The most beautiful city in southern Spain, the capital of the Costa del Sol province is famous for its ancient history. Founded by the Phrycians in the 8th century BC, Malaga has been a coveted destination for many peoples. It was conquered by the Romans, Visigoths, Arabs, until, finally, the power of the Spaniards was consolidated over it. The ruins of the Roman amphitheater, the ancient fortresses of Alcazaba and Gibralfaro are witnesses of past eras.
The beautiful sunny city conceals many unique attractions in its streets and squares, which tourists from all over the world come to see. But this is also a well-known popular resort with a strip of many kilometers of wonderful beaches. It is not for nothing that its name is translated as “the shore of the sun”: the generous sun shines here almost 300 days a year.
The homeland of flamenco and bullfighting as a magnet attracts travel lovers and avid holiday-makers, including Russians. Excursions in Malaga will help you to really get to know this amazing city, feel its flavor, see the main monuments. This article provides an overview of 15 of them.
Malaga Roman, Moorish, Catholic
Becoming a participant in a 4-hour walk through the Old Town, you will touch the amazing pages of its existence from antiquity to the present day. You will see different stages of social development, cultural and gastronomic traditions of Malagians. The journey starts from the central square of Puerta del Mar, where you will visit the Casa Aranda café, where you will have a cup of hot chocolate with churros, the traditional breakfast of the townspeople. A visit to the Mercado de Atharansas market will enrich the experience of the Andalusians' gastronomic passions.
Examining the grandiose structure - the Cathedral, you will learn extraordinary facts from the history of its construction and why the people called the temple “the one-armed madame”. You will see the remains of a Roman amphitheater - a symbol of Roman rule. Explore the walls and towers of the Alcazaba, which is the embodiment of the Moorish era. Later you will have the opportunity to relax in the cozy atmosphere of the El Pimni tavern. They will offer a glass of local wine and tapas.
Continuing the voyage, you will see the house where the famous surrealist Pablo Picasso was born, hear a lot of interesting things about the first years of his life. Climbing to the top of the hill, explore the Gibralfaro Castle, get an idea of the architecture of the past. You will be enchanted by the picturesque panorama of the sea bay, opening up from a bird's-eye view. Price 120 € for 1-4 persons, 25 € for each, if more than 4 persons.
Sightseeing tour with wine tasting
Participation in a short voyage (2.5 hours) will become a quick acquaintance with the appearance of a unique city with a special flavor and traditions. You will discover the authentic side of his life in atmospheric places. Enjoy the taste of a chocolate drink and churros dessert in one of the cafes. Walking along the street Larios, check out the local shops. You will learn about the influence of the Phoenicians on the fashion of Andalusia, about the New Year's customs of the inhabitants. An acquaintance with Antonio Banderas's apartment will be a pleasant surprise.
Walking through the labyrinths of narrow streets, be impressed by the Church of St. John the Baptist. Walk through the "heart" of the city - pl. Constitution, see the majestic Cathedral, hear the history of its construction. Impressed by the excavation of the Roman Theater, the Moorish fortress of the Alcazaba, admire the views below. On pl. La Merced you will approach the house of Picasso, examine the obelisk to the freedom fighters.
The final chord of immersion in the urban atmosphere is a visit to the oldest wine cellar, Casa Gaurdia. The atmosphere, warm welcome and delicious wine tasting will please you. You will get acquainted with how dessert wine is made here, how it is drunk. You will learn about traditional sorts of drink, about the legends associated with them. You will know why Pedro Gimines' wine ended up in Russia.
Walking in Old Malaga
During a 3-hour walk through the historical center of the city, you will plunge into its atmosphere, learn interesting information, and see unique objects. You will discover the nuances of the life of the townspeople, inconspicuous at first glance. You will be interested in the main symbols of the ancient city: the Roman Theater, the Episcopal Palace, the Cathedral and interesting facts from their history.
The charm of the picturesque streets will not leave you until the end of the walk. You will walk through the places where Picasso lived and began to create his masterpieces. You will find yourself on an inconspicuous street, consecrated with the soulful poetry of García Lorca. Soak up the spirit of temperamental flamenco at the venues where this incendiary dance takes place.
Get to know the gastronomic preferences of the Andalusians by visiting the central market and be impressed by the variety of traditional dishes and products. One of the city's best cafes will welcome you. Here you will feel like a Spanish by ordering a cup of coffee in Spanish. The luggage of "coffee" knowledge will be replenished with information about 9 sorts of coffee in Malaga style.
