The way to Plan a Journey to Málaga, Spain

Málaga, Spain is a sun-seeker’s paradise. Town alongside the nation’s southern coast is the sunniest place in Europe, getting greater than 280 sunshine hours a month, which works out to greater than 3,000 hours of sunshine a 12 months. Málaga sits on the aptly named Costa del Sol, or the “solar coast,” however this metropolis has much more going for it than simply the solar. It is also a cultural paradise and the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. 

“Málaga is a implausible vacation spot as a result of it has a Mediterranean local weather. Its winters are delicate, and the summers are good and heat. It has a sometimes-overlooked historical past wealthy in Roman historical past and Moorish affect. There are a lot of cultural actions to do, such because the Picasso Museum and flamenco reveals,” Kristin Espinar, founding father of Should See Spain, shared. And, as with the remainder of Spain,  Espinar added, “Málaga has implausible delicacies — particularly contemporary native seafood and tapas. Do not miss native chiringuitos, that are seaside seafood eating places that locals flock to.” 

Able to discover this implausible metropolis? This is what it is advisable find out about visiting Málaga, Spain. 

Greatest Inns & Resorts

Gran Resort Miramar

Spend a number of days within the lap of luxurious with a keep on the Gran Resort Miramar. The historic palace has been was a five-star lodge that appears out onto the Mediterranean. Every of its rooms is decked out with plush furnishings in a soothing pure palette, making the panoramic views the star of the present. The lodge’s spa is equally alluring and makes use of native substances for a novel Andalusian contact. 

Finca Cortesín

In 2023, Finca Cortesín was named the highest lodge in Spain and Portugal by Journey + Leisure readers within the World’s Greatest Awards. Readers fell laborious for its white-washed partitions, colourful rooms, and lovely sea views — to not point out its implausible Cabell B. Robinson–designed golf course. Right here, friends can play a full 18 after which unwind within the spa, which comes with science-forward therapies like oxygenated facials. 

Palacio Solecio

Have another regal keep on the Palacio Solecio, an 18th-century palace-turned-hotel. The lodge is as glamorous as you’d think about, with four-poster beds, floor-to-ceiling home windows and doorways that open to spacious patios, and deep soaking tubs within the bogs. The lodge’s central location makes for simple entry to a few of the metropolis’s most sought-after websites, together with Santiago Church, only a few ft away. 

Greatest Issues to Do

Picasso Museum

Discover Pablo Picasso’s previous and his inventive genius, and uncover a number of different implausible artists, on the Picasso Museum contained in the Buenavista Palace. Right here, friends can discover Picasso’s life via his 144 works on rotation and take a look at the museum’s exhibitions, together with works by María Blanchard and Joel Meyerowitz. 

Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Citadel

Encompass your self with Málaga’s historical past throughout a go to to the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Citadel. The historic fort is a Moorish fortress that takes up an astonishing 21,310 sq. meters.  “Should-see sights actually come right down to the preferences of the guests, however the Alcazaba — and close by Gibralfaro Citadel and Roman Theatre — are a few of the most extremely visited sights for good cause,” Jess Rodley, the bookings director at Andorra Escapes who additionally travels to Málaga for her summer season holidays, shared. “Stuffed with historical past, these websites are exceptionally well-preserved.”

Mercado Central de Atarazanas

Pattern a few of Málaga’s finest flavors with a go to to the Mercado Central de Atarazanas. The market, now positioned inside a Nineteenth-century constructing, dates again to the 14th century. Right here, vacationers and locals alike can combine and mingle over the native meats, cheeses, and loads of vegetables and fruit. The market is open each Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to three p.m.

Carmen Thyssen Museum

Málaga is totally spoiled with tradition, so be sure that to go to at the least two museums. When you hit the Picasso Museum, make your strategy to the Carmen Thyssen Museum, housed in a restored Sixteenth-century palace. Right here, friends can gaze upon Nineteenth-century Spanish work, with a particular give attention to Andalusian artwork.

