beach
Costa del Sol
Spain's sun-drenched southern coastline stretching from Malaga to Gibraltar, famous for over 300 days of sunshine per year.
0 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeSpainAndalusia
Málaga
Andalusia, Spain · Europe
About Málaga
Málaga is worth a stop: 25 minutes from Totalán, 28km from El Torcal de Antequera.
Málaga is in Andalusia, Spain, with about 590,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Totalán, about 12 km away.
Málaga ( ; Spanish: [ˈmalaɣa] ) is a municipality of Spain and the capital of the province of Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. With a population of 592,346 in 2024, it is the 2nd-largest city in Andalusia and the 6th-largest in the country. It lies in Southern Iberia on the Costa del Sol ('Coast ofRead more
the Sun') of the Mediterranean, primarily on the left bank of the Guadalhorce. The urban core originally developed in the space between the Gibralfaro Hill and the Guadalmedina.
Málaga's history spans about 2,800 years, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe. According to most scholars, it was founded about 770 BC by the Phoenicians from Tyre as Malaka. From the 6th century BC the city was under the hegemony of Ancient Carthage, and from 218 BC, it was under Roman rule, economically prospering owing to garum production. In the 8th century, after a period of Visigothic and Byzantine rule, it was placed under Islamic rule. In 1487, the Crown of Castile gained control in the midst of the Granada War. In the 19th century, the city underwent a period of industrialisation followed by a decay in all socioeconomic parameters in the last third of the century.
The most important business sectors in Málaga are tourism, construction and technology services, but other sectors such as transportation and logistics are beginning to expand. Málaga has consolidated as a tech hub, with companies mainly concentrated in the Málaga TechPark (Technology Park of Andalusia). It hosts the headquarters of the region's largest bank, Unicaja, and it is the fourth-ranking city in Spain in terms of economic activity. Regarding transportation, Málaga is served by the Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport and the Port of Málaga, and the city was connected to the high-speed railway network in 2007.
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Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Málaga.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Málaga?
Within an hour or so of Málaga: Costa del Sol (0 km), El Torcal de Antequera (28 km), Caminito del Rey (38 km), Frigiliana (48 km).
Are there any good drives near Málaga?
The nearest famous roads are A-397 San Pedro to Ronda, A-397 Ronda to San Pedro Road and Sierra Nevada road to Pico Veleta (A-395).
Where is Málaga?
Málaga is in Andalusia, Spain, about 12 km from Totalán.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 592,346
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Spain
- Region
- Andalusia
- Timezone
- Europe/Madrid
- Coordinates
- 36.7202, -4.4203
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Spain
Guardia Civil (traffic police): 062. Two warning triangles required in vehicles.
Full driving guide for SpainTags
Worth the detour from Málaga
6 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
El Torcal de Antequera
A surreal karst landscape of stacked, pancake-like limestone formations carved by erosion, with ibex roaming the trails.
28 km · about 30 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Caminito del Rey
A thrilling boardwalk pinned to sheer cliff faces above the El Chorro gorge, once called the world's most dangerous path.
38 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Frigiliana
Repeatedly voted Spain's prettiest white village, a steep tumble of geranium-draped lanes above the Costa del Sol.
48 km · about 55 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Balcón de Europa, Nerja
A palm-lined seafront promenade jutting on a clifftop balcony with panoramic Mediterranean and mountain views.
49 km · about 55 min drive
natural wonder
Caves of Nerja
Spectacular caverns containing the world's largest known stalactite and prehistoric paintings dating back 42,000 years.
52 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Málaga
- 38 kmCaminito del ReyA thrilling boardwalk pinned to sheer cliff faces above the El Chorro gorge, once called the world's most dangerous path.
- 49 kmBalcón de Europa, NerjaA palm-lined seafront promenade jutting on a clifftop balcony with panoramic Mediterranean and mountain views.
- 61 kmA-397 San Pedro to RondaA smooth, empty mountain road climbing from the Costa del Sol into the Serrania de Ronda, all long radius curves.
- 63 kmA-397 Ronda to San Pedro RoadA sweeping mountain road climbing from the coast at San Pedro over the Serranía de Ronda, all long curves and cork-oak hills.
- 67 kmRonda Puente Nuevo ViewpointThe 18th-century bridge spanning the 120-metre-deep El Tajo gorge, splitting the town of Ronda in two with dizzying views into the abyss.
Driving in Spain
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.55/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€4.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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