Málaga is a city full of history and tradition, but it is also the capital of the Costa del Sol. Cosmopolitan and welcoming, it is a home away from home for the traveler because of the locals' deep sense of hospitality. We will give you just a sampling of what this city of light and sand has to offer, because we are sure you will want to come back to experience more.

Los Montes

You take the old Granada road to reach the most beautiful area of Málaga. The many natural scenic lookouts along this route offer magnificent views of the bay, and there is the added interest of experiencing the unique gastronomy, anthropology and history of the area. The whole area is dotted with inns. Some are in the style of rustic taverns, like Venta El Boticario, Tres Cincos, Mirador and Túnel. In these places you can try the typical local Los Montes wine- sweet, dry or semi-sweet - and a dish of the local cuisine along with it.

The Museo Antropológico (Anthropology Museum) is located in this area, right in the Parque Natural de las Contadoras. Here you can view old wine presses and oil mills, and if you are lucky enough to arrive during grape harvesting you might be able to join in the treading of the grapes, that will later become the exquisite Málaga muscatel.

The Green Zone

As well as the Paseo del Parque, that began as a carefully tended botanical garden, you can also visit the Finca de la Concepción in the vicinity of the city. It belongs to the city council these days, although in the past it was the property of a renowned local couple. These are picturesque gardens, that at one turn make you feel as though you are in the tropics, and at the next in a desert. Many beautiful and significant botanical species grow here. The whole area, including gardens and mansion, was built in the middle of the 19th century, and it has retained the beauty and learned atmosphere of its former owners.

Another place worth visiting is the Cónsula (Consulate), located in Churriana in the Valle del Guadalhorce (Guadalhorce Valley). It was built in 1806 for the Prussian consul. It has a colonnaded Neo-classical style porch, although the gardens are its main attraction.

The Retiro contains a bird park that, with its more than 300 species, is unique in Europe. It also has a beautiful historical garden that represents the period from the Middle Ages up to the 18th century.

Málaga's Seaside

The whole of Málaga is a never-ending beach, stretching from Misericordia, which goes as far as the port area, to the beaches of Peñón del Cuervo near the hamlet of Cala del Moral. Take a walk along the Paseo Marítimo Antonio Machado (promenade), and pause for something to eat or drink in one of the many refreshment stands that line the way.

In Pedregalejo the coves are protected by natural stone breakwaters. The beaches of El Palo retain the atmosphere of the old fishing villages, with the taste and smell of fish, and the images of fishermen throwing out their nets and drawing in their catches of silvery sardines. This coastal area is packed with little boats in many shades of blue. Here, the sand is a little darker, but the Mediterranean is always the same. If you want a bird's eye view of all this, go up the Castillo de Gibralfaro (Gibralfaro Castle). You will be rendered speechless by the apparent melding of the sea and the sky.

Museums and Monuments

You will find the main museums in the city's old town: Bellas Artes (Fine Arts), Arte Sacro (Religious Art) and Arte Contemporáneo (Contemporary Art). You will be going back a few centuries when you visit the Museo Arqueológico (Archaeological Museum) in the Alcazaba, the Teatro Romano (Roman Theatre), the Cathedral, with its one tower missing, and the Palacio de la Aduana (Customs House) near Paseo del Parque.

The most symbolic experiences you can have in Málaga are to visit the Cenachero (the bronze sculpture of a young fisherman carrying his cenacho or basket of fish), and then to have a generous helping of fresh anchovies.