Top 5 Things to do in Malaga

Malaga is a great place to visit which offers a unique landscape with the sea on one side, mountains on the other, and river valleys flowing through the surrounding countryside. With many more flights to Malaga opening each year, there’s really no excuse not to visit this beautiful region of Spain, the second most important city in Andalucia.

The History

They have found prehistoric evidence of human habitation in the surrounding areas of Malaga, such as cave paintings and standing stones. But the city we see today was founded by the Phoenicans, and then ruled by the Romans, Visigoths and Moors. There’s a fascinating combination of eastern and western influences in the cultural history of this part of Spain.

Here are my top 5 things to do when in Malaga;

1) Beaches

There are some great beaches, which are ideal for kicking back with a novel, sunbathing, water sports, and some of the best seafood in all of Spain. Many of them are Blue Flag beaches, meaning they have reached specific, rigorous standards; Fuengirola near Malaga boasts the biggest collection of recommended beaches to visit: Torreblanca, San Francisco and Carvajal, to name just three.

2) Museums

Picasso was born in Malaga, and there’s a museum in the city to showcase his work, along with a museum at his place of birth to celebrate his life story. Malaga also has some other excellent art museums, such as the Thyssen Museum, Contemporary Art Museum, and, if you’re looking for something a little quirkier the Museum House of Dolls.

3) Malaga’s Surrounding Areas

The surrounding area of Malaga is famous for its white towns and villages; little collections of white dwellings often balanced on the sides of picturesque looking hills. There are a lot of quaint winding streets and crumbling buildings to explore along the Andalucian coastline, so it’s worth renting a car and putting in the miles, to truly experience the beauty that the surrounding countryside has to offer.

4) Ancient Buildings

For true history buffs, Malaga will keep you intrigued with its historic architecture; there’s the 14th century Gibralfaro castle, with beautiful hilltop views of the city to explore. Also make time to visit the Roman Theatre, built by Emperor Augustus and left undiscovered until 1951, meaning it has been well preserved.

5) Conception Botanical Garden

This beautiful botanical garden is a wonderful way to step away from the city while remaining firmly in it. It’s tranquil and lush, with a huge variety of plants and wildlife. Admission is cheap, and there’s a tropical and subtropical garden – offering some of the most interesting plants in Europe.

Malaga is an amazing Spanish city, often overshadowed by Madrid and Barcelona, but definitely worth a visit in its own right. When you’re tired and you want to rest your aching feet, stop by a bar or a cafe and get chatting to the locals: there’s a wonderful cafe culture here which will have you making new friends in no time!

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Images by Leo Hidalgo, Martin Haisch and Bogdan Migulski used under creative commons license.