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 altitude in the Serrania de Ronda produce young red wines from Romé, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Tempranillo. Their white wine varieties include Chardonnay, Macabeo, Colombard and Sauvignon Blanc.
From the outside of the Orquidario, the state of the art building complete with three glass domes is eye catching, and from the inside it is pretty impressive too. There is much to catch your eye from the moment you step inside, from the 30m high central glass dome (the other two domes are 6m and 16m high) to the stunning display of plants.
Just outside Antequera you can visit three 5,000-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 few km away. These three prehistoric burial chambers represent some of the largest and most complete megalithic structures in Europe.
Castillo del Aguila (Eagle's Castle) in the Moorish hilltown of Gaucin, consists of a series of fortifications built across a rocky ridge above the village. The castle, which is of Roman origin, and was reinforced by the Moors, is located on top of a hill whose east and south slopes are practically impregnable; the best way to reach this magnificent, historic building is by walking up Calle Larga.
Take a look at which 41 Costa del Sol beaches were awarded a Blue Flag in 2024 and check progression of awards since 2014. Destinations are listed along the coast from West to East.
Estepona is a rare coastal destination - one of the few towns on the Costa del Sol to have retained its character and traditional feel, despite the influx of tourism in this part of Andalucia. The casco antiguo (old town) is what you'd expect from a picturesque Andalucian town - narrow, cobbled streets lined with beautiful stone houses and plazas, and walls ablaze with vibrant colour from the large variety of flora.
The Atlantic and Mediterranean shorelines are ideal for fishing and many of the local marinas provide everything required for a day of open sea fishing. A maritime recreational fishing licence (1st and 2rd Class) is required for fishing from the shore or from a boat near the coast. It is obtainable from the offices of the Delegación Provincial de la Conserjeria de Agricultura y Pesca.
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 plants, Roman sculptures and a waterfall. There is also a beautiful mansion that once belonged to the creators of the gardens, the Marquis of Casa Loring and his wife, and several panoramic view points to enjoy.
There are many karting circuits in Andalucia where you can have fun. They can be found at Campillos, La Puebla de Cazalla, Cartaya, Torre del Mar.
The village of Benoajan is rightly famed for the caves which are well signposted around the area. South of the village of Benoaján heading towards Cortes de la Frontera, a side road leads off on the right, serving as a carpark.
The entrance of this cave can be seen from the railway as it heads north from Benaoján station two kilometres away. It's called the cat cave as its entrance is said to look like a cat's head.
La Caleta de Velez Marina is a médium size marina with capacity of 274 berths for vessels of 25 meters length and a maximum draft of 3.8 meters. All the berths have water and electricity points. The Puerto Deportivo de Caleta de Velez has a travel lift for boats up to 150 tonne to the hard standing area with full workshop and cleaning facilities.
Along the coast of Andalucía there are numerous marinas, ideal for both those with yachts who need a berth, and for those who simply enjoy the atmosphere of a harbour.
As an expatriate in Andalucía you will need much of the same information any Spaniard might need upon moving to this region. However, as a foreigner you'll also have many specific needs - especially regarding culture, language and integration issues.
Self-Catering holiday rentals on the Andalucia coast. this includes apaerment and Villas located near the coast in the coastal resorts towns. For more on Coastal Hotels visit our Coastal Hotels page.
Malaga has moved on from being the jumping-off point for holidays in the Costa del Sol. The city’s remarkable renaissance over the past decade has seen its status upped to Andalucia’s cultural capital, with an astonishing range of museums, as well as excellent tapas bars, cool roof terraces, and street-wise art in the form of graffiti, while shoppers will love the seafront Muelle Uno.
One of the most relaxing traditions of Arab Spain are the baths, or “hammam” as they are called in Arabic. With so many years of moorish rule and culture, the city of Granada was a natural starting point for the return of this long lost custom.
Malaga's largest park is the Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park, which straddles the Malaga-Granada provincial border and includes the dramatically beautiful mountainous region of the Axarquía, with some superb walks.
The ruins of this 32 hectare city are located at 1.000m above sea level. This is an urban are that thrived in the first century AD when it had a population of 5.000. It was mentioned in Plini and, inscriptions to Geninn Oppidi, to the god Marse and to Victoria Augusta have been found. The city even minted its own money, which features bunches of grapes.
Andalucia is one of Europe’s foremost golfing destinations, with over 100 courses. The climate, with warm temperatures all year round, and endless hours of sunshine, coupled with spectacularly located courses, often with mountain or sea views, makes this region a hugely popular choice for golfers, mainly from northern Europe.
