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Travel Guide MALAGA.
Population: 554 495
Currency
Euro, €1 = 100 cents
Opening hours
The shops in Malaga are normally open from 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.
and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays. There are exceptions.
Larger shopping centres and shops stay open all day.
Internet
www.ayto-malaga.es
www.webmalaga.com
www.andalucia.org
www.altur.com
Publications
El Diario Sur (www.diariosur.es)
El País (www.elpais.es)
Emergency number
General emergency number: 112
Fire Brigade: 080
Doctor: 061
Police: 091
Tourist office
Address: Plaza de la Marina 11
Tel. +34 952 122 020
Spanish Tourist Board ©
Welcome to Malaga
“Ciudad del paraíso” – the paradise city. This is how the Nobel
Prize winner for literature, Vicente Aleixandre, described
Malaga. A city that vibrates with life and fascinates with its
mixture of ancient history, folklore and modern culture. And of
course it is easy to imagine paradise in this harbour city with
nearly 3000 hours of sunshine a year and several kilometres of
beach right in the centre.
the city | do & see | EXCURSIONS
The city
In Malaga nearly everything is within walking distance, in or
around the “Centro Antiguo”.
Wherever you look, you are reminded of the city’s rich heritage
– founded in 900 B.C. by Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians,
Romans, Visigoths and Arabs.
Malaga’s most famous inhabitant was born at Plaza de la Merced
in 1881. Pablo Picasso’s life and work is still present in most
places and the citizens of Malaga are proud of their son. The
opening of the Museo Picasso in 2003 was a hit and has made the
city grow culturally. Next to the museum, the visitor can find
both the Roman theatre and an Arab castle and not far away is
the bull fighting ring.
CAC with it´s international contemporary art is located on the
other side of the old town. The Plaza Episcopal is adjacent to
the Cathedral and has occasional exhibitions, often of high
quality. Teatro Cervantes offers a wide range of concerts, dance
and musicals.
Do & See
Alcazaba
Alcazaba and Gibralfaro are military forts dating from the
period of Arab rule. There is a palace inside the walls with a
beautiful garden and spectacular views. The Roman theatre just
beneath was built during the first century A.D. and has recently
been restored and renovated after many years of neglect.
Address: Calle Alcazabilla
The cathedral
Malaga’s cathedral was built between 1500-1700 on the site once
occupied by the Aljama Mosque. Renaissance style with a Baroque
main façade and décor.
Address: Plaza del Obispo
Museo Picasso
This beautiful museum in the 16th century Buenavista Palace is a
must for all visitors to Malaga, young and old. Thanks to the
grandmaster’s daughter-in-law Christine and grandchild Bernard,
the museum boasts a collection of nearly 200 works of art. Just
a stone’s throw away, at Plaza de la Merced, the house where
Picasso was born is also open to the public.
Price: €6 for the permanent exhibition, €4.5 for temporary
exhibitions. , Address: Calle San Agustín 8
Tel: +34 952 127600, www.museopicassomalaga.org,
www.fundacionpicasso.es
Jardín Botanico
The affluent couple Jorge Loring and Amalia Heredia created this
fantastic garden around their Hacienda La Concepción in the 19th
century. 30,000 square metres with 500 tropical plants.
Address: Carretera de Las Pedrizas
Tel: +34 952 23 98 23
Baños Arabes
Arab baths in a cosy, relaxing environment in the centre of
Malaga’s old town, near Plaza de la Merced.
Price: Between €20-78 depending on treatment.
Address: Calle Tomas De Cozar 13
Tel: +34 952 212327
www.elhammam.com
EXCURSIONS
Malaga is in a good location for various day trips along the
coast, up to the small mountain villages or to one of the larger
Andalucian cities. It is approximately two hours’ drive from
Granada, Córdoba or Seville in a hire car or by bus. In Granada
you must not miss the fabulous Moorish palace Alhambra, the
Gothic cathedral and the Arab quarters in the Albaicín. In
Córdoba a walk to the old Jewish quarters and La Mezquita is
recommended. In Seville, the capital of Andalucia, you should
visit the Santa Cruz and Real Alcázar districts at the heart of
the city.
