Always the last thing I do before leaving a destination is pass along any place that I thoroughly enjoyed. As a budget traveller on frugal means, I don’t often pay for entry into places and see very few tourist sights. What I find and treasure the most are the free things I happen upon at random. Here are 5 free things to do in Malaga Spain that you might enjoy too.
Promenade & Marina
I found this area especially beautiful at sunrise. Here find an architecturally pretty promenade walk along side the marina where the cruise ships are coming into port. There is a large plaza with historical maritime buildings at one end and a vibrant walkway along the other.
Just after the covered promenade ends, find a central area for entertainment and festivals. This vast open space is full of statues, colourful buildings and another long walkway heading towards the lighthouse.
Ancient Rome
Yes, here in Malaga there are ancient Roman ruins to see. One can pay a fee to enter the site and view a contemporary museum, but that is not necessary. For all along the plaza, visitors can view the ruins for free.
And what a beautiful site it is. When renovations to the cultural centre began in 1954, an ancient wall was exposed. The city decided to demolish the centre and excavate to see what lay buried for 2,000 years. Discovered was a Roman theatre complete with orchestra pit and stage. How marvellous.
Don’t forget to peek inside the glass pyramid in this plaza too. For here you will be able to look down into Roman basins that belonged to a fish factory. This is where a fish sauce was made called garum.
Malaga Park
Beside the historical centre and across the street from the promenade is a large municipal garden and green space. One either side is a wide walkway under a canopy of tall shade trees. One of the species was in bloom while I was here in December, and absolutely magical to watch the pink petals float down through the air.
Down the centre of this park is a trail system and at various points, water features, gardens and little seating areas. If you are needing a little break from the hustle and bustle of town, or wanting a cooler place to rest during the heat of the summer, this is your oasis. As a solo female, I would not recommend coming here alone at daybreak or during the night.
Malagueta Beach & Lighthouse
Find the lighthouse first, its at the far tip of a walkway which forms part of the pier at the harbour entrance. It’s a beauty, and when aglow at sunrise, such a beacon and landmark for the city.
Now walk around to the other side and you will find yourself at one end of Malagueta beach. This is the municipal beach and I was pleasantly surprised to find it so clean. Beachcombers will find all sorts of pretty shells including loads of twirlies, as well as beach glass galore. The sand is mostly coarse and the water is clear and crisp in December.
Walk the length and return on the promenade up top that offers beautiful views of the sunshine glinting off the Mediterranean sea.
Mirador Gibralfaro
My favourite find in Malaga is Mirador Gibralfaro. It’s a hike up this mountain by the same name, just past the historical centre. At various points along the way, find gardens, viewpoints and at the top a Moorish castle.
The climb up takes around 30 minutes, depending on how often you stop for a breather or to take a splendid photograph of the scenery. Climb beside the old 13th century walls to the top and see views of Malaga Cathedral, the marina, City Hall and La Malagueta, the bullring!
It’s been a joy to visit Malaga and get a small taste of this part of Spain. The city is large, I definitely only touched the tip of the iceberg here, remaining close to the historical centre. This should give you some ideas to jump start your visit and I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. Happy travels friends.
