Places To Drive To Near Malaga, Spain

[Tim330]

Hello,
Going on a lads weekend to Malaga next weekend, Friday to Monday. I've rented a car on the Sunday using some Enterprise points to do some exploring otherwise will start the beers earlier and be unproductive.
Are there any recommended destinations within an hour to two worth seeing? I thought of Gibraltar or maybe just as far as Marbella. Hopefully the sun will be out.

[Riff Raff]

Ronda.

[i4got]

Riff Raff said:

Ronda.

+1 for Ronda. Maybe take in Sentenil de las Bodegas en-route.

[rdjohn]

Gibraltar is a dump. Malaga is a fantastic city with lots of stuff to see and do.

[shirt]

Ronda, Olvera, Desierto de Gorafe

[ExBoringVolvoDriver]

Another vote for Ronda - just make sure you don’t get an small underpowered car for the drive up!

[Tim330]

Thank you. Will visit Ronda. The car is a Ford Focus or equivalent so should be OK

[MarkJS]

rdjohn said:

Gibraltar is a dump. Malaga is a fantastic city with lots of stuff to see and do.

Agreed on both counts. (I’d also avoid Marbella as it’s like little Britain these days)

Ronda is fabulous as already mentioned - great driving roads and gorgeous scenery around the area too. You can also pass by the Ascari circuit which is just up the road.

You could drive up & walk the Caminito del Rey which only takes a couple of hours - again, stunning.

Other easy options are:

Frigliana
Competa
Nerja
Torrox Pueblo (not Costa though)
Granada is doable in a day too

Back in Malaga, I can recommend a wander along the beach to the suburbs of Pedregalejo & El Palo. Loads of lovely bars and restaurants full of locals by the sea. If you do it right, you’ll need a taxi back (only a couple of quid).

The whole area is a fantastic part of the world if you dig a little.

[mikef]

Ronda (is this getting boring yet?). Park near the bullring and visit the bullfighting museum, for a real sense of Spanish tradition

[shirt]

for a different take on ronda, head here. its a bar right at the bottom of the gorge.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vNfe6YswxZVwfM1k9

[MarkJS]

shirt said:

for a different take on ronda, head here. its a bar right at the bottom of the gorge.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vNfe6YswxZVwfM1k9

There’s also the Samsara vineyard down there.

Fabulous views everywhere.

[LuS1fer]

Ronda is about 1hr20 but stunning though you need a little time to see all it offers and hot days will be very hard work.

A little nearer is Antequera which is a lovely town though far less commercial but easier to park. It has an Alcazabar that dominates the town. It has an extensive history.

[vindaloo79]

I went and stayed in a hostel near/at el chorro many years ago and did some rock climbing and attempted bits of the kings walkway and decided it was too sketchy.

It seems this is now much more health and safety, but imagine it will be worth the visit : take a look at this for a starting point (I haven t read all the page) : https://malagatravelguide.net/tourism/caminito-del...



There was a mountain bike your company we used another time back in 2013 ish!, maybe this one a that provided an amazing holiday and uplifts to the top of some decent starting points around that same area too: https://sierramtb.com/.

Have a blast whatever you do!

Edited by vindaloo79 on Saturday 15th November 13:42

[LunarOne]

Wow. I visited Ronda a couple of years ago but didn't go down into the gorge. I wish I had now!

[mikef]

I’ll also second Antequera. Another lovely bullring with a great restaurant

[Bill]

Also agree with Ronda and the Camino del Rey. You need to book a time slot for the Camino though so don't just turn up.

[LuS1fer]

We went to Camino to del Rey, walked all the way down but flip flops are a no-no and the 9 Euros entry became "guided tours only" at 18 Euros a pop so we went back to the car and drove up to El Chorro ( the other end) instead. Do 't feel we missed that much.

[Old Merc]

How about the caves at Nerja, its a simple 40 mile drive from Malaga.
https://cuevadenerja.es/en/ The underground tour is very interesting.

[Tim330]

Bill said:

Also agree with Ronda and the Camino del Rey. You need to book a time slot for the Camino though so don't just turn up.

Looks like its sold out next weekend, a shame

[NDA]

I don't know Spain terribly well, but spent a little while in Mijas some years ago - which I thought was a lovely little town. Not far from Malaga.