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A round-up of the easiest day journeys you’ll be able to take from Malaga, Spain – delivered to you by an area expat!
In the event you’re staying in Malaga, you discovered your self within the good location that can let you discover rather more of what Southern Spain has to supply.
Malaga is the primary journey hotspot on Costa del Sol. It gives a handy distance to the airport and is well-connected with the remainder of the nation by way of trains, buses and motorways. Even in the event you’re not planning to lease a automotive, there are many completely different choices to plan fantastic day journeys.
In the event you’re searching for some attention-grabbing locations to see, this text will present you a number of the greatest choices obtainable from Malaga.
Better of all? I’ve been dwelling near Malaga for over three years now, so I’m very acquainted with all of the day journeys on the record. I’ll solely suggest locations which might be actually price your time.
We could dive in?
Selecting and Planning your Day Journeys from Malaga
Earlier than you randomly choose a spot from the record, it’s best to first contemplate how a lot time you need to spend within the vacation spot, and the way you need to journey there.
In the event you don’t need the effort of navigating within the native site visitors and renting a automotive, the nice information is that nearly all the locations on my record could be explored by practice or by native bus. Native transport choices are typically additionally very reasonably priced and handy. So chances are you’ll thank your self that you simply didn’t hassle paying additional for automotive rental.
In the event you do resolve to drive, that’s fairly simple too. You’ll head out of the city on one of many important freeway junctions, and the streets in Malaga are fairly straightforward to navigate. Other than 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’ve gotten loads of time to see the vacation spot and don’t should spend most of your day journey commuting.
9 Finest Day Journeys from Malaga
Right here is an summary 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 additionally accessible with the native commuter practice C1 which runs each 20 minutes (journey round 30 minutes).
Benalmadena has three important components – the coastal space the place one can find the award-winning marina, the Sea World park with its big aquarium and an extended stretch of seaside lined with eating places and outlets.
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. In the event you stroll to the tip of the village to Jariden de Muro, one can find an outdated church with fairly cascading gardens and gorgeous views of the shoreline.
Under the backyard is La Cupula Lounge with dwell music, cocktails and one of the best views on the town. Additional down the highway is Castillo Colomares, a fortress monument constructed within the honor of the travels of Christopher Columbus, a very distinctive place to see.
If you wish to discover additional, on the fringe of the Pueblo one can find Mariposario, the butterfly park the place you’ll be able to 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 seaside
Fuengirola is my residence city, so maybe a little bit of a biased addition to the record. However I wished to supply an possibility for individuals who wish to have a day on the seaside, or do one thing particular with youngsters.
In Fuengirola, one can find 7 km of well-equipped sandy seashores, an extended seaside promenade that stretches from the beginning of the city till Castillo Sohail (price a go to for the views, entrance is free), and loads of choices for water sports activities too.
In the event you’re coming with youngsters, they’ll love a go to to the native Bioparc, which permits them to expertise completely different animals of their pure habitat, with out tall fences and miserable enclosures. A child gorilla is the most recent addition to this park, which feels rather more like a lush jungle than a regular 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 Citadel), or strive go-karting obtainable on high of the mall.
3. Granada – for historical past lovers
Granada is by far my favourite Andalusian metropolis, because it doesn’t really feel as crowded as the opposite ones, and nonetheless has plenty of appeal that you’d count on to see in a small village. Granada isn’t removed from Malaga and with a lot to see, it makes an ideal day journey vacation spot.
Well-known for the Moorish palace complicated of Alhambra, which was a part of the Nasrid Kingdom, it attracts thousands and thousands of vacationers yearly. In the event you’re planning a visit right here, you actually need to ebook your tickets on-line asap as they have a tendency to promote out weeks prematurely, and sure – you might need a difficulty getting a ticket even in low season months.
Additional down from the Alhambra complicated – which additionally comprises the fortress of Alcazaba and the gorgeous gardens of Generalife – one can find Carmen de los Martires, a gorgeous properly maintained park and backyard with peacocks operating freely.
Visiting Granada isn’t full with out taking a stroll by means of Albaicin, the historic outdated city with its slender streets main as much as the hills, with one of the best views of Alhambra. Speaking of the views – one of the best spot for taking in the great thing about Alhambra is on the Mirador of St Nicholas in Albaicin.
In the event you’re touring with youngsters, they’ll love to go to the Parque de las Ciencias, an area science museum with very cool reveals 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 an area’s favourite spot on Costa del Sol. It’s fully completely different to the sun-bleached resorts and all-inclusive accommodations you’ll usually count on, Nerja is rather more stylish and conventional.
