10 pretty towns under a 2 hour drive from Malaga

Highlighting 10 cute places near Malaga (ideal for a day trip from Malaga!)

There are so many options for a day trip from Malaga. And where you choose depends on what you want to get from your day. If you want the dreamy combination of white-washed flower-filled streets and a golden sand beach, then Estepona is a great choice.

Or if you don’t fancy a long drive, then Benalmadena (just a 25-minute drive from the city) is ideal. And if you love unique, bucket-list-worthy places, then you can’t go wrong with Setenil de las Bodegas or Juzcar.

Malaga’s excellent motorway system means all of the cute towns listed here are easily accessible. All of them (besides Juzcar) are reachable by public transport, too, but of course, this takes longer, and you can’t stop and admire all the scenic viewpoints along the way. 

So, let’s get started, shall we – in this blog, I’ve cherry-picked out 10 cute towns ideal for a day trip from Malaga.

Where should I visit close to Malaga?

I suppose my answer depends on what you want to get from the day trip – if you want to visit a gorgeous white-washed village with a stunning golden sand beach, I recommend Estepona (around an hour’s drive from Malaga). Or if you’re keen to visit someplace truly unique, you can’t go wrong with Setenil de las Bodegas – a town literally built under a canyon rock (an hour and 20-minute drive from the city).

And a more off-the-beaten-path option is Juzcar in the scenic Valle del Genal (an hour and 40-minute drive from Malaga). This is unofficially known as the Smurf village as all the buildings are painted blue and there are various Smurf characters painted on the walls here.

Can I go to any cute places by train from Malaga?

The easiest places to get to by train from Malaga include Fuengirola, around a 40-minute ride away. And Benalmadena (a 30-minute train journey). Both these spots are along the popular C1 commuter (Cercanías) line.

What is the most beautiful town near Malaga?

I guess everyone’s idea of beautiful is different, but for us, our favorites include Setenil de las Bodegas, Ronda, Juzcar, and Estepona.

Renting a car in Malaga:

I’ll be honest, the easiest way to get to all of the below spots is with a rental car – we always use Discover Cars when we want to rent a car because you can search by ‘cheapest car rental rates’ and ‘most popular car rental deals’ – it’s so easy to use!

1. Ronda

Located around a 90-minute drive from Malaga, Ronda is a captivating town perched atop the dramatic El Tajo gorge. It is most famous for the Puente Nuevo, an impressive 18th-century bridge that spans the gorge, offering stunning vistas of the surrounding countryside. And the Plaza de Toros, one of Spain’s oldest bullrings.

The famous bridge, completed in 1793, connects the old and new parts of the town. And it took 42 years to build (there was another bridge here, but it collapsed in 1741, killing several people). The most iconic part of the bridge is its central arch that rises 98 meters (about 322 feet) above the canyon floor.

Some other popular things to do in Ronda include the ancient Arab Baths and the Mondragón Palace, which houses the municipal museum. The Museo Lara is another excellent museum here – it’s home to fascinating exhibits, including vintage cameras and scientific instruments.

You can get a train from Malaga to Ronda; however, you’ll need to change trains, usually at Antequera-Santa Ana station, making it a 2 – 2.5 hour journey.

This private guided tour of Ronda from Malaga has excellent reviews (it’s recommended by 99% of travelers) and it’s a full-day tour, around 9 hours long. It includes a private guide for the day who will take you to Ronda’s top sights like the New Bridge and Plaza de Toros and it also includes pick-up and drop-off to anywhere in Malaga. It costs 300 euros per person.

2. Setenil de las Bodegas

Around an hour and 20-minute drive from Malaga is this super-unique town. What sets this town apart is the way its whitewashed houses are built into and beneath large canyon rock overhangs.

We loved wandering its maze of narrow, winding streets and snapping lots of photos of the dramatic rocky overhangs over the white-washed townhouses known as “abrigos bajo las rocas,” which translates to “shelters beneath the rocks.”

In Setenil de las Bodegas, people quite literally live under a rock, and it’s truly amazing to see in person.

