There are so many excellent day trips to take when you’re staying in Malaga, the capital of the Spanish Costa del Sol. Whether you’re looking for beaches and water based fun or access to Andaluz cultural heritage and nature, the heart of Andalusia is easily accessible from the beautiful city of Malaga.

Before you plan your Malaga day trips though, be sure to plan enough time to get to know Malaga itself. It’s a cultural hub, a city full of museums, art galleries, gorgeous architecture, historical monuments (including Roman ruins and the best preserved Alcazaba in the region) and more. 

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Transport in and around Malaga

When planning your day trips from Malaga you’ll need to think about your transport options and preferences. There are good public transport links for people travelling to and from Malaga.

Wherever I can, I choose to rent a car because I don’t enjoy being tied to other people’s timetables and I love knowing that if we see a castle up on a hill or a cool looking beach we can just detour and check it out.

Day Trips from Malaga

This section covers the best day trips from Malaga, broken down into a few sections. Under each header I share a paragraph or two on the highlights of the place, and how to get there.

If I know of any excellent tour options you’ll see them as a Mexico Cassie tour recommendation.

All of the following day trip options are within a few hours of Malaga.

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The Costa del Sol’s beach towns

There are some beautiful beaches to explore when you’re staying in Malaga. Most of the beaches along this stretch of Spain’s magnificent coast are sandy beaches flanked by the gorgeous blue and calm Mediterranean Sea. Some beaches are more built up and touristy than others.

Day trip from Malaga: Nerja

_{Photo provided by Joy of Cakes, Seville’s primary birthday cake baker}

Nerja is actually one of the most popular beach towns in the province of Malaga thanks to its gorgeous beaches and its traditional fishing village vibe. There are 12 beaches within the Nerja limits.

What else to see in Nerja

⭐️ Balcón de Europa (Balcony of Europe) – everyone ends up here when they visit Nerja – take a walk, enjoy the atmosphere and marvel at the views over to Africa.

⭐️ Visit Nerja Caves

⭐️ Hike up the tallest mountain in the area, El Cielo

⭐️ See the Eagle Aqueduct – this isn’t a Roman aqueduct like in Segovia. In fact it was built in the 1800s but it is fully functional

⭐️ Explore the village’s pedestrianised cobblestone streets

⭐️ Visit Frigiliana, a nearby pueblo blanco

😉 There’s a nearby nudist beach if you’re looking: Playa Nudista de Cantarriján.

How to get to Nerja

🚗 1hr15 along the coastal road

🚌 The least expensive way to get to Nerja is by ALSA bus from the bus station. The journey takes around 90 minutes

Day trip from Malaga: Torremolinos

The nearby beach town, Torremolinos, has something of a seedy reputation but it’s actually quite lovely. It’s also the LGBTQI+ capital of southern Europe so if you’re looking for a very welcoming place, this is it.

📚 Torremolinos first came to my notice in thanks to the excellent book, Drifters, by James A Michenar, about young Americans avoiding being drafted to fight in Vietnam by hanging out in Torremolinos and enjoying a life of drugs and fun on the beach. Ernest Hemingway was also a regular in Torremolinos. The literary connection was enough for to persuade me to visit!

There are 6 main beaches in Torremolinos, all linked by a promenade which is part of the Malaga Coastal Path. There are chiringuitos, bars and services along the beaches. If you enjoy beaches lined with bars and being around lots of other people enjoying life on the beach then Torremolinos is for you.

What else to do in Torremolinos

⭐️ Go kite surfing or wind surfing

⭐️ Enjoy exploring the old town of Torremolinos (Calle San Miguel is the main shopping street)

⭐️ Explore the gardens including the Jardín Botánico Molino de Inca and Parque de la Bateria

⭐️ Visit a waterpark – If you’re here with kids then a trip to Aqualand, the biggest waterpark in the region is a must!

→ Skip the line and book your tickets now

How to get to Torremolinos

🚗 30 minute drive past the Malaga airport

🚌 Take a bus from the bus station direction Torremolinos (25 minutes)

🚂 There are regular trains from Malaga that take 20 minutes

Day trip from Malaga: Benalmadena

There are 13 beaches along the 10km of Benalmadena coastline. Some are coves while others are wide and sandy beaches with chiringuitos and bars to enjoy.

😉 Benalnatura is a the nudist beach in town.

What else to do in Benalmadena

If you’re on vacation with kids then you’ll probably wind up here at some point as there’s plenty for families.

⭐️ Take the cable car to the top of Mount Calamorro for delightful panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea, mountains and on a super clear day, the Rock of Gibraltar and the Moroccan coastline.

