Málaga is the capital of the Costa del Sol and Spain's sixth city —around 580,000 people— on the Mediterranean in the heart of Andalusia. For years it was just the gateway to the coast's beaches; today it's one of the fastest-rising cultural destinations in the south, with more than thirty museums.
Its old town packs a lot into a small space: the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castle crowning the city, the Roman Theatre at their feet, the Renaissance Cathedral and the Picasso Museum, dedicated to the city's most universal son. All five minutes apart on foot and rounded off by the redeveloped Muelle Uno port and La Malagueta beach.
An hour away is the Caminito del Rey, one of Spain's best-selling nature experiences, with the whole Costa del Sol (Marbella, Nerja, Ronda) within day-trip reach. Málaga is seen well in two days and works as a base for exploring the province.
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