Our Tour of Andalucia - Malaga, Gaucin & Vejer de la Frontera
People know Malaga as the starting point for a holiday in the Costa del Sol, before heading off to another part of Andalucia. And I have been guilty of the same. So this time we decided to begin our trip by staying for a couple of nights in this beautiful City and explore the Centro Historico and it’s rich history and fabulous museums.
We stayed at the 'Hotel Palacio Solecio'. Set in the heart of Malaga’s old town, 'Palacio Solecio' is a beautiful resorted palace retaining many original features, beautifully decorated rooms and a rooftop pool and bar to cool off after sightseeing! The service we had was superb and we would highly recommend a stay here: https://slh.com/hotels/palacio-solecio.
We loved exploring Malaga's Old Town and top of the list of cultural highlights was the 11th Century Alcazaba. The word Alcazaba comes from Arabic ‘AL-qasbah’ and refers to a fortification within a walled town and the one in Malaga is considered as one of the most beautiful Alcazabas that you can visit in Spain! There is a lot of ground to cover if you are to explore the Alcazaba in its entirety, and you need to be prepared for a climb to the top, so wear trainers and visit earlier or later in the day. But it is well worth the effort as once at the top, you are rewarded with expanisve views over the City and mountains beyond.
https://www.alcazabamalaga.com
Malaga is of course famous as the birthplace of Picasso and both the Picasso museum and the birthplace museum ‘Museo Casa Natal de Picasso’ are a highlight of any trip to Malaga. The birthplace museum is housed in the town house where he lived as a young boy and provides a great insight into Picasso’s early life and influences on his art.
https://visita.malaga.eu/en/things-to-do/picasso-s-birthplace-museum-p103301
We loved exploring the little streets and alleyways of the Centro Historico and stopping in cafes for an Aperol or two on our way! Take time to admire the magnificent cathedral whilst sitting in the ‘ Jardin De La Catedral De La Encarnacion’, a photogenic area with fountains, benches, and ancient trees providing welcome shade.
In the evening head for tapas at Café Lola in the old town. A bit of an institution and very popular with locals and visitors alike (so be prepared to queue) but it is worth it for the huge choice of freshly made tapas and buzzing atmosphere:
https://grupocasalola.com/casa-lola-malaga/
We also highly recommend a gelato from ‘Casa Mira’, the most famous and best ice cream parlour in Malaga! The Pistachio was amazing.
From Malaga we then journeyed on to Gaucin, about 1.5 hrs drive from Malaga. A beautiful ‘Pueblo Blanco’ and gateway to the ‘Serrania de Ronda’ region.
It’s a small town with narrow medieval streets and houses, but with friendly bars and restaurants and an instagrammers delight!
We stayed just outside of Gaucin in the peaceful, rural surroundings of 'Karma La Herriza' for a relaxed stay after a busy couple of days in Malaga.
https://karmagroup.com/find-destination/karma-retreats/karma-la-herriza/
In the evening we discovered 'Bar Paco Pepe', a very local bar / bistro with lovely friendly staff and delicious tapas: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g642206-d3174535-Reviews-Bar_Paco_Pepe-Gaucin_Costa_del_Sol_Province_of_Malaga_Andalucia.html
We only had a couple of nights to relax in Gaucin before heading off towards the coast and Vejer de la Frontera.
Vejer de la Frontera has been named one of the 20 most beautiful towns in the whole of Spain. It’s easy to see why. The mix of Arab-Andalusian architecture, cuisine and culture, not to mention the vast choice of amazing bars, restaurants and shops - makes Vejer so special and a wonderful town to visit or stay all year round. The town sits on a hill, a few kilometres away from the coast, so you have magnificent panoramic views over the valley beyond. The walled enclosure and the historic quarter, with its narrow, winding streets and whitewashed houses, are a gorgeous sight.
We stayed in 'Casa Shelly Hospederia', a beautifully appointed B&B ideally situated in the centre of Vejer's old town, Casa Shelly has an understated charm with just seven tastefully appointed rooms. We loved it there and would highly recommend.
https://casashelly.com/en/
Vejer is super stylish, and draws visitors from all over Spain as well and Europe. The central 'Plaza de Espana' has a magnificent Maiolica fountain as its centre piece and is surrounded by restaurants overlooking the square including the restaurant 'El Jardin del Califa' which is part of the 'Hotel La Casa del Califa'. It is famous for serving delicious Moroccan dishes in a stunning courtyard setting. The hotel also boasts a hidden rooftop bar serving great cocktails with views over the illuminated town at night: https://califavejer.com/en/el-jardin-del-califa/
There are so many bars to recommend in Vejer but my favourites are: 'Bar Morillo' https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g677776-d15041987-Reviews-Morillo-Vejer_de_la_Frontera_Province_of_Cadiz_Andalucia.html
And another gem is 'Piccolina Bistro', just off Plaza de Espana. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g677776-d25360068-Reviews-Piccolina_Bistro-Vejer_de_la_Frontera_Province_of_Cadiz_Andalucia.html
The coast beyond Vejer is stunning – head to the rocky bays of Cala Enebro and Cala del Pato - part ofa series of bays on the way to Roche. These are lovely unspoiled beaches to swim and relax. But do take a picnic with you as there are no beachside cafes along this little stretch of coast.
For a larger beach head to Conil de la Frontera and enjoy a long lunch at beach bar and restaurant 'La Ola' for amazing fresh seafood:
https://laolaconil.com/
I hope reading this blog has inspired you to visit Andalucia!
If you would like to plan your own tailor-made tour of the region – whether you have one week or six! - just give me a call and I would love to help you uncover those hidden gems to make your trip truly unforgettable!
Ali xx