Along the entire Costa del Sol it is easy to take a bus or train
to most cities such as Fuengirola, Torremolinos and Marbella.
Here there are lovely beaches, nice bars and restaurants as well
as good opportunities for shopping. Tips for families are Tivoli
World in Benalmádena (www.tivolicostadelsol.com), Aqualand in
Torremolinos (www.aqualand.es/torremolinos) and Selwo in
Estepona (www.selwo.es).
In Puerto Banús you can view the gigantic luxury yachts, enjoy
designer name shopping and mix with the rich and famous at the
chic bars on the sea front. There are also yachts, discothèques,
bars and restaurants in Puerto Marina in Benalmádena.
Ronda is a picturesque town located on a precipitous limestone
cliff. The road leading there from San Pedro de Alcántara on the
coast is a dizzy mountain trip.
Spanish Tourist Board ©
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS | eating |cafés
Eating
In Malaga you will not find that many restaurants with white
tablecloths. This is a city full of informal bars packed with
people and a wide range of tapas. In Malaga they eat a lot of
fish and shellfish, generally at so-called “chiringuitos” on the
beach and on the Paseo Marítimo in Pedregalejo.
La Posada de Antonio
The Malaga-born, Hollywood star Antonio Banderas has his own
restaurant. Traditional Spanish cuisine. Tapas and meat.
Address: Calle Granada 33
Tel: +34 952 217 069
La Ménsula
Cosy place a few steps from most central districts. Packed menu
with everything from anglerfish and hake to lamb chops and
oxtail.
Address: Calle Trinidad Grund 28
Tel: +34 952 22 13 14
Café de Paris
Exclusive one-star restaurant in the Michelin Guide. Traditional
ingredients prepared in a modern way. Expensive, but high
quality, a feast for the senses. The owner and chef, the young
Malagueñon José García, has studied at La Cónsula and is
considered as one of Spain’s top three chefs.
Address: Calle Vélez Málaga 8
Tel: +34 952 225 043
www.rcafedeparis.com
El Caleño
Fried fish, paella, sardines on a spit and shellfish on the sea
front in Pedregalejo with a view of the sea and the sunset.
Followed by a drink at the Cohiba bar just next door. To get to
Pedregalejo, you can take a taxi, approximately ten minutes, or
bus no. 11 to El Palo.
Address: Calle Cenacheros, 16
Tel: +34 952 203 263
Restaurante El Chinitas
Spanish food in Spanish surroundings - everything from gazpacho
and shrimps in garlic to rabbit stew. The name is taken from the
original café-theatre “El Chinitas” which was frequented by the
poet Federico García Lorca, among others.
Address: Calle Moreno Monroy 4-6
Tel: +34 95 221 09 72, www.chinitas.arrakis.es
CAFÉS
There are not many trendy, international-style cafés in Malaga
but there are some genuine patisseries and cosy teashops in
Arab-inspired surroundings. Not to forget “churrerias”” – shops
selling churros dipped in hot chocolate or café au lait.
Lepanto
A genuine patisserie serving coffee, and if you wish, cakes,
assorted chocolates and ice cream. Pleasant, traditional indoor
surroundings and large outdoor restaurant in the shopping
street.
Address: Calle Marqués de Larios 7
Casa Mira
Casa Mira is an institution in Málaga and has the best ice cream
according to the Malagueños.
Address: Calle Marqués de Larios 5 and Calle Nueva 16
Casa Aranda
Eating churros is a must when visiting Malaga. Casa Aranda is
genuinely “Malagueño” and you can watch how they prepare the
fried bread which is later dipped in chocolate or coffee.
Address: Calle Herrera del Rey
BARS & NIGHTLIFE
In the centre of Malaga it is not difficult to find a bar with
music and people chatting – there are many in close proximity to
each other. The inhabitants of Malaga do not go out before
midnight but then they party until dawn. In the centre, bars
with smaller dance floors predominate, for example, Karma, 30 y
Tantos, Skopas, Sala Wengué, O´ Neills and Siempre Así. If you
are looking for a proper discothèque, you should go to Puerto
Marina in Benalmádena.
