15 best excursions in Malaga in Russian
The most beautiful city in southern Spain, the capital of the province of Costa del Sol is famous for its ancient history. Malaga, founded by the Phrycians in the 8th century BC, was a coveted object for many peoples. It was conquered by the Romans, Visigoths, Arabs, until, finally, the power of the Spaniards was consolidated over it. The ruins of the Roman amphitheater, the ancient fortresses of Alcazaba and Gibralfaro became witnesses of past eras.
The birthplace of flamenco and bullfighting like a magnet attracts travel lovers and avid holidaymakers, including Russians. Excursions in Malaga will help you really get to know this amazing city, feel its flavor, see the main monuments. This article provides an overview of 15 of them.
Malaga Roman, Moorish, Catholic
Becoming a member of a 4-hour walk through the Old City, you will touch the amazing pages of its existence from antiquity to the present day. You will discover different stages of social development, cultural and gastronomic traditions of the Malags. The journey will start from the central square of Puerta del Mar, where you will visit the Casa Aranda cafe, where you will drink a cup of hot chocolate with churros, a traditional breakfast of the townspeople. A visit to the Mercado de Ataranzas market will enrich the Andalusian gastronomic experience.
Looking around the grandiose building – the Cathedral, you will learn extraordinary facts from the history of its construction and why the people called the temple “one-armed madam”. You will see the remains of the Roman amphitheater – a symbol of the dominion of the Romans. Explore the walls and towers of the Alcazaba fortress, a symbol of the Moorish era. Later you will have the opportunity to relax in the cozy atmosphere of the El Pimni tavern. They will offer a glass of local wine and tapas.
Book a private transfer from the airport to your hotel for 1 629 RUB
During the voyage you will see the house where the famous surrealist Pablo Picasso was born, hear a lot of interesting things about the first years of his life. Climbing to the top of the hill, look around Gibralfaro Castle, get an idea of the architecture of the past. You will be enchanted by the picturesque panorama of the sea bay, which opens from a bird's eye view. Price 120€ for 1-4 people, 25€ for each if more than 4 people.
Sightseeing tour with wine tasting
Participation in a short voyage (2.5 hours) will be a quick acquaintance with the appearance of a unique city with a special flavor and traditions. You will discover the authentic side of his life in atmospheric places. Enjoy the taste of a chocolate drink and churros dessert in one of the cafes. Walking along the street Larios, take a look at the local shops. You will learn about the influence of the Phoenicians on the fashion of Andalusia, about the New Year customs of the inhabitants. A pleasant surprise will be acquaintance with the apartment of Antonio Banderas.
Walking through the labyrinths of narrow streets, be impressed by the Church of St. John the Baptist. Walk through the “heart” of the city – Sq. Constitution, see the majestic Cathedral, hear the history of its construction. Impressed by the excavations of the Roman theater, the Moorish fortress of Alcazaba, admire the views spreading below. On the square La Merced, go to Picasso's house, inspect the obelisk to the freedom fighters.
The final chord of immersion in the urban atmosphere is a visit to the oldest wine cellar of Casa Gaurdia. You will enjoy the atmosphere, warm welcome and delicious wine tasting. You will get acquainted with how dessert wine is made here, how it is drunk. You will learn about the traditional varieties of the drink, about the legends associated with them. You will know why the Pedro Ximines wine ended up in Russia.
Walking in Old Malaga
During the 3-hour promenade through the historical center of the city, you will plunge into its atmosphere, learn interesting information, and see unique objects. You will discover inconspicuous at first glance the nuances of the life of the townspeople. You will be interested in the main symbols of the ancient city: the Roman theater, the Bishop's Palace, the Cathedral and interesting facts from their history.
The charm of the picturesque streets will not leave you until the end of the walk. You will walk through the places where Picasso lived and began to create his masterpieces. You will find yourself on an inconspicuous street, consecrated by the soulful poetry of Garcia Lorca. Feel the spirit of temperamental flamenco at the venues where this incendiary dance takes place.
Get to know the gastronomic preferences of the Andalusians by visiting the central market, be impressed by the variety of traditional dishes and products. One of the best city cafes will hospitably welcome you. Here you will feel like a Spaniard by ordering a cup of coffee in Spanish. The baggage of “coffee” knowledge will be replenished with information about 9 varieties of coffee in Malaga.
Price: 85€ for 1-4 people
White villages of Andalusia
Extraordinary experiences await you on a 5-hour drive around the area. You will see the “visiting card” of Andalusia – its white villages, captivating with beautiful houses. But on the way to them you can be fascinated by the masterpieces created by Nature. The karst cave of Nerja will impress with its large-scale dimensions, bizarre stalagmites and stalactites. In it, you will come into contact with distant ancestors, examining the rock paintings of the Neanderthals. You will visit the hall where music festivals are held, where Rostropovich's cello and Caballe's magic soprano sounded.
