Southern Spain recommendations

[Meklown]

I'm planning to do a getaway to Spain next month to Malaga, Granada and Almeria.

Looking for recommendations on must-see spots and cigar shops nearby

[Ken Gargett]

15 hours ago, Meklown said:

I'm planning to do a getaway to Spain next month to Malaga, Granada and Almeria.

Looking for recommendations on must-see spots and cigar shops nearby

not my area but i am reasonably familiar with sanluccar and jerez and surrounds. provided you don't go middle of the heat, fabulous region. love it. so much to see and amazing food. i'd stay in sanluucar and venture out. 

[Dr vonPuffenberg]

I took a tour of the Alhambra when I was in high school and it was very memorable.  It’s worth looking into 

[SokaKiel]

Love Malaga and Granada, don’t rate Almeria high though.

In Malaga you’ve got a lot of culture packed into a small city, most things are within walking distance. Visit the Picasso Museum, Centre Pompidou and the Flamenco Museum. Top it off with a short hike to the Alcazaba Fortress/ palace towering above town.

Old town has loads of little alleys packed with great bars and restaurants. I liked El Pimpi, a little touristy but even local friends still recommend it and go there!

There are a few Estancos around town but I never actually bought cigars when visiting Malaga.

In Granada you obviously have to visit the Alhambra Palace and grounds. So far the most stunning palace/historic site I’ve visited in Spain! Plan a few hours for this! It can get very busy and tickets are often booked out weeks in advance so make sure you book online well in advance!

Old town below is also lovely for a stroll. We’ve been to Asador de Castillo for a massive lunch, good old school Spanish food, meat and seafood.

Now Almeria is a weird place, it’s in the center of the “Mar Blanco”, Europes biggest fruit and veggie growing area. Miles and miles of white plastic greenhouses supplying us all winter long with fruit and vegetables… The area is ugly as f&$k, you can even see the white plastic “sea” from space! My short stop over in Almeria didn’t impress me. Dirty, gritty and dominated by the port and all the logistics that go with the huge food production in the area.

My recommendation would be rather go south and visit Marbella, it has a lovey old town. But no need to visit the artificial places around Porto Banus, the local Marina and rich people hang out.

Another nice place further up in the mountains behind Marbella would be Ronda.

Should you transit through Barcelona on your trip give me a shout and we can catch up for a smoke!

Cheers, 

Leif

[PuroDiario]

In Almería you want to spend time around Cabo de Gata Natural Park. Beautiful coast, protected reservoirs etc. can do a day boat, hiking, scuba, a thousand things. not much else in Almería but the natural park absolutely worth it if you are into that. You also have the Dessert of Tabernas, pretty cool experience w different options, including a visit to the studios where most Hollywood westerns were historically shot.
 

granada make sure you find a proper old school flamenco experience, there are plenty. Do an afternoon/early evening (spanish terms) as long as you can take drinking old Arab city (Albayzin) bar crawl, every caña (short glass beer, comes with a tapa; every tapa different one. Every bar different tapas). The local tourist and cultural destinations are obvious so I’ll spare you from those. However, I think you cannot miss La Alhambra, mirador de San Nicolas (when you are doing your tapas thing), go up visit Sacromonte (old hood, houses built in caves, etc. very cool), Cathedral and Capilla Real are worth getting into, depending on season Sierra Nevada you can go up there and ski with sea views in a type of ski resort you don’t picture being there or just do hiking and the like through the natural park, la Calle de teterias is cool (tea shops street), the neighborhood around Alhambra has a lot of cool things (google), there are old Arab bath houses, etc etc.

Between Almería and Granada provinces the you have also La Alpujarra, google it. 

in Malaga you want to visit Ronda for day or half day trip (not so small city with over 700k pop. But most you want to do is walkable), walk down the Calle Larios, and feel the city as it has become a European hub for tech and innovation as of recent times, I also would subscribe to what others have said on what to visit, read the history of the cathedral (has only one tower), etc. you definitely want to do El Caminito del Rey (super cool).

best Estanco isn’t my opinion is Los Pacos in La Milla de Oro between Puerto Banus and Marbella (45’ from Malaga), a day trip in Marbella is cool you will like the bar at Marbella Club, have some chocolate and churros in the morning for breakfast or at night as a merienda at El Patio de Los Naranjos (you will like the old town), visit Puerto Banus for a drink at Sinatra Bar in the marina, play golf in Rio Real if you are into it, etc. 

you can visit Gibraltar if you want to drive further or Tarifa (best kitesurfing spot globally most probably). I’m the Tarifa Area you have arguably the best Tuna in the world. The area is Almahdraba (search for Atún de la Almadraba). That’s the good stuff the top sushi guys seek for. You can eat a thousand ways, from nose to tail. They serve it also in Malaga and elsewhere but make sure you are at a proper place. 
 

There a thousand restaurants and I am happy to give you a list. I would however highly recommend you make a reservation asap at Los Marinos José, prepare for one of the best seafood experiences ever, be open minded. Top. 
 

there is also a posh beach club with phenomenal food called El Ancla in San Pedro de Alcantara. A great Asador at Hotel Don Pepe, etc. 

Jaén and Cadiz have another thousand things to do.

it all depends on when you are going and what you are into. 
 

hope this helps

[LOMTL]

If you are into souvenirs I recommend La Cartuja in Seville, this is a well known ceramic factory, they have done the jars for the Serie Sevilla CCs. They also have an online store. Made an ashtray from a cool oval plate. Challenge is bringing it in one piece back home. 😬

[Meklown]

Thanks all for the detailed recommendations! I will definitely look into those suggestions