Last year, I went on a trip to Spain and my initial plan was to go back to Bulgaria with a flight from Barcelona. However, my return flight got cancelled not long before I even left for Spain, so I had to think fast. I found that there were cheap flights to Bulgaria from other cities—I just needed to take a short domestic flight in Spain. This was how I ended up in Malaga—a port city in the southern part of the country.
With a few hours to spare before my flight home, I decided not to waste any time, but instead to go and explore the city. This was one of the best decisions I ever made! I had only five hours in Malaga but I managed to see several tourist attractions, go to the beach, and even shop for souvenirs.
The first thing I did when I landed was to find a train that would take me straight to the city centre. Once in the centre, it wasn’t long before I saw the first attraction—Catedral de la Encarnación de Málaga. Built in the 16th century, this magnificent cathedral has a beautiful Baroque façade which you can enjoy from the square right in front of it. On the left side of the square is Palacio Episcopal—a beautiful yellow palace, built in the same architectural style.
I got my hands on a tourist map and made a plan for what to see next. I followed a street that ran along the long wall of the cathedral and reached the Roman Theatre. That was where I hit two birds with one stone because right behind the theatre I could see the Medieval fortress of Alcazaba. I could only marvel at the high walls of the fortress from the outside but if you have more time than me when visiting Malaga, make sure to go in as I heard it has amazing views of the sea!
Continuing my walk around the city, I passed by Plaza de la Merced square and headed straight to the Picasso Museum. The exhibition is housed in a restored 16th-century palace and features more than 200 works by the Spanish artist, so allow yourself enough time to enjoy it.
Not far from there I saw the stained glass wall of Mercado Central de Atarazanas. At the time I didn’t know what it was, but eventually I learned that it’s an old-fashioned covered market where you can find all types of fruits, vegetables, fresh meat, and fish.
I didn’t go inside the market because I had another goal—the beach! After a quick search on Google Maps, I knew which way to go. I passed by Plaza de la Constitution de Malaga and took a photo of the famous Fuente de Génova fountain there.
I continued straight from the square to Malaga Park. This quickly became my favourite place! With all the palm trees and tropical plants around, I managed to get away from the heat for a little while and felt like I was on some exotic island. The park is situated right in the city centre but it’s so peaceful and quiet that it makes for a perfect escape from the liveliness of the surrounding streets.
Walking through the whole park, I passed by the contemporary art museum Centre Pompidou Malaga before I finally reached Playa la Malagueta—a popular city beach where a lot of people go to enjoy the summer. I took my time to take in the view of the sea and the palm trees.
After a refreshing beverage, I looked at my watch and knew that it was time to go back. On my way out the port, I briefly stopped by to enjoy the amazing Fuente de las Tres Gracias fountain. From there I just had to look up to see Castillo Gibralfaro watching over the city. What’s left of this 14th-century Moorish castle fortress are some well-preserved ruins on top of a hill. I didn’t have enough time to go there but it seemed like a great place to stroll around on the castle walls and enjoy an amazing panoramic view of the area.
The last sight on my agenda was the impressive façade of Malaga’s Town Hall and I couldn’t resist taking a photo. You can enjoy an aerial view of the town hall if you visit Castillo Gibralfaro.
If you have more time to spend in the Andalusian region of Spain, you could also take a bus and visit Gibraltar—a British territory on the southern coast of the country. You won’t regret seeing the Rock of Gibraltar! Due to time restrictions, I couldn’t go there but that’s just one more reason to visit this place again.
Malaga also impressed me with its narrow streets and small boutique shops from where I could buy some presents for my friends and family—my favourite thing to do!
Have you been to Malaga or any other city in Spain? Share your photos and experiences in the comments below.
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