Malaga is a port metropolis inside the Andalusia area of southern Spain. Although well-known as a cruise port and a beach town, Malaga is a metropolis with loads of historic past and extra meals than you could ever eat in a lifetime. This post will present you what to do in Malaga, Spain.
The metropolis was based in antiquity by Phonetician merchants and occupied by a quantity of cultures over the centuries, so there is loads of historic past to explore. It is additionally a contemporary metropolis embracing food, wine, and fun. The metropolis is friendly, walkable, and well equipped for vacationers of all types. You won’t lack for issues to do in Malaga.
Best issues to do in Malaga, Spain
Malaga’s historic center isn’t as big as in one other cities, however there’s nonetheless loads of issues to do in Malaga to maintain you busy. And with a compact center, it’s easy to get round on foot and see everything you’re interested in.
Gibralfaro Castle
The Gibralfaro Castle sits on the height above Malaga city. Built by the Moorish inhabitants, it offers the best view of the city. Just be prepared for a steep stroll up the hill or discover the bus that makes the ascent.
If you plan to go to this and the Alcazar on the identical day, make sure you get the combo ticket.
Alcazaba
Below the defensive castle lies the Alcazaba Palace, or the alcazar. The Moorish builders are simply recognizable right here with some echoes of the Alhambra in Granada. Plazas linked by flowing waters and arches form the building.
You can spend a few hours right here wandering through the palace and admiring the different sections. Most of it’s outdoors, although there are some indoor sections too.
Roman Amphitheater
Covered by dirt inside the medieval age and solely found inside the twentieth Century, the Roman Theater snuggles up against the bottom of the Alcazaba. This shows the layered nature of the historic past in Malaga.
It has solely been open to guests since 2011 and there’s a customer center which gives you entry to the stage space of the theater. The higher seats are accessible across the again of the Alcazaba entrance if you simply want to sit on roman stones and watch people inside the plaza.
Atarazanas Market
The site of the Atarazanas Market was as soon as a ship constructing harbor all through the Moorish times. It has been used for a lot of issues inside the intervening centuries and most recently is a busy market. The main arch to the market is one of many original seven arches of the shipyard.
One side offers fresh fruits and vegetables, the opposite side has fresh meats and cheeses, the fresh fish choices are inside the center, and there are a quantity of tapas locations across the sting of the market the place you can seize lunch. Or go inside the morning and have some scrumptious Spanish breakfasts.
Go to the beach
If you’re visiting Malaga for sand and sunshine, you won’t have any problem discovering a beach to put down your towel. You can simply stroll to the beach (Playa de la Malagueta) from the old metropolis and enjoy some swimming and sunbathing. There are close by eating locations and shops as well, although it does really feel a bit overly touristy.
Wandering and absorbing the atmosphere
There are a handful of church buildings together with a cathedral inside the middle of Malaga. You’ll additionally discover many museums, together with ones honoring Picasso since that’s his hometown.
Much of the enjoyable we found was merely in wandering the streets. Taking a flip off the main street and discovering a pleasant sq. with cafes. Go on an even Tapeo, a slow development of tapas bars having fun with meals and drink at each.
How many days in Malaga
Malaga is a good metropolis to relax in for a lengthy interval of time, however I know most of you have restricted journey time. The city’s highlights are all located shut sufficient to one one other to make exploring easy, so that you don’t want tons of time for a Malaga itinerary.
But the extra time you have, the extra time you can devote to having fun with the solar and the tapas with out a lot rushing around. If you have one week in Spain, I hop you can spend at least a day or two on this good city.
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1 day in Malaga
If you solely have one day in Malaga, I hope it inspires you to come again as soon as extra for an extended trip! Luckily, you can pack a lot into one day.
Visit the Gibralfaro Castle and the Alcazaba on a combo ticket (purchased on the ticket window of both site) and take a quick peek on the Roman Amphitheater. Stroll through the historic metropolis center and admire the cathedral.
To learn about the meals and tapas tradition of Malaga, I extremely recommend taking this meals tour. If you’re in Malaga for greater than one day, taking the meals tour in your first day will assist you perceive what sorts of meals to search for all through the remainder of your trip.
2 days in Malaga
With 2 days in Malaga, you can discover at a extra leisurely pace. Spend your first day as described above, after which on day two, consider visiting the Picasso Museum. Take a stroll through the Atarazanas Market to get a really feel for the native food, and have lunch at one of many tapas bars across the edges.
