We are flying from Canada to Madrid on March 16 early morning, and have a resort booked in Estepona on the Costa del Sol until March 23. We have a car rented to drive from Madrid to the resort and back, and would like to do some day tours on our own. We are considering Cordoba, Granada, Jerez, Seville, Gibraltar and Ronda among our possible destinations for a day trip. Any suggestions? Is there anywhere closer to Estepona that would be good to visit. I appreciate any input and ideas! Since I am spending a week in Rome in May followed by a 7 day cruise which includes Barcelona, Valencia, and Mallorca, I would like to focus on the area around our resort for this trip.
One Week in Costa del Sol with a rental car. Ideas for Day Trips???
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Malaga, Nerja, would be on my list.
What about Malaga and Nerja would you recommend?
Why not dump the Madrid rental, take the train and rent a car in Malaga as needed, as parking may be a problem.
Overall, Estepona is not a good base for visiting Sevilla and Cordoba. Jerez isn't bad, as is Ronda, but Granada is more that 2 hours away by car. Gibraltar, in my honest opinion, is a waste of time unless you like monkeys (www.gibraltarmonkey.com).
I don't find 2 hours an intimidating drive, maybe because Canada is such a large country with lots of space between cities we are more used to having to drive a couple of hours to get anywhere!! I live in a small city, which has all the day to day needs but need to drive over an hour for major shopping, or some medical specialists, or business needs, so am used to longer drives. I think we have decided to overnight in Toledo after we arrive, then do the shorter drive to Estepona, then we'll decide how far we will roam each day. It might be an idea to go to Seville overnight mid week, and see a bit more of the city than we could in a day trip, then do some of the other places on the way to or from there.
Malaga city is genuine and laid-back Andalucian atmosphere, great taps bars, restaurants, cafes, theaters and nightlife, 3000 years of Phoenician, Roman, Muslim, Jewish, Christian and Gitano history and culture. Within 300 meters in the city center you'll find the newly excavated Roman theater, the Moorish Alcazaba (fortress), the huge 15-16th century cathedral, Picasso's birth-place and the Picasso museum.
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/home.htm
One of my absolute favourite cities in Spain after many years of travelling in most parts of the country. A couple of articles about Malaga: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/nigel-tisdall/8773310/Malaga-Spain-Secret-Spanish-pleasures.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/jun/21/malaga-spain-city-breaks-travel?INTCMP=SRCH
Perhaps visit the spectacular Nerja caves a little east of Malaga city, one of the major attractions in the region: http://www.cuevadenerja.es/index.php?lenguaje=en
Before or after the caves, I recommend a lunch in great seafood restaurant La Marina in Nerja itself. As good as you get a no fuzz seafood freiduria in all of Andalucia and very popular with locals: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g315917-d1002965-Reviews-La_Marina-Nerja_Costa_del_Sol_Andalucia.html
http://www.guideofnerja.com/pages/gutierrez/marina_en.htm
Photo of beautiful Nerja by the cliffs with the mountains in the back: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2622/3735908317_b3de6a8146_o.jpg
A little north of Malaga city you'll find the famous Torcal limestone rock formations. You can drive almost to the top, and it's said that on a clear day you can see to Morocco from up here: http://www.andalucia.com/antequera/torcal/home.htm