Bodega El Pimpi
You haven’t been to Malaga if you haven’t been to Pimpi, the
most typical place in the city with photos of celebrities,
hundred-year old posters and wine barrels on the walls. Here you
can drink wine from the province and eat tapas in historical
surroundings – in the 18th century, the house was a nunnery.
Once a month there is live flamenco.
Address: Calle Granada 62
Onda Pasadena Jazz
Bar with live music twice a week - jazz and flamenco. Next to
Teatro Cervantes.
Address: Calle Gómez Pallete 5
Flor De Lis
Plaza de la Merced is the place to enjoy a drink in the late
afternoon or early evening before the party begins. Around the
plaza there are a number of bars with pleasant outdoor
restaurants. One of them is Flor de Lis. Others include El
Portón, El Telón, Calle de Bruselas and Weekend.
Address: Plaza de la Merced 18
www.flordelis.net
Shopping
Calle Larios and Calle Nueva, the street running parallel to it,
are the main shopping streets in Malaga for shoes and clothes.
Shoes can be found, for example, at Antonio Parriego and Nicolas
on Calle Larios. You can also find the Spanish clothes shops
Mango, Massimo Dutti, Bershka and Pull & Bear there. Zara is
located on the side street Liborio García. In the Centro Larios
shopping centre, apart from clothes shops, there are cinemas and
restaurants. Designer clothes can be found at El Corte Inglés;
Armani, Versace, Dolce Galbana at Pinsapo, Calle Larios.
For those looking for a gift, a souvenir, or something good to
eat, a visit to Mercado Central Atarazanas is recommended. Here
you can buy meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, olives, nuts, spices,
cheese and pork at reasonable prices. Apart from this, the
market is a delight for the eye. At Ultramarinos Zoilo on Calle
Granada you can buy typical Málaga Dulce or Moscatel sweet wine,
serrano pork, good cheeses and sausages, raisins from the
province and sweets such as “mantecados”, a kind of cake that is
mainly eaten at Christmas.
Those wanting a slightly more exclusive souvenir can buy a fan
in one of the specialised shops on Calle Nueva.
Essential information
Airport
Malaga’s “Pablo Ruíz Picasso” airport is approximately ten
kilometres from the city centre and has good communications with
the entire Costa del Sol. It is easy to get to Malaga by train,
bus or taxi. The train takes ten minutes and the bus half an
hour. Both bus and train cost one euro and depart every half
hour. Taxis to the centre cost approximately 15 euros. For more
information Tel: +34 952 048 838.
www.aena.es
Local traffic
Buses from Malaga bus station at Paseo de los Tilos go to, for
example, Marbella, Estepona, Granada, Córdoba and Seville.
Departure times can be found at www.estabus.emtsam.es The train
station is right next door, departure times at www.renfe.es. It
is easiest to catch the suburban train which runs between Malaga
and Fuengirola in the centre, subway next to the post office on
Avenida Principal.
You can catch city buses on Alameda Principal or Paseo Parque.
Tickets cost 90 cents and are purchased on the bus.
Taxi
Taxis are booked via Unitaxi, Tel. +34 952 333 333, but it is
just as easy to hail one on the street. Alternatively, you can
go to one of the city’s taxi ranks.
Post
Stamps are sold in tobacconists’ bearing the sign “Tabacos”. The
post office is on Avenida de Andalucía 1-2 and is open all day
between 8.30 a.m. and 8.30 p.m.
Pharmacy
The pharmacy is open between 10 a.m. and 8.30 p.m. with a siesta
between 1.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Farmacia Reding, Paseo De Reding 17
(opposite Plaza de Toros), is one of the pharmacies that are
open 24 hours a day, Tel: +34 952 223 731.
Dentists
In an emergency, call 061.
Dental clinic (Clínica Dental Sueca). Open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Address: Lope de Vega 4.1, Los Boliches, Fuengirola
Tel. +34 952 58 35 95
www.clinica-dental-sueca.com
Telephone
Spain +34, Malaga 952.
Electricity
220 Volt/50Hz |
