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A round-up of the perfect day journeys you possibly can take from Malaga, Spain – delivered to you by a neighborhood expat!
Should you’re staying in Malaga, you discovered your self within the excellent location that may help you discover rather more of what Southern Spain has to supply.
Malaga is the primary journey hotspot on Costa del Sol. It provides a handy distance to the airport and is well-connected with the remainder of the nation by way of trains, buses and motorways. Even when you’re not planning to hire a automotive, there are many totally different choices to plan great day journeys.
Should you’re on the lookout for some attention-grabbing locations to see, this text will present you a number of the greatest choices out there from Malaga.
Better of all? I’ve been dwelling near Malaga for over three years now, so I’m very aware of all of the day journeys on the record. I’ll solely suggest locations which can be actually value your time.
Lets dive in?
Selecting and Planning your Day Journeys from Malaga
Earlier than you randomly decide a spot from the record, you must first contemplate how a lot time you wish to spend within the vacation spot, and the way you wish to journey there.
Should you don’t need the effort of navigating within the native visitors and renting a automotive, the good information is that nearly all the locations on my record might be explored by practice or by native bus. Native transport choices are usually additionally very reasonably priced and handy. So chances are you’ll thank your self that you just didn’t trouble paying additional for automotive rental.
Should you do resolve to drive, that’s fairly simple too. You’ll head out of the city on one of many most important freeway junctions, and the streets in Malaga are fairly simple to navigate. Aside from town of Ronda, not one of the different locations current any difficult terrain for driving.
The locations I chosen are all inside a brief attain from Malaga. The furthest ones are Seville and Gibraltar, whereas the closest are Benalmadena, Antequera, Fuengirola and Nerja.
I attempted to maintain the utmost journey time both by practice or automotive as much as two hours, so you may have loads of time to see the vacation spot and don’t need to spend most of your day journey commuting.
9 Greatest Day Journeys from Malaga
Right here is an outline of the highest day journey locations that made it on the record. You’ll discover a detailed description and highlights for every vacation spot under.
- Benalmadena
- Fuengirola
- Granada
- Nerja
- Marbella
- Ronda
- Antequera
- Gibraltar
- Seville
1. Benalmadena – shut, attention-grabbing & family-friendly
Benalmadena is simply a brief drive from Malaga (about 35 minutes), but in addition accessible with the native commuter practice C1 which runs each 20 minutes (journey round 30 minutes).
Benalmadena has three most important elements – the coastal space the place you will see that the award-winning marina, the Sea World park with its enormous aquarium and a protracted stretch of seashore lined with eating places and retailers.
Up within the hills above the shoreline is Arroyo de la Miel, the older historic a part of Benalmadena. Probably the most charming half is additional up within the hills referred to as Benalmadena Pueblo.
The Pueblo is a typical Andalusian white village with cobbled roads, charming homes, native tavernas and delightful views throughout. Should you stroll to the top of the village to Jariden de Muro, you will see that an previous church with fairly cascading gardens and gorgeous views of the shoreline.
Beneath the backyard is La Cupula Lounge with dwell music, cocktails and the most effective views on the town. Additional down the street is Castillo Colomares, a citadel monument constructed within the honor of the travels of Christopher Columbus, a really distinctive place to see.
If you wish to discover additional, on the fringe of the Pueblo you will see that Mariposario, the butterfly park the place you possibly can stroll amongst tons of of butterflies and see them hatching in their very own nursery. Proper subsequent to the park is a large Buddhist temple with a viewing platform and spectacular views of the entire shoreline.
2. Fuengirola – household journey or day on the seashore
Fuengirola is my residence city, so maybe a little bit of a biased addition to the record. However I needed to supply an choice for individuals who want to have a day on the seashore, or do one thing particular with youngsters.
In Fuengirola, you will see that 7 km of well-equipped sandy seashores, a protracted seashore promenade that stretches from the beginning of the city till Castillo Sohail (value a go to for the views, entrance is free), and loads of choices for water sports activities too.
