Málaga Province

Malaga province clockwise: Estepona, Frigiliana, Velez-Malaga, Ronda and Algatocin © Michelle Chaplow
Malaga province clockwise: Estepona, Frigiliana, Velez-Malaga, Ronda and Algatocin

Málaga Province

Malaga is best known for its string of popular beach resorts along the Costa del Sol and, although these have their own attractions, the province has much more to offer. Malaga city is a vibrant provincial capital with a fascinating history, while the area of the Costa del Sol to the east of Malaga city, towards Granada, is less developed, and is known as La Axarquia.  The Guadalhorce valley area leads from Malaga city to the Northern Malaga province, whose main town is Antequera. In the west are the picturesque mountain ranges and villages of the Serrania de Ronda.

Malaga City

Many visitors to Andalucia head directly to the Costa del Sol directly from the airport, 6km west of Malaga city, missing the myriad delights of the provincial capital. There is a charming historical quarter, interesting museums, bustling shopping streets packed with great shops, a buzzing nightlife and city beaches lined with excellent seafood restaurants.

Areas to explore in Málaga Province

Map of Malaga Province outlining six areas
Map of Malaga Province outlining six areas

 

It is easy to understand why Malaga City is capital of the Costa del Sol. Once considered the poor cousin of Andalusia’s capital city, Seville, it now competes successfully for attention, thanks… More →

La Axarquia area is still breathtakingly beautiful and has not been spoilt by the interest and influx of foreigners. The main attractions are the area's dramatic hill and mountain scenery, its… More →

The Costa de Sol can be divided into two parts: East and West, of Malaga city at the centre. The eastern Costa del Sol is much shorter, stretching from the provincial capital as far as Nerja,… More →

The Serranía de Ronda is studded with charming pueblos blancos (white villages) that can be visited by car in a number of delightful day trips. The dramatically positioned town of Ronda, on the… More →

Only around 50km northwest of Malaga is some surprisingly rugged landscape with a dramatic gorge, several immense reservoirs and a scattering of Moorish towns and villages with intriguing… More →

Guadalhorce, Campanillas, Guadalmedina and Grande are the river valleys that converge on the coast at Malaga city. Together they form an interesting area, mainly agricultural supported by small… More →

Highlights to see and do in Malaga Province

The Caminito del Rey is a cliff-side path hanging 100m above the waters of the river Guadalhorce reservoir, as it runs through the famous beauty spot; El Chorro Gorge, near the villages of El… More →

Inside five small dolmens (standing stones) can be viewed. They are original and date from about 3,000 BC. Also on display are a number of pottery vessels, stone tools, arrowheads, axes, personal… More →

The area of wine production known as the Serrania de Ronda forms part of the DO Sierras of Malaga, producing what are popularly known as 'the Ronda Wines'. Here modern bodegas at over 750m… More →

Just outside Antequera you can visit three 5000-year-old dolmens: Menga Dolmen (the largest in Europe) and Viera Dolmen, which are both located just outside the town, while El Romeral Dolmen is a… More →

Just outside Malaga, "La Concepción Jardín Botánico-Historico de Málaga." is a magnificent botanical garden. There are regular guided tours of the gardens which pass through exotic trees and… More →

The Telecabina takes you on an amazing 15-minute journey in a four-person cable car right up to the highest point on the Málaga coast at an altitude of almost 800m above sea level. From this… More →

Ideal for families with young children who want a gentler up-close-with-nature experience, the Butterfly Park has over 1500 of the colourful little winged insects. The park is inside a Thai… More →

La Alcazaba is Malaga's most important landmark, and overlooks the city from a hilltop inland. It is one of two Moorish fortresses in the city, the other being the Castillo de Gibralfaro, situated… More →

Whether you like wine, archaeology or cars; you’re interested in glass, contemporary art or 19th century painting, you’re sure to find at least one museum which will interest you in the city. Most… More →

El Torcal park and the protected EL Torcal Natural Area is known for it's unusual limestone rock formations. Located about 30 km north of Málaga city in the direction of Antequera near the village… More →

Travel in Malaga Province

Málaga Airport offers an abundance of choices from a quality selection of car hire companies. The airport is also home to some of the most competitive rates for car hire in Europe.

