Malaga surroundings, part 1

What to see around Málaga

When all the beaches and sights of Málaga have been explored, you wonder where to go and if there is anything else of interest close to the city. There are many places around Málaga that are worth a visit.

Málaga, what to see outside the city?

The province of Málaga is not only famous for its beaches, there is something for everyone, whether it's a relaxing stroll or the desire to ‘tickle the nerves’.

Botanical Gardens in Malaga(Jardín Botánico-Histórico La Concepción)

It has been in existence for more than 150 years. You can reach it from Málaga in 20 minutes by car. It is a great opportunity to diversify your holiday, hiding from the heat and the hustle and bustle of the city in the cool shade of plants and trees. Covering an area of 23 hectares, the botanical garden offers winding paths, sculptures, waterfalls, streams and ponds. More than 25000 plants of 2000 different species grow in this garden. Numerous seating areas and scenic views of the historic garden and Malaga will brighten up your walk. And to avoid getting lost, pick up a garden map at the entrance.

The King's Little Path(Caminito del rey Malaga)

Dedicated to thrill-seekers. An hour's drive from Málaga, the King's Trail is an 8km walk along a narrow canopy walkway about 1 metre wide in the Garganta del Chorro gorge. Earlier in the twentieth century, construction of two hydroelectric power stations at the beginning and end of this gorge began. To make it easier for workers to move between them, single-level scaffolds were built along the cliffs, which were reinforced with metre-long wooden stanchions. After the commissioning of the facilities, these canopies were no longer used for their intended purpose and gradually fell into disrepair. This is when they were favoured by those seeking dangerous sports. In 1920, it was walked by King Alfonso XIII of Spain, after which it became known as the royal path. In 2015, this road was reconstructed, and now it is a completely safe route, passing which the visitor gets bright and complex emotions: on the one hand it is admiration of the beautiful nature around, and on the other hand - a whole dose of adrenaline. You can get such feelings very few places! The route lasts about 3-4 hours, depending on the walking pace. Tickets are inexpensive, but it is better to buy them in advance on the official website.

Nerja, the town and cave of Nerja(Cuevas de Nerja)

It is a small town by the sea, located 50 minutes from Málaga if you go here by car. It is advisable to plan the whole day for a visit and go in the morning, because there is not just one interesting object to visit, but several. It is best to start with a visit to the Nerja Cave.

On 12 January 1959, it was discovered quite by accident by a group of young people going to catch bats, and since 1961 the place has been declared a Cultural and Historical Heritage Site. It is an entire cave city in which many archaeological remains have been found. Some of them are at least 20,000 years old! Traces of primitive people's habitation have been found here: rock paintings, fragments of fabric and ceramics. It is very interesting, walking through these huge halls, you forget about time. The walls and ceilings are covered with stalactites and stalagmites, forming interesting shapes. The stalactite column, 18 metres in diameter and 32 metres high, stands out among them and you are amazed by the wonders of nature. Unfortunately, access to all the halls is not yet open to the public, but the proposed route through the caves of Nerja, which is 2 kilometres long, will leave a lasting impression on you! It takes 45-50 minutes. Let's move on to see the local sights.

Aguila Aqueduct(Acueducto del Águila)

It is also known as the Eagle Bridge. It is a striking historical monument 40 metres high, a rather large-scale construction. It consists of overlapping arches of four high storeys. It is located just on the way from the Nerja Caves to the city, just five minutes to be exact. There are small areas for parking and viewing the aqueduct.

Balcony of Europe in Nerja

The town of Nerja itself is also close by, 5-6 minutes by car. There are several public car parks, the closest to the Balcon de Europa (a must-see attraction in Nerja) is the Parking Balcon de Europa, located in Plaza de España. A 10-minute leisurely walk will bring you to a place where many tourists from all over the world come to enjoy the stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. King Alfonso XII was the one who suggested the name of this observation deck, which used to be part of the old fortress. A statue in his honour stands here at the end of the balcony, leaning on the railing and radiating calm and peace..

That's not all, the next part is dedicated to the town of Benalmadena, which is 40 minutes from Málaga.