From Malaga you can drive to Granada by following the coastal motorway to Motril and then go inland through the western edge of Sierra Nevada to Granada, a beautiful trip, that takes about 2-3 hours, depending on traffic. A more direct way from Malaga is to follow the alternative motorway towards Antequera and then straight to Granada, this route takes 1½ to 2 hours.

If you go the direct way from Malaga to Granada, it is worth while to make a stop at Rio Frio (cold river), a small town half way to Granada. Rio Frio  is a village of just 300 inhabitants, known for its exceptional environmental richness because of flora and fauna. The village is named after the river, Rio Frio, and the water in this river is very clean and cold, since it comes from underground springs. Rio Frio  is known for its all year round trout fishing. Over the last 30 years Rio Frio  has also become well known for its one hundred percent ecological production of trout and sturgeons. The village sells more than 500,000 kilograms of trout every year, and sturgeons is used to make Spains and one of the worlds greatest caviar. There are several small restaurants in the village, so try some dishes with trout, or even better some of the caviar, but ask for the price first, it is expensive.

Other tourist attractions located nearby Granada include many small towns and villages with Moorish and Roman remains, such as Alhama, known for its Roman baths; Loja, well known as "the city of water" with its over two thousand springs and the Arab Alcazaba; and Montefrio with a monumental complex formed by an Arab fortress.

From Granada you can also drive into the Sierra Nevada that offer breathtaking views and many recreational activities, which includes skiing almost year round. The coast is not far away from Granada, it takes about an hour to drive to Motril and the Costa Tropical. Well known seaside resorts near Motril include Almunecar, La Herradura and Nerja.