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Spain : Malaga - December 2009

Country Code: Dial for Spain

Sunny by day, crisp and cool by night, Malaga in December is transformed into a winter pageant of dazzling lights, Nativity scenes and festive floral displays. Theresa O’Shea shows us round

Getting around

Malaga Airport is 9km south-west of the city centre.

Bus: The No.19 leaves from outside arrivals every 30 minutes, from 6.25am to 11.30pm. Tickets cost €1.
Taxi: A journey from the airport to the city centre costs approximately €15 to €18.
Tourist information: The main office is at 1 Plaza de la Marina (tel. , malagaturismo.com).

HISTORIC CENTRE

The atmosphere in the warren-like streets and bustling squares of the old town is never more magical than during the run-up to Christmas.

Sleep soundly – Situated between the Cathedral and the Alcazaba, the two-star Hotel Carlos V (10 Cister, tel. , carlosvmalaga.com, rooms from €38) offers unbeatable value in a great location.

Culture vultures – Malaga’s Arabicstyle hammam (13 Tomás de Cózar) is a must. After a soak in the steam bath, treat yourself to a relaxing half-moon head massage or a revitalising salt and oil body scrub.

Must eat – For tapas, traditional and modern, don’t miss the much-ravedabout Tapeo de Cervantes (8 Cárcer, tel. ).

Must drink – There’s no better place then Lepanto (7 Marqués de Larios) for people-watching over a coffee and an exquisitely baked cake or six.

Dance the night away – New Fraggle (10 Comedias) attracts a young international crowd and belts out an eclectic mix of music till dawn. There’s live flamenco on Wednesdays.

Shop til you drop – For last-minute presents, check out Sherezade Zoco Al-Andalus (2 Echegaray) – an Aladdin’s cave of Arabesque craftwork and tantalising trinkets.

ALAMEDA

The wide, leafy boulevard of the Alameda separates the old town from the port, and is lined with some of the city’s stateliest buildings.

Sleep soundly – Room Mate Lola (17 Casas de Campos, tel. , room-matehotels.com, rooms from €68) is all about high-tech comfort. Its retro-chic style is based on bold colours and geometric lines.

Culture vultures – The Centro de Arte Contemporáneo (Calle Alemania) is currently featuring the offbeat work of Chema Cobo, while the Town Hall (4 Avenida de Cervantes) lays out the much-loved municipal Belén (Nativity scene).

Must eat – Manducare (2 Avenida Manuel Agustín Heredia, tel. ) serves original Mediterranean dishes, such as duck breast sautéed with artichokes, langoustines and oyster mushrooms.

Must drink – Sip a fino sherry or two among the wine barrels at the Antigua Casa de Guardia (18 Alameda Principal).

Shop til you drop – For handicrafts and wooden Nativity figures, head to the Christmas market alongside the Paseo del Parque.

MALAGA WEST

The beaches west of Malaga are fronted by a splendid promenade.

Sleep soundly – The ultra-modern Vincci Malaga (44 Pácifico, tel. , vinccihoteles.com, rooms from €64) is close to the beach and does a delicious buffet breakfast.

Must eat – Vinoteca La Sacristía del Rey (67 Avenida Sor Teresa Prat, tel. ) prides itself on the quality of its Iberic hams, pâtés and cheeses – and has a wine list as thick as a phone book. For your main course, try fish stew with lobster or roast spring lamb.

Shop til you drop – Desigual, Zara Home, H&M, Swarovski and Massimo Dutti can all be found at Vialia (Explanada de la Estación), the city’s newest and largest shopping centre.

MALAGA EAST

There are loads of cool restaurants and bars in and around the Malagueta and the fishing quarter of Pedregalejo.

Sleep soundly – Bag a room with a sea view at La Chancla (64 Paseo Marítimo El Pedregal, tel. , lachanclahotel.com, rooms from €73). The family-run hotel also has a sauna.

Culture vultures – Take a look at the Moorish-style bullring (8 Paseo de Reding), then continue along Paseo de Reding to admire the dapper townhouses dating from the early 1900s.

Must eat – El Caleño (16 Cenacheros), tel. ) is one of the most popular seafront fish restaurants in the Pedregalejo area.

Must drink – Join the smart crowd for cocktails at El Pedrega (22 Paseo Marítimo El Pedregal). The mojitos are what you should drink here.

Compiled by Theresa O’Shea