Málaga & the Costa del Sol: 10 Days Like a Local

Don’t try to pack too much into the first day. Check in, get settled, and head to Calle Larios, the main pedestrian street in the old town. Walk around, explore the side streets, grab a coffee somewhere. It’s a nice way to get a feel for the city without overdoing it on arrival day.

For the evening, start at La Casa del Guardia, the oldest bar in Málaga, open since 1840. You have to try the Pajarete, a sweet local wine they pour straight from the barrel. Very unique and you won’t find it anywhere else.

Then head over to El Pimpi for drinks. Honest warning, the food isn’t really the point there. But it’s such a Málaga classic that you really have to go at least once. Big, sprawling bodega, wine barrels signed by celebrities and bullfighters everywhere, great atmosphere.

Start at Casa Aranda for churros and hot chocolate. There’s usually a small queue, but it moves fast and it’s completely worth it. This will probably become your go-to morning spot for the rest of the trip.

After breakfast, head up to the Alcazaba and El Teatro Romano. The Alcazaba is an 11th century Moorish fortress above the city and right at the base you’ll find one of the best preserved Roman theaters in Spain. Go before it gets too hot and take your time with the views.

In the afternoon, walk over to the Museo Picasso. Picasso was born in Málaga and the museum is in a beautiful Renaissance palace. Really impressive collection and worth a few hours.

Dinner at Mesón Iberico. Old-school Spanish food, really top-notch. The kind of place locals have been going to for decades. Just order whatever they suggest and you can’t go wrong.

Head to La Catedral in the morning. It’s known locally as La Manquita, which means “the one-armed lady”, because one of the towers was never finished. The story is that the funds were redirected to support the American Revolution. Worth going inside but also just walking around the exterior.

The afternoon is for wandering without a plan. Follow whatever streets look interesting, find a market, sit somewhere with a glass of wine. Lunch in Spain is a whole thing, and it happens around 2 or 3 p.m. Let it run long.

Dinner at El Refectorium. Two locations to choose from: the Malagueta spot has more of a local neighborhood feel, and the Cathedral location has incredible views. Both are really good.

Early start today. Granada is about an hour and a half from Málaga and absolutely worth the trip.

The Alhambra is the main event and the one thing I’ll say is please book your tickets in advance. Weeks ahead, not days. It sells out constantly and there’s no way around it. Go early, take your time, and don’t rush the Generalife gardens.

The evening in Granada is a really fun surprise for most people. When you order a drink at most bars, they bring you a free tapa. That’s just how it works there. Start near the Cathedral, wander up into El Albaicín (the old Moorish quarter), and just bar-hop through the evening. No reservations needed, no plan required.

After Granada, keep it relaxed. Sleep in, have a slow breakfast, and then head to the Muelle Uno waterfront for a late morning walk along the harbor. There’s a great gelato spot there that’s perfect for a warm afternoon. Take a boat ride around the coast if you want to get a different view of the city.

It’s also a nice day to check out the Soho neighborhood, just south of the old town. It’s Málaga’s arts district with lots of street murals, independent cafés, and a different vibe from the historic center.

Dinner at Uvedoble. Make a reservation for this one. Really delicious Spanish food and everything on the menu is good. One of my personal favorites in the city.

About an hour east of Málaga along the coast. These two villages together make a really lovely day and you don’t need to plan much, just go and wander.

Nerja is right on the cliffs above the sea and has a famous viewpoint called El Balcón de Europa that really does live up to the name. Walk the old town, find a terrace with a view, and eat wherever looks good. More relaxed and local feeling than the city.

Frigiliana is a few kilometers inland, up in the hills, and it’s one of the most beautiful white villages I’ve been to. Cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings, great views of the mountains and coast. Just walk around slowly, stop for tapas, and enjoy it. There’s nothing specific to check off and that’s the whole point.

Back in Málaga, a slower day. Coffee and a walk in the morning, no rush.

Lunch at Mesón Mariano, which is famous for their artichokes. Really simple, unpretentious, and delicious. Classic neighborhood spot.

In the late afternoon, do what Málaga does naturally and find a bar, order a drink, and take your time. Dinner here rarely happens before 9 p.m. and it’s worth adjusting to that rhythm if you haven’t already.

By day eight, you know the city well during the day. Tonight is a good one to stay out a little later and see it after dark.

Make a reservation at Tapeo Cervantes. Really well-done creative tapas, a true Málaga favorite, and it fills up fast. Go around 9 p.m. and plan to linger.

After dinner, just walk back slowly through the old town. The Cathedral lit up at night, the quiet plazas, the last bars still going. It has a completely different feel than during the day, and it’s worth staying out for.

Head to the rooftop bar at the AC Hotel Málaga Palacio during the day. One of the best views in the city, looking right at the Cathedral with the port behind it. Great spot for a long, lazy afternoon drink before your last full evening.

Use whatever time is left however feels right. Another lap through the Alcazaba, one more glass of Pajarete at La Casa del Guardia. There’s always something you feel like you didn’t do enough of.

Then end the night at La Terraza El Batiq. This one is best after dark, when the city lights up and the views really come into their own. Perfect way to spend your last evening in Málaga.

Before you head to the airport, go back to Casa Aranda one more time. Churros, hot chocolate, the same queue, the same table if you’re lucky. It’s a nice way to say goodbye to the city the same way you got to know it.

That's Málaga. You’ll be back.