In Nerja you will visit the observation deck “Balcony of Europe”, hanging over the sea. Admire the amazing views of the rocky beaches washed by the azure ocean, hear the romantic love story of King Alfonso II with a sad ending. In the Church of Saint Salvador, you will be interested in sculptures that personify Holy Week and learn their sacred meaning.
At the final stage of the trip, head to the authentic village of Frigiliana. She will delight with wonderful white houses, decorated with doors and shutters of different colors. Walking along the picturesque streets, you will learn why the villagers traditionally paint their walls white and how this is connected with the scourge of the Middle Ages – plague epidemics. Having visited the wine cellar, you will taste 2 varieties of local wine, appreciate its taste. Price 175€ for 1-4 people. Entrance to the cave €13.75.
Malaga Historic Center
The main sights of the Old Town will appear before you on a 5-hour journey through the mother of Malaga – the historical center. You will touch the fortress walls built by the Phoenicians almost 3 millennia ago. Feel the presence of the Romans and Arabs in these places, examining the ruins of the Roman theater, fortifications of the Arab period – Alcabaza and Gibralfaro.
As the tour continues, get to know the Spanish period of Malaga as the capital of the Andalusian province of Castilla-La Mancha. It houses the 4th largest airport in Spain, cruise liners from all over the world moor in its port. The birthplace of flamenco and bullfighting is famous for its famous countrymen – the founder of cubism in painting Pablo Picasso, Hollywood stars Antonio Banderas and others. You will come to the houses where they were born and lived.
In the final part of the walk, you will pay a visit to the old wine cellar “El Pimpi”. In cozy authenticity, you will taste the taste of dessert wine, which was once loved by Sergei Yesenin, Empress Catherine II and famous English pirates. You can even sit in the places where the Duchess of Alba, Baroness Thyssen, Placido Domingo and other celebrities used to sit. Iberian jamon as an appetizer will complement the gourmet experience and the sense of belonging to Spain. Voyage price 125€ for 1-4 people.
Paella and gazpacho: a master class with an Andalusian chef
If you have not even heard of such concepts as paella and gazpacho, you can not only decipher the mysterious terms, but also learn how to cook these national dishes. Discover the secrets of Andalusian cuisine in a 4-hour cooking workshop. It will begin with a hike through the ancient market of Atarazanas, where you, under the guidance of a guide, will choose high-quality ingredients for future culinary masterpieces.
In a special workshop, meet the maestro of gastronomy, the master of the Guild of Andalusian Chefs, a native Malagian. She will teach you a lesson in the masterly cooking of meat, fish or seafood paella (which one you decide when choosing products). The cooking process will be accompanied by a tasting of fresh bread, several varieties of olive oil, almonds. All this will be washed down with the famous Malaga wine.
While the paella is boiling, you will prepare a cold tomato gazpacho soup, similar to Russian okroshka. In the process, learn how to properly cut tomatoes, determine the optimal readiness of rice and comprehend other subtleties of cooking. The workshop will end with pleasant communication at the set table with delicacies flaunting on it, which you will try and appreciate with pleasure.
Travel to Seville
Who does not dream of visiting the famous Seville – the unique capital of Andalusia. The fatal beauty-gypsy Carmen, the treasures of Columbus, the shooting of the sensational film “Game of Thrones”, the Alcazar Palace and the irresistible beauty of landscapes – this is all Seville. The trip, which takes 10 hours, will give the richest impressions. You will see the giant Catholic Cathedral, in whose walls the ashes of Columbus are buried. By visiting the Archive of the Indies, you will learn a lot about the scale of disasters from the plague. You will go to the Hotel Alfonso XIII, where Tom Cruise stayed.
You will visit the place of work of Carmen, on the square where the excesses of the Inquisition flourished in the 16th century. – burning witches at the stake. After an independent walk and lunch in one of the establishments, go to see the residence of the King of Spain – the luxurious Moorish Alcazar Palace. Luxurious interiors and a rich collection of works of art will not leave you indifferent. The visual effect will be complemented by a story about life in the royal environment, about the intrigues of the court retinue. Here you will see with your own eyes the places shown in the scenes of the cult film “Game of Thrones”. The price of the trip is 276 € for 1-4 people, the ticket to the Alcazar is 9.5 €.