Should you’re coming with youngsters, they may love a go to to the native Bioparc, which permits them to expertise totally different animals of their pure habitat, with out tall fences and miserable enclosures. A child gorilla is the newest addition to this park, which feels rather more like a lush jungle than a typical zoo.
For many who like much more adventures, you may as well play 18-hole minigolf proper subsequent to the large Miramar Procuring Centre (near Sohail Fort), or strive go-karting out there on high of the mall.
3. Granada – for historical past fanatics
Granada is by far my favourite Andalusian metropolis, because it doesn’t really feel as crowded as the opposite ones, and nonetheless has lots of appeal that you’d count on to see in a small village. Granada is just not removed from Malaga and with a lot to see, it makes an ideal day journey vacation spot.
Well-known for the Moorish palace advanced of Alhambra, which was a part of the Nasrid Kingdom, it attracts hundreds of thousands of vacationers yearly. Should you’re planning a visit right here, you actually need to e book your tickets on-line asap as they have a tendency to promote out weeks upfront, and sure – you may need a problem getting a ticket even in low season months.
Additional down from the Alhambra advanced – which additionally comprises the fortress of Alcazaba and the gorgeous gardens of Generalife – you will see that Carmen de los Martires, a phenomenal nicely maintained park and backyard with peacocks operating freely.
Visiting Granada is just not full with out taking a stroll by way of Albaicin, the historic previous city with its slender streets main as much as the hills, with the most effective views of Alhambra. Speaking of the views – the most effective spot for taking in the fantastic thing about Alhambra is on the Mirador of St Nicholas in Albaicin.
Should you’re touring with youngsters, they may love to go to the Parque de las Ciencias, a neighborhood science museum with very cool displays devoted to area, the human physique, a planetarium and a biodome – with freely operating monkeys. I’ve been twice already and would nonetheless return!
4. Nerja – distinctive mix of views, nature and sights
Nerja is a neighborhood’s favourite spot on Costa del Sol. It’s utterly totally different to the sun-bleached resorts and all-inclusive motels you’ll usually count on, Nerja is rather more elegant and conventional.
Recognized for a fairly coastal platform referred to as Balcony of Europe, in Nerja you will see that a captivating previous city with a maze of streets main you to eating places with fairly sea views, native retailers promoting artisan merchandise, and delightful seashores framed by rocky hills.
Nerja is additionally recognized for its caves positioned on the sting of the city. If in case you have some spare time, you possibly can drive 10 minutes as much as the hills and attain the beautiful white village of Frigiliana, voted quite a few occasions because the prettiest white village of Andalusia.
5. Marbella – flashy resort city with charming previous city
Marbella has an attention-grabbing mixture of previous and new, flashy and conventional. The coastal space may be very nicely maintained with a phenomenal lush promenade displaying the statues of Gaudi, and when you observe up by way of Alameda Park, you will see that the normal previous city, the prettiest ones I’ve seen.
The previous city of Marbella is a maze of colored homes, flowers climbing on previous partitions, immaculately offered crops and conventional tavernas. Head to the Plaza de los Naranjos, the central sq. the place you possibly can dine or get pleasure from a drink below the blooming orange timber.
If you would like a style of luxurious, proceed additional down the ‘golden mile’ to the flashiest district of all – Puerto Banus, recognized for luxurious purchasing, multi-million-dollar yachts, supercars passing the streets and essentially the most spectacular seashore golf equipment.
6. Ronda – a bucket record expertise
The traditional city of Ronda is hidden away within the mountains, divided in a half by the el Tajo gorge. Connecting the 2 elements of the city is the well-known Puente Nuevo bridge with its stunning arches, a bridge of historic significance that was as soon as a house to the smallest jail on the earth.
Additional down the el Tajo Gorge, you will see that well-preserved stays of conventional Roman baths. However Ronda is principally recognized for its bullfighting historical past. It has one of many oldest bullrings in Andalucia which is nicely value a go to.
Ernest Hemingway amongst many different authors had been enormous followers of Ronda and spent prolonged durations of time right here, soaking within the views and discovering inspiration for his or her work.
If that wasn’t sufficient to get you excited, Ronda has spectacular views throughout, gorgeous sunsets and loads of mountaineering alternatives too.
