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 go on 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'll find excursions both to towns in the province itself and to other cities in Andalusia, as well as a five-day trip to Morocco.

On this occasion, I recommend a hiking trip. 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 on this list, as the 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 for everyone. If you suffer from vertigo, you should not do 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, you will cross high bridges and walk along footbridges built into the walls. The route was built 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 so named 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 a guide, mainly for your safety, but also so that you can learn curious details about the terrain you are walking on. In addition, you will go by coach 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.

Interesting details

• Price: This tour costs 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 kilometres long, so you'll spend about three hours on it.
• Means of transport: You'll travel by bus to the town of Ardales. Afterwards, you'll 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 climb after the physical effort involved in the route. You'll also get to see the surrounding area and have lunch in a local restaurant.
• Disadvantages of this option: It is not an option for winter or summer, so it is only recommended for a few months of the year.

What better than to take advantage of your stay in Malaga to get to know the capital of Andalusia. Seville is a city with a great artistic, architectural and cultural wealth. 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 of 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 films such as Star Wars or Lawrence of Arabia.

After this stop, you will walk to the Santa Cruz quarter, 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 will be able to see the Patio de los Naranjos or the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Afterwards, 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.

Interesting details

• 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 are free of charge.
• Duration: About 12 hours from departure to arrival in Malaga.
• Means of transport: Most of the tour is done by bus, although there is a part of the tour through the centre of Seville which 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 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.

Upon arrival in Cordoba, you will be able to see the Roman Bridge from the bus. Afterwards, you'll make a stop in the Jewish quarter, the most famous area of the historic centre 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 can enter the Cordoba Synagogue, one of the three best-preserved synagogues in Spain. The visit to the Synagogue lasts 30 minutes and entrance is included in the price of the tour.

Once you have finished your visit, you will move on to the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, which dates back to the time of the Moorish occupation of the city. The entrance ticket is also included in the price of the tour, so you don't have to worry about making a reservation. Once you have finished your visit to the Cathedral of Cordoba, you will get back on the bus to go back to Malaga.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 73 euros per adult. 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 travel by bus to Cordoba, where you will walk through the historic centre. 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 a number of towns and villages that are real treasures. 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 journey 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 explore the area and buy local products, such as sweet wine or pottery.

After your visit to Frigiliana, you will get back on the bus and head to Nerja. Here you can stroll through the cobbled streets and admire the views of the Balcón 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.

Interesting details

• Price: the cost is around 36 euros per adult. In the case of children under 12 years, it is reduced to approximately 28 euros. In addition, children under 4 years old have free access to the excursion.
• Duration: 9 hours from departure from Malaga to return to the city.
• Means of transport: you'll travel by bus to Frigiliana, where you'll walk through the old town. Afterwards, you will get back on the bus to go to Nerja.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to visit two of the most famous villages in Malaga in the same day. You will also have free time to explore them on your own.
• Disadvantages of this option: lunch is not 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 across the strait to Africa. You will disembark in Tangier and head to Casablanca, one of Morocco's most important cities. Here you will have free time to explore the city at your leisure.

After spending the night at the hotel, the next day you'll depart for Marrakech, where you'll be able to 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 see the main sights of the city. The next day, you will depart for Malaga again, repeating the same route you took on the outward journey.

Interesting details

• Price: the cost is around 588 euros per adult, with meals, accommodation, guide and travel insurance included in the price.
• Duration: 5-day trip.
• 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 get to know 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 may be 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 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 centre of Marbella; for example, El Palique, Entre Limones, Compasión, La Niña del Pisto or El Estrecho. From the menu, opt for tapas and typical local dishes such as gambas al pil pil, fritura malagueña or espetos de sardinas.

After lunch, spend the afternoon on one of **Marbella'**s beaches. 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, don't hesitate to take a look at the best plans with children in Malaga.

Interesting details

• Price: As this is an excursion on your own, the price will vary depending on where you have lunch and what you buy in Marbella.
• Duration: From Malaga to Marbella it will take you about 40 minutes. Afterwards, I recommend you spend the whole day in Marbella.
• Means of transport: The most comfortable way to get there is by car, especially if you go with your family. If you don't have your own vehicle, there are direct buses to Marbella that leave from Malaga bus station. The journey usually takes about 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. In addition, you can 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.