Embark on an unforgettable 15-day journey through Spain, where vibrant cities and rich history await! Begin your adventure in the bustling capital, Madrid, known for its stunning architecture and lively atmosphere. Next, experience the enchanting charm of Seville, famous for its flamenco dancing and beautiful palaces. Discover the breathtaking Alhambra in Granada, a true testament to Moorish architecture. Finally, unwind on the sun-kissed beaches of Malaga, where culture and relaxation blend perfectly. This trip promises to immerse you in Spain's diverse landscapes, delicious cuisine, and warm hospitality, creating memories that will last a lifetime!

15 Days

Locations Included

• Madrid (4 nights)

• Seville (4 nights)

• Granada (3 nights)

• Málaga (3 nights)

Day 1

Highlights: Arrival in Madrid, Private city tour

Location: Madrid Barajas International Airport (MAD) to Madrid

Day 2

Highlights: Madrid to Toledo, Private City Tour

Location: Madrid

Day 3

Highlights: Museum guided visit, Free Time

Location: Madrid

Day 4

Highlights: Madrid to Seville, Off-the-beaten-path City Tour, Tapas & Flamenco night

Location: Madrid to Seville

Day 5

Highlights: Day tour to Córdoba

Location: Seville

Day 6

Highlights: Free Time

Location: Seville

Day 7

Highlights: Iberian Serrano Ham tour

Location: Seville

Day 8

Highlights: Seville to Granada, Sacromonte and Albayzin tour

Location: Seville to Granada

Day 9

Higlights: Alhambra Tour

Location: Granada

Day 10

Highlights: Sierra Nevada Mountains Hike

Location: Granada

Day 11

Higlights: Granada to Málaga, Private City Tour

Location: Granada to Málaga

Day 12

Highlights: Day tour: Ronda & White villages

Location: Málaga

Day 13

Highlights: Caminito del Rey

Location: Málaga

Day 14

Highlights: Málaga to Madrid, Tapas in Malasaña

Location: Málaga to Madrid

Day 15

Highlights: Depart Madrid

Location: Madrid to Madrid Barajas International Airport (MAD)

Private transfer · 0.5 hours

A private driver will transfer you from Madrid Barajas International Airport (MAD) to your accommodation in the city.

Take a city tour with Almudena. She is one of the best in Madrid (teacher at university and collaborator with the Prado museum) and beyond all that he is very good dealing with people.

She will not only take a tour through the city center with you but also show you hidden corners, the local living and hints for a real experience.

If you are into museums, Almudena is also your woman. She will complete the experience in the museum making it much more than a traditional visit to the works inside it.

Train · 0.5 hours

Make your own way to the train station. We will provide you with tickets to and from Toledo.

Private

My local guide, María José, will pick you up and take you to the best viewpoint of Toledo. From there you'll be able to get great pictures of the city. Later you'll be taken to the city center for a walking tour. It will include tickets to the main attractions and monuments you'll visit.

María José will also be able to share her local point of view of the city, telling you her own experiences and hidden corners you'll later be able to visit at your own.

At the end of the tour she will give you recommendations on where to go for lunch since you'll have time for that and to explore afterward before going back to Madrid

Private

The Prado Museum is one of the greatest art museums in the world. Bosch, El Greco, Rubens, Tintoretto, Velazquez, Murillo, Goya… the ultimate artists of all times together in this Royal Collection.

But there are many others that holds much interest and have a great prestige, such as the Reina Sofia hosting the Guernica by Picasso, the Thyssen-Bornemisza, with works of Durero among many others, or the Sorlla museum, to mention some.

My local guide, Almudena, will show you a fine selection of the masterpieces of each period/artist in the selected museum/s.

She is one of the best in Madrid (teacher at university and collaborator with the Prado museum) and beyond all that he is very good dealing with people.

If you are into museums, Almudena is also your woman. She will complete the experience in the museum making it much more than a traditional visit to the works inside it.

Entrances are included so that you will avoid the lines. You’ll just need to be ready to discover the secrets of the masterpieces with your tour guide!

The minimum duration is 2 hours though we can have the guide with as as long as we want, just ask!

Self guided

Walk the capital of Spain. Discover its great avenues, theaters, stadiums, old quarter, shops, restaurants, green areas, the financial district and many other picturesque districts around such as La Latina, Chueca or Malasaña, to mention some, where local people (and foreigners) use to go out, hop from bar to bar and socialize.

