We'll be in Malaga over New Years. Any suggestions for things to do? Day trips, etc. :p

Make sure you go to Mijas! Found the town mostly free of tourists last Wednesday afternoon--but I didn't see the burros--must have been too cool or rainy? I also did my best shopping there for pottery, but the place is so cute and the vistas are amazing. We had 4 in a taxi from Torrlimonos for a $20 Euro ride one way, bus and trains go also, but we went as quick as the rain stopped and stayed to see the coast below lit up. It was our most relaxing day and I'd sure go again.

Hola JANTRAVLER!!

What else did you do while you were in that area?

I will be in Málaga in February for 2 weeks and I am looking for easy things to do on the weekend. I don't want to rent a car this time if I can help it!! How long did you explore Mijas? Do you recall whether or not the bus schedule between Málaga and Mijas was good?

SHAZZ, we were in Andalucia for a month last summer (Málaga for 2 weeks) and I highly recommend Ronda and its caves, and La Alpujarra. It may be snowy in La Apujarra, but it was wonderful and off the beaten path!! We spent 2 days in Ronda and loved it. I was there with two kids, so we did very few bars and ate lots of ice cream!!

Málaga was fun and not touristy, but there is not much to see. We just experienced Spain, explored shops, bookstores, saw Spiderman and things like that. We loved the boardwalk there and ate lots of wonderful fish!!

Where in Málaga will you be?

Hola-
thanks for the info. We are in the midst of trying to change our original bookings. In the meantime were still confirmed in Carihuela, Malaga. BTW. The weather boards say mostly highs of 63F and lows of 45F. Is this on the mark? Or does it tend to be colder and rainier? How should we pack?
Gracias

Shazz - La Carihuela is in Torremolinos, not the city of Malaga.

Weather is a bit unpredictable. On a sunny afternoon, it can easily reach the 70s, and you can eat lunch outside. You'll want a jacket for the evenings though.

El Boqueron, La Carihuela is in the province of Málaga though. Maybe that's what Shazz meant?

MM - that's right, it can be a bit confusing, all these provinces named after their capital cities (or vice versa?!). People tend to mean the cities though (like referring to "New York").

Anyhow, I raised the point because it makes quite a difference, Malaga (Capital, as the locals say) or Torremolinos. For instance Sel states that Malaga is "not touristy", which is not true of Torremolinos.

El Boqueron (I'm off topic!! ), my favorite confusing location is Valencia city - in the Comunidad de Valencia - in the Province of Valencia. heehehe.. oh brother!

I'm wondering, however, where people gather at midnight on New Years Eve in Málaga capital. Maybe I'll ask my friend who lives in Estepona. Now wait! Isn't our own Anchovy Front in Estepona/Marbella/Málaga? Surely he would know.

Saludos, MadridMan

Yes, the terms are confusing. What we consider a county is often referred to by the name of its principle city. Granada is another example.

In the summer, Torremolinas was wall to wall people staying in wall to wall high rise hotels!! Not at all peaceful and there were more foreigners than locals. More like Myrtle Beach, North Carolina!! Hopefully there is more there than just the beach, but we did not stay around to find out. There were plenty of other options!!

There was a bomb somewhere near that area while we were in Málaga. It seemed like a "tourists go home" message. Perhaps it was further down the coast, my memory is a bit fuzzy.

We had the bomb, the national strike, and a local trash strike with a riot while we were in the city of Málaga. Quite educational for us all!!

Still, we had a wonderful time!! I am returning to school in Málaga again in February!! It will be fun to see things off season!!

Let us know Shazz and any of you other travelers, what the weather was like and what clothing was appropriate!!

OK

Shazz, first off: It wasn't about the tourists OR the Americans! The bomb in Torremolinos this summer was compliments of ETA.

People, please keep in mind that although Americans aren't on everybody's #1 love list, it doesn't mean that every threat or attack is against Americans! Its not!

