Places to visit in Malaga

Here are a selection of ideas for place to visit in Malaga that aren’t necessarily in the usual run of the mill guide books.

Other than the Bus Station Malaga has plenty to offer visitors who bother to seek out its best attractions.

Flamenco Museum – Malaga

Entry to the building from the street leads you into what appears to be a social club with group of spanish men sat at  tables taking refreshments from the bar. You don’t know it but you are in the very heart of malaga flamenco.  The museum has no web site but the link here will direct you to latest performaces at the venue (friday nights) in the intimate basement. We missed this so aren’t able to advise on ticket availablity etc.

After a short while and gesticulating > > eyes >> pointing around >> asking “flamenco”? with raised eyebrows the barman called a colleague who welcomed us and began to show us around.

I think our guide was the maintenance man and he speaking no English and our pitiful spanish meant the tour consisted of being told the names of legendary Malagan flamenco performers, studying the posters, paintings and photographs that were displayed with a selection of insturments over three floors.

malaga flamenco

Malaga Jardin Botanico la Conception

This wonderful tropical collection is a good day out of town.  The Number 61 Bus runs hourly from the drive out of town side of the main avenue in Malaga NB it misses a trip between 1 and 3pm.  The last bus back conveniently coincided with the closing time but double check this as a return taxi could be pricey.

funky tree jardin la conception Malaga

Even though a major fast road has been built alongside the hill that is home to the gardens the sheer splendour of the gardens soon means you quickly become oblivious to the background traffic noise.

For the latest highlights see this site Malaga Jardin Botanico la Conception but there are various routes to take around the garden all of which hold superb views throughout the garden and you will find amazing shrubs and trees normally found in climates further south and the mild Malaga weather means you’ll be able to enjoy exotic flowers throughout the year.

All the routes could be successfully completed in a day but the introduction The Jewels of La Concepcion includes all of the most significant items of interest to be found in the historical garden and take just over an hour.

Facilities – these are situated adjabetween the gift shop and refreshment area at the entrance to the garden.

Other places to try if you are caught short in Malaga:

Malaga Contemporary Art Centre

Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de MÁLAGA

Easy to access bogs but don’t stop at the cafe here if you actually want refreshments – its table service and the students employed have an incredible levels of customer blindness – over half an hour and no service –  however the Malaga Art Centre is not far out of town, close to the marvelous El Corte Inglis

El Corte Inglis

This phenomenal department store is a must visit for great gourmet food and fine wines with some of the best fashion houses and possible the best perfume and aftershave smellies selection in southern spain. El Corte Inglis can be a fab place to assemble a gift for your return – build your own food hampers and save money with local Andalucian specialitites, Malaga wines and to die for chocolate (Rhubard Choc – ten bars just wasn’t enough)

The lavatories at El Corte are as you would expect of an exceptionally high standard although unlike quality UK posh shops neither the ladies or the gents offered perfume or aftershave cologne by the basins.

Picasso Musuem – Museo Picasso art Malaga

Quite frankly the Picasso Museum in Malaga as an expensive disappointment. Huge queues let you know when you’ve finally found the new building which itself has some attraction however the contents are no more than a few doodles on the back of paper bags and fag packets that are an enourmous let down.

I have seen better artwork at my niece’s school open day.

No link for Pablo I’m afraid – my advice is if you’re in Malaga don’t “do” the Picasso Museum of so called Art.