A long year is behind us, and I think we could all benefit from a bit of Malaga to unwind.
And why Malaga? Well, do you love the beach? And how does a cold glass of Spanish Cava sound, maybe even with delicious sardine skewers or a tasty gazpacho on the side? Or perhaps you love a great nightlife and want loads of options on a Saturday night?
If you said Yes! to any of the above, that’s more than enough of an excuse to book that ticket to Malaga ASAP!
If you’re still unsure—let’s tickle your imagination a bit.
First, I’ll tell you that Malaga’s city center will leave you in awe. It starts with all these tiny squares and charming narrow streets full of people, shops, and bars, that will make you think Oh! Okay, this is cozy and nice. But just a few moments later, as you are walking the streets up and down, you will exit onto this beautiful, enormous, Larios Street. It’s the main shopping street, so ample and always full of people (well, maybe except during siesta). This street is also very often decorated and draped in all sorts of colors. Even though it depends on the part of the year—Malaga, like the rest of Andalusia—will find all the excuses to put on a bit of festive makeup.
Besides that spectacular city center, Malaga has a lot more—we’re just getting started. Malaga seems to actually have it all—a beautiful and busy coastline, a lot of green corners and shade, a number of intriguing historical landmarks, and a colorful nightlife. So, in a sense, it truly has something for everybody.
What should you put on your must-see list?
There are loads of articles online on what not to miss in Malaga, so I won’t write just another post like that.
Here’s what I know: In 2017, Malaga was the first stop on my Erasmus journey, and I came to this city completely unprepared. When I think about it now, I don’t know why I didn’t check what to do or see in Malaga—maybe I was young or just inexperienced—but I just didn’t. I packed my bags to move to a nearby city, Jaen, as an exchange student, and Malaga was just an exciting stop before I reached my destination. But this unpreparedness turned out great for me, because it created this adventurous atmosphere full of accidental discoveries. I didn’t know what to expect, and I was surprised by every step I took.
So, with that in mind, I wanted to create a flexible tour guide for you, just nudging you in a certain direction, so you can discover you’re own favorite spots. I want you to feel the city, because, in the end, we are all different. I want to help you to find a part of yourself in Malaga because I know she holds a part of all of us somewhere, and in some things—we just need to look for it.
Connect to your adventurous side
Listen: this tour guide will work only if you put on your adventure cap. The whole point is that you find your own connection with the city. So, you must trust your gut. Don’t follow my guide word by word if it doesn’t seem like you.
If you feel like skipping a super famous monument or not going to the beach at all, and you end up spending the day walking around and finishing off with a kebab on the street—good for you. You’ve got to see the real-life, am I right?
So, go with the flow and look for secret clues that make YOU fall in love with this city.
Great experiences lie in every corner. And if you happen to miss something big, don’t cry over it! Look at it as an opportunity to come back another time or just accept that if you had a great time doing whatever you did, it was a good call.
I now also look up places before I visit and tend to plan what I’d like to see. But, I always leave space for wandering around the place without a plan, and let go of the guilt before I arrive because I know there will be things I will not manage to see because something else will turn my head. And that’s okay!
So, with all that in mind, here’s my flexible list of suggestions on what to do in Malaga in 2022 based on what type of traveler you are!
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Alcazaba and Castillo Gbrialfaro – walk through Malaga’s history and gardens
This suggestion is for all the history buffs, more classical tourists, those who love a great city walk or an urban hike, those who enjoy looking at a city from the birds’ perspective, and those who find walking through historical landmarks immersive and meditative.
So, how does this sound: you’ll go to one of the oldest and most important landmarks in Malaga, where you’ll learn about its medieval history, relax in the shade, and finish the tour with a mesmerizing aerial view of the city? If that sounds like something you would enjoy, then the famous Alcazaba and the Castle of Gibralfaro are for you!
