Are you planning a holiday in Malaga and looking for the best options for day trips – what to see outside the city? For two years in a row I flew to Malaga to explore the coastal and central parts of Andalusia. And Malaga is a great starting point and convenient airport to see as many beautiful places as possible. From caves deep underground to hiking walks on the surface, from majestic royal palaces to hidden villages in the mountains – all of this is just a few minutes’ drive from Malaga.
In this blog post you’ll find mostly places that are no further than 1 hour and 30 minutes’ drive from Malaga. This means you can wake up in the morning, drive to your destination, explore it, and comfortably return in the evening. The perfect day trip!
I will point out to you some of the most beautiful places in Andalusia that you can see on a day trip from Malaga. I share my experience of visiting them with descriptions, photos, and the locations where you can find them on Google Maps. I hope you enjoy Malaga and Andalusia.
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1.Ronda – the town that hangs over the abyss
Coordinates on Google Maps: Ronda
Ronda is one of the most famous towns and the most beautiful places in Andalusia and Spain. Thanks to the impressive Puente Nuevo bridge over the deep El Tajo gorge and incredibly beautiful photos, this landmark is known all over the world.
The famous Puente Nuevo bridge is a must-see in Andalusia, so photographing the iconic bridge is a must! Find the best spots to photograph the famous bridge in Ronda and other sights worth visiting in Ronda, including the Arab baths, Plaza de Toros and Jardines de Cuenca.
Recommended reading: Ronda, Spain – 10 things to do in the white city on the rock
How to get there:
Ronda is located 1 hour and 30 minutes drive from Malaga – just the perfect place for a day trip from Malaga. You can rent a car, or go by train. Or join a guided tour from Malaga with transfer by bus and free time in Ronda.
2. Setenil de las Bodegas – the cave village of Spain
Coordinates on Google Maps: Setenil de las Bodegas
One of my favorite places to visit in Andalusia is the iconic cave village of Setenil de las Bodegas. The most famous thing about this village is that people here still live in cave houses and work in shops and cafes built under and in the rock.
The most popular place in Setenil de las Bodegas is Cuevas de la Sombra Street (Street of Shady Caves). This is the only street in the village completely covered by rocks. And it is here that you can take some of the most famous photos in Setenil de las Bodegas.
Only a small part of the street runs under the rock (about 100 meters). So I highly recommend walking back and forth to see this place from both sides. Also climb higher and look at the town from one of the observation decks.
Recommended reading: Setenil de las Bodegas, Spain – the most beautiful white village of Andalusia
If you have more time, there are other places worth seeing in Setenil de las Bodegas. Setenil de las Bodegas is definitely one of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia that we have visited.
How to get there:
Setenil de las Bodegas is located 1 hour 20 minutes’ drive from Malaga. And only 25 minutes’ drive from Ronda. If you rent a car, you can easily visit both places in one day. Or, like us, you can spend the night in Ronda and visit Setenil for a walk the next day. If you are staying in Malaga – as an option, join a group bus tour from Malaga to Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas with free time at both places.
3. Nerja – caves and the Balcony of Europe
Coordinates on Google Maps: Balcony of Europe in Nerja
Nerja is a charming whitewashed coastal town on the Costa del Sol coast in Spain. It is located 50 minutes’ drive from Malaga and offers an authentic Andalusian experience in a peaceful atmosphere.
Recommended reading: Nerja – the most beautiful beaches of Andalusia
Nerja is probably one of the best day trip destinations from Malaga. This picturesque town is famous for its “Balcony of Europe” – a large rocky platform overlooking the Mediterranean coastline, offering a picturesque view of the sea and mountains. There are also very beautiful beaches here, much better than even in Marbella – due to the fine pebbles here the water is more transparent and blue.
Another tourist attraction among the best attractions in Nerja is the Nerja Cave. I have been in many similar caves and, honestly, the Nerja cave impressed me the most! It is considered one of the largest in the world, with large underground halls and walls with stalactites and stalagmites; there is so much to admire here. I recommend downloading on the cave’s website the free audioguide (in English) and listening to a very interesting tour as you move from one hall to another inside the cave.
