What to do in Malaga

What I Regret:

Malaga, Spain. Pronounced ma·luh·guh. It was really beautiful. Before I arrived I had done some research on things to do and places to see. There was a popular day trip I saw online to go see Alhambra. It is a palace / fortress and considered one of the most famous pieces of Islamic / Moorish architecture. As well as bits of Spanish Renaissance architecture. 

Tara with the old city of lisbon in the background

I don’t know why I decided not to go. It was about a 1.5 hour drive from the port, I had already booked a day trip when I was in Casablanca… I talked myself out of it. I wish I hadn’t though! Don’t be like me, if you’re in Malaga, take the trip up to Granada to see Alhambra. 

I messaged my sister after my trip. She lived in Spain for a summer as a nanny, she said Alhambra was her favorite trip. Man! I guess I’ll just have to go back! 

Another day trip from Malaga is Cordoba. It’s also about 1.5 hours from the port at Malaga. There’s a mosque there called La Mezquita that’s pretty famous for its architecture as well. I’m sure you’ve seen pictures of it before. There’s also the Palacio de Viana.

This region of Spain is called Andalusia. Based on the little bit I saw, it’s one of my favorite regions of Spain. Malaga, Cordoba, and Granada are all in this region. 

Here’s what I learned about Malaga / Andalusia …

It was founded  by The Phoenicians in 770bc  

The word Alhambra means red castle. (It’s #1 on my list to do if I ever go back!)

I ended up walking around and exploring Malaga for a day. I went to the Playa de la Malagueta, which is the beach right by the cruise port. 

La Calle Larios

I walked around the old city and along La Calle Larios, which is a street that runs right by the beach. I was impressed with how well taken care of it was. It’s lined with trees and gardens, it was really beautiful. I sat on a bench for a moment and was watching pigeons and I saw a parrot just hanging out with the pigeons. Which, after a quick Google search I found out that there’s a feral population of parrots in Spain descended from escaped pets. 

If you’ve been to Europe you know there are churches and cathedrals everywhere. I visited the Iglesia de San Juan and then took the bus up the hill to Castillo de Gibralfaro. The castle is connected by a walkway to Alcazaba. They’re both old fortresses / palaces for nobility throughout the years. You have to pay about 10€ to get a ticket to both, which isn’t a bad price, or you can walk along the free pathway next to the castle. The road is pretty steep. And it leads back down to the city and La Calle Larios. I saw some people walking up and they looked a little miserable. Walking down was much better and it only cost $1.67 to take the bus up. The walk was nice and breezy and there was plenty of shade. I also stopped to buy some artwork on the walk. I walked down to Mirador de la Coracha, and if you know Spanish you know ‘mirador’ means lookout. It’s on the path as you’re walking back down to the city. 

When you’re visiting Spain in the summer, or anywhere in the summer, a fan is a must. I wouldn’t have survived without it! I mean, I would’ve, but it would have been less bearable. 

I really enjoyed the city! Next day I went to Alicante.

street art of Amália Rodrigues on Calçada do Menino Jesus

About the Author

Hi, I'm Tara-

I want to be a different kind of travel advisor.

One who shares information and education and empowers you, rather than one who is motivated to make money off of you.

I want to share what I've learned. What I believe makes the best trip, how to get deals, travel on a budget, I would definitely consider myself an expert in that department.

You can read a lot of my tips and tricks for free online through my blog. If you want to consult with me about a trip, I'll charge a fee to help you plan, but I'll leave the actual booking up to you. That way you know the advice I give is not motivated by commission.

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