Malaga & Costa del Sol Bradt Travel Guide

The thoroughly updated fifth edition of Mįlaga and Costa del Sol celebrates a popular Spanish region that offers a compelling combination of rich cultural heritage and some of Europe's most dependable sunshine (300 days a year!), making it a year-round destination. Stretching along the Mediterranean coast of Andalucķa, this diverse region is renowned for its beachfront towns, Moorish palaces, whitewashed mountain villages (pueblos blancos), gastronomy and dramatic inland sierras. Few European regions offer such a seamless blend of sun, cultural authenticity, comfort and character.

Once dismissed as merely a gateway, Mįlaga city has emerged as a destination in its own right, home to world-class modern-art museums (including the Picasso Museum, dedicated to the city's most famous son), the Centre Pompidou Mįlaga, the beautiful Moorish Alcazaba, lively nightlife, a revitalised port and surprisingly good urban beaches. Beyond Mįlaga, the coast ranges from the glitz of Marbella to the relaxed charm of Nerja, where secluded coves are frequented by knowing sun-worshippers who mark sunset by eating espetos - sardines skewered and roasted over open fires in fishing boats buried in sand.

Inland there is easy access to nature. In mountainous La Axarquķa, you'll find olive groves, traditional villages and scenic hiking trails such as the Caminito del Rey, a once-deadly gorge-side path near Ardales that is now one of Spain's most thrilling hikes, offering jaw-dropping canyon views. The hinterland also grants entry to Andalucķa's fascinating past via historic towns such Antequera (with its UNESCO-listed prehistoric dolmens, burial sites that are older than Egypt's pyramids) and Ronda (perched above the El Tajo gorge, with its iconic Puente Nuevo bridge and dramatic clifftop views).