Malaga / Benalmadena

[LittleFriendSusan]

I'm trying to plan a very last minute trip (in a couple of weeks) to Malaga / Costa del Sol and I've got to the point where I can't see the woods for the trees...

We can do 7-8 nights. We're thinking early flight on the Saturday, central apartment in Malaga for 2 nights & then get the train to El Chorro Monday evening, stay locally, Tuesday AM do the Caminito del Rey walk. Train back to Malaga & then 3 days at more of a beach / pool type place to chill for a bit. Then 2 nights in Granada, back to Malaga for flight home. Or maybe 1 night and spend last night in Malaga. We might want to do a day trip or 2 in the middle, so location is key, don't want to hire a car on this occasion.

Malaga - ruled out the lovely hotels with rooftop bars due to budget but there are a few apartments which look like they will be ok. I was looking for a pool but think we'll compromise on this if we do the resort type place after.

So where to stay for 3 days? Benalmadena looks like it could be the best option for ease of getting about? Current options are Estival Torrequebrada, Sahara Sunset, Sunset Beach & Benalmadena beach. Anyone stayed here - or other recommendations?

We hate the whole brits abroad, beige food. irish pubs type thing & would want B&B or self catering, decent coffee in the morning & nice food and drink within walking distance. Ideally with a balcony / terrace.

Finally (!) - Granada... is it worth it if we can't get Alhambra tickets? Struggling at the moment but will keep trying. Don't really want to go to Seville as we're planning this as a separate holiday.

Thanks for any suggestions

@ilovepixie I haven't stayed in Benal Beach but can see it from our apartment. It's right by Paloma Park which is lovely.

We did three nights Estepona then three nights in Granada. It was a fairly long drive to Granada and you definitely don’t need a car there.

Benalmadena is kind of brits abroad. Benalmadena pueblo (the old village) is absolutely beautiful. But you need transport ie taxi to get between them - its not walkable.

Malaga is lovely- though we only had a day trip. Had some fab tapas. There’s also the Picasso museum.
Nerja is beautiful- friendly, lovely restaurants and shops. Good beaches
And the Caves are well worth a visit
Benalmadena- not great. We had a good holiday as the weather was brilliant though it was quite windy on the beach.
I wouldn’t go back. I remember being really surprised that the streets/pavements also had lots of dog poop 😳

@WhatHaveIDone21 yes and so often overlooked, people always flock to Mijas

@WhatHaveIDone21
we are staying in Benalmadina next month. Can you recommend us some nice restaurants?
We love tapas. And definitely would love a locals type place. Thanks

We did a week and stayed in Malaga, Zenith hotel, very cheap. We did hire a car so you won't be able to fit in all these things but we did most of the places mentioned - a day in Granada (definitely see the Alhambra, one of the most amazing things I've ever seen), Cordoba (incredible), Nerja, Marbella, Antequera, Ronda, Mijas etc and lots of little country places. Did a day trip to Seville on the train but I would save that for another time as planned.

My exH took our DD12 to Benalmedina in the Easter holidays for the past 2 years.

Apparently it's beautiful and quiet if you choose the right part - DDs dad would never choose anywhere remotely 'Brits abroad'

@Battytwatty we stay in arroyo de la miel which is about 15 mins walk from the marina/beach. There is a lovely restaurant called El Corralon in a little Spanish square (I can check the name) which does amazing fish and steak (I think you have to order the steak the day before) but other lovely dishes too. We always have 2 meals in Benalmadena Pueblo - usually at La Fuente (again set in a traditional Spanish square) and El Muro (with gorgeous views over the coast). There are many more but they are the ones that spring to mind! Lots of tapas bars in Arroyo too!

I came here to say Arroyo De La Miel, too. Much more working Spanish village/small town and much less brits abroad than the coast. ( Benalmadena Costa). Lots of little squares and back streets. The Fountain Square for instance.

The train runs from Malaga centre, through Malaga airport and into Arroyo. There is a bus to Benalmadena Pueblo ( village ) too.

Many apartments ( but not hotels) in the centre of Arroyo. La Fonda is a beautiful Spanish hotel in the peublo if you wanted to stay up there.