In this city you'll find the best brand shops both in malls and in the popular Serrano street.

The Real Madrid soccer stadium is one of its main attractions. There you can get tickets to visit it together with the museum.

Some of the best museums of the world are also in Madrid. Special highlight for the Prado museum, located in one of the corners of the street with homonymous name, but it is not the only one: The ThyssenBornemisza, The Reina Sofia or the Science museums are also great options to spend some time.

Green areas like the Retiro Park are highly recommended to stroll around.

The Gran Via avenue, one of the most renowned ones in town, holds many theaters and cinemas as well as many important brand shops making of it a mandatory visit.

Train · 2.5 hours

Make your way on your own to the train station in Madrid. We will provide you with your ticket to board this efficient service to Seville. Upon arrival, you will make your way on your own to your hotel.

Private

If you fancy seeing the city in a different way, with a local guide, a walking tour is opportune to choose. In two hours you'll be shown places where you will blend in with the locals, where no one will look at you as a tourist or treat you differently. We will take you to an alternative Seville, full of bars, shops, bookstores, art galleries and bohemian corners where you can discover this city from a different perspective.

Small group · 4 hours

Enjoy a 100% Spanish night with Flamenco, tapas and a walking tour in one of the most beautiful neighborhood of Seville, Santacruz or Triana. This Spanish evening offers a well-balanced dose of delicious food, a wide variety of Spanish wine, an awe-inspiring flamenco show as well as a tranquil walk in a charming neighborhood.

Depending on the day we will choose the right Flamenco venue for you so that you either visit the Jewish quarter or Triana. The show takes approximately about an hour, which would be an intense hour. The evening continues with a leisurely walk and some more delicious tapas in taverns full of atmosphere.

Depending on the season and the time your guide will take you to the best places where you will go “de tapas” the same way the locals do. In total you will visit 3 different traditional taverns sampling the most authentic food from each place.

Private · 10 hours

The city of Cordoba, located on the banks of the Guadalquivir, was the capital of the province of Betica during the Roman Empire and the Caliphate of Cordoba. The history of Cordoba has left us with architectural wonders such as the Mosque-Cathedral, the Roman Bridge and the old Jewish Quarter, among others.

Departing from Seville, Naturanda’s guide will pick you up at one of the meeting points and take you to Carmona, a white village located only half an hour from the city and which deserves a short stop to admire its beauty. After this short guided tour, we will set off for Cordoba, where we will arrive after approximately one hour of travel. Once we arrive at our main destination, we will take a guided tour on foot through the historical centre of the city, visiting such significant monuments.

We will walk through the most significant streets of the city, passing by the Roman Bridge, the old Jewish quarter, the Royal Stables and the Cordoba Synagogue (closed on Mondays). We will also take a short walk through the famous and colourful Cordoba courtyards which will give us the opportunity to take wonderful photographs, which will always remain as one of the most beautiful memories of this excursion to Cordoba.

After getting to know the historical centre of Cordoba we will take a short break on our tour to enjoy Cordoba’s cuisine as recommended by our guide, or enjoy your own lunch or picnic if you wish. You will also enjoy some free time in case you want to do some shopping.

After lunch, and to put the finishing touch to our day trip, we will visit the beautiful Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984.

There, visitors will have enough time to enjoy this wonderful architectural monument, created in its origins for the Muslim cult, and which represents one of the main jewels of the historical and architectural heritage of Andalusia.

After our visit to the Mosque of Cordoba, we will return to the meeting point to board our transport which will take us back to Seville, where we will arrive after having enjoyed a magnificent day of excursion having visited places of extraordinary beauty.

Self guided

Walk the capital and largest city of Andalusia. Situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir it is a popular destination for tourists.

Strolling around you'll find the Alcazar, the cathedral and Giralda or the popular Torre del Oro from the 12th century. The Plaza de España, not to be missed, holds images of every province of Spain represented in a mosaic with one of its main characteristics. The bullring or the Casa Pilatos are other must-see without forgetting the María Luisa Park.

You must also visit the Santa Cruz (historic district) and, of course, the Triana district, where the Flamenco dancers and the bullfighters originated

Private · 8 hours · Lunch Included

A product that is as natural as the pastureland where the Iberian pigs roam and the age-old process used to obtain this delicacy. It is important to be able to recognise its unique flavour, aroma and texture.