How to get there:
You can reach Nerja in 50 minutes by car, or by bus in 1 hour. Parking in the town is mostly paid if you park near the beaches. But the further from the center, the more free spaces there are in the free parking lots, marked with white stripes.
4. Caminito del Rey – the famous hiking route
Coordinates on Google Maps: Caminito del Rey
Caminito del Rey is one of the places really worth visiting in Andalusia, and one of the best day trips from Malaga. Just 20 years ago, it was considered one of the most dangerous hiking routes in the world. But after reconstruction a few years ago, it became relatively safe and easy for a walk. However, there are restrictions (children under 8 are not allowed on the route).
Recommended reading: Caminito del Rey – personal experience on how to walk the King’s Path independently
Caminito del Rey translates as The King’s Little Path – the king of Spain was really here and even crossed one of the bridges. It is a unique path that runs along the steep walls of a narrow gorge. It is one of the most beautiful places in Andalusia.
The hike from start to finish is about 7 kilometers (from the parking lot to the start of the trail you need to walk another 1–1.5 km). It runs along a wooden and concrete walkway. The hike offers some of the most scenic views of the Andalusian mountains.
How to get there:
Caminito del Rey is located 1 hour 10 minutes drive from Malaga. We rented a car, so we got there on our own, pre-purchased tickets on the trail’s website and walked the trail on foot.
If you don’t have a car, there is an opportunity to go to El Chorro gorge, where Caminito del Rey is located, by train. Trains run several times a day to El Chorro station. But you still need to buy a ticket for the route in advance – they are practically not sold on site, because most tourists and travel companies buy them in advance. If you didn’t manage to get a ticket, you can join group tours, which are organized from Malaga to Caminito del Rey. Tour guides will take care of everything for you – from transport to entrance tickets.
5. Marbella – the most beautiful Old Town in Andalusia
Coordinates on Google Maps: Marbella Old Town
Marbella is one of the most famous white towns of Andalusia, as well as one of the most beautiful and popular on the coast. Although it has grown into a rather large city, Marbella Old Town still remains the same authentic Andalusian town with flower pots and narrow streets.
Recommended reading: 5 best places for beach holidays on the Costa del Sol, Spain
If you are looking for a southern atmosphere in a typical southern town with white houses, winding cobbled streets, flowers and plants everywhere, then definitely visit Marbella. Among the best places to visit in Marbella – Plaza de los Naranjos, Calle Carmen Street – one of the
most beautiful streets in Marbella, and the Capilla Santo Cristo de Marbella.
How to get there:
Marbella is located on the Costa del Sol coast of the Mediterranean Sea, less than an hour’s drive from Malaga. You can get there by car or take the bus from Malaga.
6. Olvera – white town with the most picturesque views
Coordinates on Google Maps: Olvera
Olvera is one of the most beautiful white villages (Pueblos Blancos) in Andalusia, offering stunning views. It is located on top of a hill, with the church and castle rising above the rest of the village.
Recommended reading: Pueblos Blancos route through Andalusia, Spain
Be sure to visit the historic town center and climb up Calle Calzada Street to the picturesque Iglesia Mayor church on top of the hill.
The best place to visit is the Olvera Castle, which was built in the 12th century as part of the defensive system of the Nasrid Kingdom. It is located on a rock at 623 meters above sea level and offers some of the most beautiful views in Andalusia.
How to get there:
Located 1 hour and 30 minutes’ drive from Malaga, this is a great place for a day trip in Andalusia. This town is closer to Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas village, so you can plan your visit or even a weekend by combining these places in a single route.
7. Alhambra – world-famous fortress in Granada
Coordinates on Google Maps: Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra is probably the most famous tourist attraction in Granada, Andalusia, and possibly all of Spain. It is a massive hilltop fortress in Granada at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain, and one of the best places to visit in Andalusia.
Inside the citadel are numerous palaces and residences built for kings, spacious gardens, and other infrastructure created so that the Alhambra would become a self-sustaining city. This is one of those places you just can’t miss!
The Nasrid Palaces – numerous royal palaces built by various Arab kings from the Nasrid dynasty – are the pearl of the Alhambra. If you do not visit the Nasrid Palaces, then you have not seen the Alhambra.
