It’s no secret that southern Spain is bursting with beautiful towns and cities that are just waiting to be explored. Andalusia can be separated into 8 provinces, some of which are more popular than others when it comes to tourist destinations. Recently, I’ve been more focused on travelling around the Province of Malaga in search of its hidden gems and places that are overlooked by visitors. What I’ve come to realize is that there are a lot of unique places in the Province of Malaga worth adding to any itinerary.
The Province of Malaga is well known for its coastal resorts along the Costa del Sol. If you get tired of the beaches, there are plenty of day trips from Malaga that are worth going on. Sometimes you can even fit more than one place into your daily itinerary if they’re close together.
Rather than going on tour buses, I would recommend renting a car in Malaga so you have the freedom to choose where you want to go. One of the most budget friendly car rental company in Malaga is Autos-Flores Rent A Car. They’re a family owned business and they’ll meet you right at the airport (or wherever is more convenient). They also include insurance in their rental prices which is a bonus.
All of Andalusia has a rich history dating back to the pre-Roman era. If you happen to be staying in or around Malaga itself, you don’t need to go too far to see the impact that different cultures have had on the province as whole. Here is my ever-changing list of unique places in the Province of Malaga to visit. Hopefully you’ll see some that you’ll want to visit while you’re touring southern Spain.
Unique places in the Province of Malaga
Alora
Alora is located only a 45 minute drive from Malaga, and is in the same area as the famous Caminito del Rey. This is one of the prettiest inland white villages in Malaga that you can visit. The main attraction in Alora is Castillo de Alora – an Arab castle dating back to the 5th century. As you drive into Alora you can spot the castle perched at the top of the hill overlooking the town.
Other key attractions include the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnacion, the Convento de la Virgen de las Flores, and the municipal museum. Alora is one of the most unique places in the Province of Malaga to visit, and you can still see the important role that the Arabs played in the development of it. If you’re planning a trip to southern Spain, you’re going to want to make a stop here for a few hours.
Antequera
Antequera is one of the larger cities in the Province of Malaga that you can visit, and in my opinion it’s also one of the most underrated. Apart from being very well known for its restaurants which serve traditional Spanish dishes, Antequera has the most churches per inhabitant in all of Spain. It also has a history dating back to prehistoric times. It’s the perfect place to visit on a day trip from Malaga, and it sits quite close to Granada.
Of the many things to do in Antequera, I would recommend heading in the direction of the Alcazaba de Antequera first – a 14th century fortress built on top of Roman ruins. This part of the city is home to other points of interest in Antequera such as the Mirador de las Almenillas, Arco de los Gigantes, and Real Colegiata de Santa Maria la Mayor. With its blend of history and culture, Antequera really is one of the most unique places in the Province of Malaga to visit.
Archidona
There are plenty of white villages in southern Spain to visit – so what makes Archidona so special? Despite it being a small town, its history actually predates the Romans and it has enough sites to visit to keep you busy for a while. It’s also been declared a Historic-Artistic Site, and has some of the best food you will eat in the Province of Malaga at Restaurante Arxiduna.
Archidona has a number of historic churches to marvel at, including the beautiful Iglesia de Santa Ana. If you’re more of an outdoor-adventure type of person, this area is a haven for hiking and rock climbing. Archidona is located only a 45 minute drive from Malaga’s city centre, and sits very close to the border of the province of Cordoba as well as Granada. This makes it the ideal location from which to explore more unique places in Andalusia from. It’s certainly worth visiting if you’re planning a road trip in southern Spain.
Chilches
Chilches is a small hillside town located only a 30 minute drive from Malaga’s city centre. While it’s not the most popular tourist destination in Malaga, there are a lot of things to do near Chilches. It’s very close to a number of main attractions along the Costa del Sol, as well as some hidden gems more inland.
The town itself dates back to the Roman period, and has always been popular for settlers due to its climate and lush soil. From Chilches, you not only have the beach within your grasp but you’re also near the start of many popular driving routes such as the Ruta de la Pasa (Route of the Raisin). Nerja’s beaches and its famous caves are just 30 minutes away from Chilches and there’s easy access to Malaga’s city centre too.
If you’re planning on staying around Chilches, the only place you should consider staying at is Finca Buenavista. They offer both apartment and private rural house rentals, in a unique setting among avocado and mango plantations. The fact that Finca Buenavista is less than a 10 minute drive to the seafront is just one of the many bonuses of staying here.
El Borge
The white village of El Borge isn’t your typical tourist destination in southern Spain, but that doesn’t meant that it isn’t worth planning a day trip from Malaga to. This charming pueblo blanco sits nestled in one of the many mountains in Malaga, and takes just under an hour to drive to from the coast. Despite its small size, El Borge is known as the raisin capital due to the village’s large production of raisins.
There are nods to raisins everywhere, from the Arco de la Pasa (Arch of the Raisin) to Fuente de la Vendimia – a fountain depicting one of the many field workers carrying grapes in a basket on his head and under his arm. The main point of interest in El Borge is the stunning 16th century Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario. While you’re researching places in the Province of Malaga to visit, make sure you give El Borge some serious thought before finalizing your itinerary.
Marbella
When people think of Marbella, the first thing that comes to mind is often the beaches and bars lining the seafront. But Marbella is more than just that, and has a lot more to offer than the Puerto Banus area. The reason that Marbella is one of the most unique places in the Province of Malaga to visit is because of its old town.
Marbella’s old town is charming to walk around, and is made up of cobbled streets, beautiful plazas, and historic sites. From Plaza de los Naranjos, you can make your way to Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnacion by passing through streets lined with blue painted flower pots and boutique shops. The promenade is only a 15 minute walk from the old town as well, so you can end the day looking out over the sea at sunset. If you’re planning a trip to southern Spain, make sure you don’t overlook Marbella.
Situated in between the promenade and Marbella’s old town is the stunning Hotel Lima – an adult friendly 4-star hotel with over 55 years of experience. We stayed in their premium room, which had an extremely comfortable bed, a balcony overlooking the city, and an exceptionally large walk-in shower. Hotel Lima is one of the best places to stay in Marbella if you want to be centrally located.
Ronda
One of the most popular day trips you can go on from Malaga is to Ronda. Even people who haven’t visited Ronda in the past can instantly recognize photos of it because of its enormous stone bridge spanning the gorge. Puente Nuevo is definitely the star attraction in Ronda, but the city has a lot more to offer its visitors as well.
The Arab Baths, Plaza de Toros de Ronda (a bullring which is now a museum), and Ronda’s old town are just a few of the town’s main attractions. Ronda is also known for having fantastic restaurants, and one thing that the locals love to do here is to eat, so make sure you try some of the local dishes. Ronda is one of the top places in the Province of Malaga to visit, and it’s well worth spending more than a day here. It has a fascinating history that started with the Celts and Phoenicians, and is one town you’re going to want to research before visiting.
While a lot of people visit Malaga for its beaches, I think that the province as a whole deserves to be explored more. The province is made up of a lot of smaller towns and villages, but despite their size they have a lot to offer which sadly isn’t often recognized by tourists. There are also a lot of castles in the Province of Malaga to visit if you’re a history lover like me, and many of them offer free entry. So, the next time you’re visiting Malaga, don’t forget to add some of the less touristy areas to your itinerary – you never know what you may discover.
I’m constantly adding to my list of the most unique places in the Province of Malaga to visit. If you have any recommendations about where I should head to next, I would love to hear from you in the comment section below. You can also follow me on Instagram for more travel photos and tips on where to plan your next trip.
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