Malaga or somewhere nearby?

[OnionBag]

We are a family of 3, me, DH and DD15.

We have flights booked to Malaga for October half term and we’re not sure where we should stay. We haven’t been to Spain previously.

During the day we like a mix of culture, some down time and some shopping (for DD), in the evening we like to be able to walk to dinner and have a couple of drinks and watch some entertainment if available.

We were thinking of staying in an Air BnB in Malaga but would 7 nights there be too much?

Any advice is very welcome. Thanks

It’s a fun city and there’s lots to do but I think I’d consider trip elsewhere from there too even for the day.

You could do trip to Granada to see the Alhambra. Or hire a car and drive to Mijas (beautiful ‘pueblo blanco’ if touristy now) or slightly longer drive to my favourite - old town Estepona. Far more beautiful and authentically charming than Marbella in my view, lovely cobbled flower strewn streets and squares, little shops and restaurants.

Google some photos of all the above and see what takes your fancy. The trains in Spain are fab usually. Only issue on that coast is there isn’t a direct train to Granada from Malaga ( I don’t think) and the trains don’t go as far as Estepona down the coast.

@EvelynBeatrice great advice thanks

There’s loads to do in Malaga but it’s also a good base for exploring other parts of Andalucia. You could do an organised day trip to Ronda or to walk the Caminito del Rey (easier than sorting it yourself).

There are some great restaurants - try El Pimpi and you might even see Antonio Banderas in there!

The beaches might be too cold for swimming but there’s a fantastic walkway that actually runs from Manilva to Nerja so you might want to walk a section of that if that’s something you like doing.

If your daughter likes shopping, Calle Larios is the Main Street in Malaga for that but you could take the train to Plaza Mayor, a big outlet retail park on the outskirts. Loads of good shops and restaurants, and the train goes straight there.

The train also goes into Fuengirola and you could take the bus from there to Mijas Pueblo - there’s a chocolate shop that has chocolate making classes - and it’s a very pretty town for an afternoon.

It’s good to see someone actually planning to stay in Malaga - so many people fly in and head straight out and I think they’re missing out as there’s so much to do and it’s much nicer than most of the nearby resorts along the coast.

I live down in Andalucia and visit Malaga quite often so happy to answer any questions you have.

@Notmybloodymonkeys thats fantastic thanks so much.

I'm going to malaga soon for the 3rd time. I absolutely love it and basically agree with everything that's already been said!! We're going 10 days and plan on doing some day trips. Granada is one of them. There's is a direct train but i think there's only 2 day so you'd need to time it perfectly! There's also busses. I think we might also go to Benalmadena where there's regular trains that take about 30 mins. There's plenty also to see in Malaga itself with lots of fab shops - your daughter might like one called Bimba Y Lola. There's also a huge shopping center the opposite side of the historical area called El Corte ingles and it also has a great roof top bar.
Don't forgot the Roman ruins and the Alcazaba as well as the gibralfaro castle which isn't for the faint hearted!!

I like Malaga. We had a two centre holiday-Malaga and a beach holiday a few years ago, and Malaga was by far the best part. There is so much to see and do.

The Pompidou centre there, the port, the fish market, the Picasso museum… we ran out of time to do everything.

I loved malaga - though disappointed I didn't run into Antonio Banderas in El Pimpi! Market is great with churros and hot chocolate for breakfast. Alcazar and the castle on the top of the hill. Marina. Picasso Museum. Loads of fab tapas bar - and El Pimpi is marvellous. Some nice roof top bars. We went for 3 nights and could have easily spent longer. Would have done a boat trip, maybe a day trip, botanical gardens etc. The weather is likely to still be very nice end of October. We were there in February and there were people on the beach.

We have got cheap flights to Malaga a few times because we can fly direct from our local airport. First time got the train to cordoba and stayed there and then a night in Malaga on the way back. Next time stayed in Malaga for a few days then got the train to Granada and stayed there to a week. Trains in Spain are great and very affordable and Malaga is a good base in Andalucia

I've heard good things about Estepona. I'd like to go there.

Any particular recommendations on where to stay? I'll be on my own.

I once stayed in old town estepona on my own. Was great and I felt safe as houses. Loads of people on their own having post work or pre dinner drink so I didnt stand out and got excellent service.

I stayed at a b&b owned by English couple in lovely old converted building in one of the old town cobbled streets. Think was called La Casa Blanca. Was lovely.

It was a few years ago now and they were finishing off some very nice looking hotels right on one of the principal squares - placa de flores maybe. I’d always intended to try there if I return .

Thanks for all the great responses, much appreciated.

We just got back from Estepona and loved it, beautiful place and the beaches were stunning. Lots of nice restaurants and felt quite traditional in parts.
We stayed in the mountains about ten mins from the centre though so needed a car. If I went back I’d probably stay nearer the beach as it was really beautiful there. Lots of little markets and plenty going on at night.
We visited Benahavis a few times and it was incredible, very picturesque and traditional looking. We had some beautiful meals there.

