Southern Spain

March 2024

Torremolinos - Malaga - Marbella - Tarifa - Cadiz - Setenil de las Bodegas - Ronda

Flew to Malaga in early March to catch some sunshine and stock up on vitamin D.

As we wanted to rest, hike and explore the whole region not just Malaga, we decided to stay in Torremolinos. There were much more hotel accommodation options and the prices were a lot better. We got a room with balcony and seaview in this great hotel (Gran Hotel Cervantes) very close to the sea, great breakfast, with outdoors and indoors pools, a gym, sauna, rooftop sundeck and bar and live bands on some evenings for a week for less than 500 EUR per 2 people.

Torremolinos is situated between Marbella and Malaga. We had a train station right next to our hotel and could reach Malaga in 20 minutes. I've been to Malaga before and spent quite some time there last January (here), so this time we did just a daytrip.

City hikes are always fun, especially when they come with good views - Mirador of Gibralfaro. It's a short hike uphill to an observation platform that is at the top of the path that goes up to the Gibralfaro castle.

The beautiful Cathedral of Malaga

Teatro Romano de Malaga

All the sunny mornings were spent poolside! First five days were absolutely gorgeous, sunny and warm. The last few days treated us with rain as well. On a positive side, we then got to also enjoy our sauna.

Mid-trip rented a car and did some further away sightseeing. First up - Marbella.

Marbella is a vibrant coastal town with sandy beaches, a gorgeous Old Town and some exciting nightlife. It's one of the most well-known beach resorts of Spain, and yes it is touristic, but it was surprisingly charming and full of colours and character. In my opinion, definitely worth a visit, but not staying there, as accommodation, food and drink prices were all much higher.

I think I could literally live on seafood.. so every time I travel to the Mediterranean, or any other tropical country, I eat it as much as possible.

Benalmadena - a lovely little village close to Torremolinos - literally connected via a boardwalk!

There are heaps of good hiking trails near Torremolinos. We did one ca 3 hour hike. The signs are somewhat confusing, we probably changed trains at least 4 times, but made it to one of the tops and the views were good!

Trip to the south south of Spain - Tarifa!

Tarifa is an eclectic, cool, windy beach-surf town. It is primarily known as one of the world's most popular destinations for windsports. If Covid would have not hit, I would have visited Tarifa in March 2020, as we originally planned to come back from Morocco through Tarifa. I definitely want to come back one day during summer-season and practice surfing and kite-surfing.

Punta de Tarifa

Also called Punta Marroquí (Moroccan Point) is the southernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula and Continental Europe.

Hi, Africa!

The old town was also charming, but as the Atlantic Ocean brought some unexpected tropical storm, we had to escape a little before we wanted to.

After getting soaked, as we had to walk 2 km back to our car in pouring rain, changed to what we could and drove towards Cadiz!

Cadiz - another lovely coastal town, but also one of the oldest cities in Europe. It’s connected to the mainland by bridges. The city is split into the small historic old town and a newer, more modern side with larger beaches.

Plaza San Juan de Dios

A gorgeous 16th century cathedral - Cathedal de Cadiz

Campo Del Sur - a walkaway by the sea wall. Fun fact, the area is also called Little Havana, as apparently the waterfront in Havana, Cuba was modelled after Campo del Sur. Cadiz was one of the main ports connecting the Americas and Spain.

Castillo Santa Catalina - a free castle to walk around and enjoy sea views.

Womens Day celebrations!

There was this one restaurant in Torremolinos where we could not help to eat maaannnyyy times! Bodega Guerola! So much good food and very lovely staff!

Setenil de las Bodegas - a small town (around 3000 inhabitants) of whitewashed houses built onto and into the surrounding cliffs. Bars, restaurants, shops and people's homes are quite literally built under the rocks. So many spectacular views! Definitely a hidden gem!

We forgot to make a selfie! So we had to stop a car in the middle of the hill, run out and do a quick selfie (just one take!)

Finally - Ronda!

A mountaintop city that's situated dramatically above a deep canyon and stores some of the most magically beautiful sights I've witnessed!

Bullring of Ronda (Plaza de Toros) - one of the most beautiful and oldest ones in Spain (since 1784). Bullfights still happen there today, but luckily rarely.

Puente Nuevo - a huge stone bridge that spans the El Tajo gorge (which drops down to about 100 meters deep) and separates the historic Old Town of Ronda from the younger district of El Mercadillo.