Málaga province is one of the most popular areas to visit in Spain. These are just 5 reasons why you should visit and explore this fascinating part of Spain.
Experience the Renaissance of Málaga
When I first moved to Spain over 12 years ago, I wrote an article about why Málaga was more than just an airport. Few people had really considered visiting our province’s capital, it was just the place from which they travelled onwards – usually along the coast. Not anymore.
Málaga has experienced a renaissance. It has turned from a port city to a beautiful, buzzing hub with artistic flair, gorgeous architecture, wonderful bars and restaurants, and an atmosphere that can’t be beaten.
The city is bursting with history. The only Pompidou museum outside France is here. A revamped harbour with bars, restaurants and shops is a great place to hang out, people (and boat) watch, and enjoy a cocktail as the sun sets. There are fiestas, an August feria, some of the best Christmas light displays in Europe. Mountains and countryside, beaches, sports, art…the list goes on.
The likes of American Vogue, The Independent, The Telegraph and other illustrious publications are also championing Málaga as one of the places to visit in 2023. You wouldn’t want to miss out, would you.
Hiking and Cycling
Take a gentle amble along the coastal board walk. Or for the more energetic tackle the steep mountain paths of the Axarquía or Sierra de Mijas. A mid-way is to explore the interior of the province around Antequera and Archidona. Head for the countryside around Villanueva del Trabuco where water flows from Los 100 Caños, before dining in style at one of Toma & Coe’s favourite restaurants, Arxiduna in Archidona.
Málaga may not have an official Via Verde (Green Way), but there are plenty of routes along disused railtracks for hiking and cycling. A Toma favourite is from Periana in Málaga’s Axarquia to Zafarraya where Málaga and Granada provinces meet.
Old Towns and White Villages
Marbella may be known for the glamour of the jet set, but its Old Town takes you back in time. Wander the maze of whitewashed back streets, with their boutique shops, bars and restaurants. Similarly, the Old Town of Estepona just along the coast, has the feel of Spain from yesteryear and is a great place to stop outside the ‘Golden Mile’ of Marbella and Puerto Banús.
Head into the mountains anywhere in Málaga province and you’ll stumble across whitewashed villages, many with spectacular views. Frigiliana and Casares were named as two of National Geographic’s 100 most beautiful villages list, and definitely worth a visit.
Picasso and Málaga art
2023 is known as a Picasso Year as it marks 50 years since the artist’s death. Born in Málaga, Pablo Picasso was a natural artist, creating incredible works from a very early age. To celebrate his life and work, Málaga is one of the main destinations this year for the official expositions.
However, any year is a good year to visit Málaga and visit the house of his birth, the Picasso Museum exhibiting a number of his works, and even to get a selfie sat next to his statue in the pretty Plaza de la Merced.
And Málaga isn’t limited to one master. The art galleries which abound in this elegant seaside city cover centuries of local and international art.
Toma & Coe has self-guided and guided art tours of Málaga, both of which allow you to soak up the artistic ambience, and also enjoy a tapas or two.
Centuries of Flavour
Gastronomy or Culinary Travel is definitely ‘a thing’. And where better than Málaga to take your tastebuds on a journey through the centuries.
Málaga has been inhabited since Phoenician times, and its cuisine has grown with the times. Along with dishes dictated by the land, sea and climate, invaders have also brought their flavours with them, think spices from North Africa courtesy of the Moors.
Chiringuitos (beach restaurants) cook their fish over an open fire. Mountain villages serve up chivo in salsa almendra (kid in almond sauce). Traditional tapas with an ice-cold beer are a great way to ease yourself into a night of food and fun.
But Málaga cuisine, like time, has not stood still; variations on the province’s flavours abound in Michelin-starred and modern restaurants. Take a trip to Málaga, your tastebuds will thank you for it.
To help you make the most of your time in Málaga, contact Toma & Coe. We can arrange extended tours, day trips or guided tours taking in the best our province has to offer.