⭐️ Benalmadena Stupa (the highest stupa in Europe)

⭐️ Colomares Castle (this is a very odd looking castle that was built as a monument to Columbus)

⭐️ Wander the Benalmadena old town, Parque de la Paloma and the archaeological museum

⭐️ Visit the Sea Life Aquarium

⭐️ Visit the Mariposario de Benalmadena

❌ Don’t visit the dolphin park – why would you help support dolphin captivity? Instead take a tour to see them in their natural habitat in the Strait of Gibraltar.

How to get to Benalmadena

🚗 30 minute drive

🚌 35 minutes on the Avanza bus

🚂 30 minutes on the train from Malaga (there are trains every 20 minutes)

Day trip from Malaga: Marbella

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Famously classy Marbella has over 20 km of beaches running from Guadalmina to Cabopino, many of them reflecting the upper-class reputation that Marbella has. These Med lapped beaches offer spectacular views, water sports and relaxation.

What else to do in Marbella

⭐️ Paseo Maritimo – the Marbella promenade is a lovely place to enjoy a gentle walk

⭐️ If you want to see the playgrounds of the super rich, keep walking (or cabbing) until you hit Puerto Banús

⭐️ Spend time wandering aimlessly through the narrow cobbled streets of Marbella’s old town, stopping for a tinto de verano on cute plazas such as Plaza los Naranjos. Don’t miss the Dalí sculptures on Avenida del Mar as you explore.

⭐️ Visit the XI century Moorish Marbella castle

⭐️ Relax in the Parque de la Alameda

⭐️ Charter a yacht or indulge in some water sports

How to get to Marbella

🚗 1 hr along the coastal road

🚌 1 hr on an Avanza bus

Note: My opinion is that the best beaches are over in Huelva and Cádiz because I love wild Atlantic beaches. If you’re after the gorgeous gentle blue waters of the Mediterranean and plenty of amenities, then it’s the Costa del Sol you’ll be needing.

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Pueblos Blancos (White Villages)

Day trip from Malaga: Mijas Pueblo

Up in the mountains just a short drive from Malaga is Mijas Pueblo, one of the most beautiful villages you can imagine. This small village has a large and attractive main square, countless excellent restaurants, a very informative small museum and some of the best views over the Malaga coast you’ll find.

➡️ Read more about spending the day in Mijas Pueblo

How to get to Mijas Pueblo

🚗 35 minutes

🚌 A direct bus takes an hour but if you have to change, it’s going to be around 90 minutes

Day trip from Malaga: Frigiliana

_{Photo provided by Joy of Cakes, Seville’s primary birthday cake baker}

This pueblo blanco, located on the slopes of the Sierra Almijara, is often found on lists of the “10 most beautiful villages in Spain” and is touted as the prettiest village in Andalucía too (although for me that has to be Zuheros, in Córdoba Province).

Frigiliana has a Moorish feel to it and its old quarter is made up of delightful winding, cobblestone streets full of small shops and tapas bars. Check out the archaeological museum and the botanical gardens and, of course the Nerja Caves are nearby too.

How to get to Frigiliana

🚗 Around a 1 hr drive

🚌 Take a bus to Nerja and then a bus or cab to Frigiliana

Setenil de las Bodegas

If you can cope with small, winding roads, then a day trip to the fascinating Setenil de las Bodegas is a great addition to any trip in southern Spain. This small village is famous for its houses that are built into the rocks. Exploring the town is great fun for everyone and it’s even possible to enter into one or two of the houses to get a feel for how life is in a rock-hewn home.

Calle Cuevas del Sol and Calle Cuevas de la Sombre are the two main streets everyone wants to see but don’t miss the Mirador del Carmen.

➡️ Read more about Setenil de las Bodegas

How to get to Setenil de las Bodegas

🚗 1 hr 20

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Day trips to larger cities and towns

Day trips from Malaga: Sevilla

Sevilla, the capital of Andalusia, is just two hours from Malaga so if you’re organised and happy to have a busy day it’s possible to visit Sevilla for the day.

Sevilla’s highlights include the famous Alcazar, Cathedral and Archivos de Indias trio that make up Seville’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Plaza de España and María Luisa Park.

➡️ Read more about exploring Sevilla in 1 day

➡️ Read more about exploring Sevilla with kids

How to get to Sevilla

🚗 2hr30 via Antequera

🚌 2hr45 minutes with Alsa Buses

🚂 There are direct trains between Seville and Malaga

Day trip from Malaga: Ronda

Ronda is a pueblo blanco but I’ve included it in this section because it’s somewhat bigger than most pueblos blancos. This ancient city is famous thanks to the Tajo Gorge that runs through the middle of the city, splitting it in two. The two halves are joined by bridges that span the deep gorge – Puente Nuevo, the Roman Bridge and the Arab bridge. All 3 of these bridges are extremely old including the Puente Nuevo (new bridge), which was built in 1793.