Málaga Airport is the fourth busiest airport in Spain with over 15 million passenger movements in 2016. Malaga Airport offers full range of passenger services. The airport essentially operates… More →

There is one main bus stations in Malaga serving all long distant routes, and also smaller one called Muelle de Heredia serving the city and local towns

Malaga María Zambrano train Station opened in 2007 as a Vialia sponsored station on the site of the original 1863 station. It is situated on Explanada de la Estación in the South West of the City… More →

Natural Parks and Natural Monuments in Málaga Province

Thirty kilometres north of Malaga is the 12km² Torcal de Antequera Natural Area, with one of the most dramatic and exceptional karstic landscapes in Europe. This surreal and lunar grey limestone… More →

The Guadalhorce river has sliced through limestone to create a spectacular gorge 50km northwest of Malaga, the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, otherwise known as the Garganta del Chorro. Its 4km… More →

Designated a natural park in 1999, this large and rugged mountainous region of 40,663ha stretches across the provincial border of Granada and Malaga. Its western part in Malaga province is known… More →

The Sierra de las Nieves National Park is located in the hills behind Marbella and to the east of the Ronda-Marbella road as it winds up the mountain along hairpin bends. The park centres on Mount… More →

Barely a few kilometres north of Malaga city, the Montes de Malaga Natural Park is a region of dense pine forest. It covers a gently rolling area of 4,996ha crossed by small valleys and water… More →

The Lagunas de Campillos are five seasonal saltwater lakes with a protected area covering 1,126ha. Only one lake, the Laguna Salada, hardly ever dries out. Some lakes used to be permanent but have… More →

The Cañón de las Buitreras is the strikingly named Gorge of the Vultures, after the colony of griffon vultures that nest in the area. The gorge itself is impressive, with often near-vertical sides… More →

The Spanish fir, pinsapo in Spanish (abies pinsapo), is a rare tree most commonly found in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. The pinsapo de las Escaleretas is the oldest pinsapo on record at… More →

Within the Torcal de Antequera Natural Area is this protected geological feature, the Tornillo del Torcal. Its name - the Screw of Torcal - comes from its distinctive appearance, as its limestone… More →

The only lakes in Andalucia occupying a depression in the land formed by erosion, the Lagunas de Archidona are two lakes situated 900m apart which make up a protected area of 193ha. The biggest… More →

Between Antequera and Estepa is this small protected lake and surrounding area. The reserve covers 168ha. A good time to visit is in winter, when there are many waterfowl.

In the north of Malaga province 19km from Antequera is the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra, a famous beautiful lagoon. The largest natural lake in the Iberian Peninsula at 2.5km wide and 6.5km long, it… More →

This is a unique stretch of near-virgin coastline in Malaga, which runs for 12km east of Nerja to La Herradura in Granada province and covers an area of 1,815ha, including a protected part… More →

The small protected area of the Sierra Crestellina, of 478ha, is a limestone ridge rising to 926m at its highest point. It stretches for 4km north-south, immediately north of the village of… More →

Located in the southwest part of Malaga province, the Sierra Bermeja is a mountain range with an average height of 1,000m (its highest point being 1,450m), covering 1,236ha. It is an area that has… More →

A few kilometres south of Malaga is this 67ha area, which comprises the alluvial delta of the Gudalhorce river, a system of artificial ponds and scrubland. It attracts a huge variety of birds -… More →

El Torcal park and the protected EL Torcal Natural Area is known for it's unusual limestone rock formations. Located about 30 km north of Málaga city in the direction of Antequera near the village… More →

The village of Fuente de Piedra (with a population of approximately 2,000) is close to the Natural park and lake; Laguna de Fuente de Piedra. Due to the presence of the lake, it seems that man has… More →

Destinations