If in case you have a bit of additional time in your fingers, you possibly can drive an additional quarter-hour to succeed in the village of Setenil de las Bodegas, the place you will see that houses and eating places carved right into a mass of strong rock, offering for a fairly uncommon eating expertise, with an enormous rock formation hanging over your head.
7. Antequera – historic pure park and mountaineering
Antequera is a brief drive away from Malaga, or you may as well use the native buses or trains to get there fairly quick.
It’s one of many least touristy cities on this record, and one which’s residence to the well-known Dolmens of Antequera and Torcal de Antequera, a historic pure park the place you possibly can witness a number of the most spectacular limestone rock formations of all time.
The town itself can also be value exploring. It’s a standard white Andalusian city with a central sq., even an previous Alcazaba fortress.
8. Gibraltar – hopping over to the UK for fish & chips
Fancy a change of surroundings? Expertise British hospitality whereas in Spain!
From Malaga, you possibly can drive to Gibraltar in round 2 hours. Right here, you possibly can and luxuriate in a day of duty-free purchasing, discovering the native pure park providing spectacular views of the ocean and saying hey to the native monkeys operating freely within the reserve. On a transparent day, you possibly can see Africa within the distance, and can even e book a dolphin watching tour.
Only a little bit of sensible recommendation – it’s not potential to get to Gibraltar with out a automotive. You possibly can solely get a neighborhood bus to La Linea, which is on the borders, after which cross on foot.
Even when you’re travelling by automotive, I extremely suggest parking on the borders and crossing on foot because the crossing occasions for automobiles are for much longer than for pedestrians. From the crossing, it’s a few 15 to twenty minutes stroll to the central a part of the city.
9. Seville – Andalusian capital metropolis with a lot to see
Seville is among the most spectacular Andalusian cities and has a lot to supply.
You will get misplaced within the charming previous city, go to the Royal Alcazar (used as film location for Recreation of Thrones), and admire the Andalusian structure at Palacio de Duenas or Casa de los Pilatos.
Seville is a real magnificence, with such a variety of various experiences. Admire the historic previous constructing of the Seville Cathedral with the burial tomb of Christopher Columbus. Climb as much as the platform of Giralda tower inside the cathedral for unimaginable metropolis views.
Be sure you jump over to the world-famous Plaza de Espana, which can help you expertise a little bit of Venice in Spain. There’s a ship canal across the plaza embellished head to toe with gorgeous ceramic artwork.
There may be a lot to see in Seville that you might simply keep for per week! Should you’re doing a day journey, the journey time from Malaga is somewhat longer. So, I might counsel focusing on the three most important highlights: the Royal Alcazar, the Cathedral with Giralda Tower and the Plaza de Espana.
READ MORE: What to Eat in Seville
Bonus Journey Ideas from a Native
Listed below are a couple of suggestions that may make planning your day journey rather more gratifying and hassle-free:
- Should you’re planning to journey by practice, I like to recommend getting your tickets early as you should have extra connection choices out there and also will avoid wasting cash on the tickets
- Should you’re driving, a number of the highways are toll roads. They normally have the phrase P within the title, such because the AP-7. So it is advisable have some spare change prepared as you’re passing the toll gates
- Many of the historic sights round Andalusia get fairly crowded in the summertime months. So if you wish to get pleasure from them in relative peace and away from the scorching solar, attempt to get there as early as potential within the morning, or get the primary out there ticket slot for the day
- On that time, shopping for tickets to many of the monuments in the summertime might be tough. It’s nicely value doing it upfront to be sure to can nonetheless get in. Even when you can’t get tickets, many of the locations on this record – like Granada and Seville – are an expertise in their very own league. So when you won’t see the primary points of interest, it’s nonetheless nicely value your time to go to.
I hope you loved this record of the most effective day journeys from Malaga and located a number of attention-grabbing locations to find. Tell us within the feedback which one is your favorite!
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In regards to the Creator
Lucia is a Slovak expat dwelling in Southern Spain. On her weblog, Viva la Vita she shares her discoveries about stunning places, hidden gems and genuine experiences from Costa del Sol and past.