What to see in Setenil de las Bodegas:

My must-sees here include Calle Herrería, aka the oldest street in town. On this steep, narrow street, you will likely come across a local man standing outside his home, saying that you can take a short tour of his home for a small fee (I think 1 euro!)

Next, head over to  Cuevas del Sol – this is the town’s most famous street, as it pretty much has a rock canyon roof. Yep, here the rocky overhang extends between the buildings on both sides of the street. As you can guess, it can get pretty crowded here – and this is where tour groups get dropped off to explore the town. So, if you can try to visit here either before 11 am or after 4 pm.

We had a rental car, so we drove here, and if you plan to do this, keep in mind the roads in and around the town are very narrow. You can park on the street at the start of the town, but many of the spaces are for locals only, so watch out for the sign. We parked in the new multi-storey car park here, it’s called Parking Los Canos, and it was handy.

This guided tour from Malaga visits both Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas and costs just 35 euros per person. It has over 250 excellent reviews and is very popular!

3. Juzcar

This small mountain village is known for a unique feature: the village’s houses and buildings are painted a gorgeous shade of blue. Why? Well, in 2011, Sony Pictures decided to paint the town blue as a promotional event for “The Smurfs” movie. Although it was initially a temporary measure, the locals decided to keep it blue due to a significant increase in tourism.

We visited on a rainy evening in January, and most of the restaurants and hotels were closed. But, we still had a lovely hour or so here, wandering the streets in search of the many Smurfs characters that are painted on the buildings. I would imagine it can get pretty busy here in peak tourist season (June to September), and I’m sure that the blue buildings would really pop on a sunny day.

Juzcar is located in the scenic Valle del Genal in the Serrania de Ronda, around an hour and 45 minutes’ drive from Malaga. And thus it’s the furthest place on this list. Although it’s just 25 km from Ronda (listed above), and so many tourists combine the two on a day trip from Malaga. This is what we did, although keep in mind it’s a steep, winding mountain road between Ronda and Juzcar, sadly, my daughter got car sick on the journey.

I’ll be honest, you will really need to have a car to get here, as there are no public transport options. If you don’t have a car, your best option would be to get the train from Malaga to Ronda and get a cab from Ronda to Juzcar.

4. Estepona

This town (an hour’s drive from Malaga) is famous for its stunning murals and flower-filled plazas, giving it the nickname “The Garden of the Costa del Sol.” Although it was raining when we visited, we still loved walking around its narrow cobblestone streets and whitewashed buildings.

We also checked out the Estepona Orchid House, which houses an impressive collection of over 1,300 orchid species (however, because orchids are seasonal, there weren’t this many in bloom on our visit in January). My daughters loved wandering around the lush, tropical landscape and checking out the waterfall. The domes are a really cool feature of the building, too.

There’s also a lovely golden sand beach in Estepona – unfortunately, we visited in winter, so we didn’t get to enjoy it.

If you don’t have a car you can get an ALSA bus from Malaga Bus Station direct to Estepona, it will take just over an hour.

5. Benalmadena

Benalmadena is a popular tourist resort along the Costa del Sol, around a 25-minute drive from Malaga.

We spent a full day here, and our highlights included Benalmádena Pueblo, the charming old town with narrow streets, whitewashed buildings, and lovely views of the sea. We also loved strolling around the Cactus Garden on the outskirts of town – there’s a large playground here and some farm animals in a fenced-off area.

But our favorite place in Benalmadena was the Butterfly Park of Benalmadena, also known as Mariposario de Benalmádena, which is home to over 1,500 exotic butterflies from around the world. It’s the largest butterfly sanctuary in Europe. And next to it is the Stupa of Enlightenment, the tallest stupa in Europe. It is 33 meters tall!

Other fun things to do here (which we didn’t get the chance to do this time) include the renowned Tivoli World amusement park, the Benalmadena Cable Car, and the Sea Life Benalmádena aquarium.

We had dinner in the Benalmadena Marina (at Cantina Mexicana, we really rate it). The marina is the perfect spot for a leisurely evening stroll, with its vibrant atmosphere, numerous shops, and restaurants.

As I said, you can get the train from Malaga to Benalmadena, it’s the C1 commuter (Cercanías) line you need to get, and the journey will take 30 minutes.

