Question on parking in Malaga for Picasso and Gilbralfaro?
 

I do not know Malaga nor am I use to driving in Spanish cities. I do have a GPS so I could use that if I have an exact address. I want to go from Marbella to Malaga to see Picasso in the old town and then do lunch at Parador Gilbrafaro.

What is the best way to come in and the best place to park?

Would we be better off taking a bus and taxis ? ( we are 5 adults and one 6yo girl in a 7 seat mini bus.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

There is parking available at the Picasso museum. I'd go with a taxi just because you are not used to driving in the area and a 7-passenger van needs more room than a smaller compact car.

The Parador is located outside of Malaga, to the east, and has parking.

Regarding your GPS. Unless it has a specific program for Spain, it will not do you any good.

Here are a couple of web pages you may find useful.

http://www2.museopicassomalaga.org/i_home.cfm
http://www.parador.es/english/paradores/ficha.jsp

Thanks Robert2533,

Wouldn't a taxi be awful expensive from Marriot Marbella to Malaga? I am also thinking (we have 5 adults and one 6yo) we might even need two to get around.Thus, I was thinking of attempting to drive.

Actually my husband will do the driving.Our GPS does work in Europe and Spain well ,but it does work best with an exact address.

It does get challenging in any foreign city tho ,especially in Europe with a larger vehicle.

( Trust me , we have had some wild adventures lost with GPS sometimes at night in various European countries where we did not know the language... in a camper no less...so that is why I am a little cautious).

We have passed by Malaga plenty of times on the highway, but it is a little intimidating to think about going in.

I was hoping also to possibly find a garage on the outskirts and maybe take a taxi in . Perhaps that would work?

Most of the parking areas and garages in Malaga ate at or near the airport, and are very busy, but you should be able to reserve a spot for the day at one of the facilities. Go on-line and check "Parking in Malaga".

When we drove in from Marbella to Malaga we got lost despite our Michelin Map, but 2 policemen escorted us to the city center (Really!) and we found parking by the main plaza and then another gentleman literally lead us to the museum! It was only about a 10 minute walk. Then we took a cab to the Gibrafaro and another to the Parador and then another back to our car.

Can't wait to hear how you like the museum. I LOVE it!!!

Duh, I never thought to google " malaga parking" ...that is a big help...thanks!!

Wow a police escort.. I don't think I should count on that kind of luck. ;)

We are all art lovers ( my husband and his father are both artists) so I am sure we will love it.

Will it be easy to get a taxi for all 6 of us from the parking places near the airport?


How about when we leave the Picasso and want to get up to Parador Gilbralfaro for lunch? Are there Taxi's nearby?

Another thought I had was perhaps go directly to Parador Gilbralfaro since we want to do lunch there and park there ( since it sounds like it is easier to get to) . Then take a taxi to the Picasso Museums and back.

Would that work and be easier?

How far apart is the parador Gibralfaro from the Gibralfaro site?

Thanks again!

Driving in Málaga isn't that bad. Defiinitely don't take a taxi anywhere if you already have a car. Just park somewhere downtown (there is a lot of parking just under the Corte Inglés, as well as a huge lot right at the Alameda with Larios) and do the museum, then grab the car and drive to the parador.

All kinds of vehicles go through Málaga on a daily basis and have no trouble, so I don't see why yours would be any different. Actually, Málaga is full of vans because there are a lot of gypsies, construction workers and traveling families.

Thanks laclaire!

I have appreciated your advice in other threads. I am just trying to get a handle on the easiest way to do this with 6 people ( including an 80 year old and a 6 yo in tow).


ANY city can be a challenge in ANY car if you are not familiar with the city ...add small streets,larger vehicle, strange roundabouts and foreign language and ways & the challenges increase.

I know LA & SF so that is very easy for me ( but hard for others who don't know the ins and outs from trial and error).

We made it to the Dali museum in a camper ( with a few scary moments just finding the parking place on the outskirts) , so a 7 seater should be easier than that and a few other adventures we have had driving in various cities in Europe ..some at night by accident with our waning vision ;)

All part of the adventure...tho I hope to have it a little smoother with this crowd. ;)

Luckily my husband is a good driver, we have maps and GPS, so hopefully it will all work out.

I certainly would much rather just drive if it is do-able and fairly easy.

This is suppose to be one of our easiest touring days....so hope to keep it as such.

Well, I know how I am in the car, and what I would do is drop everyone off at a café near the Museum and say I will be back in half an hour. They eat/drink, you find a parking spot (Alameda is your best bet, I think), then go to the Museum and return to the car.

Málaga is not the easiest city as it is pretty obviously unplanned urbanistically. However, the street that most interests you is the Alameda, as from there most attractions (museum included) are well marked and accessible. To give you an idea, I have driven in Málaga and despite the fact that I get rather worked up when everyone is telling me to do something else (and everyone in the car had an opinion), we made it downtown, parked the car, saw what we wanted, then hit the mountain roads to a really excellent restaurant around some windy dirt roads. All in one piece, including the car.