We used to live in Arroyo!

@ArlaJay I think El Corralon could be in Fountain Square. We've always called it that because of the fountain but not sure it's the actual name of the square we've been going to Arroyo for over 30 years and love it there.

I've only driven through Benalmadena but it didn't appeal to me. Go a little further along the coast - smaller villages like Sabinillas or Puerto de la duquesa. Love it there! Puerto Banus is lovely for people watching and I love the Old Town in Marbella!!

I need to go back!!!

Nerja and Frigiliana definitely over Benalmadena. Mijas is lovely too, as is Old Town Marbella.

We often fly to Malaga then get the bus from Maria Zambrano to Nerja for 3 or 4 days. Then back to Malaga for 3 days. I love both places. Beach plus city. Perfect. And at Christmas the Malaga lights are amazing.

Mijas, puerto banus, estepona

Yes it is! Plaza de la Tribuna to give it it's Spanish name.

Amazing , thank you. I will check out El Corralon. I’m pretty sure we have eaten at
El Muro in Benalmadena Pueblo and it was beautiful xx

We have a couple of weeks in June. 1st week in Nerja in an apartment on the seafront, last few days in La Carihuela, close to Benalmadina marina, but in between, I an excited with a night in Mijas here. Check out OPUNTIA Hotel Boutique on Booking.com! https://www.booking.com/Share-xL7cQ5

@Lincslady53 Haha that’s actually the lovely place I’d seen in Mijas & the only thing I’d managed to book 😂 I’d booked a night there, but it looks like we are going to have to shift our plans to June now due to work stuff. Thankfully hadn’t booked flights and paid extra for refundable rate…

Just waiting for confirmation on dates and will get booking again! On the positive side we should be able to get Alhambra tickets now.

If you get to Granada, you have to go to the Mirador San Nicolas, it is a fab lookout point high above the city looking down at the Alhambra. It is between Albaicin district Albaicin in Granada - Unique District and Magic Views of Alhambra (lovegranada.com) And Sacromonte, Sacromonte of Granada - The Most Authentic Place of Granada (lovegranada.com)each of which are terrific if you have time to have a look.

Sunset is stunning at San Nicolas, but any time of the day will do! Great fun also with a bit of impromtu Flamenco and Gypsy music buskers galore.

Even if you don't have time for that, others might be heading to Granada and may be able to fit it in.

It might be worth considering doing something similar to our February holiday ? We stayed very central in Torremolinos so we had easy access to the local train into Malaga. We were there quite a bit longer than you - but we visited Malaga 3 times, got the train onwards to Cordoba one day, and another day we took a train to Seville where we stayed overnight . We also used local buses to visit Mijas and Benalmadena Pueblo (old town). In between days we walked down to La Carihuela beach area (there are some nice traditional streets behind the beach front bars) and also along to the Marina at Benalmadena . Oh - we got the train to Fuengirola too - but I'm not keen on there .

We debated going to Granada but decided on Seville as hasn't visited before. Cordoba was very easy - shortish train ride . Considered Ronda but that was more complicated as a change of trains needed.

FWIW I think Benalmadena has more Irish bar type places than Torremolinos - but perhaps it's because I've only ever visited out of season.

@Southener
Could I ask you about Antequera? I read that it was worth a visit and it appeared that the train we took to Cordoba stopped there - but when it pulled into the station, it appeared to be on the middle of nowhere. Is there an easy travel solution from Malaga?

@ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea yes, there are two stations in Antequera. The one on the high speed line (on the way to Cordoba/Sevilla) is called Santa Ana, and it is indeed in the middle of nowhere.

But there's another on the non-high-speed line in the direction of Malaga-Granada. It's called Antequera AV (when I booked tickets in the station he double-checked I wanted the 'cuidad'). That one looks brand new and like you're in the middle of nowhere, but don't be fooled. Follow your nose on the pathway towards a traditional-looking old station, and from there you've about a 15-min walk to town.

There are also buses that run regularly from Malaga Estacion de Autobus (the main one behind Maria Zambrano railway station) that'll take you there in around an hour.

I think it's just a really lovely Spanish town that's not on the main tourist trail. Some good places to eat and drink and walk round.