Getting in With the
COLIN SIMPSON
Malaga, Andalusia
3/5
THIRTY-FIVE years ago I flew into the city of Malaga in southern Spain and immediately set off along the coast. That’s what you did back then, Malaga was just the place you flew to on your way to stylish Marbella or the Costa del Sol’s mass tourism hotspots of Torremolinos and Fuengirola.
The Mediterranean port city has come a long way since then, evolving into an attractive tourist destination in its own right, with top-notch cultural and sightseeing attractions, sandy beaches and a vibrant restaurant and bar scene. The old town has elegant streets, attractive squares and smart shops, and the atmosphere is relaxed and easygoing.
When we were there an American tech billionaire’s superyacht, complete with onboard helicopter, was moored in the port. This was another indication of Malaga’s enhanced status – back in the day members of the smart set would have cruised straight past and dropped anchor off Marbella.
Gin and tonic is a drink that’s traditionally associated with England, but the Spanish also embraced it with enthusiasm long before the spirit achieved its current super-trendy status. They call it gin tonic and it’s popular across the country – and Malaga is no exception.
Our pick of the many gin joints was the imaginatively named Gin Tonic Bar, a locals’ favourite where the cocktails, served in goldfish bowl-sized glasses, are delicious, the reception friendly and the atmosphere lively. There’s also a hectic bar scene at the beaches.
Pablo Picasso is Malaga’s most famous son – he was born there in 1881 and his birthplace, the Museo Casa Natal, is now a museum. The larger Museo Picasso Malaga has more than 200 of the artist’s works from various periods in his career, including early oil paintings, Cubist masterpieces, a bull’s head made from a bicycle seat and handlebars, and later pieces.
There are several other impressive art museums, including a branch of the Pompidou Centre – the first outside France. Those seeking a more casual style should head for Soho, the area between downtown and the port which has emerged as a contemporary arts district. Street art on a large scale is the order of the day here, and there’s no shortage of cafes where you can hang out and enjoy the buzz.
Malaga’s 16th century cathedral with its ornately carved stonework and soaring bell tower is a popular stop-off for visitors, and other attractions include a botanic garden, a Moorish castle and a Roman theatre.
We didn’t have to venture out of our hotel, the Vincci Seleccion Posada del Patio, to see Roman remains – we just had to look in the basement. The hotel is built on an old Roman site, and the ancient stones can be viewed through glass floors or explored on wooden pathways.
Verdict: Ideal stopover on a touring holiday of Andalusia, or for a city break.
Top photo: Sue enjoys the speciality of the Gin Tonic Bar.
Updated June 2020
MORE INFO
OFFICIAL MALAGA TOURISM site has plenty of infomation about the city, what to do and see, and places to stay. READ MORE.
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WELCOME TO OUR WORLD! Afaranwide’s home page – this is where you can find out about our latest posts and other highlights. READ MORE
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Disclosure: Afaranwide is an affiliate of leading travel operators such as Booking.com and Japan Rail Pass. If you purchase through our site we receive, at no additional cost to you, a small commission. We only work with companies we have used and recommend.
LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH!
Getting in With the
Malaga Gin Crowd
COLIN SIMPSON
Malaga, Andalusia
3/5
THIRTY-FIVE years ago I flew into the city of Malaga in southern Spain and immediately set off along the coast. That’s what you did back then, Malaga was just the place you flew to on your way to stylish Marbella or the Costa del Sol’s mass tourism hotspots of Torremolinos and Fuengirola.
The Mediterranean port city has come a long way since then, evolving into an attractive tourist destination in its own right, with top-notch cultural and sightseeing attractions, sandy beaches and a vibrant restaurant and bar scene. The old town has elegant streets, attractive squares and smart shops, and the atmosphere is relaxed and easygoing.
When we were there an American tech billionaire’s superyacht, complete with onboard helicopter, was moored in the port. This was another indication of Malaga’s enhanced status – back in the day members of the smart set would have cruised straight past and dropped anchor off Marbella.
Gin and tonic is a drink that’s traditionally associated with England, but the Spanish also embraced it with enthusiasm long before the spirit achieved its current super-trendy status. They call it gin tonic and it’s popular across the country – and Malaga is no exception.
Our pick of the many gin joints was the imaginatively named Gin Tonic Bar, a locals’ favourite where the cocktails, served in goldfish bowl-sized glasses, are delicious, the reception friendly and the atmosphere lively. There’s also a hectic bar scene at the beaches.
Pablo Picasso is Malaga’s most famous son – he was born there in 1881 and his birthplace, the Museo Casa Natal, is now a museum. The larger Museo Picasso Malaga has more than 200 of the artist’s works from various periods in his career, including early oil paintings, Cubist masterpieces, a bull’s head made from a bicycle seat and handlebars, and later pieces.
There are several other impressive art museums, including a branch of the Pompidou Centre – the first outside France. Those seeking a more casual style should head for Soho, the area between downtown and the port which has emerged as a contemporary arts district. Street art on a large scale is the order of the day here, and there’s no shortage of cafes where you can hang out and enjoy the buzz.
Malaga’s 16th century cathedral with its ornately carved stonework and soaring bell tower is a popular stop-off for visitors, and other attractions include a botanic garden, a Moorish castle and a Roman theatre.
