Malaga in February

[winnie2101]

Hi

We have booked to go to Malaga in February, 4 adults and 2 children (1 & 3). We've never been to that area of Spain before so would be grateful for any recommendations? We've not yet booked accommodation - we normally go for SC apartments but not adverse to AI if that would be a better option. Where is best to base ourselves? Do we need to hire a car? We were planning to for ease with 2 such young children but I have read the trains are very good. We are keen to visit some surrounding towns too. Thanks

They have a beach and city all in one so you can walk to the beach and around the city centre and port - have a look at Google maps it's all close together.

There is a castle that you can visit not sure what it is called but it's up a hill so could bus or taxi up and walk down.

You can get a bus or train to other areas very cheap and easy.

Great choice for a February break.

There is a train that runs along the coast from Malaga.

Malaga is city and beach. Other places are seaside resorts.

Train from Malaga includes a stop at Arroyo De La Miel, which isn't coastal but is a nice working Spanish small town. Fountain Square us lovely.
Also an easy bus/taxi ride from here up into Benalmadena Pueblo, a small, picturesque village.

Do you plan to stay in Malaga itself or one of the seaside resorts? We’ve been to Benalmadena in feb a few times. It’s cheap, warm and there’s plenty for kids to do - beach, a large park, zoo. You can get the train into the city.

Following! I am looking for a family trip for Feb and Malaga is on my list. Our DC are older though, 11 and nearly 9. Interested to hear about nice surrounding towns, not necessarily beachy.

If you are just planning on being in Malaga then you don’t need a car as it’s super easy to get from the airport to the town centre. There’s loads of places you can go from
malaga in the train too.

Beach is lovely and everywhere is really accessible and great for kids

Thank you all

If we didn't do a car hire and took the train are there places we can go on the train for a day trip that aren't along the coast? We would be interested in nice surrounding towns inland too.

Found a good apartment in Torremolinos but wondering if Malaga itself would be better. Will also check out Benalmadena, thank you.

Have a look at Ronda and Caminito Del Ray

There is a really useful and cheap train line from Malaga to Fuengirola which means you can easily visit all the places on the coast. Fuengirola is great for families, Benalmadena is a large town and very hilly but the port is worth a visit.
https://www.renfe.com/es/en/suburban/suburban-malaga/maps

We will be staying in Torremolinos this February - right in the town centre next to the train station . Not exactly the most picturesque place but our plans are that some days we will walk down to the beach at La Carihuela (sp?) and other days we will use train to explore along the coast and also into Malaga - plus a couple of days we will travel onwards from Malaga - definitely to Ronda - possibly to Seville or Granada .

First time we have holidayed without a hire car - we normally head out to Nerja or Estepona.

All reports I've had about Malaga as a city are that it's lovely but I have no first hand experience .

If you are considering staying in Torremolinos I would be wary as to the area you are staying as the area near plaza de la Nogalera can be noisy on a weekend - even in February . We had an unplanned stay there last year when we were unable to get our planned flight home and ended up in La Nogalera apartments - first floor over a night club and we couldn't sleep til 2-3 in the morning on the Friday and Saturday- although the next two nights were OK (only there 4 nights).

Won't it be quite cold in February? I visited Malaga once in November and it was freezing

When I’ve been in February it’s been lovely and warm. T-shirt and trouser weather for me but kids were in shorts. I’m guessing it’s not guaranteed but I’ll take a risk!

It's variable @curriedhat - and even when it's nice during the daytime it can be chilly early morning and evenings (or even quite cold). Have been to the area a few times in winter and normally experience very pleasant weather in the day time - last year we had several days of torrential rain and I'm hoping that was a blip !

Weather wise a mixed bag I found. My parents lived there. Sometimes t-shirt weather, never the pool.

The Spanish will be in winter clothing.

Even in April, we were one of only a few people on the beach.

I went to Benalmadena in Feb half term last year. Yes weather was a mixed bag but expected it and that's why I booked a hotel with a. Indoor pool (Sentido beach) its walking distance of the beach and the marina and about 5e in a cab to Arroyo de last mile station. You can also get a bus from outside the hotel to places you can't get to on the train. Mijas for example.

We stayed in an apartment about a mile or so down the coast from Malaga in Playa de Pedregalejo which we really enjoyed.
We went in April, I'm not sure what is open in Feb but worth a look.

There was just a long row of beach bar/restaurants and a nice beach (our apartment was above a restaurant) and it was a lovely walk along the promenade to Malaga (or could get the bus)

Thank you all. We booked the apartment in Torremolinos in the end.

We have our fingers crossed for some warm(ish) sunny days but are equally expecting that it could be jumper weather and aren't planning on the beach - altho what a bonus it would be if we could. I just saw that it's due to be 20c degrees there at the beginning of next week!

@AnnieMaeve the Spanish definitely will be in their winter clothing, been to Spain many times in the spring when the weather is mid twenties and the coats are still on.

@ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea your trip sounds exactly like ours! We normally always book a car hire too. How do you plan to get out to Ronda etc. is there a train link?

@winnie2101
This is what I've learned from internet research, I haven't yet done any of the journeys . To travel to the inland towns / cities you would first need to travel from Torremolinos into Malaga which is about 20 minutes . Then you can travel on to Cordoba (just over an hour ) or Seville (2-3 hours) and I think Granada is around 2 hours . It looks as though there isn't a direct line to Ronda and that it takes around 2 hours with waiting time at the connection station. There are two stations in Malaga so check you have the correct one for onward connection .

Malaga itself is also meant to be lovely.

Train also goes in the other direction along the coast to Fuengirola.

There is an animal park in Fuengirola and sea life centre in Benalmadena which your children may like (I've not been, I just know they are there ).

Malaga itself is lovely - very smart in most places. The old town, Roman amphitheatre and castle are lovely. Beach is nice to walk along in any weather. Nice roof top bars and upmarket shops and great indoor food market.

Is the journey from Malaga city out to the airport easy? We're the other way around - going by train to Malaga & staying in the city, but planning to hire a car & travel inland for some of the time. It looks like car rental from the airport is cheaper than in the city.

Plus while I've not been there for years I seem to remember driving in malaga city is a bit full on & heading out from airport might be easier.

Unless you want to give yourself a hard time I really wouldn't do the castle in Málaga or Rhonda with a one & three year old. Both are fantastic places but really not for such small children. Uneven surfaces, sudden drops, heights & unfenced paths, I think it'd be madness to do either. Málaga is a lovely city, beach, old town and modern part too for shopping etc. Look for child friendly options and it should be brilliant. The temperature in February is usually similar to early May in UK. Bright sunshine but not too hot, comfortable enough to wander around without being exhausted or getting burnt. It does rain sometimes though, bad weather does happen but less frequently than in the UK fortunately.

sadik - personally we wouldnt have wanted to drive in malaga, it was a bit full on, and someone i know struggled with the road systems....i think it might have been one way issues. we got a cab from malaga city to airport which was around 15 euros but i think you can also catch buses.

@Sadik ad you leave the airport, th train station is just across the road. It’s a very quick journey into the city. Just tap your debit card on the barriers and tap out at your destination. It’s very cheap too.