beautiful blue lake surrounded by mountains. Once again, we were lucky to have a spot with a view of the lake. The next day, we even went swimming before continuing on to Granada. Granada is a city with a rich history - it was once occupied by the Arabs (Kingdom of Granada). Of course, we also visited the Alhambra - an old Arabic fortress. In the parking lot, we noticed something again - we had another rock chip! For some reason, our Sprinter seems to attract stones.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We spent the night at a reservoir again - we were headed back to the coast! \u263a\ufe0f Here, we had a dreamy starry sky and an absolutely cloudless night. \ud83d\ude0d<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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After another short stop in Malaga, we continued on to Gibraltar. Here, we parked at a campsite for the first time (right at the port of Gibraltar), as there are actually no free parking spaces and Gibraltar is known for its parking shortage. The border was only a 10-minute walk from there, so we grabbed our backpacks and walked to Gibraltar over the famous airport runway. There, we explored the typically English city center (Gibraltar is actually part of England, so the pound is the currency) on foot and then walked around the famous monkey rock, including its attractions, in 35 degree Celsius heat. The main attractions include, of course, the impeccable view of the surrounding area, but also a cave with impressive audio and light effects. Finally, we also checked out the old bunkers in the monkey rock, which couldn't be more historic. \ud83d\ude2c\ud83d\udc4f<\/p>\n

Unlike some others, we were well equipped... as soon as we arrived at the top, we were surprised by Spanish tourists who were completely exhausted and asked us for a sip of water. \ud83d\ude02<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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But Gibraltar was not our last stop in Spain... we headed to my long-awaited kite spot - Tarifa. \ud83d\ude0d In the last 2 years, I've learned a bit of kiting in South Africa and Bali, but never really mastered it. Here, we had enough time and of course the best conditions - Tarifa is not for nothing the top spot for kiting in Europe. At the same time, a friend of mine was also in Tarifa, whom I met a year ago in South Africa - also while kiting! \ud83d\ude01 Head over heels (as always), I decided to buy a kite equipment, which turned out to be very affordable in Tarifa.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With absolute half-knowledge, it was the first time in over a year that I went back on the water. The first time, however, I spent more time in the water than on it... The second day was also far from successful because my chicken loop (attachment of the kite) broke on the first attempt, and I had to save myself from the water with the kite for the first time - practice makes perfect! \ud83d\ude02 After the chicken loop was replaced in the store, I went back on the water two days later, and finally spent more time on the water than in it for the first time! \ud83d\ude0b<\/p>\n

In total, we spent two weeks in Tarifa and met many great people during this time. In Tarifa, you can stand directly on the beach in large company (dozens of campers line the beach car park). Additionally, there's a lot going on every evening at the two beach bars and twice a week there are also parties. However, due to Covid, they are currently only allowed until 10 pm. This didn't stop us from continuing the party afterwards at our camper, which escalated a bit since there were sometimes around 100 people around our camper and the party was only disbanded by the police the next morning at 6 am. \ud83d\ude02\ud83e\udd73<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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At some point, it was time to leave Tarifa behind and head towards Portugal. After a short stop in Cadiz, our next longer stop was in Seville, where we explored the city center and celebrated Janet's own little birthday party in the camper. \ud83c\udf89\u263a\ufe0f From there, we continued to Portugal - passing another completely open border station. \ud83d\ude01<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Spain Part 2: Andalusia \u2013 the south of Spain \u2013 was the emotional highlight of our Spanish leg. The mix of Moorish architecture,\u2026<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3424,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_analytify_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,7,14],"tags":[11,13,20,10],"class_list":["post-321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europa","category-travel","category-vanlife","tag-camper","tag-europe","tag-spain","tag-travel","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"builder_content":"

Durch die Desierto de Tabernas (die einzige W\u00fcste Europas) und vorbei am Sierra Nevada (Spaniens h\u00f6chstes Gebirge) ging es nun bis zum Francisco Abell\u00e1n Reservoir - ein wundersch\u00f6ner blauer See, inmitten der Berge. Wieder einmal hatten wir Gl\u00fcck und standen direkt mit Blick auf den See. Am n\u00e4chsten Tag gingen wir sogar noch baden, bevor es dann weiter nach Granada ging. Granada ist eine sehr geschichtstr\u00e4chtige Stadt - damals Arabisch besetzt (K\u00f6nigreich Granada). Nat\u00fcrlich schauten wir uns hier auch das Alhambra an - eine alte arabische Festung. Auf dem Parkplatz fiel uns dann wieder etwas ins Auge - wir hatten schon wieder einen Steinschlag! Warum auch immer... unser Sprinter zieht die Steine anscheinend magisch an.\u00a0<\/p>

Die Nacht verbrachten wir dann wieder an einem Stausee - es ging n\u00e4mlich wieder an die K\u00fcste! \u263a\ufe0f Hier hatten wir au\u00dferdem einen traumhaften Sternenhimmel und eine absolut wolkenfreie Nacht. \ud83d\ude0d<\/p>\n[gallery ids=\"347,346,345,344,271,272,270,269,268\"]\n