This summer, and this is a different thread, there were lots of changes made in the government to take away some of ETA's power and resources, so of course, they had to make trouble, and summertime, when people are vacationing, well apparently it was too tempting for them as they knew they'd get lots more attention than usual...

The national strike, well, it was just that NATIONAL! It again, was not intended to send tourists a 'go home' message... as well as the trash strike (which by the way, happened in Madrid also, I don't know if it was country wide or not). Malaga especially is an area where tourism is a very big thing. Sel, Torremolinos, Gandia, Costa del sol, La Manga... just about anywhere there's a beach, it FULL of tourists in the summer, and natives... inland is just too hot and everybody and their grandmother heads to the coast, and since germany and england don't have as nice weather, they come also, as well as LOTS of french- probably for a change of scene! So yes, what you experience in summer is not true of the rest of the year, as in any place really.

As far as the weather, I don't know, as I've never been there in the winter time- just in Cartagena, and well, yes, it does get cold! You're close to the water.. its the kind of cold that gets into your bones... but that's not every day. Winters in Cartagena at least tend to be pretty mild. (think northern florida) Malaga will be fine to visit. But if you don't want to, don't. Its like saying, I'm not going to visit Pompey because you don't know when Mt. Vesuvius (I'm pretty sure I spelt that wrong) is going to blow!

Terrorism in Spain has been a reality for a looong time, unfortunately its a part of life. Like Ireland- but I not as bad. How you choose to let those terrorists affect your life is up to you.

Shazz, enjoy Spain, Malaga, Barcelona or wherever you decide to go. Its a fun country, interesting and there's plenty to do Read Sel's post again! I don't think the intention was to scare you from going, look! Even she's going back to visit! THAT should tell you something!

Thanks for the update. It just gets a bit frustrating when you really are interested in finding out about a strange country and you don't get a straight answer. I guess i'm just a bottom line person. Always have been. Although I doubt we'll be staying near Malaga at this point. And I will dress warmly. I gather its not as cold as Philly, so thats good. :p

Never been in Malaga capital for New Year's Eve MM, but I would assume it is rather like New Year's Eves in Spanish cities such as Cordoba or Granada. My experience of those cities was that not many bars and restaurants are open in the run up to midnight and at the appointed hour some people gather in front of the town hall, or in one of the important squares - in Malaga I assume Plaza de la Constitucion or Plaza Merced.

The chimes are broadcast and people munch their grapes, but the atmosphere is a bit muted, due to the fact that there aren't that many people around because they're all at home having a nice dinner. We walked from the parador in Cordoba once to the centre of town - which is a long way - along a main road and saw maybe two cars! We thought we'd be able to get a taxi with no problems - not a chance! None working at all. We ended up singing Auld Lang Syne and making the sound of the chimes ourselves in the middle of a deserted four lane highway because we couldn't get down to the centre in time for midnight!

The streets start filling up around one, one thirty and the bars start to open from then on. Then the party starts! An exception tends to be Marbella, where there is always a good time to be had before and after midnight, as the town hall lay on hundreds of bottles of free champagne and grapes and a couple of bands keep everyone partying. If you can make it to there for the night you will have a good time, Shazz. Don't choke on the grapes!

Oops! That will teach me not to read the updated posts before I stick my two pennyworth in! I started replying hours ago, but because of work got held up, then posted it without checking the replies and saw you were a bit grumpy!

Nobody can answer you whether it will be cold or rainy. Last week I was on the beach. Tonight I look out my office door and it looks like the River Ganges is in flood rushing past. It can be cold (relatively - you aren't going to get ice or snow here unless you go skiing at Granada or pick Ronda on a bad day) or as Boqueron said, it can be in the seventies in beautiful sunshine. It's like that in winter. They say we have three springs and a summer here.

Incidentally, Torremolinos is full of Brits, Germans etc in summer, but along the coast I bet the majority of tourists in July and August are from Madrid, Cordoba, Sevilla etc.