If it’s heat enough, spend a few hours on the beach inside the afternoon. Otherwise, discover an outdoor cafe and benefit from the solar from there with a glass of native vermouth. In the evening, discover a lively tapas bar for dinner and some drinks to finish your day.
3 days in Malaga
If you have three days in Malaga, you’ll actually have an opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of this heat city. Do days one and two as described above, after which your third day is pretty flexible.
You can go to any of the sights listed inside the “what to do in Malaga” part that you didn’t get to on day one or two. Or spend the entire day on the beach.
As an alternative, you could take a day journey from Malaga to a different close by metropolis in Andalucia. We have a quantity of choices listed later on this post.
Why you ought to go to Malaga
I think Malaga is one of many best locations to go to in Spain. We return time and time as soon as extra because it’s such a wonderful city. It is a vacation spot for scrumptious meals and wine, and Andalusian Tapas tradition is at a few of its best here.
History from a quantity of cultures abounds. A Roman Amphitheater snuggles under a Moorish palace, which is down the hill from an spectacular set of chateau ruins. A Catholic Cathedral exists inside the identical metropolis as a Moorish harbor constructing turned into the Atarazanas fresh market.
It is on the coast, so if seashores are your factor you can discover them nearby. The airport is reasonably well connected to the remainder of Europe, and there are bus and train connections to different parts of Spain.
Malaga is additionally a good metropolis because its center is compact and easy sufficient to discover with restricted time. It doesn’t really feel overwhelming like a bigger metropolis might, but it nonetheless feels like a metropolis and has lots to offer.
This metropolis actually has one factor for everyone, from meals to history, tradition to museums, seashores to outdoor activities. And it makes a good base for day journeys to different parts of Andalucia.
Food and drink suggestions in Malaga
Andalusia is conscious of meals and Malaga revels inside the this tapas culture. In short, tapas are small parts of meals served with a drink.
Tapas bars are locations that spotlight this style of food. Jamón Ibérico (high extreme quality cured ham), aged cheese, patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), sticks of meat, and albóndigas (meatballs in sauce) are classic dishes of this style.
But you’ll additionally discover issues that are extra particular to Malaga and southern Spain, like fish and seafood, or meatballs in almond sauce (instead of tomato sauce). And raisins are popular in Malaga, so you’ll sometimes see them sprinkled on a cheese platter.
Each place will have their very personal specialties and will even have a shifting menu from day to day or season to season.
Sherry is a fortified wine from the Jerez space and is most complex than you might thing. Pedro Ximenes wine comes from Malaga. It is a luxurious candy style of fortified wine that tastes like liquid raisins. It’s delicious.
Also try Spanish Vermouth (vermut in Spanish), which is sweeter than the Italian cousin. There are many types of vermouth, so be certain to try different ones, together with ones from Malaga.
You’ll additionally discover all sorts of red and white wine. Most locations have a list otherwise you can merely order a red or white, and you’ll be given the home wine. For white wine, ask for vino blanco, and for red wine, ask for vino tinto.
Beer is pretty common to order with your food, although don’t expect a good variety. It is usually ordered as a caña, which is a small beer, usually round half a pint.
Where to eat in Malaga
We extremely recommend doing meals excursions everywhere and Malaga is no exception.
This is the one we took and truly enjoyed. The information gave us good info about the city’s historic past and the reference to food, and it was so useful in knowing what to search for when consuming out all through our trip.
Definitely enterprise away from the main streets in Malaga to discover some higher tapas places. We actually liked a tapas place in entrance of the meat side of the Atarazanas Market in addition to a quantity of inside the Calle Carreteria area.
There are loads of locations alongside the vacationer streets, however we found them much less atmospheric and extra generic.
Rooftop bars are common inside the center. We tried this one which had good views of the Alcazar and the Roman Amphitheater.
Where to remain in Malaga
Malaga is definitely a reasonably big city, however as a tourist, you’re most likely to have an interest inside the attractions inside the historic center. When you’re looking for the place to remain in Malaga, consider locations east of the river and inside a most 30 minute stroll to the ocean and the port.
If the main purpose of your journey is to hold round on the beach, seek for hotels shut to Playa de la Malagueta.
If you’re extra into meals and history, keep a little nearer to the pedestrian space of the historic center. We’ve stayed in various apartment leases shut to Calle Carreteria, to not removed from the Cervantes Theater, and we actually benefit from the area.
Since a lot of the meals inside the pedestrian space is aimed at tourists, and therefore not the best, I think it’s higher to remain simply outside that area. It’ll put you nearer to higher meals the place locals actually eat. Besides, it may be a lot louder at night inside the extra touristy areas.
