Best Day Trips from Malaga

One of the greatest advantages of the city of Malaga is its location and the communication it offers with other parts of Andalusia. This allows you to move to other provinces very easily, without even having to spend the night out. Therefore, if you live in Malaga or you are going to spend some time in the city, the best thing you can do is to take advantage of your stay to make excursions.

If you are already aware of all the best things to see and do in Malaga and you want to go a step further and move beyond its borders, take a look at these excursions from Malaga. You will find excursions both to municipalities in the province itself and to other cities in Andalusia; as well as a five-day excursion to Morocco.

On this occasion, I recommend a hiking excursion. El Caminito del Rey is one of the most popular routes in Malaga. If you are looking for hikes to do in summer, I recommend you to choose another of the hikes in this list; because summer in Malaga is too hot to do the Caminito del Rey.

The first thing I have to do is to warn you that this is not a hike made for everyone. If you suffer from vertigo, you should not do it. I tell you this, because you will have to cross areas less than a meter wide and more than 100 meters high.

The route runs along the Guadalhorce River, you will cross high bridges and walk along the footbridges built on the walls. The route was made to make possible the maintenance of a water channel that went from the reservoirs in the north of the province to the municipality of El Chorro. It receives this name because it was King Alfonso XIII who inaugurated it. Today, it is one of the most popular excursions in Malaga.

You can do the route on your own, in which case you will have to travel from Malaga city to the municipality of Ardales, which is where the route is located. I advise you to hire the tour with a guide, mainly for your safety, but also so you can learn curious details of the terrain you are walking on. In addition, you will go by bus to Ardales, where you will stop for an hour and a half to get to know the village. After the route, you will have lunch in the town of Álora.

Details of interest

• Price: This tour is around 64 euros per adult and 48 euros for children under 12 years old.
• Duration: In total, about seven hours. The route itself is about 3 kilometers, so you will spend about three hours.
• Means of transport: You will go by bus to the town of Ardales. Afterwards, you will do the route on foot and you will return to Malaga city by bus.
• Advantages of this option: You will not have to worry about taking your own vehicle, which can be a little uphill after the physical effort involved in the route. In addition, you will be able to get to know the surroundings and have lunch in a local restaurant.
• Disadvantages of this option: It is not an option to do neither in winter nor in summer, so it is only recommended in a few months of the year.

What better than to take advantage of your stay in Malaga to visit the capital of Andalusia. Seville is a city with a great artistic, architectural and cultural richness. With this excursion you can discover its main tourist attractions and then return to Malaga to sleep.

The excursion includes an air-conditioned bus tour through the Maria Luisa Park, the Guadalquivir River and the famous Plaza de España. The bus will make a stop at the latter so you can get off to take pictures of this famous place, which has been the set of important international movies, such as Star Wars or Lawrence of Arabia.

After this stop, you will walk to the Santa Cruz neighborhood, the old Jewish quarter of Seville and one of the most charming areas of the city. After walking through its streets, you will have the opportunity to visit the third largest Catholic church in the world, the Cathedral of Seville.

The tour includes the entrance to the cathedral, where you can see the Patio de los Naranjos or the tomb of Christopher Columbus. At the end of the tour, you will visit one of the main monuments of the city, the Torre del Oro, which stands on the banks of the Guadalquivir. You will be accompanied by an expert guide.

Details of interest

• Price: The cost of the tour is around 73 euros per adult. In the case of children under 12 years old, the price is reduced to 55 euros. Babies from 0 to 3 years old do not have to pay.
• Duration: About 12 hours from departure to arrival in Malaga.
• Means of transport: Most of the excursion is done by bus, although there is a part through the center of Seville that is done on foot.
• Advantages of this option: You will have an expert local guide at your disposal. In addition, you will have an entrance ticket to the cathedral.
• Disadvantages of this option: Lunch is not included.

Another of the best day trips from Malaga you can do is a visit to Cordoba, one of the most beautiful and historic cities in Andalusia. Walking through the old town of Cordoba, you can soak up the Andalusian charm, as well as understand the historical past of the autonomous community.

When you arrive in Cordoba, you will be able to see the Roman Bridge from the bus. Afterwards, you will make a stop at the Jewish quarter, the most famous area of the historic center of Cordoba. The Jewish quarter, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984, has its origins in the late Middle Ages. A local guide will tell you about the past of its streets and the Jews who lived there.

After a two-hour walk through the Jewish quarter, you will enter the Synagogue of Cordoba, one of the three best preserved synagogues in Spain. The visit to the Synagogue lasts 30 minutes and the entrance fee is included in the price of the tour.

When you have finished the visit, you will visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, which dates back to the time of the Arab occupation of the city. The entrance fee is also included in the price of the tour, so you don't have to worry about making any reservations. Once the visit to the Cathedral of Cordoba is over, you will get back on the bus to go back to Malaga.

