One night in Málaga – sights and tips

Málaga may be the second largest city in Andalusia, but the port city is not on the winner’s podium among the tourist hotspots of southern Spain. Most visitors to Andalusia only know the airport and from there the way to the holiday strongholds on the Costa del Sol or to the culturally rich hinterland, which offers Granada, Cordoba and Seville. Our trip to Andalusia also started and ended at Málaga airport. However, we didn’t want to just leave the up-and-coming port city behind and had reserved an extra 24 hours to take a look at Málaga.

Done in Malaga – The Best Sights

Altstadtbummel | Calle Marqués de Larios

The Centro Histórico is compact and can be easily explored on foot. In addition to the beautiful promenade Calle Larios, the old town impresses with a colorful mix of architecture from different eras. Manor houses, monasteries and churches from the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as commercial buildings built from the 19th century onwards. The most representative building of the flourishing 19th century is the Mercado Central de Atarazanas. Another highlight is “La Manquita”. Málaga Cathedral owes its nickname “the one-armed woman” to its incomplete second tower.

There is also no shortage of beautiful places in the centre. The largest of these is the palm-fringed Plaza de la Constución, where Calle Larios ends. My favourite place, on the other hand, is the secluded Plaza de la Merced, where the birthplace of Pablo Picasso is located. The numerous bars and taverns in the old town are usually filled to capacity in the evening. An institution – and to be found in every travel guide – is the traditional bodega Bar El Pimpi. If you walk past here anyway, you can at least take a look inside and start the tapas evening with a Tinto.

Aiming high | Castillo de Gibralfaro

Not far from the Plaza de la Merced are two other attractions of Málaga. On the one hand, the medieval fortress of Alcazaba, which rises above the Roman theatre. On the other hand, the Castillo de Gibralfaro, which towers 130 meters above the port. If you follow the path uphill towards the castle, you will soon reach a great viewpoint with a view over the bullring, the newly designed harbour and the city centre of Málaga.

Hafenstadt | Pier One

Not long ago, the harbour was separated from the rest of the city by a fence. With a far-sighted urban planning project, the entire area was completely redesigned and opened up to the city. The new waterfront promenade with shops and restaurants “Muelle Uno” has conquered the hearts of the Malagueños in a very short time. The dark clouds didn’t stop us from strolling along the undulating covered promenade to the Centre Pompidou Málaga and from there to the very front to Playa de la Malagueta, the city beach.

Contemporary Art | CAC Málaga

With the Museo Picasso, the Museo Carmen Thyssen and the Museo y Centro de Arte Contemporáneo (CAC), Málaga offers a wide range of exhibitions for art lovers in a small space. We took a tour of the exhibition of the Center for Contemporary Art CAC Málaga, which is located on the banks of the Guadalmedina River, which cuts through Málaga along the north-south axis and whose riverbed is a mecca for street artists. Admission to the CAC is free and the changing exhibitions feature current exhibits by artists such as Damien Hirst and Ai Weiwei.

Eaten in Malaga – Restaurants, bars and cafes

Frühstücksglück | Recyclo Bike-Café, Calle Marqués Villafiel 4

Málaga surprised us with its wide range of culinary delights. In addition to the usual tapas bars and traditional restaurants, which are listed in the usual travel guides, there are some delicious cafés and trendy bars to discover in the narrow streets of the old town. We happened to walk past the cozy Recyclo Bike Cafe. Good coffee and, in typical Andalusian style, freshly made sandwiches with avocado and tomatoes are served here.

Hip und gut | Noviembre Restaurant, Calle Álamos 18

The Noviembre convinces with a stylish interior, good salads and delicious burgers. A popular brunch spot with the locals and the perfect lunch stop for us.

Sweet Break | Oleo Restaurante

Oelo is located in the same building as CAC Málaga and is known for its good sushi bar. It was too late for sushi at 17:00 (or early, depending on how you interpret the Spanish meal times). Instead, I treated myself to something for hip gold. My palate was happy and the sinful calories are quite justifiable with the kilometers marched.

Tapas o’clock | Nacalu Restaurane Tapas

Okay, you can’t do without tapas. If you like to eat in a more modern ambience, Nacalu is a good choice. The restaurant is relatively new and is located in a quiet side street in the old town.

More culinary tips for those with a sweet tooth and tapas freaks can be found at Fee: Enjoyment in Málaga

Slept in Malaga

Barceló Málaga | Maria Zambrano
Station

The starting point for our short stay could not have been better. The Barceló Málaga is located in the María Zambrano train station, with direct suburban train connections to the airport and a 20-minute walk from the historic centre. You’re not in the middle of the cake, but you have the perfect connection to the airport right outside the hotel door. We have already stayed in a Barceló hotel in Barcelona and appreciated the successful mix of design and functional city hotel. The Barceló Málaga can easily keep up. The rooms are generously equipped and from the first floor a slide leads directly down to the lobby, which offers cozy seating areas and a trendy cafeteria. If you’re looking for stylish accommodation in Málaga with easy access to public transport, the Barceló Málaga is a good choice.

Málaga Day-Trips-Tipps

Even though we only had about 24 hours left for the exciting port city, Málaga offers potential to extend our stay and explore some of the highlights of Andalusia, especially with such a convenient location.

The Axarquia | Frigiliana

Located to the east of Málaga, the Axarquía area offers beautiful beaches and a charming hinterland with whitewashed houses nestled against green hills. The most popular photo spot in this region is probably the “Balcony de Europa” with a view of the bay of Nerja. The white mountain village of Frigiliana also offers beautiful photo opportunities.

Malaga’s Hinterland | Round

Ronda can be reached from Málaga in just under two hours by train. The history of Ronda could fill several thick books, as it is one of the oldest cities in Europe. The unique location of the small town high above the deeply incised gorge impresses visitors. This is also the case for Rainer Maria Rilke, who travelled through here over 100 years ago and described Ronda as an “incomparable apparition”. The highlight of every visit to the Ronda is the view from a distance of the impressive bridge structure of the Puente Nuevo over the Tagus.

Our stay was supported by the Barceló Malaga. Thank you very much for this! – As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm.