Best Day Trips from Malaga
Malaga is a great base from which to explore the south of Spain, including the lively resorts of Costa del Sol. The truth is, Malaga is a fine city, a good compromise of culture and beach that’s not too big and not too small. But it has nothing unique to set it apart from the other cities in the area. So my advice would be not to pick just one of these day trips but to choose three or four and fill up your vacation with memorable day trips.
Ronda
Ronda make it one of the Best Day Trips from Malaga. Ronda is a little off the beaten path, making a guided tour an especially good option here. Ronda is most famous for its Tajo gorge, but it is also the birthplace of bullfighting, has a great winemaking tradition, and its bridges over the Tajo Gorge are hundreds of years old.
This historically rich pueblo blanco is a fascinating mix of Moorish architecture, Roman ruins, and whitewashed Andalusian houses. Complementing its breathtaking setting are wonderful restaurants, quirky museums, and ancient Arab Baths. The Cueva de la Pileta nearby is home to perfectly preserved prehistoric rock paintings from the Neolithic Period.
We offer guided day tours from Malaga to Ronda – Please click here for more info & prices
Marbella
Complete your visit to Costa del Sol’s largest city with a day trip to Marbella. Marbella is less than an hour away from Malaga, this glamorous Spanish beach resort has wonderful beaches, world-class golf, and a nightlife that rivals anything on Cote d’Azur.
The old town is absolutely charming with its narrow, cobble-stoned streets dotted with unique shops and galleries. Take a walk around the city’s Alameda Park, a lush space filled with tropical plants, and of course, don’t miss out on La Avenida del Mar, where you can see several sculptures in the open air by the one and only Salvador Dali.
Explore the boutique-lined narrow cobbled streets of its Moorish-styled Old Town and stop for a cold drink in the orange tree-filled Plaza de los Naranjos. For luxury shopping, stylish nightclubs, and a healthy dose of celebrity spotting, head to Puerto Banus. Only 6 km southwest of Marbella, this swanky marina is a stunning example of whitewashed Mediterranean architecture and prides itself with some of the best restaurants and beach clubs along the coast.
Mijas
For many people, with its narrow streets and whitewashed buildings, Mijas is the ultimate white village in Malaga. Located in the mountains overlooking the sea, there is no better place to catch a spectacular Mediterranean sunset. A quirk about this particular town is the burro taxi you’ll see roaming the streets. These carts pulled by donkeys are part of the fabric of life in Mijas, and are a very interesting way to see the city.
This is the perfect example of an old Spanish village on the coast that has managed to retain its old world charm. We will visit the Ermita de la Virgen de la Peña, a chapel made of rock that offers both views of the village and the coast below. Wander through Mijas with its craft shops and take a famous donkey tour through the village.
The Parroquial Church is located in a park with lovely views of the coast, and on a clear day, you can see straight across the Mediterranean to Morocco. The Bullring, located just across from the church, is the only square bullring in Spain.
Those who are fit, can walk up the narrow streets through the neighborhoods to experience true village life. Take time to sit in a cafe and have a drink, or enjoy one of the many restaurants in Mijas.
El Torcal de Antequera
El Torcal de Antequera is located north of Malaga city. The rock formations that you can find there seem out of a moon landscape or some sci-fi movie set. It is located inland and away from all the touristic beaches of Costa del Sol and it makes a fantastic day hike with family or friends, El Torcal national park made of Jurrasic Period limestone rocks date from around 150 million years ago is an unusual and bizarre place that was once at the bottom of the ocean.
This makes a landscape that you will never imagine to find in Southern Spain, Erosion throughout the years subsequently helped the formation of this karstic landscape that is so unique of El Torcal today.
You will find various walks with different lenghts and difficulty levels weave through the national park, which will help you explore the area at your own pace and take the most amazing pictures of this peculiar rock formations and the most fabulous views of the surrounding fields. Later on, refreshments can be taken in the lovely town of Antequera or the charming village of Villanueva de la Concepción.
Antequera
Antequera, in the inland of Malaga, has earned the nickname of being The heart of Andalusia, for its proximity to all the large andalusian cities of Malaga, Granada, Cordoba and Seville.
It is located just 30 min away from Malaga and 20 min away from El Torcal, the national park that offers fantastic landscapes of the rock formations that date from the Jurassic Period.
The beautiful town of Antequera is well worth a visit as it is offers the typical white washed village scenery that is so traditional in Southern Spain.
You will find a good number of elegant and ornate churches along the way, as well as a 14th century Moorish fort with similar features as the Alhambra in Granada.
Antequera’s typical gazpacho is one of the most popular dishes in Andalusia and you can have a taste in any of the old-style bars around the historical centre where you can delight under the sun with some of their superb local tapas.
Frigiliana
The village of Frigiliana is located six-kilometres north of Nerja and just over fifty kilometres from Málaga. Frigilina is known as one of the most beautiful towns in Spain, a village that has consistently won awards to that effect.
Including being voted as the ‘prettiest village in Andalusia’ by the Spanish tourism authority. You will fall in love with this white-washed village.
Wonder around its narrow streets full of flowers pots and small shops. Visit the old Fortress, refuge of the last Muslims, and now converted into a sugarcane molasses factory
We offer guided day tours from Malaga to Mijas – Click here for more information and prices
Check our private day tours with a private guide and private transportation, we also offer tours without transportation