6. Fuengirola

Another popular tourist resort close to Malaga is Fuengirola – and this is actually where we stayed for 5 nights during our recent vacation to the Malaga area.

As you can imagine, this tourist spot is packed with fun things to do. We recommend kicking off your visit here at the Bioparc Fuengirola, a cool zoo that’s all about conservation and natural habitats.

If you’re into history, check out Sohail Castle, which sits on a hill with awesome views and a peek into the area’s Moorish history. Love seafood? The bustling Fuengirola Fish Market is the place to sample some tasty local catches. For a real taste of local life, swing by the Fuengirola Street Market and soak up the vibrant Spanish culture.

And if you’re here when the weather is good, don’t miss the town’s wide beaches; we really like Playa de Los Boliches.

You can catch the C1 train from Malaga to Fuengirola if you don’t fancy driving – the ride will take around 40 minutes.

7. Marbella

Possibly the most recognizable name on this list, Marbella is an incredibly popular tourist destination (especially with British tourists). But despite its crazy popularity, Marbella is still worth checking out. For one, it’s just a 50-minute drive from Malaga, and I love how it mixes luxury with a bit of old-school charm.

The old town is my favorite part with its cute cobblestone streets and lively plazas (the picturesque Plaza de los Naranjos is a must-see in my opinion). I also love checking out the cool boutiques and real-deal tapas bars here.

For beach lovers, Marbella boasts several stunning beaches like Playa de la Fontanilla and the social (and glitzy) Nikki Beach. And if you’re more of a glam traveler, check out Puerto Banús marina for luxury yachts, swanky shopping, and restaurants.

FYI, you can catch the 617 bus from Malaga to Marbella – the journey will take around 40-45 minutes.

8. Nerja

Nerja is a gorgeous whitewashed coastal town just a 50-minute drive from Málaga. And this charming destination is one of the top day trip options from Malaga. Yep, laid-back Nerja certainly captivated us with its picturesque allure.

Among its highlights is the Balcony of Europe, a magnificent clifftop platform that extends over the Mediterranean coast, offering breathtaking vistas of the sea and surrounding mountains. And the famed Nerja Cave, which boasts expansive underground chambers adorned with impressive formations of stalactites and stalagmites.

Handily, you can catch a public bus from Malaga to Nerja (an hour and 10-minute ride).

9. Granada

Granada, just 1.5 hours from Malaga, is a city brimming with history, culture, and stunning architecture!

While you’re here – a visit to the Alhambra is a must!

The Alhambra is perhaps the most renowned tourist destination in Granada, Andalusia, and quite possibly all of Spain. This majestic fortress sits atop a hill in Granada, nestled at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains, making it a must-visit spot in Andalusia. Within its walls, the citadel houses numerous palaces and royal residences, along with extensive gardens and other facilities that allowed the Alhambra to function as a self-sufficient city. It’s one of those essential bucket list destinations that you simply cannot miss!

We also recommend strolling through the Albayzín, the old Arab quarter, where narrow winding streets transport you back in time and offer glimpses of traditional Andalusian life.

If you don’t have a car, then this private guided tour to Granada from Malaga is a good shout. It’s rated 5 stars by 100% of past guests. It includes a private guide for Alhambra and 1.5 hours of free time in Granada. It costs 153 euros per person.

10. Caminito del Rey

And finally, one of the most popular guided tours in Spain is the Caminito del Rey. Once known as the world’s most dangerous hike, this trail is now considered safe after extensive safety works were done pre-2015. Safety gear is provided for all visitors.

The walk is suspended over 328 feet (100 meters) above the canyon floor, and you’ll get to cross the canyon on a suspension bridge.

Caminito del Rey is just under an hour’s drive from Málaga. This is the best guided tour we could find of the Caminito del Rey, with over 500 positive reviews, and it costs around 52 euros a head. It includes pick-up from Malaga, an official guide, and safety gear.

Thanks for Reading!

I hope I’ve given you some major wanderlust and you’ve found one of your new favorite cute towns near Malaga from this list. Happy exploring!

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Last Updated on January 16, 2026 by snaphappytravel