City Guide
District Guide
Málaga is a city full of history and tradition, but it is also the capital of the Costa del Sol. Cosmopolitan and welcoming, it is a home away from home for the traveler because of the locals' deep sense of hospitality. We will give you just a sampling of what this city of light and sand has to offer, because we are sure you will want to come back to experience more.
Old Town
Málaga’s Old Town is home to the bulk of the city’s historic buildings, some of which date back to the first century BCE. The city’s Old Town is also where you will find the majority of the museums, like the Museo de Arte Sacro (Religious Art), the Picasso Museum and Museo Carmen Thyssen to name just a few. You will be going back a few centuries when you visit the Alcazaba, the Teatro Romano (Roman Theater), the Cathedral, with its one tower missing, and the Palacio de la Aduana (Customs House) near Paseo del Parque. While strolling through the Old Town you can't miss Calle Larios, one of the most beautiful commercial streets in Spain, the most well known street in the city and a definite must-see. The most symbolic experiences you can have in Málaga are to visit the Cenachero (the bronze sculpture of a young fisherman carrying his cenacho or basket of fish), and then to have a generous helping of fresh anchovies. For a bird's eye view of all this, go up the Castillo de Gibralfaro (Gibralfaro Castle). You will be rendered speechless by the apparent melding of the Old Town, sea and the sky.
Port of Málaga & the Coast
The whole of Málaga is a never-ending beach, stretching from Misericordia, which goes as far as the port area, to the beaches of Peñón del Cuervo near the hamlet of Cala del Moral. Take a walk along the Paseo Marítimo Antonio Machado (promenade) to the Port of Malaga, and pause for something to eat or drink in one of the many refreshment stands that line the way. In Pedregalejo the coves are protected by natural stone breakwaters. The beaches of El Palo retain the atmosphere of the old fishing villages, with the taste and smell of fish, and the images of fishermen throwing out their nets and drawing in their catches of silvery sardines. This coastal area is packed with little boats in many shades of blue. Here, the sand is a little darker, but the Mediterranean is always the same.
Los Montes & Outside the City
You take the old Granada road to reach the most beautiful area of Málaga. The many natural scenic lookouts along this route offer magnificent views of the bay, and there is the added interest of experiencing the unique gastronomy, anthropology and history of the area. The whole area is dotted with inns. Some are in the style of rustic taverns, like Venta Tres Cincos and Túnel. In these places you can try the typical local Los Montes wine- sweet, dry or semi-sweet - and a dish of the local cuisine along with it. The Anthropology Museum is located in this area, right in the Parque Natural de las Contadoras. Here you can view old wine presses and oil mills, and if you are lucky enough to arrive during grape harvesting you might be able to join in the treading of the grapes, that will later become the exquisite Málaga muscatel.