We spent a week in Andalucia a few years back on a fly drive. It was ace.

Malaga - lovely town and the Picasso museum was great. Worth checking the opening times.
Cordoba - did this as a day trip.
Granada - complétely messed this up as didn't book the Alhambra in advance and the queues had to be seen to be believed.
Spent two nights in Seville, loads to see there including Roman ruins at Carmona outside the city, a night in Ronda and drove out to Arcos de la Frontera at the entrance to a national park
We used this to get some really interesting accommodation. Not always the height of luxury but the in-house restaurants were some of the best food we had in Andalucia.
www.paradores.es

I'm thinking of going in March for 5 nights so any recommendations of where to stay would be great.

As for places to stay in Malaga, well there are just so many you'd have to narrow it down to budget and location. I prefer to stay in the centre near the Cathedral and the shopping area with a short walk to the Marina. I've treated myself to good hotels, and budgeted for cheaper too. All were good no complaints. Places I've stayed in were the Molina Lario hotel (owned by Antonio Banderas along with El Pimpi restaurant), very nice and fabulous rooftop bar. The AC hotel near the Cathedral, another fab place, the Carlos V for a cheap budget stay in a buzzy area, the hotel BRO, and the Don Curro. All various levels of budget.

And for another suggestion for a day trip, you can get a coach to Ronda, to Cordoba, Granada, Nerja, and even to Seville from Maria Zambrano bus/train station. Yes trains go too (except Nerja), but sometimes the bus is quicker and more frequent. Coaches are very comfortable and very cheap. You could take a bus to San Pedro de Alcantara a sweet little working town that's local, full of independent shops, great food options and there's a promenade that goes all along the seafront as far as Puerto Banus and Marbella. Truly fabulous walk.

That's all for now. I'm taking over the thread.

We stayed in one of these apartments, it was amazing. Higher up is better to have sun during the day. Great location, we walked everywhere and it was pretty and clean. And had a hot tub which the kids loved. You can find it in Airbnb too, but it’s cheaper to book direct.

Simba Apartments, Calle Viento.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/mpqx98rLr4pEFvwK8?g_st=ipc

Don't forget to do the Caminito Del Rey... spectacular. Google images of it.

I'm trying to be brave and do this!

It was absolutely amazing. A real awe and wonder walk/hike. You have a guide with you at all times talking about the wildlife and how the gorge/canyon was formed.

We've just come back from Estepona. Loved it - so much so we are planning to book the same apartment next year.
It's easy enough to drive out for trips to Gibraltar, Marbella and up in the hills to Ronda.

Following some more, as I love Spain and was thinking Costa Brava next year - but dead fiddly without a car. And I do like Andalucia. Going to look up Estepona as we met some friends there once, years ago, but it was one of those massive hotels, v. expensive, right on the beach. I prefer an old town. Marbella was lovely as I remember - the old bit - but it was about 25 years ago.

Estepona is amazing. If you don’t want a pool and are going when it will be cooler look for a place in the old town. These apartments are lovely if you’re going in the summer appartementestepona.com/

I used to live in Malaga, it's my favourite city in the world.

I sent this to my friend a while back when she was visiting Malaga, she was interested in eating and drinking!!

• You are right beside Plaza De La Merced which is a lovely square to sit in, beside Picasso's homeplace. His museum is there too.
• There's a nice restaurant there called La Plaza, food is always good. There's Picasso bar too which is nice for tapas and a drink.
• You aren't far from the Teatro Romano, an old Roman ruins site, you'll probably pass it on the way down the town.
• El Pimpi is near the Teatro, you can go into it from the Teatro side or the other side. The street side is good as it brings you into the front bar which is more local, lovely tapas there. Very touristy but nice to sit in, either out the front or back.
• Aim to walk towards the port, if you go all around the port, you can come back by Malagueta beach. The port is quite nice.
• Tapeo De Cervantes is a lovely place for tapas, very popular, bit pricey and can be very busy but worth checking it out.
• Definitely go up to the top of the Marriott hotel at the end of Calle Larios (the main street) for a drink. The views are amazing. The Molina hotel across the road is good too but not as high up.
• If you were interested in a day spa thing, there's a place called Hammam Al Andalus. You go in for 90 minutes and it's really relaxing. I always go when I'm there.
• Morrissey's Irish Bar is just off Plaza Uncibay, they actually do really nice food.
• There was an italian on Plaza Uncibay too that I liked, hopefully it's still there.
• There's a walk up to Alcazaba too, lots of steps but might be nice to do.
• The Thyssen museum is worth a visit, more modern art.
• At the port, you can get boat trips out along the coast which are nice.
• Loads of nice places to eat at the port, I like a Mexican along there, part of some chain but it has a nice menu.
• You can get the train out along the coast as far as Fuengirola, you can stop at Tormellinos and Benelmadena. It goes from Malaga Centro Alameda station.
• Oh I almost forgot. Go to Los Gatos bar, just off Plaza Uncibay. Lovely wine, tapas and just very Spanish.