Price: 85 € for 1-4 persons
White villages of Andalusia
An extraordinary experience awaits you on a 5-hour drive through the area. You will see the "calling card" of Andalusia - its white villages, captivating with beautiful houses. But on the way to them you can be enchanted by the masterpieces created by Nature. Karst cave of Nerja will amaze with its large-scale size, bizarre stalagmites and stalactites. In it, you will come into contact with distant ancestors, examining the rock paintings of the Neanderthals. You will visit the hall where music festivals are held, where Rostropovich's cello and the magic soprano Caballe sounded.
In the city of Nerja, you will visit the observation deck "Balcony of Europe", overhanging the sea space. While admiring the delightful views of rocky beaches washed by the azure of the ocean, hear the romantic love story of King Alfonso II with a sad ending. In the Church of St. Salvador, you will be interested in the sculptures that represent Holy Week and learn about their sacred meaning.
At the end of the trip, head to the authentic village of Frigilianu. She will delight you with wonderful white houses, decorated with doors and shutters of different colors. Walking along the picturesque streets, you will learn why the villagers traditionally paint the walls white and how this is connected with the scourge of the Middle Ages - plague epidemics. Visiting the wine cellar, you will taste 2 varieties of local wine and appreciate its taste. Price 175 € for 1-4 persons Entrance to the cave € 13.75.
Historic center of Malaga
The main attractions of the Old Town will appear before you on a 5-hour journey through the foremother of Malaga - the historical center. You will touch the fortress walls erected by the Phoenicians almost 3 millennia ago. Feel the presence of the Romans and Arabs in these places, examining the ruins of the Roman theater, fortifications of the Arab period - Alcabasa and Gibralfaro.
Continuing the tour, you will get acquainted with the Spanish period of Malaga as the capital of the Andalusian province of Castilla-La Mancha. It houses the 4th largest airport in Spain, and cruise ships from all over the world dock at its port. The homeland of flamenco and bullfighting is famous for its famous fellow countrymen - the founder of Cubism in painting Pablo Picasso, Hollywood stars Antonio Banderas, etc. You will come to the houses where they were born and lived.
In the final part of the walk you will pay a visit to the old wine cellar "El Pimpi". In cozy authenticity, you will taste the taste of dessert wine, which was once loved by Sergei Yesenin, Empress Catherine II and famous English pirates. You can even sit in the places where the Duchess of Alba, Baroness Thyssen, Placido Domingo and other celebrities used to sit.Iberian jamon as a snack will complement the gourmet sensations and the sense of belonging to Spain. Voyage price 125 € for 1-4 persons.
Paella and Gazpacho: Master Class with a Chef from Andalusia
If you have not even heard of concepts such as paella and gazpacho, you can not only decipher the mysterious terms, but also learn how to cook these national dishes. In a 4-hour culinary workshop, you will discover the secrets of Andalusian cuisine. It will begin with a hike through the ancient market of Atarazanas, where, under the guidance of a guide, you will choose quality ingredients for future culinary masterpieces.
In a special workshop, you will meet the Maestro of Gastronomy, Master of the Guild of Chefs of Andalusia, a native Malagian. She will teach you a lesson in masterly cooking meat, fish or seafood paella (which one you decide when choosing products) The cooking process will be accompanied by tasting fresh bread, several varieties of olive oil, almonds. All this will be accompanied by the famous Malaga wine.
While the paella is boiling, you will cook cold tomato gazpacho soup, like Russian okroshka. In the process, learn how to properly cut tomatoes, determine the optimal rice readiness and comprehend other subtleties of cooking. The workshop will end with pleasant communication at the laid table with delicacies flaunting on it, which you will taste and appreciate with pleasure.
Travel to Seville
Who does not dream of visiting the famous Seville - the unique capital of Andalusia. The fatal gypsy beauty Carmen, the treasures of Columbus, the shooting of the sensational film "Game of Thrones", the Alcazar Palace and the irresistible beauty of the landscapes - this is all Seville. The trip, which takes 10 hours, will be a rich experience. You will see a giant Catholic cathedral, within whose walls the ashes of Columbus rest. By visiting the Archives of the Indies, you will learn a lot about the scale of plague disasters. Walk to the Alfonso XIII Hotel, where Tom Cruise stayed.
You will visit the place of work of Carmen, on the square where the atrocities of the Inquisition flourished in the 16th century. - burning witches at the stake. After an independent walk and lunch in one of the establishments, go to inspect the residence of the King of Spain - the luxurious Moorish palace Alcazar. You will not be left indifferent by the chic interiors and the rich art collection. The visual effect will be complemented by a story about life in a royal environment, about the intrigues of the court retinue. Here you will personally see the places shown in the scenes of the cult film "Game of Thrones". The price of the trip is 276 € for 1-4 people, a ticket to the Alcazar is 9.5 €.
