Malaga used to be quite invisible and was basically best known only to give name to the main airport, where tourists arrived for then to continue to Costa del Sol’s beaches. In the last decade, the city has experienced a nice makeover, not just in an architectural way, but also culturally by offering a great range of opportunities to visitors. The city has now rightfully become the proper heart and capital of Andalucia
Fun Fact: The locals in Malaga can be picky when it comes to how they like their coffee. There are many varieties, and all have local names according to the measure of coffee or milk involved. Visit Café Central in Plaza de la Constitución, and you find a tiled mural that might give you a better idea on how to order your favorite.
Penny for Ania’s thoughts on the city:
I do have a special connection to the city as I studied my Tourism degree at the local university. But Malaga did change since then – for better. Newly designed port (Muelle Uno), new hotels, bigger airport, it all has created great opportunities for our groups to have great time there!
I personally recommend a bike tour with combination of an old town visit and a ride alongside the coast towards El Palo, probably with a stop for a cold glass of Sangria. Malaga gives you a great vibe of big city, but yet everything is at walking distance and your group can stick together.
Penny for Elin’s thoughts on the city:
I had lived many year’s in Spain before I actually visited Malaga, and boy was I in for a surprise. It was the first time since settling in Spain, that I got that “Spanish feeling”, go figure, and this after having lived in both Madrid and Barcelona! I love that a large part of the city center is for pedestrians and how the tourists blend in with the locals to have their drinks and tapas on the outdoor tables I could sit for hours with a freshly brewed Cappuccino, just savoring the soul of the streets, but rarely get the chance as I run off to another group activity:)
One of my first, big groups in Malaga, stayed at the gorgeous hotel Miramar, and the same group got to see dolphins jumping right next to the Catamaran they rented. Malaga is also great for 1-day excursion to Caminito del Rey, Granada, Gibraltar or Nerja.