The Best Day Trips From Malaga in Andalusia & Southern Spain
Malaga is a wonderful and charming city to immerse yourself in, but if you’re there for a bit longer than a couple of days, there are loads of opportunities to get out and explore some of Andalusia’s other highlights. It’s a region rich in culture, heritage and nature, as well as activities for the more adventurous traveller.
If you’ve read my guide to spending a weekend in Malaga and still have some extra time to spare, why not venture a little further?
Check out my suggestions for the best day trips from Malaga:
Caminito del Rey
Formerly known as ‘Spain’s most dangerous hike’, repairs between between 2009 and 2015 to the walkways mean it’s no longer a death-defying adventure, but a day tour here will still give you an adrenaline rush! This is one of the best tours in Malaga – if you have a head for heights!
The Caminito del Rey was built in the early 1900s as a route for workers at the nearby hydroelectric power station. Since it opened to the public as an attraction in 2015, over 2.5 million people have stomped their boots along the walkway, suspended 100feet up on a sheer cliff face.
Getting to Caminito del Rey from Malaga
It takes around 1hr to drive to Caminito del Rey, with ample parking available near the northern entrance, the Visitor Centre or in El Churro, at the end of the walk.
To get to Caminito del Rey from Malaga via public transport, your best option is to take the train to El Churro, which costs €3.50 each way and takes around 45 minutes. One you arrive in El Churro, take the shuttle bus to the Visitor Centre to start your walk.
What to do in Caminito del Rey
Erm. Walk along it, basically! The full Caminito del Rey route starts as a typical outdoor walk, passing the old hydroelectric substation. After this, the wooden boardwalk (and the fun!) begins. After heading through some narrower sections, you’ll reach the most iconic part of the walk, Gaitanes Gorge, followed by the nerve-wracking suspension bridge across.
Once you’ve finished your walk, there’s little else in terms of infrastructure, but if you want to extend your day trip, you can find further hiking trails to explore at your own pace.
Opening Times: 9am – between 2.50pm and 5.40pm, depending on the season
Entrance Fee: €10 (independent walk) €18 (guided walk)
Fuengirola
If you’re looking for a laid back day trip from Malaga with lovely sandy beaches, Fuengirola is one most popular destinations on the Costa del Sol. With more of a ‘beach holiday’ vibe than Malaga, it’s a great spot to kick back, relax and enjoy the famous Southern Spain seaside experience.
Getting to Fuengirola from Malaga
You can get to Fuengirola in just half an hour if you’re driving. The bus takes a little longer, and costs around €3.
What to do in Fuengirola
Hit the beach!
Enjoy some of the best-loved beaches the region has to offer! The pristine sands and calm Mediterranean seas make it the perfect place to indulge in some water activities, or just chill out on a lounger for a good chunk of the day.
Moorish Sohail Castle
On a small hill overlooking the city, this historic fortification was built during the Moorish occupation to protect the city. With stunning sea views and well-restored original features, it’s worth the short uphill walk to get here!
Aquamijas Water Park
Pack your swimwear and get ready to whizz down the slides and splash around at Fuengirola’s water park!
Mijas Pueblo
This pretty, whitewashed village is nestled in the mountainside, and conjours up images of quintessential Andalucian style.
Getting to Mijas Pueblo from Malaga
It takes around 35 minutes to drive from Malaga to Mijas Pueblo. The bus journey is a little more complicated, and can take anywhere between 1hr 10 minutes and 1hr 40. Mijas Pueblo is around a 15 minute drive from Fuengirola, so you could combine the two for a great day trip from Malaga!
What to do in Mijas Pueblo
As a small village, Mijas Pueblo doesn’t have tons of attractions – the real thing to do here is to take a stroll through the sloping streets and take it all in! The Plaza de la Constitucion sits at the centre of the village, and has restaurants, bars and shops. While Mijas Pueblo isn’t a full day trip in itself, it’s a great add-on if you’re visiting somewhere along the way!
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is another super popular day trip from Malaga. A British Overseas Territory, it’s located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, with views stretching as far as the African continent. You’ll find a touch of ‘Britishness’ across the island, in the form of red phone boxes, fish and chips and M&S.
Getting to Gibraltar from Malaga
Gibraltar is between 1.5-2hrs drive from Malaga – so set off early to make the most of it!
Getting there by public transport takes a little longer, and the quickest route is by bus, which takes on average two and a half hours. You can either get to the public bus station yourself, or book a day trip to Gibraltar with an experience provider.
What to do in Gibraltar
Rock of Gibraltar
The iconic Rock dominates the Gibraltar skyline. This huge peak of limestone stands at 426m tall and offers views over the Strait of Gibraltar across to Africa, accompanied with around 230 Barbary Macaques that call the Rock home. If you’re feeling adventurous, the walk up takes around two and a half hours to the top, but don’t worry – there’s also a cable car!
