Perhaps the most popular resort in the Spanish costas set against a sparkling Mediterranean, the lively port city of Malaga is a great place to spend memorable holidays. Besides offering vibrant city life, amazing beaches, wide boulevards, opulent Baroque churches and stunning contemporary art and architecture, Malaga also comes with some of the Spain‘s best shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs, most found in the bustling heart of the city.
Malaga holidays appeal to singles, couples, honeymooners, families and groups alike, due to the diversity of attractions and things to do. Children will find happiness in the city’s many kid-friendly parks; golf lovers will find a variety of golf courses, while for foodies the exciting tapas scene and just-caught sardines by the sea are something unrivaled.
The city’s mild winter temperatures make it a great place to visit any time of the year, but if you are looking for budget options while choosing tours or accommodation, you’d better visit it during the off-season months like February or November.
Situated in the center of the Costa de Sol, one can find Malaga Airport, one of the major arrival points for holidaymakers, which is a short distance from Malaga city. The infrastructure of Malaga makes the city a great starting point to explore Andalusia, as it boasts great access by road to Granada, Seville and Cordoba.
As to the city’s must-sees and must-dos, there are so many of them that it’s almost impossible to list them all, however, here is a brief enumeration of a few recommendations of what to do if you ever happen to visit to this wonderful city.
Picasso Museum
No visit to Malaga is complete without visiting the museum of the world-famous painter Pablo Picasso. Housed in the Buenavista Palace, a Renaissance building dating back to the 16th century, the museum truly answers to a wish of the artist himself: that his work is represented in the city of his birth. The donations of Christine and Bernard Ruiz-Picasso – two members of Picasso’s family have been the cornerstone of the museum and the permanent exhibition represents a wide range of painting, drawing, sculpture, engravings and ceramics that showcase the use of different techniques and disciplines of Picasso. Apart from the permanent collection, the museum also organizes temporary exhibitions, as well as workshops, conferences, concerts and courses, related to the figure of Picasso.
Gibralfaro Castle
A must-see getaway for history buffs, the stunning Gibralfaro Castle sits on a high hill Gibralfaro overlooking Malaga city and port was built in the 14th century. The castle was the target of a siege by the Catholic Monarchs throughout the summer of 1487, after which, the Catholic King took it as a residence. Now Gibralfaro Castle is open to tourists and offers a small museum, beautiful gardens and wonderful views of the city of Malaga. General admission fee is €2.10 and there is also a free admission every Sunday from 2 pm.
Alcazaba
Perhaps the most important landmark in Malaga overlooking the city from a summit of a hill, Alcazaba is the best preserved Moorish fortress palace in Spain. This impressive building was built between the 8th and 11th centuries and is formed by two walled areas, the lower and the upper, the latter also adapted to the lines of the hill and with strong defensive elements at each end. The interior of Alcazaba has an archaeological museum, housing collections of Phoenician Roman and Moorish artifacts including fine ceramics and the upper levels offer majestic views of the surroundings.
Other must-see attractions include: Cathedral of Malaga, The CAC Malaga (the modern art museum), and Plaza de la Merced among others.
There is also a great selection of comfortable hotels in Malaga, so no matter you are looking for a simple, budget-friendly hotel or a 5-star luxury hideaway, be sure to find one in Malaga to suit your needs and have a nice holiday returning home with only great memories. Malaga is not just a getaway; it’s dreamscape destination to be seen to be believed!
