Malaga travel guide

Málaga is an overlooked gem; this lively, enticing city is the birthplace of Picasso, offers an excellent tapas scene, great beaches and noble historical buildings.

In fact Málaga couldn't be more different from its nearby coastal resorts along the Costa del Sol where English is the lingua franca and all-day British breakfasts displace traditional tortilla.

The Picasso Museum is Málaga's major drawcard and has encouraged the rise of boutique hotels and flashy restaurants. In Málaga's historic centre, the Moorish fortress and Christian castle loftily jut into the sky, overlooking a handsome cathedral, glitzy shopping streets, and a spider's web of narrow pedestrian lanes within the old town.

Beyond the busy port, the city beach is surprisingly good, and further stretches of sand lie along the eastern suburbs, where traditional fried fish is washed down with cold beer at chiringuitos (beach bars). Endowed with such assets, Málaga is more than just a gateway; it's a destination in its own right.