There’s plenty to entertain visitors to Ronda particularly if you love striking views and exploring fascinating twns. Even if you don’t enjoy walking, you’ll still love Ronda though for its Jardines de Cuenca, the Plaza de Toros, the Arab baths, museums and incredible restaurants.

➡️ Read more about spending the day in Ronda

➡️ Read more about visiting Ronda with kids

How to get to Ronda

🚗 1hr20

🚌 Takes between 2hr30 – 3 hr on the bus

Day trips from Malaga: Córdoba

No one wants to miss out on a trip to Córdoba when they’re in Andalucía, and rightly so, this city is really something special. Highlights include the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mosque-Cathedral Mezquita, the Alcazaba, the Jewish Quarter and numerous museums.

➡️ Read more about exploring Córdoba

How to get to Córdoba

🚗 1hr50

🚌 2hr30 on with Alsa bus

🚂 under an hour on the train

Day trip from Malaga: Antequera

It’s hard to pick a favourite of all these day trips from Malaga but I think Antequera might be my very favourite. Not only is the town absolutely gorgeous but it’s home to ancient dolmens that you can visit and just over the town is the Torcal de Antequera, which is home to some astounding rock formations and is one of my all time favourite places to go hiking in all the world (note, even if you’re not a hiker there are plenty of options for an easy stroll to admire the view and there’s a visitors’ center with a cafe, too).

➡️ Read more about visiting Antequera

How to get to Antequera

🚗 50 minutes

🚌 1 hr on an Alsa bus

🚂 25 minutes on an Avant train

Day trips from Malaga: Granada

Another city on the “must visit” list for anyone interested in Andalucía’s history and culture, is Granada, home of the world famous Alhambra Palace, the crown jewel of Islamic Spain (because it’s really important to remember that the history of Andalucía is really the history of Islam in Spain). The Alhambra includes the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba, the Generalife Gardens.

It’s also worth taking time to explore the old Moorish quarter of Granada. And of course, while you’re in the historic centre, don’t forget to look up from your shopping or tapas and admire both the architecture as you explore and the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains.

How to get to Granada

🚗 2 hr

🚌 1hr45 on an Alsa bus

🚂 1hr20 on Alsa trains

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Day trips out into nature

Spain is really all about the nature and the Costa del Sol region is no different.

Day trips from Malaga: El Caminito del Rey

One of the most popular day trips from Malaga is to the Caminito del Rey, by the small village of El Chorro. The Caminito del Rey used to be considered one of the most dangerous hikes in the world but thanks to some much needed restoration work, it is no longer dangerous at all.

It is imperative to know that you can’t buy tickets at the Visitors’ Centre, you need to buy tickets in advance online if you wish to walk the Caminito del Rey.

You have to get yourself to the North Access point as this is where the hike begins. Note that you have to hike just to get here though. While the walk itself is not strenuous if you’re fit, no walking poles are permitted, no children under 8 and you do need to prepare yourself for a 2-3 hour beautiful walk.

Much of the walk is on wooden paths attached to the side of the cliff. For me it never felt scary or dangerous but if you’re afraid of heights I can see it might be a little uncomfortable.

A note on tickets: if you are taking yourself to the Caminito del Rey, the ideal is to buy your tickets on the official website. Here self-guided tickets are €10 and guided tours are €18 (both plus booking fee). They sell out fast so if you can’t find them for the date you want, check tour aggregate companies such as Get Your Guide as they will generally have some availability at only a very small premium.

How to get to El Caminito del Rey

🚗 50 minutes to where you leave the car.

MexicoCassie tip: Park at Restaurant El Kiosko and walk through the Tunel de Aceso and along a clear path to the North Access point. Takes a good 40 minutes to walk. Or go to the Visitors’ Centre and take the shuttle bus (and then walk)

🚂 Approx 50 minutes on the train fromMalaga to El Chorro

Other hiking opportunities: Unsurprisingly, Malaga province is covered in excellent walking trails and hiking opportunities. The nature lends itself perfectly to this. If you want to find easy trails try looking for the Vía Verdes – old railway lines that have been converted into paths.

Day trip from Malaga: Sierra Nevada

Whether you’re visiting Malaga in the summer or the winter, a day trip into the nature reserve of the Sierra Nevada is a wondrous thing. The Sierra Nevada is home to Europe’s most southerly ski resort and it regularly has snow until March / April (in 2024, for example, they’ve extended the ski season from early April to the end of April).

Visit in the winter to do the whole “beach-to-snow” thing, take a ski or snowboard class or even a snow-hike (we did this and I can honestly say it was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done). Visit in the summer to enjoy the resort and the mountains for their views and hiking options.

How to get to the Sierra Nevada

🚗 2hr10 via Granada

🚌 3hr40

🚂 Take the train into Granada and then the train 1hr to Pradollano

Other possible day trips from Malaga include

If you’re looking for a great southern Spain itinerary – this 1 week in Andalucia itinerary would work well.