A visit to one of the oldest cities in the world, Malaga, where you can find the cleanest street in Spain, but more importantly a city, thriving with local tapas bars, Picasso’s Birthplace, Palmeral de las Sorpresas promenade, which goes along the historic port of the town with a view of the Alcazaba.
The Streets of Malaga in Low Season
Visiting in January for a Coolcation
Malaga, in Low Season, is a Local Luxury
Traveling to Malaga in January gives you the uniqueness to feel another energy of the city; it is calm, and you suddenly feel more local and welcomed because there is more time, fewer people, and the temperature is perfect for staying outside the whole day, from breakfast to dinner. You can immerse yourself in every corner of the old town’s history, blended with the Phoenicians, Romans, and Arabs.
Day 1: Explore the Old Town of Malaga
Visiting Malaga in the low season means having the streets for yourself, mostly seeing parents walking their children to school and people chatting with a pan con tomate. After some tasty churros dipped in chocolate, you stroll over to the Cathedral of Malaga and are fascinated by the stories and details. Did you know that the citizens of Malaga decided to upgrade the shopping street instead of building the church’s second tower? My highlight was walking on the church’s roof; I love panoramic views of the city, and we know the churches have the best view since they are always located in the city’s heart.
Late lunch at Pez Lola & Sunset at Castel of Gibralfaro
Lunch is best at Lola for tasty fried calamari and a glass of crisp Albariño white wine. While waiting for calamari, we had pintxos with shrimp. After all the food, it was time to go up to Castel of Gibralfaro to see Malaga from another viewpoint and enjoy the sunset, which we did not see much of in Norway during January.
Day 2: Biking the Malecon & Sweet Wine at Antigua Casa de Guardia and Roof Top Drinks in Sunset
We rented the bikes at the hotel for free and explored the historic harbor with the bikes. In the low season, like January, Malaga has the perfect temperature, not too cold or warm. I had a light-down jacket and Luis’s fleece.
After some biking, it was time to visit the locals. Antigua Casa de Guardia, you will find yourself surrounded by locals and a tourist taking a sip of the famous sweet wine of Málaga. The establishment was running in 1840 and was opened by the renowned winemaker Don Jose de Guarida. Queen Isabel II also approved the wine house. New owners have come and gone, but the original charm has stayed alive so people can enjoy a time machine. How do they keep track of the order? They write it down with chalk on the table right before you. If you get hungry after this, visit Mercado Central de Atrazanas for a leisurely lunch at the different stands. Or fancy a sweet, then have churros at Casa Aranda and watch the grandmother spoiling the grandson.
Day 3: El Caminito del Rey with a small group tour and comfortable hiking temperature outside of Malaga
Sometimes, you want to adventure if you feel the energy for something more than a picturesque town strolling in Nerja, Frigiliana, and El Acebuchal, the lost city of Andalucia. Then, I suggest walking down the geology trail of El Caminito del Rey right outside of Malaga. You will see where Europe and Africa said goodbye and divided into two continents. Remember to look for the fossils; the ocean was once upon a time in the mountains. We went with Aloratur in a small group of 8 people from Malaga. We almost walked the whole walk by ourselves as a group, only some other groups passing us, so we’re mostly alone in the jaw dropping scenery. Visiting Malaga in low season, you can enjoy cool temperatures and almost no people walking in your view of El Caminito del Rey.
Malaga in Low Season is Table at Michelin Resturant
After a great day, you must enjoy a quality dinner at La Cosmo, a Michelin Guide Restaurant. It’s all about the local ingredients and Andalucian cooking.
Best thing about Malaga in Low Season?
You can hang out with the locals at places like Mesón Ibérico, they have time to chat and explain you most of there tasty tapas. Hasta Los Andares is a great local spot for wine and tapas or a Caña.
We stayed at ICON Malabar, which was everything we needed. A great king-size bed with no less than four pillows.
