Day Trips from Málaga

Málaga sits in the middle of the Costa del Sol, with mountains behind it and the historic cities of inland Andalusia within easy reach. A day trip lets you swap the beach for gorges, cave villages and Moorish monuments, and be back in the city for dinner.

Caminito del Rey

The Caminito del Rey is a walkway fixed to the walls of the Guadalhorce river gorge, high above the water. Once called the most dangerous path in the world, it reopened in 2015 as a safe, modern boardwalk, and it is now one of the most popular outings in Andalusia. Entry is limited, so a day trip with the ticket included is the simplest way to go.

Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas

Ronda stands on a cliff split in two by the deep gorge of El Tajo, and the Puente Nuevo bridge joins the old and new towns high above the river. The town also has one of the oldest bullrings in Spain. Nearby, the village of Setenil de las Bodegas is built into the rock, with whole streets of houses sheltering under huge stone overhangs.

The white villages of the Alpujarra

On the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, the villages of the Alpujarra keep a style that goes back to their Berber settlers: white houses with flat roofs, round chimneys and narrow lanes. Pampaneira, in the Poqueira gorge, is one of the prettiest, and the region is famous for its cured mountain ham.

Nerja and Frigiliana

East of Málaga, the Caves of Nerja were discovered in 1959 and hold one of the largest stalactite columns in the world, 32 metres high, together with traces of people who lived here 25,000 years ago. Above the coast, Frigiliana is a white village of cobbled lanes and Moorish history. See our Nerja tours.

Córdoba and the Costa del Sol

Córdoba is about two hours away, and its Mosque-Cathedral, once the second largest mosque in the world, is one of the great monuments of Spain. A day trip also includes the Jewish Quarter and its synagogue. Closer to Málaga, a Costa del Sol tour combines the white village of Mijas, the old town of Marbella and the yachts of Puerto Banús.

Most day trips from Málaga follow the same simple plan.

• Meeting point in Málaga. Tours start from a central meeting point, and you travel by air-conditioned coach or van.
• A local guide. Guides lead the tours in English and Spanish.
• Tickets on some trips. The Caminito del Rey and Córdoba trips include the entry tickets. Check each tour page for what is included.
• Free time. Most trips leave time for lunch and to explore on your own.

Day trips usually last from six hours to a full day. The tour page shows the start time, the duration and the meeting point.

Which day trip should I choose?

For nature and a little adventure, choose the Caminito del Rey. For dramatic views and history, choose Ronda and Setenil. For a slower day of villages and food, choose the Alpujarra or Nerja and Frigiliana. For one of the great monuments of Spain, choose Córdoba.

Spring and autumn are the best seasons for day trips from Málaga, with mild temperatures for walking in the gorges and the villages. Summer is hot inland, especially in Córdoba and Ronda, so carry water and sun protection. Winter is quieter, and the Nerja caves and the coast are pleasant all year.