Nach einem weiteren kurzen Zwischenstopp in Malaga ging es dann weiter f\u00fcr uns bis nach Gibraltar. Hier parkten wir zum ersten Mal auf einem Campingplatz (direkt am Hafen vor Gibraltar), da es tats\u00e4chlich keine freien Stellpl\u00e4tze gibt und gerade Gibraltar f\u00fcr seinen Parkplatzmangel bekannt ist. Nur 10min zu Fu\u00df von dort war auch direkt die Grenze, sodass wir unseren Rucksack schnappten und zu Fu\u00df \u00fcber die bekannte Landebahn des Airports nach Gibraltar gingen. Dort erkundeten wir zu Fu\u00df die typisch englische Innenstadt (Gibraltar geh\u00f6rt tats\u00e4chlich zu England, dementsprechend ist das Pfund auch die W\u00e4hrung) und umrundeten anschlie\u00dfend bei 35 Grad im Schatten den ber\u00fchmten Affenfelsen inkl. seiner Attraktionen). Zu den Hauptattraktionen geh\u00f6rt nat\u00fcrlich erstmal der einwandfrei Blick auf das Umland, aber auch eine Tropfsteinh\u00f6hle, die durch tolle Audio- und Lichteffekte besticht. Zu guter Letzt schauten wir uns noch die alten Bunker im Affenfelsen an, die geschichtstr\u00e4chtiger kaum sein k\u00f6nnten. \ud83d\ude2c\ud83d\udc4f<\/p>

Im Gegensatz zu manch anderen waren wir jedoch gut ausger\u00fcstet... kaum oben angekommen wurden wir von spanischen Touristen \u00fcberrascht, die uns v\u00f6llig ersch\u00f6pft um einen Schluck Wasser baten. \ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n[gallery ids=\"343,342,341,340,339,338,336,335,334\"]\n

Gibraltar war jedoch noch lange nicht unsere letzte Station in Spanien... es ging weiter zu meinem lang erwarteten Kitespot - Tarifa. \ud83d\ude0dIn den letzten 2 Jahren habe ich in S\u00fcdafrika und auf Bali schon ein bisschen Kiten gelernt, aber hab es nie wirklich \"fertig gelernt\". Hier hatten wir nun genug Zeit und nat\u00fcrlich auch die besten Bedingungen - Tarifa ist nicht umsonst der Top-Spot zum Kiten in Europa. Zeitgleich war witzigerweise auch ein Freund von mir in Tarifa, den ich vor einem Jahr in S\u00fcdafrika kennengelernt habe - auch beim Kiten! \ud83d\ude01Hals \u00fcber Kopf (wie immer) entschied ich dann mir eine Kiteausr\u00fcstung zu kaufen, was sich in Tarifa auch als sehr bezahlbar herausstellte.\u00a0<\/p>

Mit absolutem Halbwissen ging es dann seit \u00fcber einem Jahr das erste Mal wieder aufs Wasser. Das erste Mal allerdings noch mehr im Wasser als auf dem Wasser... Auch der zweite Tag war alles andere als erfolgreich, denn direkt beim ersten Startversuch ist mein Chicken Loop (Befestigung des Kites) gerissen und ich durfte mich zum ersten Mal mit Kite aus dem Wasser retten - \u00dcbung schadet nicht! \ud83d\ude02Nachdem der Chicken Loop im Store ausgetauscht wurde ging es zwei Tage sp\u00e4ter wieder aufs Wasser und endlich verbrachte ich zum ersten Mal mehr Zeit auf dem Wasser, als im Wasser! \ud83d\ude0b<\/p>

Insgesamt verbrachten wir zwei Wochen in Tarifa und lernten in dieser Zeit viele tolle Leute kennen. In Tarifa kann man wunderbar direkt am Strand stehen in gro\u00dfer Gesellschaft (dutzende Camper s\u00e4umen den Strandparkplatz). Au\u00dferdem ist jeden Abend viel los an den zwei Strandbars und zweimal w\u00f6chentlich finden auch Partys statt. Aufgrund von Covid jedoch im Moment blo\u00df bis 22 Uhr. Was uns jedoch nicht davon abhielt die Party danach am Camper weiterzuf\u00fchren, was etwas eskalierte, da es zeitweise locker 100 Leute um unsere Camper herum waren und die Party erst am n\u00e4chsten Morgen um 6 von der Polizei aufgel\u00f6st wurde. \ud83d\ude02\ud83e\udd73<\/p>\n[gallery ids=\"333,332,331,330,329,328\"]\n

Irgendwann war es dann an der Zeit Tarifa hinter uns zu lassen und Richtung Portugal aufzubrechen. Nach einem kurzen Halt in Cadiz hie\u00df der n\u00e4chste l\u00e4ngere Zwischenstopp Sevilla, wo wir die Innenstadt erkundeten und unsere eigene kleine Geburtstagsparty f\u00fcr Janet im Camper feierten. \ud83c\udf89\u263a\ufe0f Von dort aus ging es dann nach Portugal weiter - vorbei an einer weiteren komplett offenen Grenzstation. \ud83d\ude01<\/p>\n[gallery ids=\"327,326,324,322,325,350\"]","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=321"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/321\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5680,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/321\/revisions\/5680"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}