Malaga and surrounding area in February

[gemandjule]

I've just booked flights to Malaga for a week in February, leaving on the 17th, returning on 24th. Haven't booked any accommodation yet and happy to rent a car. Myself, my husband and my DD17 with her friend. Provisional plan is to spend the first night in Malaga and then head up to Grenada. Trying to decide whether to base ourselves there for the rest of the week or move on to eg Cordoba. We enjoy wandering around old towns, hiking, seeing sights etc. The girls can head off and explore themselves so ideally plenty to see within walking distance of wherever we stay. All recommendations welcome!

Malaga old town is beautiful, do be aware that free car parking is like hens teeth (it's there but never available!) so factor in cost of underground parking. The old town is lovely, lots of traditional streets. We stayed in Suncity Plaza apartments which were in a great location. Walking distance you have Alcazaba, Gibalfraro castle, Ataranzas market. You can walk down to the port which has lovely restaurants and a nice walk.

We drove up to Granada, take the scenic route rather than the quicker motorway, there is a lovely resevoir/lake and you can stop in Alhama de Granada for lunch. Do be aware that there is a vehicle exclusion zone around Granada town which meant that the car didn't leave the car park in 5 days. Go to Alhambra but don't miss out Albaicin, the streets are really lovely. Granada is higher up so colder and I would expect a fair bit of rain in February so I wouldn't stay there for a week. Apart from the attractions we didn't find anyone who spoke english (even at the accommodation) so don't expect/rely on local help.

I would go to Cordoba for a few days and try to see as much as possible. Enjoy!

If I were touring the cities of Andalucia I would stay in paradores, amazing Spanish hotels owned by the government in places where no hotel chain would ever get permission to build. Many are in stunning castles or monasteries. We've toured Spain in paradores with our children in the past and it was a wonderful experience for them.

The parador in Malaga city (the Gibralfaro, not the Golf one!) is lovely, with stunning views. The Granada parador is inside the Alhambra, and for this reason is a bit pricier than the others and booked up well in advance. The Cordoba parador is modern but has wonderful views of the city. I can also recommend Carmona. My favourite parador in Andalucia is in Jaen, a wonderful castle on top of a hill (www.parador.es/en/paradores/parador-de-jaen). Prices are generally pretty low in February! I would love to go again.

The website is www.parador.es/en.

Really good tip with the paradors. Didnt know about them before.

We did that years ago as students. Flew into Malaga, hired a car, drove to Cordoba first and then onto Malaga. We went there a week in late April and already the temperatures were mid 20°s. Definitely drive on to Cordoba and if you can go on to Serville before heading back to Malaga.