On this tour you will be able to discover the entire process and also enjoy a tasting in one of the 4 production areas in Spain, the Jabugo Sierra.

Afterwards we will visit Aracena, the capital of the region that gives its name to the National Park here and which is famous for its architecture, its gastronomy and for the Cave of Wonders (Gruta de las Maravillas), one of the most well-conserved caves in Europe.

We will, of course, visit the cave and have a tasting of the Iberian Serrano Ham, one of the treasures of the Spanish gastronomy.

Train · 2.5 hours

Make your way on your own to the train station in Seville. We will provide you with your ticket to board this efficient 2.5-hour service to Granada. Upon arrival, you will make your way on your own to your hotel.

Private ·

A tour that combines the two most characteristic neighborhoods of Granada: The Muslim Quarter and the Gypsy Quarter. Both located in hills with amazing views one next to the other, and facing the always breathtaking Alhambra. Both neighborhoods are full of history and beauty … and also of slopes!

Private

Visit the Alhambra with an expert guide and discover the importance that this Andalusian palatine city held both for Granada and for what later became what we now know as Spain.

For three hours we will visit the entire Alhambra complex: Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba, Charles V Palace, Generalife and gardens. Art, architecture and history at your fingertips!

Small group · 5 hours

Embark upon a guided half-day hike through the Sierra Nevada, Spain's highest mountain range. The adventure begins with a drive from Granada to the peaceful village of Monachil in Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada, where you'll set off on the famous, 5-mile-long (8 km) Los Cahorros Trail. Follow your guide along a path surrounded by jagged mountain peaks lined with fruit trees and wildflowers, crossing hanging bridges above a river-carved gorge. After the three-hour walk, enjoy a scenic drive back to Granada with views of the Sierra Nevada.

Bus · 1.5 hours

Private ·

This tour is perfect to meet by firsthand the best of Malaga with its monuments by a local.

The tour starts at Plaza de la Marina, where it will be introduced one the famous characters of Malaga the “Cenachero” (fish seller).

The next points to be visited are the interior of the Roman Theater and Alcazaba, the symbol of Malaga.

Then, after walking through some of the well-known streets of the downtown, it is the time to visit the Cathedral.

Private ·

On this tour we will travel through the ancient Andalusian kingdoms of Castille and Granada whilst reveling in the scenic nature, history and tradition. We will begin our journey by touring through the Sevillian countryside. We will stop at The Castle of Las Aguzaderas, an interesting medieval building which is located at the old border line among Catholic kingdom and Moorish kingdom.

After that, we will continue through the mountains until arriving to the white village of Zahara de la Sierra. After exploring the streets, we will set off for Sierra de Grazalema. On the way, we will drive through the Natural Park Sierra de Grazalema that offers you a range of amazing landscapes and views over the provinces of Cádiz, Malaga, Seville, as well as Puerto de las Palomas which is 1157 meters above sea level. We also get the chance to witness vultures in their natural habitat due to the fact that these mountains are home to the largest colony of Griffon vultures in Spain.

Once in Grazalema, you will have time to enjoy a nice meal, surrounded by the picturesque white houses decorated with colorful flowers.

After lunch, we will leave Grazalema and head to Ronda, on the way we will cross a very beautiful Mediterranean forest full of cork trees and oaks. Where up to this day locals still work with its cattle (iberian pigs, goats and cows), to extract honey, cork, aromatic spices or wood.

After an exciting morning, we will reach Ronda, one of the oldest towns in Spain. It is unique for its natural surrounding and history. It was built on two different cliffs so the town is connected by the most famous bridge in Spain, known as ―The New Bridge even though it was built in 18th century.

Our guide tour will take you around the city and explain you about its rich history. After that, you will have free time to explore the town’ s beauty.

Group tour · 6 hours

Experience the exciting walk! The scenery is breathtaking, with the mountains, gorge and the river flowing...

Caminito del Rey was opened to the public on the 28th of March 2015 and it is part of a spectacular natural beauty spot. This already makes it breathtaking and attractive, although the path is more than just a walk in the hills. Encompassing a rocky plateau 1200 m above sea level, the Gaitanes Gorge contains the one and only “King’s Walkway”, in El Chorro Natural Park which provides the perfect setting for exciting hiking experiences in unbelievable landscapes.

The boardwalks and a hanging footbridge that stands at 105 metres height, as well as steep walls, make many visitors feel inevitably dizzy. The path is hazardous because of the heights and its very narrow parts.