Details of interest

• Price: about 73 euros per adult, approximately. The price for children under 12 years old is about 55 euros. In addition, children under 4 years old do not have to pay.
• Duration: 12 hours, more or less, from the departure from Malaga to the return.
• Means of transport: you will go by bus to Cordoba, where you will walk through the historic center. The return to Malaga is also by bus.
• Advantages of this option: you will have the support of a local guide, who will explain the history of the different places you see. In addition, you will not have to book tickets to enter the Synagogue or the Cathedral.
• Disadvantages of this option: lunch is not included in the price.

The province of Malaga has municipalities that are a real treasure. Some of the most beautiful are Frigiliana and Nerja, which are located on the coast, very close to the province of Granada. With this excursion you can visit both towns in one day, as well as the famous caves of Nerja.

The excursion departs from Malaga city to Frigiliana by bus. This trip will take you no more than 50 minutes. Once you have arrived in Frigiliana, you will visit the old fortress, which once served as a refuge for the Moors and is nowadays a sugar cane honey factory. After the visit, you will have some free time to walk around the area and buy local products, such as sweet wine or pottery.

Once you have finished your visit to Frigiliana, you will get back on the bus to go to Nerja. In this town you can walk through its cobbled streets and admire the views offered by the Balcon de Europa. In Nerja you will also have some free time to explore the town on your own. The excursion can be completed with a visit to the prehistoric caves of Nerja.

Details of interest

• Price: the cost is about 36 euros per adult. In the case of children under 12 years, it is reduced to about 28 euros, approximately. In addition, children under 4 years old have free access to the excursion.
• Duration: 9 hours from the departure from Malaga to the return to the city.
• Means of transport: you will go by bus to Frigiliana, where you will walk through the historic center. Afterwards, you will get back on the bus to go to Nerja.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to visit in the same day two of the most famous villages of Malaga. In addition, you will have free time to explore them on your own.
• Disadvantages of this option: this excursion does not have lunch included in the price.

While the other options are day trips, this one is a bit longer. It is perfect for you if you are looking for the best excursions from Malaga and you live in the city. The tour includes a guided visit to the most famous cities of the African country: Casablanca, Marrakech, Meknes, Fez and Rabat.

You will go by bus to Tarifa, from where you will take a ferry to cross the strait to Africa. You will disembark in Tangier and head to Casablanca, one of the most important cities in Morocco. Here you will have free time to explore the city at your leisure.

After spending the night at the hotel, the next day you will depart for Marrakech, where you can do some of the best things to see and do in Marrakech. In the city you will see the mosque, the Koutoubia Minaret, the Saadian tombs, the Bahia Palace, the Medina of Marrakech and the Poste Morocco Jama Lafna; as well as other sights of the city.

The third day is divided into two cities: Meknes and Rabat. You will have the opportunity to see the Royal Palace of Rabat, the Mausoleum of Mohamed V or the University of Karaouine, which is the largest Islamic shrine in Morocco. The fourth day of your trip to Morocco will be dedicated to Fez, where you will visit the main sights of the city. The next day, you will depart for Malaga again, repeating the route you took on the outward journey.

Details of interest

• Price: the cost is about 588 euros per adult, with meals, accommodation, guide and travel insurance included in the price.
• Duration: 5-day excursion.
• Means of transport: you will go by bus to Tarifa, from where you will take the ferry to Morocco. You will move around the different cities by bus and on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to visit the most beautiful cities of one of the main countries of the African continent.
• Disadvantages of this option: it does not include the pick up and return to the hotel.

This is one of the best things to do in Malaga in summer. It is a visit to one of the best cities in Malaga. Marbella has a wide variety of things to do, whatever your preferences and tastes. Although it is known for the world of nightlife, the city is much more than that.

The historic center of Marbella should be the first stop on your tour. With cobblestone streets and balconies adorned with flower pots, the center of Marbella is a place that exudes the scent of Andalusia. It has many little shops, where you can find all kinds of unique objects.

In addition, I recommend that you try the gastronomy of the area in some of the best restaurants and bars in the center of Marbella; for example, El Palique, Entre Limones, Compassion, La Niña del Pisto or El Estrecho. Among all the possibilities offered by the menu, opt for tapas and dishes of the typical gastronomy of the area, such as gambas al pil pil, fritura malagueña or espetos de sardinas.

After lunch, spend the afternoon at one of the beaches of Marbella. The best, for my taste, are: Casablanca, El Faro, Guadalmina, Elviria and Hermosa. There are some of them that are more suitable for families with small children, such as Hermosa. If this is your case, do not hesitate to take a look at the best plans with children in Malaga.

Interesting details

• Price: Since this is an excursion on your own, the price will vary depending on where you have lunch and the things you buy in Marbella.
• Duration: From Malaga to Marbella it will take you about 40 minutes. After that, I recommend you to spend the whole day in Marbella.
• Means of transport: The most comfortable is to go by car, especially if you go with your family. In case you do not have your own vehicle, there are direct buses to Marbella that leave from the bus station in Malaga. The trip usually takes about an hour.
• Advantages of this option: You will get to know one of the most important cities of the province and you will spend a magnificent day at the beach. In addition, you will be able to adjust the excursion to your budget.
• Disadvantages of this option: If you go in high season, you may have traffic problems and inconveniences when it comes to finding a table in bars.