Whilst there can be very few people who have not heard of the Costa del Sol the name is literally a brand developed to support the tourism industry that sprang-up in the Malaga area.

With only a few days in Malaga and being a regular cyclist I thought a bicycle tour would be a great way to see the city and get some insider knowledge which is why I signed up for a tour with Malaga Bike Tours

On the shores of the Mediterranean and at the foot of the Gibralfaro castle, Malaga spreads out with joy and hubbub, like a summer party. Thanks to the sunny climate, the rich gastronomy and historic monuments, Malaga is a tempting city to visit during the whole year, not only in summer, when tourists from all over the world come to swim at the beaches and tan themselves under the sun.

When we think of Malaga, the largest city on the Costa del Sol, long hot days spent on the beach soaking up the rays of the Andalusian sunshine, bullfighting, flamenco, tapas and a lively nightlife are what spring to mind. However stepping away from the steretypes there is a lot more to Malaga than meets the eye, for one it is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso and home to many important historical monuments and many tourist attractions. However one of the most beautiful attractions to escape the the stereotypical Malga would have to be Malaga’s Botanic Gardens or as it is better known La Concepción Botanic Gardens

The village of Nerja, in Malaga, is famous for three things: its idyllic beaches, being the site of a well-known Spanish television series, and for its spectacular caves. Today, we want to travel to the centre of the Earth (more or less) and visit the Caves of Nerja, one of the main natural attractions of a village awash with white houses and the cries of seagulls, which smells of sea.

Málaga is full of great beaches. With agreeably warm temperatures and bright sunshine which invites you to lie down in the sand and relax, it’s no surprise that the coast here is known as the Costa del Sol (“Coast of the Sun”). The beaches in Málaga are very varied: urban, isolated, with fine golden sand, rocky, nudist… meaning that everyone can easily find the beach that looks most like the beach of their dreams.

El Torcal de Antequera is one of those places that seem to have been taken straight from a science fiction film or alien planet. Its capricious and surreal limestone rock formations make it the perfect place for those who wish to get in touch with nature or escape from the beach for a while during a holiday in Malaga.

Malaga is famous, amongst many other things, for having brought one of the painting geniuses into the world, none other than Pablo Picasso. Following in the footsteps of its favourite child is a great way of discovering the charm of this Mediterranean city.