Walk in the natural park "Malaga Mountains"
In a 5-hour stay outside the urban setting, you will experience the irresistible beauty of the natural park. Interesting discoveries related to the Moorish period of the city await you. For example, an authentic Arabian bath, surprising in its safety and functioning, as well as an aqueduct from which water comes. You will see many objects created by the Arabs: ruins of baths, feudal watchtowers, abandoned and active farms. The tunnels of natural origin, washed by river waters in sandy rocks, will surprise you. You will visit the hermits' hermits, hidden in secluded corners.
Stop at a roadside tavern in the village of La Pita and relax with lunch. You will be served original national dishes with excellent taste. They are in demand among city dwellers who come here on weekends. You will like them too. If you find yourself in the olive oil production season, taste the fresh product. Treat yourself to local wine, poured straight from the barrels. The guide can change the route according to your wishes. In any case, being in the bosom of nature will leave a lasting impression. The trip will cost 199 € for 1-4 people.
Expensive wine and jamon
If the topic of winemaking is your thing, taking part in the wine tasting tour will surely be a pleasure. In 3.5 hours, you will visit the Antiqua casa de Guardia bottling house of the last century, the old El Pimpi wine cellar with authentic interiors. In the atmosphere of the 50s of the 20th century, at the bar, you will drink 1-2 glasses of wine, learn the secrets of its making. If you wish, you can buy a bottle of the branded drink.
In the 250-year-old wine cellar, a kind of wine festival awaits you, where you will taste several varieties of the local drink. The famous "malaga" was described by Stevenson, depicting pirates in his works. Malaqa Virqen is a rich sweet wine loved by Europeans and Americans. No holiday is complete without the white dessert "Cartojal". Popular "Moscatel", "Lagrima", made from the same grape varieties. You will taste each of them from small glasses.
Here you will also get acquainted in detail with the cult delicacy of Spain - jamon. While eating aromatic slices of a sweet drink, you will hear about all the intricacies of the preparation of a favorite Andalusian product. Jamon, made from the leg of an Iberian pig fed with acorns, is especially famous. The unique drying method makes the meat incredibly tasty. You will see how skillfully a specially trained waiter slicing the ham is wielding a knife. For the gastronomic pleasure received, you will have to pay 110 € - 1-4 people.
Malaga with the Breeze: Sightseeing Segway Tour
In a 2-hour high-speed walk, you will visit many places in the city, driving a Segway after a short instruction. Rushing to the Cathedral, admire its Gothic appearance, mixed with other architectural styles, learn some of the moments of its construction. After driving along the immaculate paths of the city park, you will see the South American flora with its green parrots. Near the port of Malaga, see the excavations of the Roman amphitheater, hear a story about its discovery, about Roman baths and their purpose.
Take a ride around the walls of the Alcazaba fortress, get an idea of the former strength of the citadel. Effortlessly climb to the top of the hill to see the Arabian Castle of Gibralfaro. The unusual fate of the palace, the peculiarities of its architecture, set out in the guide's comments, will be interesting. Above will open an amazing panorama of the city, bordered by the bay. There you will find a bullfighting arena, listen to information about organizing cruel shows. Descending "from heaven to earth", look at the ships in the port, an ancient lighthouse. Finish your segway sprint in the quiet of the cozy bar for a drink. The cost is 80 € for the 1st or 50 € each, if more than the 1st.
Gastro-Historical Journey to Antequera
If you want to find yourself in a world of mysterious antiquities against the backdrop of endless olive groves, take the money on a 5-hour tour to Antequera. The impressions received in it will justify the time and money spent. The land of the oldest dolmens, which is 5 thousand years old, will conquer you with its mystery. These burial mounds are included in the UNESCO list as unique sites. The mountain "Sleeping Indian", which has become the main symbol of Antequera, will impress you.
The remains of Roman baths will clearly confirm the progressive era of the Romans. Hear about Arab influence when you visit the Moorish fortress. At the stops, you will be treated to local drinks and traditional culinary delights. To conclude your tour, visit the Antequerana production facilities, saturated with vanilla and cinnamon aromas. You will see an abundance of desserts and confectionery, learn the technology of their manufacture. With your consent, you will reach the unique Torcal Park, formed as a result of the displacement of the earth's crust. The cataclysm led to the formation of a fantastic landscape. The price for the excursion is 180 € - 1-6 people.
Drive to Ronda - the city soaring above the fortress
A breathtaking tour of the ancient city of Ronda will be a real emotional shock in the best possible sense of the word.Even the battered Hemingway was overwhelmed by the fantastic views surrounding Ronda. What other city in the world is located between the gigantic massifs of rocky monuments, separated by a gorge? It was here, among the stone giants, that the courageous art of bullfighting was born.