Walk in the natural park “Mountains of Malaga”
For 5 hours of staying outside the urban environment, you will get acquainted with the irresistible beauties of the natural park. You are waiting for interesting discoveries related to the Moorish period of the city. For example, an authentic Arabic bath, surprising with its safety and functioning, as well as the aqueduct from which water flows. You will see many objects created by the Arabs: the ruins of baths, feudal watchtowers, abandoned and active farms. The tunnels of natural origin, washed by river waters in sandy rocks, will surprise you. You will visit the hermitages hidden in secluded corners.
After a stop at a roadside tavern in the village of La Pita, relax over lunch. You will be served primordially national dishes with excellent taste. They are in demand among urban residents who come here on weekends. You will like them too. If you fall into the season of olive oil production, you will taste the fresh product. Treat yourself to locally made wine, which is poured straight from the barrels. The guide can change the route according to your wishes. In any case, staying in the bosom of nature will leave an indelible impression. The trip will cost 199€ for 1-4 people.
Expensive wine and jamon
If you are close to the topic of winemaking, participation in a wine tasting tour will undoubtedly bring pleasure. For 3.5 hours you will visit the Antiqua casa de Guardia, a bottler of the last century, the old wine cellar El Pimpi with authentic interiors. In the atmosphere of the 50s of the 20th century, drink 1-2 glasses of wine at the bar, learn the secrets of its production. If you wish, you can buy a bottle of branded drink.
In the building of the wine cellar, which is 250 years old, a kind of wine festival awaits you, where you will try several varieties of the local drink. The famous “Malaga” was described by Stevenson, depicting pirates in his works. Malaqa Virqen is a rich sweet wine loved by Europeans and Americans. No holiday is complete without the white dessert Cartojal. Popular “Moscatel”, “Lagrima”, made from the same grape varieties. You will taste each of them from small glasses.
Here you will get acquainted in detail with the cult delicacy of Spain – jamon. Snacking a sweet drink with fragrant slices, you will hear about all the intricacies of preparing a product beloved by Andalusians. Jamon is especially famous, made from the leg of an Iberian pig fed on acorns. The unique way of drying makes the meat unrealistically tasty. You will see how skillfully a specially trained waiter slicing jamon wields a knife. For the resulting gastronomic pleasure, you will have to pay 110 € – 1-4 people.
Malaga with the Breeze: Segway Sightseeing Tour
In 2 hours of speed walking, you will visit many places in the city, driving a segway after a short instruction. Having rushed to the Cathedral, admire its Gothic appearance, mixed with other architectural styles, learn some moments of its construction. Drive along the impeccable paths of the city park, you will see the South American flora with the green parrots living in it. Visit the excavations of the Roman amphitheater near the port of Malaga, hear a story about its discovery, about Roman baths and their purpose.
Take a ride around the walls of the Alcazaba fortress and get an idea of the former power of the citadel. Effortlessly climb up to the top of the hill to see the Arab castle of Gibralfaro. The unusual fate of the palace, the features of its architecture, outlined in the guide's comments, will be interesting. From above, an amazing panorama of the city, bordered by the bay, will open. There you will find a bullring, listen to information about the organization of cruel spectacles. Having descended “from heaven to earth”, look at the ships in the port, the old lighthouse. End your Segway sprint in the quiet of a cozy bar where you can enjoy a b/c drink. The cost is 80€ for the 1st or 50€ for each if more than 1st.
Gastro-historical journey to Antequera
If you want to find yourself in the world of mysterious antiquities against the backdrop of endless olive groves, do not spare money on a 5-hour tour to Antequera. The impressions received in it will justify the time and money spent. The edge of the most ancient dolmens, which are 5 thousand years old, will captivate you with mystery. These burial mounds are included in the UNESCO list as unique objects. The Sleeping Indian mountain, which has become the main symbol of Antequera, will impress.
The remains of Roman baths will clearly confirm the progressive era of the Romans. You will hear about the Arab influence when visiting the Moorish fortress. At stops, you will be treated to local drinks and traditional culinary delights. At the end of the tour, visit the Antequerana production halls, saturated with vanilla and cinnamon aromas. You will see an abundance of desserts and confectionery products, learn the technology of their manufacture. With your consent, you will reach the unique Torcal Park, formed as a result of the displacement of the earth's crust. The cataclysm led to the formation of a fantastic landscape. The price for the excursion is 180 € – 1-6 people.
A trip to Ronda – a city hovering over a fortress
A breathtaking tour to the ancient city of Ronda will be a real emotional shock in the best sense of the word. Even the battered Hemingway was shocked by the fantastic views surrounding Ronda. What other city in the world is located between giant massifs of rocky monuments separated by a gorge? It was here, among the stone giants, that the courageous art of bullfighting was born.
