6 Best Day Trips from Malaga

One of the greatest advantages of the city of Malaga is its location and the connections it offers to other parts of Andalusia. This makes it very easy to travel to other provinces without even having to spend the night away. Therefore, if you live in Malaga or are going to spend some time in the city, the best thing you can do is take advantage of your stay to go on excursions.

If you already know all the best things to see and do in Malaga and want to go one step further and venture beyond its borders, take a look at these excursions from Malaga. You will find excursions to towns in the province itself as well as to other cities in Andalusia, and even a five-day excursion to Morocco.

On this occasion, I recommend a hiking excursion. The Caminito del Rey is one of the most popular routes in Malaga. If you are looking for excursions to do in summer, I recommend that you choose another one from this list, as summer in Malaga is too hot to do the Caminito del Rey.

The first thing I have to do is warn you that this is not an excursion for everyone. If you suffer from vertigo, you should not attempt it. I say this because you will have to cross areas less than a metre wide and more than 100 metres high.

The route runs along the Guadalhorce River, crossing high bridges and walking along walkways built into the walls. The route was created to enable the maintenance of a water channel that ran from the reservoirs in the north of the province to the municipality of El Chorro. It is named after 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, where the route is located. I recommend booking a guided tour, mainly for your safety, but also so that you can learn interesting facts about the terrain you are walking on. You will travel by coach to Ardales, where you will stop for an hour and a half to explore the village. After the walk, you will have lunch in the municipality of Álora.

Details of interest

• Price: This excursion costs around €64 per adult and €48 per child under 12 years of age.
• Duration: Approximately seven hours in total. The route itself is about 3 kilometres long, so you will spend about three hours on it.
• Transport: You will travel by bus to the town of Ardales. Afterwards, you will walk the route and return to Malaga city by bus.
• Advantages of this option: You won't have to worry about taking your own vehicle, which can be a bit of an uphill struggle after the physical effort involved in the route. In addition, you will be able to explore the surrounding area and have lunch at a local restaurant.
• Disadvantages of this option: It is not an option for either winter or summer, so it is only recommended for a few months of the year.

What better way to make the most of your stay in Malaga than to visit the capital of Andalusia? Seville is a city with a wealth of art, architecture and culture. On this excursion, you can discover its main tourist attractions and then return to Malaga to spend the night.

The excursion includes an air-conditioned bus tour of Maria Luisa Park, the Guadalquivir River and the famous Plaza de España. The bus will stop at the latter so you can get off and take photos of this famous place, which has been the setting for major international films such as Star Wars and Lawrence of Arabia.

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

The tour includes admission to the cathedral, where you can see the Patio de los Naranjos (Orange Tree Courtyard) and the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Afterwards, you will visit one of the city's main monuments, the Torre del Oro (Golden Tower), which stands on the banks of the Guadalquivir River. You will enjoy this entire excursion in the company of an expert guide.

Details of interest

• Price: The cost of the excursion is around €73 per adult. For children under 12, the price is reduced to €55. Infants aged 0 to 3 travel free of charge.
• Duration: Approximately 12 hours from departure from Malaga to arrival back in Malaga.
• Means of transport: Most of the excursion is by bus, although there is a section in the centre of Seville that is done on foot.
• Advantages of this option: You will have an expert local guide at your disposal. You will also receive an entrance ticket to the cathedral.
• Disadvantages of this option: Lunch is not included.

Another of the best excursions from Malaga 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 and understand the historical past of the autonomous community.

When you arrive in Cordoba, you can see the Roman Bridge from the bus. Afterwards, you will stop at the Jewish quarter, the most famous area of Cordoba's historic centre. 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 Córdoba, one of the three best preserved in Spain. The visit to the Synagogue lasts 30 minutes and admission is included in the price of the tour.

When you have finished the visit, you will go on to see the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, which dates back to the time of the Arab occupation of the city. Admission is also included in the price of the excursion, so you won't have to worry about making any reservations. Once you have finished your visit to the Cathedral of Córdoba, you will return to the bus to go back to Málaga.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately £65 per adult. The price for children under 12 is approximately £55. Children under four travel free of charge.
• Duration: approximately 12 hours from departure from Malaga to return.
• Transport: you will travel by coach to Córdoba, where you will explore the historic centre on foot. The return journey to Malaga is also by coach.
• 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 Málaga has some towns that are real treasures. Two 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 a single day, as well as the famous Nerja Caves.

The excursion departs from Malaga city to Frigiliana by bus. This journey will take no more than 50 minutes. When you arrive in Frigiliana, you will visit the old fortress, which once served as a refuge for the Moors and is now a cane honey factory. After the visit, you will have free time to explore the area and buy local products, such as sweet wine or ceramics.

Once you have finished your visit to Frigiliana, you will board the bus again and head to Nerja. In this town, you can walk through its cobbled streets and admire the views from the Balcón de Europa. In Nerja, you will also have some free time to explore the town on your own. The excursion can be rounded off with a visit to the prehistoric caves of Nerja.

Details of interest

• Price: the cost is around €36 per adult. For children under 12, the price is reduced to approximately €28. Children under 4 years old can join the excursion free of charge.
• Duration: 9 hours from departure from Malaga to return to the city.
• Transport: you will travel by bus to Frigiliana, where you will explore the historic centre on foot. Afterwards, you will return to the bus to go to Nerja.
• Advantages of this option: you can visit two of Malaga's most famous villages in one day. You will also have free time to explore them on your own.
• Disadvantages of this option: lunch is not included in the price of this excursion.

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

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

After spending the night in a 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 can 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 tourist attractions in the city.

The third day is divided between two cities: Meknes and Rabat. You will have the opportunity to see the Royal Palace of Rabat, the Mausoleum of Mohamed V, and the University of Karaouine, which is the largest Islamic sanctuary in Morocco. The fourth day of your trip to Morocco will be dedicated to Fez, where you will visit the city's main tourist attractions. The next day, you will depart for Malaga again, repeating the route you took on the way there.

Details of interest

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

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

The historic centre of Marbella should be the first stop on your excursion. With its cobbled streets and balconies adorned with flower pots, the centre of Marbella is a place that exudes the aroma of Andalusia. It has many small shops where you can find all kinds of unique items.

I also recommend trying the local cuisine at one of the best restaurants and bars in the centre of Marbella, such as El Palique, Entre Limones, Compasión, La Niña del Pisto or El Estrecho. From all the options on the menu, opt for tapas and dishes typical of the area, such as gambas al pil pil (prawns in garlic sauce), fritura malagueña (mixed fried fish) or espetos de sardinas(sardine skewers).

After lunch, spend the afternoon at one of Marbella's beaches. The best ones, in my opinion, are Casablanca, El Faro, Guadalmina, Elviria and Hermosa. Some of them are more suitable for families with young children, such as Hermosa. If this is your case, don't hesitate to check out the best things to do with children in Malaga.

Useful information

• Price: As this is a self-guided excursion, the price will vary depending on where you have lunch and what you buy in Marbella.
• Duration: It takes about 40 minutes to get from Malaga to Marbella. After that, I recommend spending the whole day in Marbella.
• Transport: The most convenientway to get there is by car, especially if you are travelling with your family. If you do not have your own vehicle, there are direct buses to Marbella from Malaga bus station. The journey usually takes an hour.
• Advantages of this option: You will get to know one of the most important cities in the province and spend a wonderful day at the beach. You can also tailor the trip to your budget.
• Disadvantages of this option: If you go during the high season, you may encounter traffic problems and difficulties finding a table in bars.