After walking along the park alleys of one part of Ronda, you will cross the stone bridge to another part of it. Then you will find yourself in the ancient Moorish La Ciudad and admire the intricate architecture in the Arabian style. After visiting the Alley of Bullfighters, imagine how the cruel confrontation between a man and an angry animal went on. Enjoy a legendary wine in one of the tavernas amid stunning views.
Throughout the journey, you will learn about the history of these incredible places. Find out what caused the bullfight to appear here, why Hemingway admired the Ronda. Get to know the opinions of other writers left by them in their works about Rhonda. For 1.5 hours out of 7, you will be able to walk around the unusual city on your own. The cost of the trip is 220 € for 1-4 persons.
Tapas Walking Tour in Malaga
Taking part in a 3-hour voyage through the bustling streets of the historic center, you will learn in practice what tapas is, appreciate this tradition and its components. In addition to gastronomic acquaintance, you will meet with the unique architectural symbols of the Old Town. You will walk along the main square, see the Cathedral, learn the history of long-term construction. Sit on the steps of the Roman Amphitheater and feel your involvement with the hoary antiquity. The remains of the walls and towers of the Moorish fortress Alcazaba will impress. You will approach the house of Picasso and understand why it was here that the genius of Cubism was destined to be born.
Then immerse yourself in the gastronomy area completely. Hear not only the theory of tapas, but also see in practice what it is. In a lively crowd, you will move from one tavern to another to see how the townspeople spend their leisure time. It will become clear to you that tapas are not just traditional snacks, but a way of companionship. Feast on jamon, seafood, fish or vegetarian options and marvel at them with a glass of Malaga wine. See how the Spaniards love to flavor everything with healthy olive oil.
The price of the voyage is 92 € for 1-2 persons. or 40 € each, if more than 2.
Malaga through the eyes of the locals
Are you afraid to walk for a long time while sightseeing? You can do this by ordering an auto-walking tour of the city's iconic sites. In 3 hours, you will see its visual history, captured in cultural and architectural monuments. Leaving the car at the 1st stop, you will see the Sea Square and the magnificent embankment, with a statue of the people's favorite Senachero. Find out why the fishmonger has become a symbol of the region. Walking along the alleys of the Botanical Garden, you will not get tired of admiring its landscape paintings.
Ancient objects: fragments of the walls of a Phoenician fortress, a Roman trading post - will return to the distant past. The neo-Mudejar style of architecture of the former Post Office, the neoclassical appearance of the Central Bank and the government building will delight you with extraordinary beauty. A pleasant "highlight" of the tour is photographing at the touching monument "Seller of Jasmine" among slender cypresses and orange trees. You will be amazed by the grace of the Three Graces fountain, at the old hospital you will learn about the fate of the British doctor, after whom the institution is named.
Arriving at the square. Plaza de Toros, see the oldest battle arena, shaped like the Colosseum. Climbing the Gibralfaro hill, walk along the walls of the Arab fortress of the same name. From the summit, be captivated by the compelling coastline below. Then you will drive to the places associated with Picasso: to the house-museum, to the square on which his work was born. In conclusion, visit the Church of Our Lady of Victory, where the sacred symbol of the city is kept. Price € 215 per trip.
Penas de Cabrera caves
Finding yourself in a prehistoric setting, touching the secrets of distant, distant ancestors who lived 30 thousand years ago, will allow a 5-hour journey to ancient caves. The oldest formations - caves - are hidden in the shade of the dense oak forests of Penas de Cabrera. Entering them, consider the "messages" of our ancestors inscribed on the rocks. You will try to answer the questions, decipher the meaning of the symbolic drawings left by ancient artists. There will be something to reflect on.
Feeling like an explorer, walk along a winding path to a relict oak forest and discover a flat area. Someone surrounded it with rows of stones, marking the boundaries. Here one will involuntarily think that this is a "veche place" where clans and tribes solved problems, made fateful decisions. Nothing will break the close contact with the millennial reality. An old-time olive tree (1,300 years old), a message about the yet to be excavated Roman city of Aristipi, which is almost 3 thousand years old, will amaze your imagination.
Loaded with impressions, head to the medieval tavern Patas Cortas, where you will find home comfort and a delicious lunch. There will be an opportunity to discuss what you saw, share your emotions and learn interesting facts from the history of the tavern, opened in 1490. She hospitably welcomes traveling tourists who speak flatteringly about the local cuisine. They are prepared from farm products, game and homemade wine. The trip costs 199 € excluding lunch.