St. Michael’s Cave
The ancient network of limestone caves within the Rock of Gibraltar is filled with awe-inspiring natural formations, illuminated by a colourful lighting installation.
Great Siege Tunnels
Created by the Royal Engineers and the Canadian Army to house troops within the Rock, Gibraltar’s WWII tunnels served as a base and underground city. There are 35 miles of tunnels in the Rock, and the attraction has models and displays to turn back time to the Great Siege of Gibraltar.
Marbella
I actually spent four days in Marbella completing my PADI Open Water course, and while it wouldn’t initially have been a bucket list holiday destination for me, I really enjoyed spending some time in this pretty coastal city. I’ve shared a full guide to spending one day in Marbella, and here’s an overview:
Known for luxe and glamour, Marbella is a well-kept city with a charming old town and beautiful beachfront. The whitewashed buildings and orange trees are quintisentially Andalusian, and there are plenty of highly rated restaurants to enjoy Spanish and international cuisine. It’s a really beautiful spot, perfect for a stylish day trip from Malaga.
Getting to Marbella from Malaga
The drive from Malaga to Marbella, traffic withstanding, takes no more than around an hour, with plenty of public parking in the city centre.
The bus from Malaga Bus Station to Marbella Bus Station takes around an hour, and costs between €5 – €9. You can book your ticket in advance with Avanza.
What to do in Marbella
Explore Marbella Old Town
Marbella’s old town may be one of the prettiest and charming I’ve visited, and it comes to glorious life on a sunny Andalusian day. The streets are clean and well kept, and the central square, Plaza de los Naranjos, has plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants to people-watch from.
See Salvador Dali sculptures in Avenida del Mar
Avenida del Mar links the old town to the seafront, and along it you’ll find ten sculptures by the globally-renowned artist Salvador Dali.
Walk the sea promenade
Malaga runs alongside such a pretty stretch of sea, it’d be rude not to take a walk along the stretching boulevard that runs all the way to Puerto Banus. Stretch your legs with sea views, stop for a smoothie, and take some time to relax on a sandy beach!
Go celeb-spotting in Puerto Banus
Your chance to rub shoulders with the rich and famous – this is the area where the wealthy other half park their yachts, do some designer shopping and enjoy fancy dining. (I looked at some yachts, grimaced at prices and ate a pizza. Still very fun.)
Read more: How to Spend a Weekend in Marbella: 2 Day Itinerary
Nerja
Situated east of Malaga, Nerja is a popular day trip destination for its powdery beaches, whitewashed buildings and an abundance of water activities.
Getting to Nerja from Malaga
It’ll take you less than an hour to drive from Malaga to Nerja for your day trip, giving you plenty of time there. The bus journey can take a little longer, between 1-1.5hrs.
What to do in Nerja
Nerja Old Town
As well as being a popular beach destination, Nerja has a quaint old town with narrow, streets and whitewashed buildings.
Step out on the Balcony of Europe
Built into the cliff face overlooking La Caletilla beach, the Balcon de Europa offers beautiful sea views, as well as the a statue of King Alfonso XII, who gave the viewpoint its name.
Caves of Nerja
Just outside of town, you’ll find the fascinating Caves of Nerja, a series of caverns spanning almost five kilometers. It’s estimated that these caves were inhabited as far back as 25,000 BC.
If you want to double up on your day trip from Malaga to Nerja, why not add in Frigiliana – one of the best examples in the province of the typical picturesque Andalusian village?
Ronda
This mountaintop city is set over a deep, dramatic gorge that seperates the old town and the 15th-century ‘new town’. The combination of jaw-dropping landscapes and Moorish history make it a fascinating Andalusian city to take a day trip to, and easily reachable from Malaga.
Getting to Ronda from Malaga
The drive from Malaga to Ronda takes around an hour and 20 minutes. Trains are infrequent and require connections, so I’d probably avoid that. If you want to take a bus, there are departures from Malaga throughout the day, with a journey time of around 2 hours.
What to do in Ronda?
Walk over Puente Nuevo
This breathtaking bridge spans the gorge between the two sides of the city, and offers stunning views over the gorge. There are also various viewpoints on either side where you can admire the bridge itself.
Jardines de Cuenca
The hanging gardens on the ledges of the Tajo are home to 23 beautiful rose-covered terraces. You can also get some great views of the gorge and the Guadalevín River here, as well as the Puente Nuevo bridge.
La Casa del Rey Moro
Known as the ‘House of the Moorish King’ after a tile found in one of the facades, this 18th century building is home to a Muslim-era water mine, hanging gardens, and the house itself.