As for Malaga hating Americans, Espe said it all. Maybe we'll see you down here one day, Shazz. Carihuela is probably too "British" for you. Are you going on a timeshare exchange? If so, try and get in further towards Marbella. You'll enjoy that for sure and it makes a great base for seeing more. Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada, plus white villages etc are all driveable for day trips.

Hola-
Seems like i didn't give the most important details to help with your replies. What i like and what I'm like... a 30 something Philly entrepeneur/artist. With an avid love for travel, culture and the arts. My fiancee is a musician. (We met at a BuckCherry Show!)
I've backpacked through most of Europe and the middle east alone. I've stayed at both youth hostels and B&B's. Since our happy coupling, we've stayed mostly at expensive hotels which in my opinion are nicer but no where near as informative or fun. Of course I love to drink, party and shop! Most of my fav music is from Manchester, England. I'm not a big fan of popular music. I used to sing opera, rock, jazz torch songs & am a huge fan of Puccini(but i'm not Italian) I love ethnic music, and appreciate different cultures. I hope this helps with the newer replies. I think that Barcelona, parts of Marbella sound more like me. As far as my fiancee he's happy if i'm happy. I also think that the Beaches on Malaga would be an excellent choice if we were there during the warm season. But were not! I rather not be cold. So layers will be a must. Lots of fleece pullovers and leather!

Hi Shazz,

I was in Andalucia from Dec 26 2001 thru Jan 6 2002 and as people have mentioned, the weather can be unpredictable. When I landed in Madrid the day after Xmas, there was actually snow on the ground and I was a bit apprehensive. However, when I took the AVE train to Sevilla, I experienced the best weather during my 2-day stay in Sevilla. Sunny and temps in the 70sF. I got my car rental and drove south and the weather never got better than those 2 days at Sevilla though it wasn't all that cold, probably 50sF to 60sF. Just to show you how unpredictable the weather was, it was sunny in Malaga and when I started driving to Ronda, that steep winding road got very foggy and I had to turn back just because the visibility was just terrible and it felt unsafe.

I did spend New Year's Eve and New Years in Malaga but is was absolutely DEAD. NADA. Nothing was happening. I had dinner in a restaurant near the bull ring and then drove around looking for action, but it was pretty sedate. Shortly after midnight, I just went back to my hotel to enjoy perhaps the best hotel I stayed in during that trip. The Parador Gibralfaro right beside the castle of the same name and on top of this hill overlooking the harbor and the city. Though this parador is a bit more expensive than other paradors but it is well worth. Just the view from their dining room is exquisite.

Maybe I was just unlucky, but New Years Eve 2001 at Malaga was just nothing to write home about. But I will never forget the Parador Gibralfaro and hope to return there someday.

I've never been to Malaga... but what could have happened is:
The cities and towns that are so busy during the summer, tend to be pretty dead in the winter, as only the regular (and usually small) population that lives there is left- many of the homes in those areas are only summer homes or rentals and fill up during the warm months, but during the rest of the year people stay in their regular year-round homes.

Madrid is crazy during New Years! :p

Is that TOLEDO /SEVILLEJA DE LA JARA? That sounds wonderful. So should we stay booked in Malaga/Torremolinos our second week? and just get a hostal closer to Seville around new years? our dates that week are booked dec. 28th-jan 3rd

Toledo and Sevilla are 2 worlds apart!
Nothing to do with one another!
However, Sevilla (which is in Andalucia) is a MAJOR party town! :p I'm confident that if you're looking for a party or action on New Years, that you'll find it there while Malaga seems like you'd be better off leaving it for another visit when the weather is warmer

Hey Gracias Espe.
We may not be able to get out of our booking in Malaga for that week of New years. How many hours is Sevilla from Torremolinos? by car/train? Should we get a hostal in Sevilla for the 2 days? if possible for the 30-1st?

Train from Málaga to Sevilla is 2 - 3 hours. Maybe you could travel to Sevilla and overnight one night. You would waste one night of lodging in Torremolino, but you would have a great time!!!

