The Costa del Sol is a favourite destination for an autumn escape. We bring you urban adventures, gastronomic delights, museum visits and scenic escapades in the Málaga hills. Let’s take a closer look at the autumn highlights on offer on the Costa del Sol!
Savour Marbella’s gastronomic delights
Marbella is a favourite destination for sampling Málaga’s regional cuisine. Thanks to its stunning coastal location, you can sample a range of fresh fish dishes including sardine skewers, dogfish stew, pilpil prawns (prawns with garlic and chilli), anchovies and Málaga style fried fish. These quintessential Marbella fish and seafood dishes are gastronomic delights not to be missed. Other typical dishes include gazpacho and ajoblanco. And to finish, treat yourself to a sweet Marbella speciality, Rosquetes de Marbella. Take a day (or more) to sample Marbella’s culinary delights!
Spend a day in Málaga
Autumn is the best time of year to spend a day exploring Málaga. Discover the special places the city has to offer, including: the Plaza de la Constitución, the famous street Calle Larios, the Baroque Plaza del Obispo, the Cathedral, the Alcazaba de Málaga and the Roman Theatre. Explore the enchanting San Agustín, Granada and Alcazabilla streets, the Plaza de la Merced, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso and the Muelle Uno shopping centre. There is so much to see, but in 24 hours you can visit the key tourist attractions and get a good feel for the regional capital.
Walk the Caminito del Rey
For those who like hiking, the Caminito del Rey is a must. The walking route is one of the most celebrated in Spain, with its stunning gorges, valleys and cliffs. The Caminito del Rey is just 60 km from the city of Málaga and is an 8 km route, 2.9 km of which are along walkways offering stunning views. The walkways on the side of the rock faces overlooking the gorges run parallel to the Guadalhorce River. A route to make you fall in love with the Málaga landscape. We recommend purchasing tickets on the official website, due to the high demand for tickets, which sell out quickly.
The white towns of Málaga
The Málaga region is famous for its white towns, and autumn is the perfect time to explore them. Ronda is the most famous of these, with its unmistakable bridge high over the Tajo River gorge, making it one of the prettiest places in the region. Frigiliana is one of the most charming of Málaga’s white towns, with its narrow streets inviting visitors to explore the town centre and visit the Palacio de los Condes. The enchanting Mijas Pueblo is famous for its many viewpoints offering spectacular views over the Mediterranean; one of these has been officially recognised as a Heritage Site. Casares, known as the Pueblo Colgante (Hanging Village), has also been recognised as a Heritage Site for its whitewashed houses and steep narrow streets. These white towns are some of the jewels of the Málaga region.
Fall in love with art in Málaga’s museums
Art is one of Málaga’s most important visitor attractions. In fact, the town has over 40 museums showcasing art in all its glory. The Museo Picasso Málaga is located in the historic centre of the artist’s town of birth and is home to over 230 of his works. The Museo de Carmen Thyssen located in Málaga’s historic centre houses 285 works of art from the different 19th and 20th century periods of Spanish and Andalusian painting. The Centre Pompidou Málaga, located on the waterfront, houses a permanent collection of art from the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as hosting temporary exhibitions throughout the year. Other notable museums include the Contemporary Art Museum (Centro de Arte Contemporáneo), the Automobile and Fashion Museum (Museo Automovilístico y de la Moda) and the Aeronautical Museum of Málaga (Museo Nacional de Aeropuertos, Navegación y Transporte Aéreo).
Lose yourself in Málaga’s Botanical Gardens
The city of Málaga is home to a natural oasis: the Jardín Botánico Histórico La Concepción, these subtropical exotic gardens are among the best of their kind in Europe. Recognised as a Site of Cultural Interest in 1855, the gardens contain over fifty thousand species of plants of which three thousand are tropical, subtropical and indigenous, and can be enjoyed all year round. From 1 October to 31 March the opening times are 09.30 to 17.30 daily. Fall in love with the Botanical Gardens!
