TRAVEL GUIDE: 7 DAYS IN MALAGA

We spent the month of May in beautiful Malaga, Spain along the Costa Del Sol (Sun Coast) exploring the city and the surrounding areas. We've condensed our 30 day trip down to a 7 day itinerary filled with our best experiences in this beautiful, oddly clean city.

Day 1

9AM Breakfast at Noviembre This little gem was around the corner from our Air Bnb. We had walked past it several dozen times but something about it always caught my attention, maybe it was the purple accents or the hipster decor, perhaps it was the fact that it was always busy. Whatever the reason, my curiosity finally got the best of me and we dove right in. The second we received our breakfasts, I knew we had made the right choice - you absolutely must try their pancakes with honey or nutella.

10AM Alcazaba of Malaga, Roman Theatre, Gilbrafaro Castle

Get ready to burn those carbs off with a long day of uphill walking inside the Alcazaba of Malaga, the Roman Theatre and Gilbralfaro Castle. You'll have to buy your tickets all at once at the entrace of the Alcazaba (under 10 euros) which is directly beside the amphitheatre. To get to the Castle of Gilbralfaro, you'll have to do a bit more walking (they have maps for you) or hop on one of the local buses that take you directly there but we promise the views are worth the trek.

3PM Lunch at Plaza de la Merced You'll find the Plaza upon entering Malaga, you can't miss it considering it's surrounded by cafes and restaurants.

5PM Head back to the Hotel After a long long day you're probably ready to take a nap. Head back to your hotel and order some room service or grab a light dinner to go. You deserve it.

Day 2

9AM Breakfast at the Flor de Malaga Walk towards el Mercado Ataranzas and on the same street you'll find dozens of cafes with local breakfasts. Flor de Malaga caught our attention because not only did it offer traditional Spanish breakfasts but they offered a variety of international ones as well. Obviously, we tried the Canadian breakfast (it was so good).

10AM Mercado Ataranzas Grocery shop where all the Malagans do, at the Mercado Ataranzas. It's a massive fresh food market where farmers set up everyday with their best fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats, poultry, seafood, nuts and spices. If you plan on doing some cooking during your stay or just want some fresh fruits and veggies to snack on, this is where yo need to be. We highly suggest trying the honey infused goat cheese.

11AM Explore

Spend the next few hours exploring the hidden streets of Malaga. The real fun is trying not to get lost within the intertwining alley ways and roads.

3PM Head back to the Hotel Head back to your hotel or Air Bnb, chill out, take a shower, catch up on some work and get ready for dinner.

8PM Dinner at Casa Lola Are you craving a real Spanish dinner? Casa Lola is just that, a true tapas restaurant. The Spanish don't have dinner til later in the evening, 8PM is probably a little to early but it gives you time to take an evening stroll once you're finished up. We recommend the papas bravas, tuna bocita, and aged cheeses with of course, sangria for the table.

Day 3

9AM Breakfast Opt for breakfast at your hotel or Air Bnb this morning, sometimes there's nothing better than lounging with your bathrobe on and a coffee in hand.

11AM Shopping at Calle Larios

Ok, you're well rested and had a relaxing morning - it's time to do some damage. If you love to shop just as much as I do, Calle Larios is your heaven on earth. You'll find stores like Zara, Sfera, Mango, Massimo Dutti, Calzedonia and more.

3PM Lunch at Restaurant Ciao Craving some Pizza? Walk on over and restore your energy with a delicious thin crust Margherita pizza at Restaurant Ciao.

5PM Head back to the Hotel TIme to recharge and prepare for the evening.

9PM Dinner at Jose Carlos Garcia You'll want to make reservations ahead of time, Jose Carlos Garcia is Malaga's only Michelin Starred Restaurant and it's quite obvious as to why. He takes pride in cooking Andalusian cuisine with a refined touch, we hope your're hungry!

Day 4

10AM Breakfast Again, opt for a quick breakfast at home, you're going to want to spend as much time outside today!

11AM Playa Malagueta You can't come to the Sun Coast and NOT go to the beach. Malaga has one fairly large beach made up of tiny crushed seashells instead of sand. Weird right? Anyhow, you'll find a mix of locals and tourists soaking up the sun and playing in the waves.

