Malaga Travel Guide

Spain has been on my travel list for the longest time ever since my friends studied abroad in college (which feels like so long ago).  My husband and I prefer to travel to places with a combination of city and beach where we can both explore and relax.  The hardest part of traveling is not being able to do it all and go everywhere but I knew southern Spain was a must.  After discussing with friends who have been, we decided to visit a less touristy Malaga and a day trip to Granada.  I wish we could have done Sevilla but there wasn’t enough time to do it all!  Check out my low FODMAP travel guide below of all my highlights.  If you need more FODMAP travel tips, check out this post.

Here’s a little background on the history of this port city courtesy of Wikipedia.  “Málaga is a port city on southern Spain’s Costa del Sol, known for its high-rise hotels and resorts jutting up from yellow-sand beaches. Looming over that modern skyline are the city’s 2 massive hilltop citadels, the Alcazaba and ruined Gibralfaro, remnants of Moorish rule. The city’s soaring Renaissance cathedral is nicknamed La Manquita (“one-armed lady”) because one of its towers was curiously left unbuilt.”

STAY:

We love staying at Airbnbs when we travel.  Not only is it more economical than traditional hotels but you also get a much bigger living space.  Depending on the Airbnb, it often includes a number of amenities like a washer & dryer, living room, full kitchen and free wifi.  The best part besides saving money is it’s a great opportunity to stay in a traditional neighborhood and feel less like a tourist.

EAT:

El Cachalote-I read a number of great reviews about this beach side restaurant and it did not disappoint. Chairs, umbrellas and even towels are available to rent so you don’t need to bring a thing but a good book and sunscreen!  I love how the seafood is grilled over flames right in front of you-could not be fresher!

El Tapeo De Cervantes-This was my favorite restaurant in Malaga and possibly our entire trip!  The restaurant is small with a dozen or so high top tables placed closely together.  For this reason I would recommend making a reservation in advance!  All of the tapas are so filling and beautifully presented with an extremely large menu.  The menu was easy to make FODMAP friendly as any substitutions like avoiding garlic and onion was not an issue.  The funny part of our dining experience was when the waiter stopped my husband from ordering one too many fried plates.  I loved it!

DO:

There is so much exploring in Malaga that can be done including the architecture and beautiful landscapes that can fill up your entire day.

• Take in the grandness of the cathedral
• Walk around the town square where you fill find restaurants, small shops as well as more well known stores like Zara & Mango.
• Mercado Central Atarazanas-a food market with a variety of foods and tapas.  Unfortunately we went when it was closed but the building itself was beautiful!
• Picasso Museum-Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga which makes visiting this museum a must.  It was the perfect size for two people (us!) who aren’t fans of museums.  Ticket admission includes a free audio tour which was a great plus.
• Parque de Málaga-take this scenic path when you walk to the beach.

Local Beaches-the beaches in Malaga are so peaceful.  Don’t be surprised to see men in speedos and topless women.  It is a great reminder that your body doesn’t have to be perfect to feel comfortable and content.

Other things to do that we ran out of time for:

• Alcazaba-Moorish fortress palace
• Roman Theater-was in use for over 300 years
• Castillo de Gibralfaro-hilltop fortress

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