• This full day trip is extraordinary and spectacular.

• The total length of the route is 7.7 km, divided into 4.8 km long access ways and 2.9 km long boardwalks.

As for the boardwalks, the most famous part of the trail, 2.9 km of their length between the entrance to them and the exit point, comprises 1.5 km long boardwalks, and 1.4 km long paths or forest walkways.

• The estimated time needed to go across the whole route is 3-4 hours.

• It is risky and requires certain level of physical effort and skillfulness, which is accepted by tourists who come to follow the route. Visitors are not risking their lives at all, but they must be aware of the strong impression this place might make on them. This is why this path is so attractive.

Discover these natural treasures and have the chance to walk the walkway suspended 100 metres high!

Train · 2.5 hours

Make your way on your own to the train station in Málaga. We will provide you with your ticket to board this efficient service to Madrid. Upon arrival, you will make your way on your own to your hotel.

Small group · 3 hours · Dinner Included

Visit 4 locally owned tapas bars and restaurants that epitomize the unique blend of modern and traditional that makes the Malasaña neighborhood so iconic. Taste cured Iberian meats, the cheese board of your dreams, artful tostas, perfectly prepared seasonal vegetables, the best bravas in Madrid and so much more. Each dish is paired with its accompanying drink, as Spanish tradition dictates. From sparkling cava to robust red wine, you’ll taste the liquid heroes of tapas culture, all of which are of course made in Spain!

What’s Included:

• Local Guide: Walk and eat your way through the trendy Malasaña neighborhood with a local guide.

• Spanish wine tasting: Start the evening with a cava toast and get a crash course in Spanish wine. Taste 5 unique local wines throughout the evening.

• Neighborhood walk: See modern and traditional collide as you discover the stories and legends of the Malasaña neighborhood.

• Tapas dinner: Taste both traditional and modern tapas at 4 stops. Includes an abundant dinner’s worth of tapas.

Dietary Accommodations

This tour is adaptable for:

• Vegetarians Pescatarians

• Gluten free (not celiacs) Dairy free

• Non-alcoholic options Pregnant women
  

Private transfer · 0.5 hours

A private driver will transfer you from your hotel to Madrid Barajas International Airport (MAD) in time to catch your flight.

Activities

• Day 1: Private city tour

• Day 2: Private City Tour (private group)

• Day 3: Museum guided visit (private group)

• Day 4: Off-the-beaten-path City Tour (private group), Tapas & Flamenco night (small group)

• Day 5: Day tour to Córdoba (private group)

• Day 7: Iberian Serrano Ham tour (private group)

• Day 8: Sacromonte and Albayzin tour (private group)

• Day 9: Alhambra Tour (private group)

• Day 10: Sierra Nevada Mountains Hike (small group)

• Day 11: Private City Tour (private group)

• Day 12: Day tour: Ronda & White villages (private group)

• Day 13: Caminito del Rey (group tour)

• Day 14: Tapas in Malasaña (small group)

Transportation

• Day 1: Private Transfer

• Day 2: Roundtrip Train Madrid - Toledo - Madrid

• Day 4: Train from Madrid to Seville

• Day 8: Train from Seville to Granada

• Day 11: Bus

• Day 14: Train from Málaga to Madrid

• Day 15: Private Transfer

Accommodations

Your specialist has not yet selected any hotels for you.

Please ask your specialist to select hotels with availability for your travel dates.

• International flights

• The meals not mentioned in the trip plan Personal expenses

• Travel insurance, and repatriation insurance Optional excursions, activities, and optional tours

Home to the government and royal family, the buzzy capital Madrid has a central location in Spain that has ensured it is a melting pot of traditions. As a result, it boasts the most varied and vibrant culture of anywhere in the country. It is best known for its grand palaces, parks, and excellent museums, including some of the continent's very best art museums. The city is made for walking, too—with wide, elegant boulevards displaying a fabulous array of architectural styles and expansive, manicured parklands such as El Retiro Park. It also boasts some of Europe's and the world's finest art museums, the must-see Prado Museum and Reina Sofia Museum. The former showcases art throughout the ages, with works by Goya, Velázquez, and other Spanish masters, while the latter focuses on 20th-century works.