La Malagueta Seaside

After all of the attractive human-made artwork, it is time to have a look at some created by Mom Nature with a go to to La Malagueta Seaside. The seashore is simply 10 minutes from town middle, making it straightforward to cease by or spend a whole day. There are additionally loads of beachside bars and eating places to take pleasure in when you’re there.

Neighborhoods to Go to

Centro Histórico

Centro Histórico is the guts of town. Right here, vacationers can weave their method via the bustling, slim streets, take a look at the historic plazas, and store in native shops. It is also the place you may discover the Málaga Cathedral, the Picasso Museum, and the Carmen Thyssen Museum — all inside a number of blocks. 

La Malagueta

Make your strategy to La Malagueta, town’s beachside neighborhood, for a little bit surf and sand with a splash of tradition. Whereas right here, go to the Pompidou Centre for a colourful afternoon full of trendy artwork.

La Victoria

Get a neighborhood perspective with a go to to La Victoria, one of many oldest neighborhoods within the metropolis. Positioned simply north of town middle on the foot of Mount Gibralfaro, this space is well-known for its magnificence, conventional properties, native tapas bars, and avenue artwork. 

Greatest Time to Go to

The perfect time to go to Málaga is over the summer season season. Nonetheless, right here, the summer season extends from late spring into autumn (from Could via October). That is when the climate is at its prime and when everyone seems to be out and about having fun with all that implausible solar. Vacationers also can count on loads of enjoyable summer season festivals too, together with the Málaga Truthful in August, a week-long social gathering that honors all the very best elements of Andalusian tradition. That stated, even if you cannot come through the summer season, there are many different occasions value a go to. 

“The shoulder seasons are a good time to go to Málaga. I like to recommend touring within the spring (March to Could) or fall (September to November),” Espinar stated. “The temperatures will likely be delicate, you’ll discover smaller crowds, and also you’ll have extra vitality for exploring town and sights.”

Rodley additionally advocates for the shoulder seasons in April and Could and late September: “Visiting through the springtime, you’ll be able to catch the attractive blossoms and flowering jacarandas of the parks and gardens whereas having fun with the average temperatures and fewer crowds when exploring town and surrounding areas,” Rodley defined. “Align your journey with Easter and you can expertise the colour, tradition, and festivities of Holy Week parades. A go to in September is ideal for wine excursions and sightseeing with fewer vacationers. Right now of 12 months, it might nonetheless be heat sufficient to benefit from the seashore with out having to contend for an area on the sand.”

And, as Espinar added, “If you happen to select to go within the winter (December to February), you’ll discover the advantages of getting milder and hotter climate than the remainder of Spain. There will likely be fewer vacationers and also you’ll benefit from the metropolis. Málaga additionally has gorgeous Christmas lights shows, which makes it an ideal December vacation spot.” 

The way to Get There

To go to this sunny vacation spot, you’ll be able to fly into Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport, one of many largest airports in Spain. The airport provides loads of direct flights to cities round Europe and connections to cities world wide by way of airways like LATAM, Air France, Straightforward Jet, and Emirates. The airport can also be only a few miles outdoors of town middle, making it a handy jumping-off level. 

Guests coming from spots like Madrid and Barcelona might resolve to drive — and that is a implausible thought, as you’ll be able to drive alongside the Mediterranean on the AP-7 for a scenic journey. 

Vacationers also can get to Málaga by taking the practice to the María Zambrano station. Trains run repeatedly from Madrid; the journey takes about three hours and prices round $75. 

Getting Round 

Renting a automobile is a superb choice for individuals who need to get out and discover past town’s bounds and see extra of the Costa del Sol area. Automobile leases can be found on the airport and quite a few areas within the metropolis with main operators like Avis, Funds, and Greenback Automobile Rental. 

Málaga additionally has a strong public transit system that friends can make the most of throughout their keep, together with each buses and a metro line, which covers a lot of the metropolis. Vacationers can get a single ticket or journey passes, that are straightforward to recharge on-line. There are plentiful taxis and Ubers accessible all through Málaga, too.