There is a subterranean parking lot under the main square Plaza de la Marina (the one that artlover says). This can be full, depending time of day. Another option is Parking Calle Camas, a little farther from the museum, but easy walk as well. Driving directions: Enter Malaga along Avenida de America. Once you pass el Corte Ingles (and a beautiful fountain)on your left, you cross the river and face the Alameda (promenade) with the big trees. Take the right lanes, not the central ones!!! First turn to the left you are on your way to Camas, there are enough signs. If you go ahead the Alameda (instead of turning left, after the second cross you see on the very lanes at left the entrance to the Plaza de la Marina Parking.

The Parador de Gibralfaro (not to be mistaken with Parador del Golf, very near the airport!!) is on top of the hill. There is enough free parking space. Your idea of parking there and take taxi to the Picasso is smart, ask the taxi to take you to Plaza de la Merced, and there is a very short walk to the Museum. Driving directions for the Parador: enter Malaga as before, pass the Alameda and Parque. Get your GPS to take you to Paseo de Salvador Rueda, and you'll see the signs for the Parador. Do not forget to make your reservation at 952 221902. Have a nice day.

P.S. There is another parking very near the Museum, called Alcazaba. I do not recommend as it is tricky to get to, and usually crowded as well. Here's a link http://www.malagaturismo.com/jsp/mal...mp;id_idioma=1

Here is the basic link: www.malagaturismo.com ,then Practical Information, then at left How to move around, scroll to Car Parks, (and take a look at Horse-drawn carriages).

Thanks again laclaire and josele! Wow, all the detail , josele, is sooo helpful and I really appreciate it!!

I will print this up to take with me and I am feeling a lot more confident!

http://www.soultravelers3.com/

We had tapas at the Parador, and while they may not be a fair test, except for the view, I wouldn't recommend the restaurant. You could always go somewhere in the old city near the museum first (but I don't recommend Antonio Banderas' restaurant either--I had to go there 'cause, well, you know why :D, but think he should stick to looking gorgeous and acting)--maybe Claire has a recommendation--and then go to the Gilbrafaro (I believe there was parking there) and then just go to the Parador for wine and to enjoy the beautiful view.

I couldn't believe we had a police escort either. Seems these magical kinds of things happen in Spain, huh?
Could you imagine that ever happening in the U.S.?!

Gibralfaro is the actual name of the hill where the Parador and the moorish castle stand. The moorish palace called Alcazaba is on the base of the said hill. The parkink is named Alcazaba, but the reference is the Plaza de la Merced or the Alcazaba tunnel, that goes from the Parque to Plaza de la Merced (and entrance to the Pk.
The Parador restaurant is excellent, and completely unsuitable for tapas. You can have, ok, but is not their speciality.
The Posada de Antonio in specialised in meats. It's been working very well since many years ago ass La Posada. Antonio Banderas put money on it and so his name was added, but has changed almost nothing. The meat they serve is really good, and they have tapas as well. Artlover, I suppose you were expecting something else.

josele,
:D (you got me!)

Artlover, I have read in other thread your remarks on La Pesquera, and I agree with you on that.

For tapas in Málaga (as well as great live flamenco shows in the summer and on random nights throughout the year), go to El Pimpi. I took a friend there a few weeks ago and when we walked in, his eyes nearly popped out of his head. He kept saying "man, this place is awesome!" You can get to it from Granada Street (¿sí o no?, josele) and it is not far at all from the museum.

However, for a nice meal, the parador is good. I am forever eating in private homes in Málaga, so I am sort of ignorant of the restaurants there.

Yes, Laclaire, El Pimpi is a very good choice, it is a remnant of the past, and displays a beautiful collection of early XX cent Toros and Fairs posters. Not to miss. Go to Plaza de la Merced, and walk beautiful calle Granada towards the Picasso Museum, and you'll find it at left. It is bigger than it seems, as owner Paco Campos (of Cordoba's famous Bodegas Campos) has been constantly adding adyjacent houses.

One last Parking info: When you enter Malaga as told before, past El Corte Ingles on the left, then there is the big Post Office (Correos) building at right, and a big sign displaying availability of the different parking lots. Going to Pk. Alcazaba: follow Alameda, and Parque and go round the beautiful bronze fountain, and head for the tunnel and enter. Where the tunnel ends is the entrance. I have confirmed today that parkings are very well indicated.

Speaking of El Pimpi. . . I had said that sometimes there are flamenco shows, which is true, and if you follow this link:
http://landofguirisvideos.ning.com/
you can watch Malagueñas Raquel Heredia and la Repompa dance. On Raquel's video, her sister Amparo is singing while Repompa (her mom) does palmas next to her. You can find some great shots of them performing at el Pimpi on the wall along the bar beyond the sherry casks. Ah, Málaga, how I miss the!

i would take la claire´s advice and drop passengers off at museum area , then park the car as to not have to take TWO taxis or walk far for young one and grandma.

sounds like a great trip. i can´t wait to go to el PIMPI...