What makes this city of about three million people so grand is that, on the one hand, it's a modern European metropolis filled with chic boutiques, beautiful green spaces, numerous classy cafés and restaurants, and legendary nightlife. On the other, it's hosted many centuries of seminal Spanish history, as you'll see in the imposing plazas and palaces around Madrid de los Austrias, the city's medieval center, and the charming cobbled streets of Barrio las Letras, a neighborhood of Cervantes once called home.

Suggested things to do:

• Take a paseo(stroll) through the Madrid de los Austrias area in the city center. You'll definitely want to see some of the highlights like the Puerta del Sol, one of the most historic and expansive plazas in the city, and from here, you can walk a couple of minutes southwest to Plaza Mayor, one of Spain's grandest squares and the neighborhood's heart and soul. Just down the street, you'll find the Royal Palace of Madrid, home to Spain's monarchs, a building originally raised by the Moors in the 9th century but owing most of its appearance to a 16th-century renovation.

• Head just east of the center for a wander through El Retiro Park. This 308-acre park and UNESCO World Heritage Site is the green lung of Madrid, filled with fountains, gardens, lakes, and one particularly beautiful landmark, the Palacio de Cristal, an 1887-built glass-and-cast-iron conservatory modeled on British architect Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace.

• Browse the Mercado San Miguel, the historic municipal market (it's been open for over 100 years), where you can graze to your heart's content on the seemingly limitless tapas on offer from the 30-odd stalls. There are also international food options plus any number of desserts, headlined by fresh churros and chocolate and Madrid's Gran Vía artisanal ice cream.

• Visit the Teatro Real opera house, built in 1818. You can check their calendar to take in dance, music, and theatre performances.

• As to the difficult decision about where to dine amid Madrid's fabulous places to eat, you can now sample the cuisine of the city's most famous chef, Dani García, who previously operated a three-Michelin-starred restaurant, for more affordable prices at Dani, a suave brasserie in the Four Seasons Hotel.

• If you are interested in sports, take a tour of the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, the 81,000-seat stadium home to the Real Madrid football club.
  

Seville provides the perfect mix of culture, architecture, and gastronomy. This vibrant city has been an eye-catching spot on the map for many centuries, first as a thriving cultural and commercial hub under Moorish rule in the 12th century and later as Spain's key New World trade center where gold and silver from Spain's vast territories in Central and South America were minted. This varied past is best showcased in Seville's set piece church, the world's largest Gothic cathedral, where the mosque that previously stood on the site has been subsumed into the bell tower design. Sporting flamboyant Neo-Moorish structures and opulent mansions, and dotted in beautifully manicured parks, the Andalusian capital quickly gets you hooked. Located on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, it is also a relatively small and fairly walkable, bike-friendly city, which adds to your enjoyment of it.

See the big sights like Moorish palace Real Alcázar and blockbuster art museum Mueso de Bellas Artes, but remember that it is the little things that can make a stay here truly special: eating tapas in a lively bar, browsing a market for tasty local treats or experiencing one of the city's legendary festivals. And like all Andalusian cities, Seville ticks to the seductive rhythms of Flamenco, which was born in Andalusia, and shouldn’t be missed while you are here. There’s nothing quite like experiencing the power, passion, and drama of this sultry music and dance in the heart of the region where it was created. A visit to the Museo del Baile Flamenco, an interactive museum and live music venue, will reveal flamenco's rich history from its origins to its current global renown.

Suggested things to do:

• Visit the exciting Plaza de la Encarnación. This is the site of Las Setas de Sevilla, or Sevilla's mushrooms. These modern abstract sculptures provide an above-the-ground walkway with great views of the city.

• Attend a flamenco show in the Triana neighborhood, an important tradition in the region.

• Tour Mudéjar marvel Real Alcázar, a showpiece sight every bit as spectacular as Granada's Alhambra, and a major complex of palaces, courtyards, terraces and ornate grounds that requires some time to see in full. It's another place to observe the coming together of Moorish and Christian architectural styles. You can also enjoy some time in the gardens, containing pools, fountains, a hedge maze, the photogenic porticoed walkway of Galería de Grutesco and much more.

• Spend time lingering in Seville Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral on the planet! Besides witnessing this entrancing architectural wonder and seeing its famous bell tower—La Giralda—, you can visit the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Although this figure is highly controversial, many visitors are interested in seeing his tomb because of his historical importance.
  

