The city of Malaga in southern Spain is somewhere where more or less everyone has heard of, everyone has either been on holiday there or they know someone who has.
This amazing city on the Costa del sol has become synonymous with the Spanish holiday ideal of sun, fun, sea and sandy beaches, but as we have hopefully, and helpfully, pointed out before, the weather here is not always hot and sunny, and at some points in the year, like April, for example, it can have it’s far share of rain, so when is the best time to visit and what can do you when you get there?
The beaches of Malaga
For a lot of people, a holiday in Spain would not be the same without spending at least some time on the beach, and the area certainly has its fair share of great beaches to choose from, many of which have the blue flag status for safety and cleanliness.
Of course it’s not just Malaga where you can hit the beach. Many places up and down the coast and easy driving distance from the city have some fabulous beaches. Recommended places to check out include: Nerja, Torre del mar, Almuñecar , Churriana, Fuengirola, Marbella and estapona.
Where to go nearby to Malaga
Ronda Bridge Spain
There are some truly awesome spots to visit nearby and just 60 miles inland and west from Malaga, and my own recommended day trip would be to the town of Ronda, which sits about 750 metres above sea level and offers commanding views across the countryside and to the sea. Coach trips also leave from all the major resorts nearby.
Once you arrive in Ronda, your attention is drawn to the three famous bridges here; The puente Romana or Puente san Miguel, the Peunte Viejo also known as the Arab bridge, and the Puente Neuvo (the new bridge).
The Puente Nuevo is the tallest of the bridges, towering 120 metres above the canyon floor, and all three serve as some of the city’s most impressive features.
Ronda has many famous connections and both Orson Welles and Ernest Hemmingway spent a lot of time in the old part of the town. One more quirky feature, especially for somewhere seemingly remote, is the existence of a delightful little railway which goes all the way down to Algeciras, next to Gibraltar and is well worth taking a trip on.
The railway was actually built by the British between 1890 and 1892 and many original features from that time can still be found along the way.
It was primarily built for British officers serving in Gibraltar, to escape the scorching summer heat as even in high summer it can be much cooler than the coast, and enjoys about 30 degrees maximum during the hottest summer months, contrasting with the coast which is around 38 degrees, although it’s probably best to avoid coming here in the winter as it rains a fair bit.
When is the best time of year for a holiday in Malaga?
Market in Malaga
The average temperatures for Malaga do vary throughout the year with lows of a quite mild 55 degrees during January, you can still enjoy a beach holiday but without the scorching hot sun that August brings, as the thermometers can easily reach 80 or 90 degrees, and pale northern European skin during August gets fried unless suitable precautions are taken.
It’s tempting to lie on the beach all day during the hotter months but even the Spanish know when to quit and during August come about 1pm, it’s time to pack up and head for the shade or even visit one of the many local craft and produce markets where you’ll find some impressive souvenirs to take home.This could include brightly coloured mosaics, ceramics or even spices and leather goods if that’s your thing.
Coming to Malaga during November would certainly be a time to avoid as this is the rainy month here and sees on average a stunning 130mm of rain during the month, in stark contrast to June, July and August where 10mm of average rain is about the most you will get. Maybe for a beach holiday in the sun, a break during May or June would be ideal, and as it is outside school holiday times, the plane fares, and accommodation will certainly be much cheaper.
If you have kids however then the school term times must by law be adhered to, so for families, an ideal time would be Easter time, which also means Malaga will have a lot of Spanish holidaymakers too, or maybe the half term at the end of May, which would see you enjoying temperatures of around 65 degrees, with a sea temperature of about the same, meaning lots of fun in the sea!
Whenever you plan to come to Malaga, make sure you consult the weather first and then planning your holiday, and what to expect on holiday won’t be such a nasty surprise after all!
For further detailed information on Malaga Click HERE