Malaga, Spain great tourist destination, Mediterranean

Visit Spain and it’ll be hard to find any place that doesn’t amaze you. There are so many interesting towns, and cities, steeped with history, each one well worth the visit. But when it comes to Malaga in the south, it’s not a destination on many people’s agenda.

Given that Malaga is only about 5kms away from Torremolinos and the Costa del Sol, probably Europe‘s biggest tourist resort city, the only real tourism it receives is day visitors, from the Costa del Sol. But what makes Malaga so worth me writing about? Well, it has everything that say Barcelona and Valencia have, with a touch of it’s own regional flavour.

Where in Spain is Malaga actually situated? It’s the last major city in Spain’s Mediterranean cost, before the straits of Gibraltar join up with the Atlantic Ocean. It has the typical warm Mediterranean waters, combined with the typical turquoise colour found in the Med. On a clear day you can see all the way to Africa.

It’s also another great Spanish destination for beach and party. You can relax the days away on the sand at Playa la Malagueta (closest to town) and go bar hopping at night. While taking in the nightlife you can start with the typical botellon in Plaza de la Merced, go bar hopping in the old town till 2pm and then move to the port area until 8am in the morning.

There are a lot of great tapas bars around town where you can sample some small plates of tapas and some Spanish wine. Some good ones to go are Bodega El Pimpi, Antigue Casa de Guardia, Tapas Bar, and Cañas y Tapas while there are many, simply wander through the town and when you want to relax, sit yourself down at one and have a small bite, and a refreshing “Tinto de Verano“, red wine mixed with lemon squash or soda water.The tapas, well they are so tasty, and many different plates to choose from.

: The entrance to the Bodega el Pimpi and it’s typical shady Andalucian patio

My favourite tapas bar of the many is Bodega el Pimpi, which has a great atmosphere, the entrance adorned with hanging pots like a typical shaded Andalucian patio, many wine barrels spread throughout, and decorated to like a typical Spanish bar. Whilst in their you can see photos of famous people who have visited like former Malagueño, Antonio Bnaderas.While wandering around the city there are many great places to visit. Because it has a warm climate for Europe there are many lush gardens around the city. Usually to enter the old town you would walk along the leafy Alameda principal, past a few enticing bodegas selling sherry, and enter the wide Calle Marques de Larios pedestrian area. Through there you just wander through the streets till they get smaller and just take in the old buildings of the old town. Some nices places to visit are the Malaga cathedral, the Atarazanos market, the Roman theatre, and the Buena vista palace in the old town.Beachside promenade East Malaga

There are 2 nice parks to relax in the shade one of which Jardines de Pedro Luis Alonso, preserve the garden style set by the Moors, with their citrus trees as the main feature and hedges guiding you around the paths. Usually you can access East Malaga, a nice leafy suburb close to town, with some nice seaside style mansions probably the most beautiful part of Malaga to live.

As for the seaside itself the eastern side of the port is nice to visit and has a few restaurants and tapas bars, you take the Paseo de Farola to get there, and before going all the way turn back to Playa de Malagueta and take the beachside promenade through to East Malaga. On the way back to the centre you can go back through East Malaga and past the Plaza de Toros (bullfighting arena).

: the port of Malaga from the Alcazabar (castle fortress)

One of the great highlights of Malaga is the Castle de Gibralfaro, which can be seen above from many parts of the city. The castle has a typical Moorish Alcazabar or fortress which winds up to the castle itself. Whilst being similar to the Alhambra complete with its “Corte de Leones” or lions courtyard, the gardens in the castle in Malaga are better maintained than the Alhambra, whereas Alhambras charm lies in keeping the architecture maintained. The castle de Gibralfaro has Moorish style gardens complete with its system of water features trickling around the garden in their lowered troughs. The views over the Mediterranean are just something to make it more beautiful to visit, with views all the way to Africa on a clear day.