Malaga Blog

Wondering about things to do in Malaga without spending much?

Last weekend we took advantage of the good weather to get a little bit away from the Costa del Sol and discover the mountain ranges of Mijas. The white village of Mijas is situated only 9 km from Fuengirola, about 400 metres over sea level in the homonymous mountains. We went several friends by car (we recommend to rent a car in Malaga as the price is very cheap for a week) and arrived there in an instant on a steep road lined by blossoming almond trees and Mimosas. The village of Mijas is currently dedicated to tourism and has known well how to take advantage of its good location near the busy Costa del Sol. Even in winter there is a high number of tourists visiting the village and enjoying the views and the good food in one of the many terraces in the sun. Despite the tourist bustle there are quiet and charming corners. But we left the village behind and kept driving further up the road.

At the height of a small veranda overlooking the village and the distant sea, starts a path to several routes through the Sierra de Mijas of varying difficulty and length. There is a quite easy route of two hours duration (round trip) on the southern slope of the mountain which is ideal during the winter months and from where you can enjoy wonderful views across the coastline and the mountains.

Heading back we stopped in Mijas and had some beers and tapas (snacks), enjoying the coming and going of locals and tourists from the shadow of a cozy bar. Price of the excursion: 8 Euros, Tapa included!

The next day we went to the municipal indoor pool in Torremolinos, a very good installation with an Olympic pool and water jets. Wellbeing for 7 Euros!

Driving back to Fuengirola, we decided to give us a treat and have some fish and chips at the sea promenade. Price of the dish with half a pint: 10 Euros.

Satisfied with my great weekend I did the accounts to see what the price of so much wellbeing was and I was happier still: 25 Euros in total.

It was a very good experience of how one can also enjoy as well with a tighter budget. And as they say: The best things in life are free.

You cannot put a price to the pleasure of having a drink outdoors in the sun and enjoy life in midwinter.

Maybe during your stay in Malaga and the Costa del Sol you would like to do something different and discover the country and interesting places. The andalusian tourist board has prepared several attractive routes you can travel around comfortably with a car hire in Malaga.

White Villages: This very beautiful route with a great scenic value runs through the mountain ranges of Sierra de Grazalema and Serranía de Ronda and the cork oak forests. You can either combine it with a visit to the cities of Malaga, Seville and Cadiz or relax on the beaches of the Costa de la Luz (Cádiz-Tarifa, Atlantic) or the Costa del Sol (Malaga, Mediterranean Sea).

Especially interesting places along this route are Ronda, Arcos de la Frontera, Castellar de la Frontera and Casares. These "white villages" derive from the fact that their inhabitants frequently whitewash the facades of the houses and are characterized by steep, narrow streets. The majority of these villages are of Moorish origin and conserve some remains of their Arabian past. The extension of the whole route is about 300 km and the required time to enjoy the trip properly is about two or three days. The best seasons are spring, the beginning of summer and autumn. You can combine this route very well with a visit to Gibraltar.

Along the Al-Isidri Route you can discover the interesting landscape from Algeciras to Granada. The cities were respectively the first and the last under the long lasting Arabian influence. The route focuses on the extensive coastline that begins in Gibraltar and ends near the town of Motril, passing along the Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical, from where it heads north, through the beautiful valley of Lecrín filled with orange and lemon trees, towards the city Granada in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain ranges.

Interesting places along this route include Estepona, Casares, Marbella, Malaga, Mijas, Nerja, Almuñecar, Salobreña and Durcal. The total amount of kilometers is about 330 km and you need one or two days.

Due to the soft climate, you can travel along the coastal region throughout the year. If you want to take a bath on your way, the best time is between May and September. Spring and autumn are very good seasons to visit the mountainous regions. The Sierra Nevada National Park in winter is very attractive for skiers.

The protected natural spaces are situated close by the route and can be visited separately: The great cork oak forests between the provinces of Malaga and Cadiz; the Natural Park of the Malaga mountain ranges and the National Park of Sierra Nevada with the two highest mountains of the Iberian Peninsula, the Mulhácen (3.482 m) and the Veleta (3.392 m).