When to Visit Malaga
The climate in Malaga ranges from hot to mild all through the year, meaning there actually isn’t a bad time to visit.
If you love hot climate and beach time, summer might be perfect for you. If you’re much less interested inside the beach and like milder temperatures, try touring to Malaga all through spring, fall, and even winter.
Summer can be hot and is extreme season for the cruise ships. Winter has shorter days and decrease temperatures, although it’s typically not truly cold, and you’ll nonetheless see the solar most days. Even still, Spanish homes are rarely heated thoroughly for the coldest parts of the year.
Malaga additionally has a sea breeze that may make issues really feel colder. We’ve been there in January and February, and were fine in light jackets most days. Some days were sunny sufficient to really feel pretty warm. Spring and autumn will of course fall between these extremes.
There are a quantity of holidays inside the winter to be conscious of. Christmas and New Years of course, however additionally Three Kings Day is sixth of January and is a well-liked journey in Spain.
February or March is the time of Carnival with its parades. (This is what’s called Mardi Gras in New Orleans.) The week of Easter is called Semana Santa in Spain and is a big deal in most cities. It can even be pretty crowded with visitors.
Malaga Feria is a week in August with fireworks and celebrations. Be certain to check for additional nationwide and native holidays as this isn’t an exhaustive list. Services and even some eating locations can be closed all through these times and you’ll want to be conscious of that.
Getting to Malaga and Getting Around
Malaga is simply reachable by train and bus from the remainder of Spain. It’s about 2 hours to Seville, and fewer than three hours to Madrid.
Check Renfe and ALSA for train and bus schedules. The main train station, Malaga Maria Zambrano, is a brief stroll from the old town, and the main bus station is shut to the train station.
Malaga airport has flights from locations all through Europe, so it’s not hard to attach if you’re coming from North America.
The Malaga airport train to Malaga metropolis center takes about forty five minutes. It’s called the Cercanias train, and the station is proper outside the airport and makes it easy to get into town.
Note that the Malaga station is not the identical one as on the main lengthy distance train lines.
There are native buses in Malaga and a train system (Cercanias) that connects the outlying resort cities to central Malaga. If you keep inside the middle of town, everything is walkable.
Day journeys from Malaga
If you’re visiting Malaga for greater than a pair days, you may want to consider taking a day journey to a different a half of the region. Depending in your interests, there are many choices to decide on from.
We usually consider a good day journey vacation spot to be not greater than two or three hours away to keep away from extreme time misplaced to transport. Here are a few suggestions for day journeys from Malaga.
Ronda
Ronda is an iconic hilltop metropolis inside the mountains to the west of town. There are public transit options, however they aren’t as frequent inside the winter, making a day journey a little extra tricky.
A tour can give you an easy way to go to the town, or rent a car if you can. Otherwise look at spending the night if you have the time.
Nerja
This is a well-known coastal metropolis 60km east of Malaga with views of the ocean and a market. It is decrease than two hours on the ALSA buses although some routes are as little as an hour.
Cordoba
About an hour on the quick train makes this a reasonable day journey from Malaga. Cordoba additionally makes a good in a single day journey if you have the time.
The main sight is the Cathedral complex transformed from a Mosque. It’s additionally worth checking out the Alcazar and its gorgeous gardens.
Seville
Seville is about 2 hours on the quick trains, although check schedules for exact times as some slower choices exist.
Seville has a lot to offer, greater than I would usually recommend for a day trip. But if you solely want a brief glimpse of the metropolis it could be an option.
The cathedral, the Alcazar, and Plaza España are the main sights, however it’s a good metropolis to wander and eat in.
Granada
Like Seville, Granada is worth visiting for greater than a day, however when a day is all you have, it may be done. You can attain Granada from Malaga in about 2 hours both by train or by bus.
The Alhambra is the big draw, so make sure you book your tickets well in advance. Granada additionally has a fantastic tapas scene that’s a bit different than most different cities.
Marbella
This is a close-by beach metropolis that may be reached by bus from Malaga. It’s not an enormous town, however it will give you a change of surroundings if you’re interested in getting out of Malaga for a day.
Fuengirola
Another beach metropolis shut to Malaga, this one is reachable by taking the Cercanias trainline, which is the identical train that goes to the airport.
I hope this helps you decide what to do in Malaga and plan your Malaga itinerary, no matter what quantity of days you have on this beautiful city.
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