Read More: Things to do in Ronda
Book it: Ronda and Sentenil de las Bodegas full day tour from Malaga
Granada
If you can tear yourself away from the ocean, Granada is a Moorish-influenced city in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It’s a popular city in any Southern Spain itinerary, and a relatively easy excursion from Malaga.
Getting to Granada from Malaga
The drive from Malaga to Granada takes around an hour and a half. You can also catch a direct train from Malaga, which can take anywhere from 1hr 30 – 2hrs, and costs €35-40.
What to do in Granada
Alhambra
A jewel in the crown of Spanish Islamic heritage, the Alhambra. The expansive palace and fortress complex is one of the best-preserved in the world, with individual gardens and buildings joined up by tree-lined walkways.
Granada’s Gardens
If you love beautiful landscaped gardens, Grenada has some of the best around. The manicured Generalife Gardens were a summer residence for the Sultans, and the palace of Carmen de los Martires has sprawling gardens that are free to enter.
Arab Baths Hammam
To truly relax and unwind in a traditional historic settings, book a hammam spa experience in Granada’s baths. With hot pools, steam room and optional massage, it’s the most delicious spot to unwind after a long day exploring.
Read more: Things to do in Granada
Book it: Full day Granada tour from Malaga with Alahambra
Cordoba
Cordoba was a city of great importance in both Roman times and the Middle Ages, with particular significance within to the Islamic religion. It’s expansive history makes Cordoba a truly impressive mixture of architectural and cultural styles, as well as being a very beautiful and charming city. Oh, and it has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the entire Historic Center.
Getting to Cordoba from Malaga
It takes around an hour and 40 minutes to drive to Cordoba from central Malaga. Taking the train is actually quicker, getting you there in under an hour, making it a great day trip from Malaga by train if you don’t have your own vehicle. A return train journey will cost around €26-30.
What to do in Cordoba?
Mezquita – The Great Mosque
Cordoba was a significant Islamic city during the Middle Ages, and it’s mind-blowing mosque dates back to 784 A.D. After a Christian takeover, a cathedral was constructed at the centre, combining architectural styles from different religions and eras.
The Roman Bridge & Calahorra Tower
One of the most striking views in the city, the complex over the Guadalquivir river includes the Calahorra Tower, a national historical monument dating back to the 13th century.
Palacio de Viana
This Renaissance palace houses 12 patios with lush foliage, as well as collections of art and antiques.
Cadiz
Home to the Spanish Navy, the ancient port city of Cadiz offers idyllic old town vibes, rich Spanish culture and an emerging creative food scene. It’s also the oldest continuously inhabited city in Spain, so there’s plenty of history to explore amongst the streets of this slightly-hidden gem.
Getting to Cadiz from Malaga
It takes around 2 and a half hours to drive to Cadiz from Malaga. Unfortunately, due to the long distance, the quickest method by public transport is a bus that takes 4hours – so for a day trip, it’s not really worth it unless you drive!
What to do in Cadiz
Cathedral de las Americas
The stunning cathedral is reminiscent of Central American architecture, and you can climb to the top of the tower for spectacular views.
Museum of Cadiz
Step through history in Cadiz’ museum, featuring archaeological exhibits, fine art galleries and an ethnography section focused on the 19th and 20th centuries.
Mercado Central
Spain’s oldest covered market, the bustling Mercado Central offers a taste of Cadiz cuisine. As well as groceries and produce, grab a bite to eat here, with numerous street food stalls including paella and tapas.
Seville
Imagine intricate arched buildings, lively orange-tree lined streets and grand monuments, and you’ve basically just imagined the Andalusian capital, Seville. Lively, vibrant and sensual, the only danger of a day trip here will be wishing you could stay for longer!
Getting to Seville from Malaga
The drive from Malaga to Seville takes around 2hrs 20minutes. Direct trains run from Málaga María Zambrano Train Station with a journey time of around two hours, making it an ideal day trip from Malaga if you’re willing to get up a little early!
What to do in Seville
Royal Alcázar of Seville
Europe’s oldest royal palace is a must-visit on a day trip to Seville. The architecture is stunning, with a mix of Moorish and Christian styles. A true spectacle, a visit to the Royal Alcázar takes in multiple areas of the complex, including the Court of the Maidens, Hall of Ambassadors, Gothic Palace and lush gardens.
Seville Cathedral
One of the world’s largest churches in the world, Seville Cathedral is SERIOUSLY impressive. You can climb the bell tower for some good old city views, too.
Museo de Bellas Artes
One of Spain’s most impressive galleries, the collection of fine art on display here ranges from medieval to modern times, featuring works by primarily Spanish artists.
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