The Caliphate Route will take you north to the two most important cities during the Moorish epoch in Spain: Granada and Cordoba. This route shows more than no other the 800 years of Arabian presence in Spain. Between Cordoba, the ancient capital of the caliphate and Granada, the last Nazari Kingdom, extends a landscape with gentle hill slopes full of legendary fortifications, towers and castles of Hispanic-Muslim heritage.

You need about two days for this route, which is about 340 km long and you can choose between a northern route from Granada to Cordoba passing by Bailen and Linares or the southern route close to Antequera, where is the absolutely outstanding rock formation of El Torcal. The best time for travelling is from spring to early summer (March to June) and autumn (September and October).

Malaga and the Costa del Sol are blessed with sunny days throughout the years and enjoyment is not limited exclusively to the summer months. Actually, many Tour operators and travel agencies offer very good price-value flights to Malaga Airport and Hotels in Malaga in the months between October and March. The same applies as well for the Malaga cruise port which is one of the principal scales in the winter routes of cruise ships through the Mediterranean Sea.

Unlike other places in the province of Malaga, almost all hotels along the coast remain open throughout the year and so do many apartments in Malaga and rural houses. Some of these establishments even design specific programs for their winter guests.

Definitely, Malaga´s unique climatic characteristics contribute to the practice of Golf in winter. Actually this sport has become one of the most attractive activities along the Costa del Sol meanwhile the rest of Europe is shivering with cold.

Other outdoor activities which can be practiced throughout the year are boating and fishing; autumn to spring is a great time to explore the inland and mountainous regions of one of the 5 Natural parks as the landscape around December gets covered in the first fresh green. Hiking, climbing or horse riding are some more options.

All these activities combine greatly as well with wellness holidays in some of the best Spas and centres for Thalassotherapy.

In the main resorts along the Costa del Sol can be found very good municipal sports installations, with indoor swimming pool, steam bath and even jet pool (Torremolinos); the municipal sport club in Benalmádena has even a permanent covered ice rink of 900 m2 and cafeteria service next to it.

Once you are in the historic centre of Malaga, you might want to combine your sightseeing with a relaxing bath in a Hammam (Turkish steam bath). You don´t have to bring anything with you, as you will be provided there with bathrobe and disposable underwear. The Hammam is situated close to the Picasso Museum in the Calle Tomas de Cozar 13.

Maybe you feel like a coffee break after your bath? Then you can head for some Chocolate and Churros in the city centre. By the way, asking for coffee in Malaga is quite complicated, as there are at least eight different types of Coffees. For instance: half coffee-half milk is called “sombra” (shadow); “nube” (cloud) is a lot of milk and less coffee. If you want a only a little milk with a lot of coffee, you have to ask for “cortado” (cut).

In winter you will find in the square and streets of the city centre posts with roasted chestnuts and others with roast potatoes.

Another great thing to do is a stroll through the market square Mercado de Atarazanas and by some marinated olives and Mangoes from Malaga (they are ripe in winter!).

An additional leisure time option (for bad weather for example) is the Plaza Mayor Commercial and Leisure centre, close to the airport Malaga, with bowling, restaurants and bars, cinema, gym with heated pool, nightclubs and children´s corner. The centre is easily accessible with the suburban train.

For the Spanish speaking families might be interesting the following activities: in Rincón de la Victoria (16 km east from Malaga) is held on the last Sunday of every month at 12 AM a free children´s show outside the Caves Cuevas del Tesoro and free entrance for children below 14 years into the caves.

In Malaga city, the library Rayuela (historic centre, calle Alemania) invites Saturdays and Sundays at 12 AM the kids to listen to a storyteller.

Along the Costa del Sol are situated several Theme Parks: The Tivoli Amusement Park  and the Crocodile Park in Torremolinos, Sea Life and Selwo Marina in Benalmadena, the Zoo in Fuengirola and the Selwo Adventure Park in Estepona. About one hour driving in Antequera there is the Lobo Park with authentic wolves in semi wild reserve.