Free things to do in Andalucia

Free in Andalucía

One of the very many really nice things about Andalucía is that there are lots of things to do and places to visit which are absolutely free. The budget for our two-month Slow Travel trip around Andalucía was not enormous so we very much appreciated the fact that, for example, many monuments and museums in Andalucía are free at least one day a week at certain times. This post and the next ones will summarize all the amazing things you can do in Andalucía without paying. The first post lists attractions and activities which are free anyway anywhere but with some specific indications for Andalucia, the next ones will include a list of attractions and monuments which are always free or free at certain times, divided according to destination.

Wonderful things to do on a Slow Travel holiday  (in Andalucia and not only) which are absolutely free

1. Stroll and stare

Don't be in a hurry to start visiting churches, monuments and museums when you arrive in a new town or city. How many of us have visited those sort of places in the towns and cities we spend most of our time in and love? First of all, wander around the historical centre, go up and down the main streets and then the side streets, look upwards at the buildings, the architecture, the flowers, look in the shop windows.  Read the plaques on the statues to find out who those important people were. Get a free map from the tourist office and get your bearings. Then start poking your nose in any of the churhces that are open and free to visit. There may be some hidden gems and anyway you'll start to get an idea of the styles popular in the area.

Our top places for strolling:

- Cadiz: the old town is on a promontory and so you can follow the sea and sea walls all the way round, taking in the views, the beaches, the squares and Parque Genoveses. Or follow the different coloured tourist routes marked in colours on the roads and pavements  and get the free map from the tourist office to know which route you're doing.

- Vejer de la Frontera - up and and down and round, you can stroll all morning and every corner you turn is special....

- Cordoba - patios, narrow streets full of flowers, or little shops and restaurants, be sure to walk along the path outside the walls as well, your feet will be tired a long time before you're bored! 

- Baeza: another town ideal for strolling, through the centre where there are also some shops but historical buildings, along the long central square and around the practically deserted historical centre.

- Ronda: down to the bottom of all the various bridges, then back up to Puente Nuevo trhough the rose gardens, all through the old centre then back down on the little path outside the old walls and back up through little streets to Puente Nuevo, all along the Mirador path in front of the Parador as far as you can go, oh yes and you haven't seen the rest of Ronda where there are shops, restaurants, a nice square....

2. Sit and stare

As soon as you find a bench in a square, sit down and watch the people going by, tourists, local people, get a feel of the place. Sit down on the steps in the shade outside the main church (usually in the main square). We sat down for a shady rest in Cadiz outside the cathedral and saw a lady turn up with her daughter, give an impromptu flamenco show with several changes of clothes amidst the tourists, shower herself with water from plastic bottles before packing up and disappearing down the narrow streets, daughter in hand. Slow travel, time to just sit and look. 

Chat to other people sitting nearby, we rested on some benches in a small square in Tarifa and chatted about the fountain water which had stopped for a siesta too, and then ......

3. Walks in nature
Fortunately most natural environments are free to visit, so a day's walking or hiking isn't going to dent your wallet. Check out our posts about our best 10 walks in Andalucia for some ideas for free walks. The very best of nature in Andalucia?

El Torcal Natural Park

Bolonia dune

Barbate pinewood

Cabo de Gata

Tabernas desert area near Almeria

Garganta Verde

4. Beaches have enormous potential for free entertainment, from sunbathing to swimming to just lying there and contemplating the waves. Better still, most beaches in Andalucia are free beaches, if you are Italian and used to the nation's sandy spaces being taken up by rows of expensive deckchairs and umbrellas for rent you will appreciate the importance of this. The well equipped locals arrive at the beach with a trolley carrying tables, chairs, umbrellas, sports equipment, barbecue and everything a large group could possibly need for the whole day. You can probably make do with a ultralight micorfibre sports towel and a normal umbrella stuck in the sand to keep your head cool.

Walk along the beach  - the whole coast from Tarifa to Sanlucar de Barrameda (and probably beyond but we didn't go) is ideal for walking, jogging and running: firm sand, few rocky areas, very little rubbish, few people, few dogs, walk and walk and walk.

Watch the kitesurfers in Tarifa, they're spectacular!

Visit the Corrales de Pesca near Rota

5. Sunsets, a free spectacle every evening, different every evening. Once again, the whole coast from Tarifa going north could easily be called the Sunset Coast.

6. Mercados de Abastos, local covered markets usually found in the centre of towns and cities. A kaleidoscope of colours, sights, smells. Stroll around, look at the prices, check out the stalls with the longest queues. Buy something, even if just a few almonds to crunch on or some olives for your lunch. Find out more here

Free things to do in Andalucia: Jaen, Cordoba HERE

Free things to do in Andalucia: the Sherry triangle of Cadiz, Jerez, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Sanlucar de Barrameda, Chiclana de la Frontera HERE

Free things to do in Andalucia: Malaga, Ronda, Antequera HERE