How to get there:
Granada is just over 1 hour 30 minutes’ drive from Malaga, so it’s the perfect place for a day trip. There are trains and buses – you can book tickets to the palace yourself on the website (better to do it in advance – I bought them two weeks ahead during low season), so that, first, you don’t waste time in the queue, and second, tickets at the ticket office might not be available. Moreover, entrance to the Nasrid Palaces is only at the time selected on the website – so you won’t be able to buy them at the ticket office.
Recommended reading: Tips for planning your visit to the Alhambra
If it has happened that you did not manage to buy tickets to the Alhambra in time – you can buy a tour. There are tours from Malaga as well as from other Costa del Sol cities to Granada that include entrance tickets.
8. Estepona – the best-preserved white town on the Costa del Sol coast
Coordinates on Google Maps: Estepona
Estepona is a tourist town on the famous Costa del Sol coast, a very cozy town, although not as hyped as neighboring Marbella.
Estepona has a wonderful historic center, built in typical Andalusian style – white houses in narrow streets, with lush blooming flowers in colorful pots. Narrow streets lead to squares such as Blas Infante, where you can see the Clock – a 16th-century tower.
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Street murals in Estepona are a highlight of the town. In this town on the Costa del Sol you’ll find the largest vertical fresco in Spain, covering 1,000 square meters. Take a walk through the Botanical Orchid Park – there are over 1,300 different types of orchids, and the vertical gardens and waterfalls make this space unique in Estepona.
Estepona beaches – one of the best beaches in Estepona is the city beach La Rada. It is located in the city center. Here you will find restaurants, showers, toilets, volleyball nets, umbrellas and children’s games.
How to get there:
From Malaga to Estepona is 1 hour and 30 minutes by car, or by bus. I would recommend combining a visit to both Estepona and Marbella – both towns can be seen in one day.
9. Castillo de Colomares – a unique castle in Andalusia
Coordinates on Google Maps: Castillo de Colomares
Castillo de Colomares is actually a landmark in the form of a castle dedicated to the life of the explorer Christopher Columbus. It is one of the unique, but at the same time most beautiful places in Malaga province.
This monument was the work of a private artist, so unfortunately many tourists never find out about it.
What makes it very unusual is that it really looks like a centuries-old castle, but in fact it was completed in 1994 after 7 years of construction. You can visit this beautiful hidden gem of Andalusia for an entrance fee of 3 euros.
In addition to the beautiful architecture, this monument also contains the smallest church in the world, with an area of less than 2 square meters! Can you imagine such a tiny church? I hope you will visit this place – it is definitely one of my favorite castles in Andalusia.
How to get there:
Castillo de Colomares is located in the Malaga suburbs – in the town of Fuengirola. Commuter trains run from Malaga, which is actually city metro. Very cheap and convenient, you can get there in just 35 minutes.
10. El Torcal de Antequera – rock formations in Andalusia
Coordinates on Google Maps: El Torcal de Antequera
El Torcal de Antequera is a nature reserve in the province of Malaga, a mountain ridge considered one of the largest karst landscapes you’ll see in Europe.
The uniqueness of this place is that this mountain ridge was once actually the bottom of the sea. Due to tectonic activity, the sea floor was lifted high above sea level. In fact, this activity continues to this day.
As proof of this, in the mountains you can find plenty of fossils and sea shells. This impresses, especially when you realize that the highest point of El Torcal de Antequera is now at 1,336 meters above sea level.
The layered rock formations were created by erosion. Rainwater washes away the soft part of the mountains and leaves these unique layered towers which you can enjoy while walking the park trails. They are a bit reminiscent of the Demerdzhi rocks in Crimea. By the way, entrance to this national park is free.
How to get there:
The easiest way to visit the place is to drive to the Visitor Center by rented car. Park your car, then choose one of the proposed hiking routes. They are quite well marked, and it’s hard to get lost there.
Useful articles and links:
- Tarifa, Spain – holiday in the Windy City
- Malaga – a guide to the capital of the Costa del Sol coast
- TOP 10 – what to see in Cadiz, Andalusia
- Two-week itinerary around Andalusia – how to see almost everything
Green card, Auto insurance and Tourist medical insurance – online on HotlineFinance
Hotel and apartment bookings – Booking.com
Hire a car – DiscoverCars
