THINGS TO VISIT IN MALAGA

1. The Alcazaba of Malaga

The Alcazaba is probably the most well-known tourist attraction in Malaga.

Built in the 11th century by the Moors, this palace was both the home of Muslim rulers and a fortress to protect and defend the city from the Catholics.

The site is very well preserved and maintained. During your visit you’ll discover the courtyards, patios, fountains and sumptuous gardens. As it’s built on a hill overlooking Malaga, it offers a lovely view over the sea and port.

There’s also a small archaeological museum showcasing Moorish pottery and ceramics.

If you want to know more about the history of the place, you should book a guided tour of the Alcazaba. It lasts about 1.5 hours and costs only 8€ per person. It even includes the Roman theater ruins .

2. Gibralfaro castle

Another place you must visit in Malaga is Gibralfaro castle.

It had a barrack to house soldiers, as well as a lighthouse. That’s actually where the castle got its name from: Gibralfaro means “mountain of light”.

There is a building right at the entrance to learn more about the history of the castle, but the visit is mainly worth it for the view over Malaga and the sea from the ramparts. On clear days it’s even possible to see the Strait of Gibraltar.

It’s the best scenic view over the Malaga, and it’s also very nice at night with all the city lights.

3. The Malaga Cathedral

The cathedral is one of the best places to visit in Malaga.

It’s one of the tallest in Andalucia, you can see it from far away! Construction work started in the 16th century, on the foundations of the city’s old mosque.

Construction lasted for 200 years, and got suddenly halted because of a lack of funding. As a result, the cathedral was never completely finished, and has only one bell tower (whereas 2 were planned to be build). Locals even call it “La Manquita” (meaning the armless one).

You can climb the 200 steps to go up the 87 meters high tower: you’ll be able to enjoy a 360° scenic view over the whole city, the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro castle.

Don’t miss out on the interiors either to see the decorated ceiling, the beautiful stained-glass windows, the chapels or even the 4000 pipes organ.

4. Museums to visit in Malaga

You may not know about it, but there are a lot of museums in Malaga. Actually, with almost 30 museums, the city has proudly become the cultural capital of Andalucia.

Here is a list of museums to visit during your trip to Malaga (depending on your tastes and interests):

· Picasso Birthplace Museum: where he was born in 1881. You’ll learn more about his life and will see some of his personal belongings on display.

· Picasso Museum with more than 200 artworks from the artist

· Carmen Thyssen Museum with its extensive collection of Spanish and Andalusian paintings

· Pompidou Centre Malaga, is a branch of the famous Pompidou Centre in Paris

· Russian Art Museum offers a collection of Russian art pieces in an old tobacco factory

· Museo de Malaga with an archaeology section, a Moorish section and a Spanish paintings section.

· Flamenco Art Museum dedicated to the traditional Spanish dance.

· Museum of Glass and Crystal to see the private collection of an Andalusian aristocrat

· Malaga Centre for Contemporary Art dedicated to 20th and 21th century

· National Museum of Airports and Air Transport

· Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions

5 Malaga Beaches

During your trip to Malaga, it would be a shame not to enjoy the beaches close by. They are perfect to relax a bit!

Here is a selection of the best beaches around Malaga:

· Malagueta beach located next to the port, it’s the closest from the city center

· Pedregalejo beach, located a bit East of Malagueta

· La Caleta beach, very crowded during summertime

· El Palo beach, a family-friendly beach located in the fishermen neighborhood

· La Misericordia beach, a large sandy beach, one of the most popular in Malaga

· El Campo de Golf beach very popular among kite-surfers

· San Andrés beach, another popular beach, there is also a grassy areas and a playground

· Penon del Cuervo beach: young people love it, it’s a great place to party and have a barbecue!

6. Montes de Malaga Natural Park

During your stay in Malaga, you should really go to Montes Natural Park. It’s really the perfect place to enjoy some fresh air not too far from the city!

Considered as “Malaga’s green lung”, it’s located about 25km up North from the city center.

The park is 5000 hectares wide, with marked paths for hiking. Most of the hiking paths suit all levels and are not very long, so you can easily combine a few during a day.

It’s also possible to rent mountain bikes and ride along the 2 mountain bike trails. You can choose between a 7km or a 14km itinerary.

The park is well equipped with picnic areas and even a few restaurants serving “plato de los montes“. This mountain dish is a local speciality: it’s made of pork loin, sausages, blood sausage and eggs, with a side dish of potatoes and fried bell peppers. Needless to say it should satisfy your hunger!

You can also go see the ecomuseum located in the visitor center, explaining how wine, bread or olive oil are made.

DON'T FORGET TO VISIT MALAGA AND ITS SURROUNDINGS WITH:

www.gettransfermalagaairport.com