Málaga (Malaga) in Spain

Don't be put off by the high-rise hotels and apartment blocks that mar the Costa del Sol: Málaga is a vibrant, Spanish city with a real southern port atmosphere and a burgeoning cultural scene. The second largest city in Andalucía, it boasts pretty streets, leafy boulevards, lush gardens and a breezy ambience.

By car

The A-7 E-15 motorway runs along the coast to from Gibraltar to Almeria and through Murcia (region) Murcia and on.

The A-45 motorway runs from Cordoba to Malaga.

By plane

Malaga has the third biggest international airport (AGP) in Spain, which a lot of Discount airlines in Europe budget airlines fly to. From there you can get a train, a bus or a taxi into town, or hire a car. A taxi to the city center will cost about 15€. The bus no. 19 costs 1€ and is very convenient, running every 30 minutes and stopping at Alameda Principal and Paseo del Parque, where most of the local buses that serve the city stop as well. Renting a car at Málaga's airport is relatively cheap, but booking in advance for the best offers is advisable.

By boat

A Ferry Route exists between Malaga and Melilla in North Africa. It is best to book early to avoid disappointment.

From Malaga it's possible to travel within a few hours to many other interesting places in Andalucia: Granada, Cadiz and Ronda can all be reached by coach, Seville can be reached by train. There are also several tourist holiday resorts within reach: Torremolinos, Nerja, Marbella

Probably founded by Phoenicians, Málaga flourished in the Muslim era, especially under the Granada taifa in the 11th century and later the Emirate of Granada-Málaga was its chief port. Its fall to the Christians in 1487 was a big nail in the Emirate's coffin. The town fell into decline until some prosperity arrived in the 19th century with a dynamic middle class who founded various industries. Málaga dessert wine ('mountain sack') became popular in Victorian England.

The onslaught of the phylloxera bug at the turn of the century devastated the region's vineyards in the late 19th century. The development of tourism helped compensate the setback to the town. In the 1920s Málaga became the favourite winter resort of rich madrileños. In the civil war, Málaga was initially a Republican stronghold. Hundreds of Nationalist sympathisers were killed before the city fell to the Nationalists in February 1937 after being bombed by Italian planes. Particularly vicious reprisals followed.

In recent years tourism has continued to play a prominent role in the fortunes of the city. Málaga's economy has enjoyed plenty of spin-offs from the boom on the nearby coasts. More than six million tourists flock to the region annually. With Spain's second largest port and third largest international airport, the city has established itself as southern Spain's commercial capital and, increasingly, one of its cultural epicentres.