Malaga: A Gem Hiding In Plain Sight

February 2023

Málaga City is the capital of Málaga province in the region of Andalucía. It has a population of around 600,000. Many Málaga residents are from nations outside of Spain. Like other ports in Andalucía, Málaga was settled by the Phoenicians, later by the Romans, the Moors, and the Christians. The remains of these civilizations can be explored in Malaga’s museums and monuments.

Modern day Málaga lives alongside of its history. The Moorish Alcazaba and the Castle of Gibralfaro look down upon the city from the mountaintop. A visit to these sites provides fantastic views of the city and the port below. At night, they are lit up and provide a stunning backdrop to Málaga’s nightlife. Steps from the Alcazaba is the Roman Theatre and the Cathedral. Trendy shopping and great cuisine, along with a selection of fine museums and art galleries share space with archeological finds. An easy stroll from the old town will take you to Muelle Uno, Málaga’s waterfront boardwalk, where you will find restaurants, cafés, bars, and plenty of street entertainers. Beyond the boardwalk are Málaga’s beaches, a beautiful paseo for walking, and more great restaurants and beach bars (chirringuitos). Nestled between the port and the beaches is the neighborhood where we rented an apartment for the month of February. In February, the days are sunny and pleasant (64 degrees F) and nights are chilly (47 degrees F). Considered the off-season, rentals tend to be reasonable this time of year.

Above:Views from our balcony

During our stay in Málaga, we reconnected with Ken and Cally, Canadian friends that we met while on vacation in Portugal a few years ago.

Above : Enjoying the beautiful Jardín Botánico (Botanical Garden) and a shellfish spread at the Ataranzas Market.

Málaga was the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. There are two sites were visitors can enjoy his art: The Picasso Birth Home (and gallery) and The Picasso Museum.

The Museo de Vidrio y Cristal (Glass and Crystal Museum) is a private collection housed in a restored 1700’s mansion. It is only accessible by guided tour with ticket purchase. We had the pleasure of touring with Ian, one of the owners. The collection is impressive and beautifully displayed in various rooms of the home.

Pedregalejo is the old fishing village east of Málaga City. We discovered it by accident while walking the beach walk. We passed Baños de Carmen, the ruins of a 1918 spa resort for the wealthy. There is currently a restaurant on site. A bit further on, we turned toward the water and discovered the charming coves and boardwalk of Pedregalejo. We stopped for coffee at one of the charming places along the walkway. Lunch was fully booked, so we made a reservation for a front line table for lunch the next day. We had the smoked fish of the day and it was delicious! The ambiance was perfect.

In my opinion, Málaga is a highly underrated city. Because it is a stop for cruise ships, many people spend part of a day there. Hopefully, they walk a little further than the port area or take a guided walking tour. Other visitors fly into Málaga and immediately take a bus or a taxi to one of the resort towns along the coast. From Málaga one can take a train to many destinations in Spain. We flew from Málaga to Marrakech for our ten day adventure in Morocco (see my Morocco posts). I encourage you to explore beyond Málaga, but also to take the time to explore Málaga City itself. It is truly a gem hiding in plain site.

For more about Málaga City, see my post: “Málaga Sites and Málaga Nights.”