Clarification.... I am female, leaving my husband and kids in the US, and not at all afraid to go back to Spain. There is a wonderful language school in Málaga, and I am returning there for two more weeks of study. That leaves me with 3 weekends to explore new areas or revisit favorites.

The big hotels will certainly have parties going, and there are countless places to visit near Málaga. Don't worry about being there when it is tranquil. The new Picasso museum should be open now. You can still wrap up and enjoy the ocean!! It will certainly be warmer than here!!

opps! Sorry sel! I already fixed that! I didn't know :p

I think Cornelio's experience of Malaga at new year may be due to bad timing. He says he was back in his hotel shortly after midnight. As Anchovy points out, nothing much happens till after midnight - most people are at home with their families, and most bars and restaurants are shut (or hosting a private party). The public party doesn't get started till after 1pm, when the bars start to open. It's the same in other Andalucian cities (I don't know about the rest of Spain). So the thing is, if you're there at new year on your own, you need to find somewhere that's open on new years eve (may be difficult) and then be patient - things do get going eventually!

I was just about to post something along those lines, Boqueron, asking if the experiences I've had in cities and towns in Southern Spain at New Year is in fact just an Andalucian thing?

We've been to Cordoba, Granada, Marbella, Estepona, San Pedro, Fuengirola etc and it's always the same, apart from Marbella, where there is probably a fifty-fifty split between foreigners and locals and the party starts early.

Many Spaniards tend to buy tickets at exhorbitant (in my opinion) prices to spend the night at a function at a hotel or restaurant. Granted the meal is usually a bit more than the normal three courses on a Saturday night job and there is usually an open bar and live music, but hey, I am talking about a couple of hundred dollars or more in some cases! How much Larios can you drink in one night??!!

What can other members tell me about the rest of Spain?

Hi El Boqueron and Anchovy Front,

Boqueron claims it was "bad timing", but it was probably a case of "bad judgement". When I booked the room at the Parador Gibralfaro in Malaga, they emailed me asking if I wanted to pay about $100, if I remember correctly, for a special New Year's Eve dinner/dance in their dining room with unlimited bubblies. I declined because as Anchovy Front mentioned, the price seemed a bit exorbitant. In restrospect, I would probably have taken that offer. I wouldn't be surprised if Anchovy Front is right and most people in Malaga probably pay big bucks to go to some club and party for New Year's. If so, then people would just stay put in one club and that would explain why there was NO bar-hopping going on in that city.

But, Cornelio, bar hopping does go on in Malaga, that's my point. I mean, I've done it a few times. But we don't leave the house (of my in-laws) till about 2 in the morning. Obviously, for anyone without a party to go to beforehand, that's a long time to be waiting around.

Parties that include dinner also? That is a new one!

Usually Spaniards spend New Year's Eve with their families. They eat dinner together, eat the grapes, bring in the New Year, and then the younger people in the family head off to parties with their friends. So on new years eve, things don't start to pick up until 1:30 or so because everyone it getting to their parties, meeting up with their friends etc.

The past few years, these parties have gotten more and more expensive, outrageously so. Even though they promise you unlimited drinks, how many are you really going to be able to get in a crowded bar?! So, the trick is to, if you know some locals, to find out if they know a good place... my friends and I have found this awesome little place that's cool, plays good music, room to dance, gets full- but not too much, and there is NO problem in getting our drinks! But after going to the same place for a few years... well, the new trend is leading to renting an apt. or bar or some other local between your group of friends- you have control over the bar etc, and know it won't get overcrowded... or gathering at somebodys home and celebrating there. So the expensive parties are still out there... but looks like its probably one of the few alternatives a tourist has if they don't know anybody from there.

There is always bar hopping, but its hard to do unless you research it ahead of time- find out what bars will not be booked for private parties, or having parties at all, but just be open to walk-ins. This last, the walk-in, are few and far in-between on New Years.