More than a beach city in the south of Spain…read more Yes, it does have 16 beaches, one in the city center. But does offer way more than lazy sunny days relaxing on the beach. It is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. And full of various cultural sites. I suggest an early morning hike up to Gibralfaro Castle, as the path is not fully shaded and the line for entry can get long. It is one of the largest Arab fortresses in the area. From here you can look out to the Mediterranean, the historic old city and Plaza de Toro de la Malagueta bull ring. On the back side back down in the city is a fabulously preserved Roman theater, the city museum, and the Cathedral de la Encarnation. The entire day can be spent wandering this great old area, with a few stops at small cafes for a snack and occasional coffee or sangria. Food and drink here are affordable and delicious. For unique and incredible fresh grilled seafood, head back down to the beach and enjoy the grilled sardines on skewers.

This is a nice fort to visit! If you have visited others across Andalusia, it is not nearly as…read moreintricate as the Alhambra, but is still beautiful and grand. The location also offers gorgeous views of the harbor, Mediterranean sea, and the bull ring. There is an accessible entrance for anyone visiting with kids in strollers or a relative in a wheelchair. Free on Sundays after 2p!

The Alcazaba (which comes from al-Qasba, meaning urban fortress) is located at the foot of the…read morehillside of Mount Gibralfaro, in the small bay that is home to the city of Malaga. Its strategic position led it to be inhabited by ancient civilisations such as the Phoenicians and the Romans where they built a theatre in the 1st century. During the Islamic period, the Alcazaba was initially built as a fortification, and later became a palace-fortress, and the seat of the city government. You can buy a ticket for the Alcazaba itself or a combo ticket for the Gibralfaro and the Alcazaba. Sundays are free from 2p-7pm

Last weekend I was in Malaga and, while I was having breakfast on the terrasse of a café, a woman…read moredistributed flyers. I usually don't take flyers. But here I was in Spain so maybe flyers were interesting. And it was ! After wandering through the beautiful city, we found the place. hidden in the patio of an old building. Away from the sun, we felt some fresh air and walk in the craft market. I just love so much how it feels to walk from table to table and admire craft ! It feels so personal. Someone made something and you are about to acquire a unique piece of Art ! We sat for a while, drank a coke. Loved it I highly recommend the place and the market :)

Seriously cool place to have a beer!…read more We walked past this place one day while walking off the beaten path. we made a mental note to come back for for a few beers. So we came back for a few beers. And cheap mind you. You won't break the bank here. Doesn't feel very touristy, felt more like a place where locals hang. And had a arty farty vibe. I saw a bloke sitting at a table on his own reading a book and drinking a beer. I love feel of this place. It's set back off the road into a giant garden patio. I think they hold lots of events here. I saw a list of events, but didn't really pay much attention. I think I may wind up a regular here!

Puente Viejo is a bridge as you'd have guessed, the oldest one built in Ronda in 1616. Easy to…read moreremember. It's very easy to find, like everything else in Ronda, just grab a map - a self guided walking tour and follow the main drag. Everything is close by, within walking distance. The bridge is old, beautiful, take a break for a while to take all the details in and the amazing views all around! Roman bridge with some Moorish influences, a great example of Andalusian architecture. Pedestrian only, a wonderful sight!

The Puente Viejo (old bridge) in Ronda, was built on remains of an older bridge. According to…read moreSpanish touring sites, this version of the bridge was built in the 16thC, however, Wikipedia claims it was built in 1616 (the year of Shakespeare's death). I would tend to go with the Spanish info, dating it to the 1500s. The more famous Puente Nuevo (new bridge) is a "young" 200+ years old. While Puente Nuevo allows vehicular traffic, Puente Viejo is a pedestrian-only bridge. It is accessible from lower points in town, down the hill from the Palacio del Rey Moro, on the old side of the city, and near Iglesia de Padre Jesús on the new side. This bridge has great views, but, IMO, not as dramatic as those from Puente Nuevo. Puente Viejo is in Carlos Saura's film version of Carmen (1983). Los Caños bar, nearby, shows photo stills from the movie. * * * TIP * * * Near the old bridge, there is an entrance to walk the INTERIOR of the city walls, to see these old ramparts from the inside. Ask for more info from your hotel, because this is not of widespread tourist knowledge.

If you.Go to Malaga be absolutely sure you visit this place. The views are amazing, the town…read moreitself is very quaint and has shops and restaurants but not too many so it has a local vibe in some of the quiet Reas toward the top. There is a bus every hour to Nerja. You take the bus from Nerja to Frigiliana. If you stay in central Malaga the bus leaves from the main station but you can save time walking there if you research the route and wait at one of the stops along the way.closest to your hotel. If central, Estacion Muelle Heredia on the N-340 across from Soho. "Muelle" does not come up in google maps all the time, but it is written on the stop/mini station. Be sure to be on the south side of the street if going to Nerja ie the Mediterranean / Alboran Sea / port side. Once you arrive in Nerja stay at that same station and cross the street. You pay the bus driver direct. Websites said exact change only but someone used a credit card. Once you arrive in Frigiliana get off at the main drop off next to the playground and near a round about. The bus for us stopped before that in Old Town. We spent most of our time walking up and down little alleys where people lived and or rented houses. We also browsed the boutiques, had coffee and ate linch with an incredible view of the sea and mountains. Beautiful. Nerja has a more beach tourist vibe, this place has a quaint, relaxed and in places sophisticated vibe. You need 3-4 hours to get a feel for the place. We spent 4 hours here and 4 hours in Nerja. Absolutely worth a visit.