I won’t spoil it much, because I want to give you that surprise effect, but you’ll have the opportunity to go back in time and explore two major landmarks from completely different periods and enjoy a complex perfect for hikers, walkers, viewers, and history lovers. If you want to make it about stories and history, this is the place to be.
You can learn about the conflicts, rulers, or stroll through the Arab baths and imagine the olden days. If you are not so much into this and you are just a wanderer, get lost in the labyrinth of fountains, baths, gardens, and passages; investigate the walls and the paths, corners, and the bushes.
If you are a hiker and a nature lover, this is also a great spot for you. It is a long walk uphill to the castle and the palace, which makes it a great exercise with lots of greenery.
And lastly, if you’re a painter, a sketcher, a photographer, a daydreamer, or you’re there just for the views, you can enjoy the 360 views of the city, the sea, the ships, the buildings, the rooftops, and the life going beneath your feet. In my opinion, looking at the above is a wonderful way to get to know the city and its patterns.
So, as you see—this one landmark can be a great spot for many different people, and only when you decide to experience it the way you want it, will it make the most sense.
Heads up: do prepare for lots of tourists around you, so I’d suggest you take your time and look for peaceful corners for just yourself and your thoughts.
Weekend Beach Festival – the perfect excuse to let a bit loose
If you’re feeling young, wild, and free, book your tickets to Torre Del Mar’s Weekendbeach Festival. On just a half-hour trip from Malaga center, this little town becomes the center of attention during the first week of July.
Of course, I’m joking—you don’t have to be crazy, young, or wild to enjoy a good festival, especially one on the beach. Weekendbeach festival’s lineup has something for everyone, and the beach is, well, like always, welcoming to all, and the atmosphere is whatever you make of it.
Are you down to party all night long? No problem, just the place for that. Or maybe you’re more of a listen to one artist and then have a light dinner and go to bed by 10 PM kind of person? No problem with that either. Just don’t book the accommodation in the camp, and you should be good to go!
Or maybe you’d like to enjoy the hot sand and cold waves and not be bothered by the music for most parts, but then you’d like to have one night letting your hair down and dancing? Not to worry, the beach has its private corners, and not the whole festival takes it up. There’s plenty of room for every person who comes to Torre Del Mar during the Weekendbeach festival, and that’s what’s amazing!
I know festivals aren’t for everybody, and you’re free to skip this part altogether! But let me tell you: we slept like babies, 5-8 hours a night, listened to just about 5-8 artists, sunbathed like crazy, swam, and enjoyed the sea, and the best of it all—the food in Torre Del Mar was exceptional!
And if you prefer to stay and party in Malaga center, you’ll have plenty of choices—from coctails by the marina, to bars and nightclubs in the city center. If you don’t know where to go, just put on your best look and direct yourself to the center. You will be invited to clubs in no time, I promise you that. The best days for going out are Thursdays and Saturdays.
Game Day – go bar hopping with local football lovers
Well, this one is a bit different but very flexible!
The only thing you need to do is to be in Malaga during a big football (soccer) game. I know, I know… it doesn’t sound that flexible. But—trust me on this—it is not going to be that hard considering how crazy Spaniards go for football. For you as a tourist, this is interesting, because they love to watch games together in bars and cafes.
And believe me, that one of the craziest and most local experiences you can have is to find yourself inside this atmosphere. You can choose the game, the place, the crowd, whatever you like, but be prepared for some passionate cheering.
Even if you are not a football fan, you will definitely enjoy the smiles, shouts, and positivity. Spaniards love their players and support their teams with positive and passionate cheering; it’s something else to experience this.
The craziest atmosphere will be in the city center in the pubs and tapas bars, but if you don’t like crowds, maybe it’s better to wander off to the insides of the city, where you could find local places with fewer people and enjoy the game with them.
If you show any interest at all, they will welcome you with open arms, so don’t worry if you enter a super local place. The best stories come from those, anyway.
El Palo, Malaga – eat and swim like a local just half an hour from the city
Cool suggestions—but where is the real beach vacation!? – You might be thinking. Well—here it is!