2PM Lunch at Chiringuito Mami Beach on Playa Malagueta Of course you're bound to get hungry after a day at the beach. We highly recommend Chiringuito Mami Beach, you can't miss it, it's the hot pink beach bar. I found the BEST Sangria in Malaga here. The secret is apples.

4PM Stroll through the Port of Malaga Finish off your after noon with a light stroll throughout the other side of the Malagan Port where you'll find even more restaurants, the ferry docks, a ferris wheel and some great art piece. We suggest grabbing some Ice cream, they take it seriously in Spain, so many gourmet flavours!

5PM Head back to the Hotel Head back and freshen up. I usually take naps and catch up on my work so I'm not worrying so much when I'm out.

9PM Dinner at La Brujhada Craving something other than Spanish tapas? La Bruhjada is owned and operated by a lovely French couple who happen to have the only French restaurant in Malaga. You'll want to order a few plates, the portions are perfect for sharing.

11PM Drinks at Chloe's Bar This bar specialize in Gin and Tonic drinks that you've probably never heard of. It you're a fan of Mixology, head over to Chloe's for a bit of a show, the bartenders are amazing at what they do.

Day 5

10AM Breakfast Take your time waking up, you had a long night. Take an advil or two and your coffee, you trip isn't over just yet!

12PM Picasso Museum Most don't know that Malaga is Picasso's hometown where he was born and raised until the age of 19 when he left for France. The museum holds tons of his greatest works, a good excursion for the art lover in your group.

2PM Malaga Cathedral Prepare to be awed by this beautiful Cathedral and it's architecture.

3PM Lunch at La Queseria Spanish cheese is amongst the best in the world. Find out why at La Queseria where each of their plates has a cheesy accent. The Salmon and Four Cheese Salad is delicious.

4PM Unwind at Hammam Al Andalus History tells us that Spain, particularly Malaga was once under Arab rule. You can see much of their architecture left behind throughout the historic part of town, including the Hammam. In Arabic, Hammam means bath but don't be alarmed, it's more of a Spa with Arabian traditions. They have sessions in 2 hour intervals beginning at 10AM and a variety of packages to choose from. You can simply opt for time in the multiple pools that alternate from cold, warm to hot or you can tack on a massage and body cleanse. It's quite the peaceful experience for anyone looking to relax.

6PM Head back to the Hotel After a couple hours in the Hammam you'll be ready to sleep like a baby. Take a cat nap and get ready for another night out.

10PM Dinner at El Pimpi Elevated traditional Spanish cuisine awaits you at El Pimpi. The locals and tourists love this place, you'll never see it empty.

Day 6

10AM Breakfast at Cafe con Libros This adorable cafe located at La Plaza Merced caught my eye. The patio stands out with colour and some of the seats are actually swings, how cool! Enjoy a warm Cafe con leche (Coffee with milk) and their take on brunch.

11AM Souvenir Shop Take the day to wonder the streets, collect those little momentos and snap beautiful photographs of your time in Malaga.

2PM Lunch at Restaurant La Bouganvilla This place has the juiciest burgers and they're HUGE. You probably won't finish the whole thing but it's absolutely delicious.

4PM Stroll through Malaga Park Take in the beautiful greenery and admire how clean and well maintained this city actually is. Did you know that Malaga is a UNESCO World Heritage site?

5PM Head back to the Hotel Order some room service for dinner before a night out on the town.

9PM Drinks at AC Hotel Malaga Palacio Rooftop Terrace Finish off your trip at one of the classiest hotels in the city with a few cocktails overlooking Malaga.

11PM More Drinks at Alcazaba Premium Hostels Rooftop Terrace Don't let the name fool you, it may be a hostal but the Terrace is chic and a definite must. Enjoy a few more drinks before you call it a night overlooking the other side of Malaga.

Day 7

11AM Breakfast at El Ultimo Mono Juice and Coffee After a night out you'll probably want to detox a little. El Ultimo Mono Juice and Coffee has tons of freshly made smoothies and juices to help you feel refreshed and ready for a plane ride home.

12PM Pack Up

Well, it's been fun Malaga! Until next time.

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