Granada was once the last bastion of Al-Andalus (the historic Muslim name for the Iberian Peninsula) when the region was ruled by the Moors, and you can experience this vibrant influence on the city from the top down, starting with Granada's most famous landmark, the Alhambra. This imposing Muslim fortress was built atop a hill overlooking Granada and dates to the 9th century. It was rebuilt in the 14th century by the Nasrid Dynasty and served as a Moorish palace until 1492 when it became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella after the Christian reconquest.

Granada is also renowned for its delightful culinary scene, seasoned with sultry spicy flavors from its Moorish roots, and an equally Arabic-influenced street life. All this combines to make an abundance of exciting, animated restaurants and bars. For every glass of wine, soft drink, or beer you order, you receive a free portion of tapas, so ready yourself for a fantastic culinary adventure too. The show is all set to the tempo of flamenco, the spirited, colorful dance and music that developed in Andalusia and is an vital element of Granada culture to this day.

Suggested things to do:

• Explore the magnificent Alhambra and the surrounding Generalife Gardens, the crowning highlight of the city.

• Experience the nuanced flavors of Andalusian food at a restaurant like Picoteca 3Maneras

• Walk the labyrinthine streets of the old Arabic quarter, Albayzín (UNESCO World Heritage-listed in its own right for its well-preserved medieval Moorish street layout) and nearby Sacromonte. In these hilly, historic neighborhoods you can visit beautiful buildings like the Moorish citadel of Palacio Dar al-Hora, as well as many miradores (viewpoints) with spectacular panoramas over Granada.

• Spend time appreciating the diverse appeal of city center attractions like Granada Cathedral, the elaborate Catholic church built on top of the city mosque after the Reconquest of Granada, the Royal Church, burial place for Catholic kings, and the Madraza (medieval Koranic school).

• Browse the stalls at the Alcaicería, a traditional Arabic silk market now full of Andalusian treats, trinkets, and souvenirs.

• Catch a flamenco show at one of Granada's tablaos to appreciate the importance and majesty of this spellbinding dance and music form.

• Take tea at one of the atmospheric teterías (teahouses) on Calle Caldereria Nueva.
  

Although the ancient metropolis of Málaga harks back 3,000 years to Phoenecian times, this port city has undergone quite the rejuvenation over the last few years and is speedily becoming a hotbed of culture, style, and art. Its enviable location on Spain’s Costa del Sol, a stretch of Mediterranean coast that runs 98 miles (159 km) from east of Málaga past Marbella towards Gibraltar, and which is famous for its abundance of golden beaches, helps pull in the holidaymakers too.

But Málaga's wealth of things to see and do goes far beyond being a hub for sun-seekers, and its dynamic culture is all the more interesting for being relatively little-known. As the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, a visit to the Museo Picasso should be a must whilst here. You’ll find an impressive collection of the artist’s paintings, ceramics, graphic art, and illustrated books along with personal memorabilia of the Picasso family. The museum offers an intimate look at the cubist master and, through various exhibits, showcases the changes in his artistic style throughout his legendary career. Other notable museums include the Carmen Thyssen Museum (mainly focusing on Andalusian paintings from the 19th century), and the Centre Pompidou Málaga, the only branch of the famous Paris contemporary art museum outside France, housing works in a glass cube. Then there are some beautiful churches like Neo-Gothic white-stone Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón, Sometimes, just gazing at the view is enough to pass the time, as Málaga specializes in offering jaw-dropping viewpoints with far-reaching vistas over city and sea.

Suggested things to do:

• Visit the magnificent 10th-century Moorish palace of Castillo de Gibralfaro, which sits on a hill overlooking

• Málaga city. Stroll along pretty paths splashed with greenery and flowers like jasmine and bougainvillea, as well as orange and lemon trees, or simply gaze out at the view tumbling down over the city and along the coast beyond.

• Sample Málaga’s delectable cuisine. You’ll find plenty of great tapas bars and restaurants, particularly in the neighborhoods near the waterfront and along Calle Marques de Larios in the Old Town. Common ingredients used in the cuisine of Málaga include olives, almonds, grapes, and raisins, as well as fresh local seafood in dishes such as gambas al pil-pil (prawns cooked in chilli, garlic, white wine and paprika).

• Sunbathe on Playa de la Misericordia, a great alternative to the massively popular Malagueta Beach. Here you’ll find more locals and fewer tourists, as well as surfable waves created by the Málaga-Melilla ferry that arrives in Málaga each night.

• Hike up into the Montes de Málaga, a mountainous massif that rises up just a few miles behind the city with several signposted trails.