Alhama de Granada is a great place to use as a base for exploring the local area/region. Set in stunning countryside within the Sierras Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama national park, there are numerous beauty spots, hiking/walking and cycling trails, and just must see towns and villages.
Riofrio, approximately 40 minute drive, is a small village famous for its fish farms, breeding trout and sturgeon. Encompassing the village are many restaurants serving farm fresh trout. The village also produces organically certified caviar, tours and tastings can be organised. Take a walk to the source of the river and discover old flour mills along the way.
An hour's drive away, Montefrio hosts some spectacular views from its several viewpoints around the town. Take a walk up to the top of the hill to see the church, once an Arab fortress,, sitting on top of a rock, looming over the town. In the centre of the town is Iglesia De La Encarnación, a unique church in that it is completely round.
Down near the coast along from Malaga, Frigiliana is a beautiful, picturesque whitewashed hill town. Voted as the 'prettiest village in Andalusia' by the Spanish tourism authority, take a wander along a maze of cobbled streets with meticulously maintained houses, mostly with blue doors and adorned with colourful pot plants brimming with bougainvillaea, lavendar and jasmine. With a vast array of cafes, bars and restaurants, a day can easily be whiled away here.
Granada, approximately 45 minute drive, is a must see city. The world famous Alhambra palace, full of stunning architecture and frescoes, will take a good few hours to go round but is well worth a visit. Go and shop in the Arabesque old town, where cobbled streets twist and turn with aromas of incense wafting through the air and an array of shops selling a variety of northern African products and oddities. Stop for a coffee, a cool drink or a spot of lunch at one of the many cafes.
Set between the Costa del Sol and Costa Almeria, the Costa Tropical consists primarily of 4 coastal towns - Almunecar, Salobrena, Motril and La Herradura. Pristine beaches, rugged cliffs, soaring mountains and pretty whitewashed villages makes this part of the coastline a must see visit.
The municipality of Mijas in the Costa del Sol is one of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia, a village nestled in the mountains keeping the typical charm of the white Andalusian villages. The village consists of three urban centres which are: Mijas Pueblo, Las Lagunas the modern part of the town, and La Cala, located on the seafront with more than 12km of coastline and a great number of beaches. However, Mijas pueblo remains the major focus of attraction for national and international tourists because of its typical Andalusian white village beauty. The maze of narrow, cobbled streets dotted with white whitewashed houses contrasted by colorful flower pots and flowers that decorate the balconies can be enjoyed by foot or, for an alternative mode of transport, by donkey taxi.
Alhama de Granada is a year round destination and if you choose to visit in the winter then why not enjoy a spot of skiing. The Sierra Nevada ski resort, near Granada, is just over an hour away and is Europe's most southern ski resort and the highest in Spain with views over the Mediterranean. Skiing can be enjoyed from late November to early May, and being in southern Spain there will be many sunny days.
If you enjoy adventurous hikes then this is a must for you! Often referred to as the scariest path in Europe, it is actually perfectly safe. The Caminito del Rey is a cliff-side path hanging 100m above the waters of the river Guadalhorce reservoir, as it runs through the famous beauty spot; El Chorro Gorge, near the villages of El Chorro in Alora and, Ardales. It is about 2 hours from Alhama and about a 3 hour walk, though it is recommended that you allow 4 or 5 hours.
Of course this list is not exhaustive and there are many more beautiful places to visit in Andalusia in southern Spain.