After walking along the park alleys of one part of Ronda, you will cross the stone bridge to another part of it. Then you will find yourself in the ancient Moorish La Ciudad and admire the intricate architecture in the Arabic style. Having visited the Alley of bullfighters, imagine how the cruel confrontation between a man and an angry animal went. In one of the taverns, enjoy legendary wine against the backdrop of stunning views.
During the whole trip you will get acquainted with the history of these incredible places. Find out what caused bullfighting here, why Hemingway admired Rhonda. Get acquainted with the opinion of other writers about Ronda, left by them in their works. 1.5 hours out of 7 you will be able to walk around the unusual city on your own. The cost of the trip is 220 € for 1-4 people.
Tapas walk in Malaga
By participating in a 3-hour voyage through the bustling streets of the historic center, you will learn in practice what tapas is, appreciate this tradition and its components. In addition to gastronomic acquaintance, you will meet with the unique architectural symbols of the Old Town. You will walk along the main square, see the Cathedral, learn the history of long-term construction. Sit on the steps of the Roman amphitheater and feel your involvement in the hoary antiquity. The remains of the walls and towers of the Moorish fortress Alcazaba will impress. Approach Picasso's house and understand why the genius of cubism was destined to be born here.
Then, fully immerse yourself in the field of gastronomy. Hear not only the theory of tapas, but also see in practice what it is. In a lively crowd, you will move from one tavern to another to see how the townspeople spend their leisure time. It will become clear to you that tapas is not just traditional snacks, but a way of friendly communication. Treat yourself to jamon, seafood, fish or vegetarian dishes, admire their taste in combination with a glass of Malaga wine. See how the Spaniards love to flavor everything with healthy olive oil.
Voyage price 92€ for 1-2 people. or 40€ each if more than 2.
Malaga through the eyes of locals
Are you afraid to walk for a long time, seeing the sights? You can do this by ordering an auto-walking tour of the iconic objects of the city. In 3 hours, you will see its visual history, captured in cultural and architectural monuments. Leaving the car at the 1st stop, you will see the Sea Square and a luxurious embankment, with a statue of the people's favorite Senachero. Find out why the fishmonger has become a symbol of the region. Walking along the alleys of the Botanical Garden, you will not get tired of admiring its landscape paintings.
Ancient objects: fragments of the walls of the Phoenician fortress, the Roman trading post – will be returned to the distant past. The neo-Mudéjar style of architecture of the former Post Office, the neoclassical appearance of the Central Bank and the government building will delight with extraordinary beauty. A pleasant “highlight” of the tour is photographing at the touching monument “Jasmine Seller” among slender cypresses and orange trees. You will be delighted by the grace of the Three Graces fountain, at the old hospital you will learn about the fate of the British doctor, after whom the institution is named.
Arriving at the square Plaza de Toros, see the oldest fighting arena, shaped like the Colosseum. Climbing the hill of Gibralfaro, walk along the walls of the Arab fortress of the same name. From the top, be captivated by the compelling views of the coast below. Then you will drive to the places associated with Picasso: to the house-museum, to the square where his work was born. Finally, visit the Church of Our Lady of Victory, where the sacred symbol of the city is kept. Price 215€ per trip.
The caves of Penas de Cabrera
To find yourself in a prehistoric setting, to touch the secrets of distant, distant ancestors who lived 30 thousand years ago, will allow a 5-hour trip to the ancient caves. In the shadow of the dense oak forests of Penas de Cabrera, the oldest formations are hidden – caves. Entering them, consider the “messages” of our ancestors inscribed on the rocks. You will try to answer questions, decipher the meaning of the symbolic drawings left by ancient artists. Here is something to think about.
Feeling like an explorer, you will walk along a winding path to a relic oak forest and find a flat area. Someone overlaid it with rows of stones, marking the boundaries. Here you will involuntarily think that this is a “veche place”, where clans and tribes solved problems, made fateful decisions. Nothing will disturb close communion with millennial reality. Your imagination will be struck by an old-timer olive tree (1300 years old), a message about the Roman city of Aristipi, which has not yet been excavated, which is almost 3 thousand years old.
Loaded with impressions, go to the medieval tavern Patas Cortas, where you will find home comfort and a delicious lunch. There will be an opportunity to discuss what they saw, share their emotions and learn interesting facts from the history of the tavern, opened in 1490. She hospitably welcomes traveling tourists who speak flatteringly about local cuisine. They are prepared from farm products, game and homemade wine. The trip costs 199€, excluding lunch.