Identified for a reasonably coastal platform referred to as Balcony of Europe, in Nerja one can find an enthralling outdated city with a maze of streets main you to eating places with fairly sea views, native outlets promoting artisan merchandise, and delightful seashores framed by rocky hills.
Nerja is additionally identified for its caves positioned on the sting of the city. If in case you have some spare time, you’ll be able to drive 10 minutes as much as the hills and attain the gorgeous white village of Frigiliana, voted quite a few occasions because the prettiest white village of Andalusia.
5. Marbella – flashy resort city with charming outdated city
Marbella has an attention-grabbing mixture of outdated and new, flashy and conventional. The coastal space may be very properly maintained with a gorgeous lush promenade displaying the statues of Gaudi, and in the event you comply with up by means of Alameda Park, one can find the normal outdated city, the prettiest ones I’ve seen.
The outdated city of Marbella is a maze of colored homes, flowers climbing on outdated partitions, immaculately offered vegetation and conventional tavernas. Head to the Plaza de los Naranjos, the central sq. the place you’ll be able to dine or get pleasure from a drink underneath the blooming orange timber.
If you’d like a style of luxurious, proceed additional down the ‘golden mile’ to the flashiest district of all – Puerto Banus, identified for luxurious purchasing, multi-million-dollar yachts, supercars passing the streets and essentially the most spectacular seaside 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 components of the city is the well-known Puente Nuevo bridge with its lovely 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, one can find well-preserved stays of conventional Roman baths. However Ronda is especially identified for its bullfighting historical past. It has one of many oldest bullrings in Andalucia which is properly price a go to.
Ernest Hemingway amongst many different authors have been big followers of Ronda and spent prolonged intervals 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’ll be able to drive an additional quarter-hour to achieve the village of Setenil de las Bodegas, the place one can find houses and eating places carved right into a mass of stable rock, offering for a reasonably 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’ll be able to witness a number of the most spectacular limestone rock formations of all time.
The town itself can also be price exploring. It’s a conventional white Andalusian city with a central sq., even an outdated 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’ll be able to drive to Gibraltar in round 2 hours. Right here, you’ll be able to and luxuriate in a day of duty-free purchasing, discovering the native pure park providing spectacular views of the ocean and saying hi there to the native monkeys operating freely within the reserve. On a transparent day, you’ll be able to see Africa within the distance, and also can ebook a dolphin watching tour.
Only a little bit of sensible recommendation – it’s not attainable to get to Gibraltar with out a automotive. You may solely get an area bus to La Linea, which is on the borders, after which cross on foot.
Even in the event 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 without doubt one of the most spectacular Andalusian cities and has a lot to supply.
You will get misplaced within the charming outdated 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 spread of various experiences. Admire the historic outdated constructing of the Seville Cathedral with the burial tomb of Christopher Columbus. Climb as much as the platform of Giralda tower throughout the cathedral for unimaginable metropolis views.
Make sure you jump over to the world-famous Plaza de Espana, which can let you expertise a little bit of Venice in Spain. There’s a ship canal across the plaza adorned head to toe with gorgeous ceramic artwork.
There’s a lot to see in Seville that you can simply keep for per week! In the event you’re doing a day journey, the journey time from Malaga is a bit of longer. So, I’d counsel focusing on the three important highlights: the Royal Alcazar, the Cathedral with Giralda Tower and the Plaza de Espana.
READ MORE: What to Eat in Seville
Bonus Journey Suggestions from a Native
Listed below are a number of suggestions that can make planning your day journey rather more pleasing and hassle-free:
- In the event you’re planning to journey by practice, I like to recommend getting your tickets early as you should have extra connection choices obtainable and also will avoid wasting cash on the tickets
- In the event 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 you might want to have some spare change prepared as you’re passing the toll gates
- A lot 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 attainable within the morning, or get the primary obtainable ticket slot for the day
- On that time, shopping for tickets to many of the monuments in the summertime could be difficult. It’s properly price doing it prematurely to ensure you can nonetheless get in. Even in the event 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 whilst you may not see the primary sights, it’s nonetheless properly price your time to go to.
I hope you loved this record of one of the best day journeys from Malaga and located a lot of attention-grabbing locations to find. Tell us within the feedback which one is your favorite!
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In regards to the Writer
Lucia is a Slovak expat dwelling in Southern Spain. On her weblog, Viva la Vita she shares her discoveries about lovely places, hidden gems and genuine experiences from Costa del Sol and past.