We didn’t have to venture out of our hotel, the Vincci Seleccion Posada del Patio, to see Roman remains – we just had to look in the basement. The hotel is built on an old Roman site, and the ancient stones can be viewed through glass floors or explored on wooden pathways.
Verdict: Ideal stopover on a touring holiday of Andalusia, or for a city break.
Top photo: Sue enjoys the speciality of the Gin Tonic Bar.
Updated June 2020
MORE INFO
OFFICIAL MALAGA TOURISM site has plenty of infomation about the city, what to do and see, and places to stay. READ MORE.
RECOMMENDED
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD! Afaranwide’s home page – this is where you can find out about our latest posts and other highlights. READ MORE
TOP 10 VIRTUAL ATTRACTIONS: Many of the world’s most popular tourists sites are closed because of the coronavirus crisis, but you can still visit them virtually while you’re self-isolating. READ MORE
SHIMLA, QUEEN OF THE HILLS: Government officials once retreated to Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas to escape India’s blazing hot summers. Now tourists make the same journey. READ MORE
TEN THINGS WE LEARNED: Our up-to-the-minute guide to creating a website, one step at a time. The costs, the mistakes – it’s what we wish we’d known when we started blogging. READ MORE
TROUBLED TIMES FOR EXPATS: Moving abroad can seem an idyllic prospect, but what happens when sudden upheavals or the inescapable realities of life intrude? READ MORE
Disclosure: Afaranwide is an affiliate of leading travel operators such as Booking.com and Japan Rail Pass. If you purchase through our site we receive, at no additional cost to you, a small commission. We only work with companies we have used and recommend.
LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH!
Getting in With the
Malaga Gin Crowd
COLIN SIMPSON
Malaga, Andalusia
3/5
THIRTY-FIVE years ago I flew into the city of Malaga in southern Spain and immediately set off along the coast. That’s what you did back then, Malaga was just the place you flew to on your way to stylish Marbella or the Costa del Sol’s mass tourism hotspots of Torremolinos and Fuengirola.
The Mediterranean port city has come a long way since then, evolving into an attractive tourist destination in its own right, with top-notch cultural and sightseeing attractions, sandy beaches and a vibrant restaurant and bar scene. The old town has elegant streets, attractive squares and smart shops, and the atmosphere is relaxed and easygoing.
When we were there an American tech billionaire’s superyacht, complete with onboard helicopter, was moored in the port. This was another indication of Malaga’s enhanced status – back in the day members of the smart set would have cruised straight past and dropped anchor off Marbella.
Gin and tonic is a drink that’s traditionally associated with England, but the Spanish also embraced it with enthusiasm long before the spirit achieved its current super-trendy status. They call it gin tonic and it’s popular across the country – and Malaga is no exception.
Our pick of the many gin joints was the imaginatively named Gin Tonic Bar, a locals’ favourite where the cocktails, served in goldfish bowl-sized glasses, are delicious, the reception friendly and the atmosphere lively. There’s also a hectic bar scene at the beaches.
Pablo Picasso is Malaga’s most famous son – he was born there in 1881 and his birthplace, the Museo Casa Natal, is now a museum. The larger Museo Picasso Malaga has more than 200 of the artist’s works from various periods in his career, including early oil paintings, Cubist masterpieces, a bull’s head made from a bicycle seat and handlebars, and later pieces.
There are several other impressive art museums, including a branch of the Pompidou Centre – the first outside France. Those seeking a more casual style should head for Soho, the area between downtown and the port which has emerged as a contemporary arts district. Street art on a large scale is the order of the day here, and there’s no shortage of cafes where you can hang out and enjoy the buzz.
Malaga’s 16th century cathedral with its ornately carved stonework and soaring bell tower is a popular stop-off for visitors, and other attractions include a botanic garden, a Moorish castle and a Roman theatre.
We didn’t have to venture out of our hotel, the Vincci Seleccion Posada del Patio, to see Roman remains – we just had to look in the basement. The hotel is built on an old Roman site, and the ancient stones can be viewed through glass floors or explored on wooden pathways.
Verdict: Ideal stopover on a touring holiday of Andalusia, or for a city break.
Top photo: Sue enjoys the speciality of the Gin Tonic Bar.
Updated June 2020
MORE INFO
OFFICIAL MALAGA TOURISM site has plenty of infomation about the city, what to do and see, and places to stay. READ MORE.
RECOMMENDED
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD! Afaranwide’s home page – this is where you can find out about our latest posts and other highlights. READ MORE
TOP 10 VIRTUAL ATTRACTIONS: Many of the world’s most popular tourists sites are closed because of the coronavirus crisis, but you can still visit them virtually while you’re self-isolating. READ MORE
SHIMLA, QUEEN OF THE HILLS: Government officials once retreated to Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas to escape India’s blazing hot summers. Now tourists make the same journey. READ MORE
TEN THINGS WE LEARNED: Our up-to-the-minute guide to creating a website, one step at a time. The costs, the mistakes – it’s what we wish we’d known when we started blogging. READ MORE
TROUBLED TIMES FOR EXPATS: Moving abroad can seem an idyllic prospect, but what happens when sudden upheavals or the inescapable realities of life intrude? READ MORE
Disclosure: Afaranwide is an affiliate of leading travel operators such as Booking.com and Japan Rail Pass. If you purchase through our site we receive, at no additional cost to you, a small commission. We only work with companies we have used and recommend.