January blues is a real thing, people. There’s only so much gray and rain you can take before you think to yourself, “I need to get out of here!” Hubby and I scored awesome January flight deals to Málaga, Spain (in the south of Spain), as we knew we would need a break from the London fog. We flew to Málaga with Ryanair and back with Monarch for a total of 70 pounds. Yup, it was a dreamy steal. The abundance of sunshine and beach left us feeling refreshed and recharged. If you’re planning a weekend trip to Málaga—not to be confused with the party town Magaluf—I’ve got you covered on the sights to see. Check out my weekend guide below!
Teatro Romano Hotel
We stayed at a boutique hotel right next to the castle. This hotel is brand new, so we were super excited to check it out. The rooms were a little smaller than we would have liked, but that’s not a big deal because the location was amazing. The service was perfect, the décor was beautiful, and we would definitely stay there again. I’m going to do a more thorough review of the hotel very soon, but if you’re interested in booking your stay, you can click here.
Málaga Cathedral
On your way to the marina from our hotel, you walk past this beautiful cathedral that has such a majestic presence. The city’s soaring Renaissance cathedral is nicknamed “La Manquita” (one-armed lady) because one of its towers was curiously left unbuilt. You can get an incredible view of the city if you head to the cathedral roof. If you’re not keen on paying to go inside, you can walk around the cathedral and enjoy the free gardens.
Marina
After we dropped off all our stuff at the hotel, we walked to the marina. It was filled with people, little stores, eateries, and live music. We actually walked the whole time we were in Málaga and didn’t need any public transport or taxis. (We only needed a taxi to and from the airport.) The marina is a prime space to spend your day or to go on a run if you’re interested! One day we walked through it to the beach, and the next day we enjoyed some live music and sangria.
Beach
Oh joy to the world, the beach sand is warm! That’s literally what I was singing in my head as I ran toward the water. I didn’t get into the actual water, as it was a little too cold for that, but my feet were in and it felt amazing. Seeing how we were there in winter and the beach was still great, I believe the beach is a safe place to go any time of year! Grab yourself a prime spot with a towel to sit on, a drink in your hand, and sunshine on your face—you won’t regret it.
Shopping
Last year, hubby lost his Ray-Bans at Oktoberfest in Munich, so he was pretty jealous of my pair, especially as it was so sunny in Málaga. Thankfully, there was a Ray-Ban boutique on the marina, and their prices were unbelievable! We treated him to a replacement pair of sunglasses and then kept walking down the marina so that I could do some shopping in the little boutiques. On Sunday, there was an outdoor market on the marina with plenty of small stalls, and that was dangerous for our wallets haha. The mixture of artisan pop-ups with small boutiques made for a pleasant shopping experience.
Museum Picasso Málaga
The infamous artist Pablo Picasso was born in Málaga. You will see tributes to him everywhere, from street art to street signs. This museum is a restored sixteenth-century palace, and it houses 285 Picasso works that were donated by various members of Picasso’s family. Pictures are not allowed, but that’s not a big deal since you truly want to immerse yourself in his works. You can also go the basement where the archaeological sites are contained. They have parts of buildings as far back as 6 B.C. down there. You are required to keep any backpacks in the front desk area, and the audio guides are only one euro. If you are in Málaga, you must check out this museum!
Alcazaba (the Citadel) and Gibralfaro (the Castle)
If you’re an architecture nerd, you will absolutely love this citadel. This is the best-preserved citadel in Spain, and it was right next to our hotel and the Roman Theatre. We slowly walked through for quite a while, stopping often because the intricate designs and gardens in the palatial fortress were absolutely stunning. The Spanish and Moorish influences are breathtaking. You could easily spend all day here and walk for hours if you wanted to. You can also walk from Alcazaba to Gibralfaro (the Castle). Gibralfaro is on the top of a mountain overlooking all of Málaga, and the views are gorgeous. You can see the city and the sea for miles.
Roman Theatre
This amphitheater is right next to our hotel and adjacent to the Alcazaba. Built in the first century A.D., the history of its use is quite interesting. During the day, many people lounge there or take a moment to rest. There are not many shows that go on here, so you should check online before you head over to see if you can book your trip during a show time. When there is no event in the amphitheater, access to it is free.
Walk the City
When you don’t have any set plans, walking is the best way to get to know the city. We spent hours and hours just walking both days, and it was spectacular. This was actually my favorite part of the trip because we had great conversation, beautiful sunshine, and lots of exercise. As you’re walking throughout the city, you will notice the stunning architecture, colorful walls, street art, and small stalls and stores to step into. Our goal was to walk a marathon throughout the weekend, and we accomplished that!
I hope this weekend guide is useful for you. Have you been to Málaga before? If you have, what are some of your recommendations? If you haven’t, take my word for it and go! It is one of our favorite places in Europe so far, and that’s no small claim.
