Malaga Travel Guide

The Costa del Sol might be known for its fly-n-flop holidays and towering beachside resorts, but the region’s capital Malaga makes for a refreshing change. The balmy southern Andalusian city charms with its wide palm tree-lined boulevards, eateries which range from local tapas bars to Michelin-starred restaurants and long list of galleries and museums. While the public transport is good, if you truly want to get to know the city and the surrounding area, you can’t do better than nabbed one of the Malaga car rentals. Hit up an ancient Moorish fortress, dive into one of the buzzy little tapas bars or score a stay in one of the boutique hotels. Move aside Seville.

Dining in Malaga

Eating in Malaga is a pleasure. Kick off the day some crispy churros paired with thick hot chocolate at Casa Aranda, a backstreet joint that’s been knocking out the good stuff since the early ‘30s. Later in the day, you could hop in your Malaga car hire and drive out to Calle Quitapenas which backs a long stretch of sandy beach. Pull up a chair at one of the simple waterfront plastic tables and watch as locally caught sardines are grilled over hot charcoal and served with light Andalusian salads, crusty bread and cold white wine. In the evening, dive into one of the local tapas bars like Wendy Gamba which serves up cold, salted prawns or La Tranca which makes its own vermouth and empanadas. One thing’s for sure, you’ll eat well in Malaga.

Attractions in Malaga

While the city is a very walkable, a car rental in Malaga allows you the freedom to get to quickly get from attraction to attraction. Those with an interest in art shouldn’t skip the Museo Picasso Malaga which houses a unique collection of some of the artist’s earliest work. Afterwards, make a dash for the city’s cathedral, a 16^th-century structure with a blend of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque design. History buffs are well catered for in Malaga. The city houses the largest museum in Andalucía and has an impressive collection of archaeological pieces that span the Roman and Moorish eras. If time permits, drive up to the Alcazaba on Mount Gibralfaro. The 11^th-century Moorish fortress is well worth the effort to reach, as are the spectacular views.

Malaga driving routes

If you decide to rent a car in Malaga, don’t confine yourself to the city. There are some fabulous driving routes along the Costa del Sol like the Sugar Cane Route, a 55-kilometre road which passes pretty mountain villages and tropical crops like sugarcane and avocados on the way up to Motril. Or there is the Sun and Wine Route, another day drive from Malaga which passes typical white-washed Spanish villages on a winding road that hugs the coast and the mountain interior. Stop off for a tasting at one of the vineyards, sip on coffee in one of the sunny mountain village squares or kick back on one of the hidden little beaches.

Malaga car rental

It couldn’t be easier to pick up a car rental at Malaga airport. Whether you’re coming on a romantic little Spanish break or you are bringing the whole family on a sunny getaway, you’ll always find a rental which fits the bill. Getting into town takes around 20 minutes. Try to pick up accommodation with free parking spots as finding somewhere to leave your car rental overnight can be a little tricky. Remember that in Spain they drive on the right and the limits for alcohol consumption are much stricter than most countries – just 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per millilitre of blood.

Driving information for your car rental in Malaga

Speed Limits in Spain:

Motorways and Dual Carriageways = 120 km/h

Roads with more than one lane in each direction = 100 km/h

Ordinary Roads = 90 km/h

Road Markings & Signs:

Yellow Zig-Zag Marker = No Parking Allowed

Blue Line Marker = Parking is Limited

Blue diamond + White Number = Maximum Advised Speed Limit

Important Driving Rules:

Age Limit = 18

Alcohol Limit = 0.05%

Seatbelts = Compulsory by law

Useful Spanish Translations:

Toll Road = "Peaje"

Motorway = "Autovia"

Roundabouts = "Rotondas"