Malaga

How much of the day you shape depends on the format. A small group tapas and wine evening runs on set dates, with up to sixteen travelers. Private tours follow a set route for your group alone, whether in the old town or out to Ronda, the Caminito del Rey and Córdoba. The 6-Day Andalusian Tour starts in Málaga with hotels and transport arranged, and tailor-made itineraries are built from scratch around what you want to see.

Ronda is the trip most people ask for. Its Puente Nuevo spans the El Tajo gorge, and one private day pairs the old town with a winery and an olive oil estate. Another begins with a hot air balloon flight. The longest day links Ronda, the cliff-carved houses of Setenil de las Bodegas and the Alcázar of Seville in about thirteen hours. For the Caminito del Rey, your guide collects you at your hotel and drives about an hour inland, and fast-track entry to the Gaitanes Gorge is included. Córdoba is under an hour away by AVE, with the Mezquita-Catedral and the Jewish Quarter on foot.

The Roman Theatre, the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro climb the same hill in the old town, and a walled path links the fortress to the castle at the top. Below them, locals call the Cathedral La Manquita, "the one-armed lady", because its south tower was never finished. Picasso left Málaga at ten and never lived here again, yet the city keeps two Picasso addresses: his birthplace on the Plaza de la Merced and the Museo Picasso Málaga. During Holy Week, brotherhoods carry tronos so heavy that the largest need more than 200 bearers. In August, the Feria marks the city's capture by the Catholic Monarchs in 1487.

On the beaches, espetos are sardines skewered on cane and grilled over an open fire, often inside an old boat filled with sand. Ajoblanco is Málaga's chilled soup of almonds and garlic. Sweet wines made from Moscatel and Pedro Ximénez grapes still pour from the barrel at Antigua Casa de Guardia, open since 1840, and the small group tapas evening meets right outside. The private tapas route ends on a rooftop, and in Ronda a private day includes a winery and an olive oil estate.

• Why should I visit Málaga?

Málaga is more than the airport for the Costa del Sol. A Roman theatre, a Moorish fortress and the house where Picasso was born are a few minutes' walk apart in the old town, and the city has been a port for nearly 3,000 years. It's also the closest base for Ronda, the Caminito del Rey and Córdoba.

• What are the best day trips from Málaga?

Ronda, the Caminito del Rey and Córdoba are the three most requested. Ronda is about an hour and a half by road, and a private day there can include a winery or a hot air balloon flight. The Caminito del Rey is about an hour inland. The private tour includes hotel pickup and fast-track entry and lasts around six hours, and the minimum age is eight. Córdoba is under an hour by high-speed train. Seville is further, so it works best combined with Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas in one long day.

• How many days do you need in Málaga?

Two days cover the Alcazaba, Gibralfaro, the Cathedral, the Picasso Museum and an evening of tapas. Add a day for each excursion. To continue through Andalusia, the 6-Day Andalusian Tour from Málaga goes on to Granada, Seville and Córdoba.

• What's the best time to visit Málaga?

Spring and autumn suit both the city and the Caminito del Rey. In July and August, city walks run in the morning or evening. Winters are mild, so Málaga works year-round. For Semana Santa and the August Feria, book well ahead.

• How do you get to Málaga?

Málaga Airport (AGP) is about 8 km from the center, with connections through Madrid and other European hubs. The AVE from Madrid takes under three hours.