One of Spain's famed Pueblos Blancos, Frigiliana is a popular side trip for Costa del Sol visitors…read more It's SUPER touristy; the people who vacation at just one beach area and stay there the whole time--except a half-day bus trip here (This is just a 10-15min drive from Nerja)--rave about this as a "must see" because it's the only thing different they see in their whole trip. This is not what I would call a "must see" in Spain. If you're in Nerja go to the caves instead (Fundación Cueva de Nerja and/or Cueva del Tesoro). Frigiliana is a pretty scenic village, full of overpriced tourist shops, but lacking in any history. If you are the cruise ship-type vacationer who just wants somewhere to get steps, buy junk, and nurse a hangover, sure, Frigiliana is your place. My husband couldn't wait to get out of there. I'm all for callejear (wandering the streets) but you will get so much more out of that activity in the Juderia of Córdoba or the Albaicín in Granada. There just wasn't enough interest or history for us in Frigiliana. When I was trip planning restaurants to enjoy lunch in Frigiliana, and one of them was already booked for every time slot months in advance, it was clear I didn't want to eat there. We spent about a half hour there (paid €4 for "free" parking), and left. The only redeeming thing was the cat sanctuary. We spent money to donate there rather than buy a stupid magnet. Adios Frigiliana!

The highlight of Moorish architecture in Grenada was found here at this sprawling hilltop location…read more Remember you need your passport to buy tickets and gain entrance so don't forget it. It was the only item checked by security when entering the palaces, Alcazabs and Generalife. We took bus C32 from the center and while most people got off at the Alhambra main entrance we exited the bus at Puerta de la Justicia which was a lot closer to the Nasrid Palaces plus avoided some of the uphill slog. We also visited the Palace of Charles V (quick but surprising acoustics) and Alcazaba (old fort with a tower climb) before ending at Generalife. I forgot that all the museums on site were closed on Mondays. I purchased our tickets online and secured a 9am entrance to the Nasrid Palaces which wasn't as crowded at that hour. The was some renovations happening but for the most part we were able to enjoy the stunning architecture and views. The Partal Palace was our favorite along with the Hall of Ambassadors and Court of the Lions. Walking through the gardens and then downhill to the Generalife we went against the flow of visitors. The Generalife was a much smaller palace that served as the summer retreat. Here water was a highlight showcasing the prowess in the engineering that went into supplying water to these gardens and palaces - Escalera del Agua. The Royal Chamber was a must see inside with richly detailed ceiling, arches and walls. If your legs are still strong after visiting everything then I suggest walking back to town via Cuesta Del Rey Chico. It was a path that ran below the walls of the Alhambra and gave a different perspective and much less crowds.

I was really looking forward to seeing the Alhambra - it's a palace and fortress complex perching…read moreatop the steep hils of Granada, with construction first starting in the 1200s. It's one of the most famous architectural wonders of Islamic architecture and is one of the best preserved places in the world of islamic origin (mixed with Spanish Renaissance architecture). Our ticket included access to all visitable places of the complex (a lot free to the public), Nasrid palace (timed entrance), the gardens and the Generalife (former country estate). We did an unguided tour, so I felt like we missed out on the history a bit as we walked through the palace - it reminded us of the Real Alcazar from Seville, but bigger and more grand in scale. I'm glad our ticket was for 10AM because the grounds only got busier throughout the morning.

The Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) is the most emblematic monument of the Malaga city of Ronda…read more Built between 1751 and 1793, until 1839 it was the highest bridge in the world with a height of 98 meters (about 300 feet). It unites the historic and modern areas of the city by crossing the Ronda tajo, a gorge excavated by the Guadalevín River. The Puente Nuevo constitutes, together with the Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda, the symbol and soul of the city. That is why it has been declared a Natural Monument of Andalusia in April 2019. We walked across it and also down the gorge to take some of the most iconic pictures of the bridge. The trek is tough with a steep uphill, but worth every minute.

This place is a definite must see if you're in the southern coast of Spain. The view from and…read morearound the bridge is just stunning. There are no admission fees, but if you want to visit the lower levels of the bridge, there is a small fee. Be aware to get here, the road can be steep, winding, and narrow. It can be a bit challenging, especially traveling at night. Located in the town of Ronda, there are plenty of restaurants in the town to try out. Numerous gift shops are also present for your wants.