Andalusia 7-day Itinerary
Spain
Where to go and what to see in Andalusia to get the most from your trip – a 7-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.
Bucket list experience:
Granada, Andalusia, Spain
Andalusia expresses its passionate soul in the guitars, singing and twirling, stamping steps of its native flamenco – declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010.
Most scholars believed the seeds of flamenco arrived in the 15th century with the Roma from India. Over the centuries they slowly migrated west with their castanets and tambourines, absorbing songs and dances in the Middle East and North Africa along the way. The Spanish at first considered it a foreign art, or ‘Flemish’ – hence flamenco.
By the 19th century flamenco as we know it emerged – popularized by Bizet’s Carmen – with shows performed in cafés cantantes (singers’ cafés), the forerunners to the modern tablaos. These are intimate venues with small wooden stages, perfect for the exhilarating machine gun-like zapateado (dancing).
You can hear flamenco’s eastern origins in the singer’s cante jondo (‘deep song’), evoking pain, sorrow and joy, while dancers express each emotion with their bodies, driven by the pulsing percussive strumming of the guitars.
A good show, and there are many here, can send chills down your spine with their duende, the ecstatic ‘demon’ spirit that brings listeners out of themselves.
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Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
Spain
Where to go and what to see in Andalusia to get the most from your trip – a 7-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.
Always book tickets for a tablao or club in advance, either via an organised tour or on the websites of the clubs. Options usually include a show and a drink or tapas or dinner with a choice of set price menus. Performances run around 90 minutes.
Most clubs put on two shows every evening, usually around 7pm and 9pm.
Granada, Andalusia, Spain
You won’t find a more authentic and emotion-filled flamenco show in Granada than this one. Gypsy-inspired and operated, it’s unique amongst the Granadan tablaos in having a theatre format – the flamenco show encompasses stage, lights and dramatic curtain reveal.
Best for ages: 5+ | £17 | 1 hour
Granada, Andalusia, Spain
Intimate theatre just under the Alhambra, where the young guitarist, singer and dancers perform with passion; you can also book supper, but it’s separate, as to not distract from the show.
Best for ages: 5+ | £17 | 1 hour
Granada, Andalusia, Spain
The Maya family performs a zambra gitana, a traditional gypsy wedding in the Sacromonte caves of Granada, harking back to the days when the dances were banned by the Inquisition and had to be held in secret.
Best for ages: 5+ | £20 | 1 hour
Granada, Andalusia, Spain
Well-respected, very friendly and central club just east of the Cathedral, with excellent hour-long shows of authentic flamenco, with seats right up next to the stage; dinner and tapas options available, too.
Best for ages: 5+ | £15 | 1 hour
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
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A peaceful, contemporary five-star hotel with a rooftop pool and views, just a few minutes down from the Alhambra.
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Sierra de Nevada, Andalusia, Spain
A delightful rustic-chic boutique hotel in the Sierra Nevada, perfect for hiking or skiing – and only ten minutes from Granada.
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Granada, Andalusia, Spain
Granada’s parador, occupying a late 15th-century monastery, combines charm, history, service and enchanting views with an incomparable location, right on the grounds of the Alhambra.
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Granada, Andalusia, Spain
Overlooking the Alhambra, Granada’s most evocative boutique hotel occupies a superbly restored 15th-century mansion, full of romance and charm.
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