Here is a suggestion for a truly peaceful and sea-inspired vacation. Just sit on a bus and go to one of the villages in the Malaga region.
And yes, Malaga has a very famous city beach, La Malagueta, and while the beach is great, especially if you combine it with sightseeing, drinks, or shopping, I know you’re going to discover this without my help. So, I’d like to give you a tiny “local” tip and help you explore a bit further than the city beach. This is especially for those who will stay a few days in Malaga and would like to experience a more local vibe, away from the tourist epicenters.
There are so many little villages on the coastline that you can visit for only 2-6 euros and a 15-30 minute bus ride from Malaga city center.
These places are a heaven for a more relaxed and private vacation. The beaches and food in these places are something else. The food is super fresh and local, and restaurants are run by families or local fishermen. The beaches are raw, natural, and just give off retro family vacation vibes.
If you eat seafood, the best thing you can do is try Malaga’s famous espeto. Espeto is a snack made of six sardines on a skewer, grilled over coal right in the beach sand. It is a delicacy. Beach bars are selling a crisp glasss of cold beer and a sardine skewer for 3 euros total. Honestly, what else could you wish for!?
If you’re a real foody, I’d definitely recommend visiting one of these little villages, regardless of the beach and vacationing, at least for lunch, because the quality is incomparable with mainstream restaurants. Everything is locally produced and prepared with thoughtfulness and tradition, and the service is, of course, much more personalized and heartwarming.
So if you’re exploring Malaga’s best dishes or best beaches, or you just want to get away from the city crowd a bit, pack your things and find the perfect village around Malaga for yourself. I bet you will have a hard time leaving once you are there.
Our personal choice is El Palo, which I can’t recommend enough—but hey, we all have different tastes! Ask around, investigate, or just sit on a bus and get off when you see something you like. Tap into that adventurous spirit you brought with you, and I promise you’ll find yourself a personal little paradise.
Airbnb yacht – explore Benalmadena like you’ve just sailed in
If you feel like relaxing by the sea and sunbathing, and the ordinary Airbnb just doesn’t make the experience unforgettable, why not book a cabin on a yacht in the port of Benalmadena?
Yes, you’ve heard that correctly. You can spend your entire vacation on a boat, chilling, sunbathing, and enjoying the pretending you’re a yach owner at least for a few days. If you’ve never had a chance of trying out something like that, now is the perfect opportunity. You will have all that you need: a living room, a bedroom, a toilet, a kitchen, and all the kitchen amenities that you need—but you’ll live in a yacht—how fun is that!?
Sleeping on a small yacht below the water surface is something different. It can be a bit frightening, but it is certainly amusing. You fall asleep with waves crashing on your window and wake up to seagulls cruising the port for food. You hear boat sirens and listen to all that sailor talk you don’t really understand.
Moreover, the beach is super close to the port, and the best thing is that on Thursdays, the restaurants lining the port open like it’s the most special night of the year, and it becomes the nightlife center. Just imagine—everything is glossy and sparkly; people are drinking wine, cocktails, laughing, and living their best lives. It feels like a huge, luxurious boat party, and you are a part of it.
Of course, you can still visit the port and this luxurious nightlife center without actually sleeping on a boat. As much fun and experience as this can be, I understand it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Either way, there are plenty of accommodation choices nearby that are more convenient, especially for longer stays. If that’s more your thing, our friend Paulina wrote a great article on some of the best Airbnbs in Malaga, so we recommend checking that out! Wherever you stay, sitting on a local bus and going a bit out of Malaga will do wonders, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
I hope you don’t need any more convincing to see why Malaga should be your top destination in 2022 and why you should give it a shot.
Whenever you go, do try some of these 5 things we recommend doing in Malaga and add your twist to them. For some other fun suggestion, check out Get Your Guide. You’ll find tons of other unusual activities to spice up your trip there.
Go for it and have an adventure of a lifetime—Malaga is waiting for you!
Salud!
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