Malaga Weekend Escape

Malaga is best known for its wonderful weather (300 days of sunshine!), historic spots and being the home city of the famous artist Pablo Picasso.

Where to stay: I would recommend to stay at “NH Malaga”. The location is great being near the city centre and has a little swimming pool where you can chill after a busy day visiting the city. I am not a big fan of Malaga’s beaches, which is why I would recommend to book a hotel with swimming pool especially if going during the hot months.

When to go: I would recommend to go in May, June, September or October that way you will have a good balance between good weather and not that many people. July and August tend to be extremely busy with tourists and are also super-hot months so better to avoid if possible.

Day 1: City centre and must visits

• Museo Picasso: start the day by going to the Picasso museum. It is important to buy the tickets in advance online and I would recommend to get early morning tickets to try to beat the crowds as this is a very popular spot. The museum is just 13 min walk from the hotel. On the way to the museum you will pass Calle Larios which is one of the main streets for shopping in the city.

The idea was first mooted in 1953 by Pablo Picasso and Juan Temboury Álvarez, then Málaga’s Provincial Delegate of Fine Arts. The painter wanted his work to have a place in Málaga, the city of his birth, but the plan soon fell apart. In 1997, the Regional Government of Andalusia purchased Bellavista Palace to house the museum, and Picasso’s widow and Bernard Ruiz-Picasso (the artist’s grandson) donated 233 works to the museum. Thus, fifty years later, the Museo Picasso Málaga finally became a reality and was inaugurated by Their Majesties King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía on 2003.

• La Alcazaba de Málaga: from the museum make your way towards the Alcazaba (10 min walk). Visiting the Alcazaba takes around 90 minutes.

The Alcazaba is a palatial fortification built during the period of Muslim-ruled Al-Andalus. The current complex was begun in the 11th century and was modified or rebuilt multiple times up to the 14th century. It is one of the best-preserved alcazabas in Spain. The Alcazaba is also connected by a walled corridor to the higher Castle of Gibralfaro, and adjacent to the entrance of the Alcazaba are remnants of a Roman theatre dating to the 1st century AD.

• Teatro Romano: the Roman theatre can be seeing from the outside so you don’t need a ticket or you can choose to walk around when buying the Alcazaba ticket. The Roman theatre dates to the 1st century AD.

• Catedral de Málaga: The Cathedral of Málaga is a Catholic church which follows the Renaissance architectural tradition. The cathedral is located within the limits defined by a now missing portion of the medieval Moorish walls, the remains of which surround the nearby Alcazaba and the Castle of Gibralfaro. It was constructed between 1528 and 1782, following the plans drawn by Diego de Siloe; its interior is also in Renaissance style.

For lunch you can go to “Casa Lola”. There are few around the city centre and their tapas is really popular so that can be a great option.

For dinner “El Pimpi” is a classic however it’s super important to book well in advance as even though the restaurant is huge, the queues can be even bigger!

If the 2 above are very full, another option is to go a bit outside the centre and go to “La Peregrina” a delicious seafood bar/ restaurant.

Day 2: Castillo de Gibralfaro and Port

Something that not everyone knows is that you can visit the two most famous monuments (Alcazaba & Castillo de Gibralfaro) on separate days but note that it is cheaper to buy the Alcazaba + Gibralfaro ticket together. You have 24 hours to visit the two monuments so you can go to the Alcazaba on one day, and to the Gibralfaro on the other.

• Castillo de Gibralfaro: the Castillo is up on a hill and to get here there are 2 options of walks you can do, Coracha and Mundo Nuevo. It will take around 20 to 30 minutes reach the Castillo. It is better to go up for Mundo Nuevo and go down for the Coracha way. This way, you will avoid to walk under the sun while you walk up the mountain. If you don’t want to walk, bus 35 which you can take at the stop of Alameda Principal or at Parque de Malaga will take you there.

Gibralfaro has been the site of fortifications since the Phoenician foundation of Málaga city, circa 770 BC. The location was fortified by Caliph Abd-al-Rahman III in 929 CE. At the beginning of the 14th century, Yusuf I of the Kingdom of Granada expanded the fortifications within the Phoenician lighthouse enclosure and erected a double wall to the Alcazaba. The castle is famous for its three-month siege in 1487 by the Catholic monarchs , King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, which ended when hunger forced the Arabs to surrender.

• Walk around the Puerto: while I will not recommend to go to the port for dinner, I do recommend to go for a drink during sunset of after dinner as the views are absolutely beautiful. The recommended place to have a drink is “Cobalto 15”.

For lunch or dinner that day you can go to “La Clasica”, a great tapas bar. I recommend to try the gambas and the gazpacho.