With an average of over 300 days of sunshine per year, the Costa del Sol is aptly named. Hot dry summers, and usually mild winters make this coastal region of Malaga province a year round destination. But occasionally the rain has to fall, and if you’re unlucky enough to be caught in a downpour when you should be on the beach, what can you do when sun, sea and sand are out of the question?
Surprisingly enough, there are plenty of things to do and places to visit in the Malaga area when the weather isn’t up to its usual high standards. The cooler temperatures can make visiting a number of the heritage sites and monuments much more pleasant, but if you’re forced indoors, here are a few things to fill your time until the sun starts shining again.
Art lovers aim for the Picasso Museum
As Malaga is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, there are a number of attractions dedicated to the famous artist in the city. The Picasso Museum houses an extensive permanent collection of work, as well as visiting exhibits throughout the year, and all within an impressive and imposing 16th century building.
Petrol heads drive to the Automobile Museum
Housed in an old Tobacco factory the Automobile Museum of Malaga has 85 vintage cars on display across 6000 square meters of floor-space. Displayed in thematic groups, you can admire a range of classic and unusual cars and even a car engine art exhibition. One for the boys and lovers of Top Gear.
Nerja Caves for nature lovers
If you can’t go out in it, you might as well go under it. The caves at Nerja are a natural wonder extending for nearly 5kms, although only a small portion can be accessed by the public. With numerous halls (one of which houses a large theatre venue) cave paintings and of course, the famous stalagmites and stalactites, the caves are a popular draw for visitors.
A journey of discovery
Why not simply jump in your hire car and hit the road? If you enjoy driving, there are some fabulous stretches of road along the Malaga coastline. Since the A7/E15 highway now bypasses many of the smaller coastal towns and villages along the Malaga and Granada coast, you can head East much quicker, but it’s a lot less picturesque and certainly not as fun. Drop down onto the old N-340 and (carefully) enjoy the twists and turns of this beautiful stretch of road. There are lots of tiny little villages and access roads down to the rugged shore, such as the one at Maro, or in Granada province itself, why not stop above Salobrena and watch the Dolphins raid the fish farms?
Just in case the weather takes a turn for the worst, AurigaCrown rents cars directly from our Malaga office or through our car hire partners across a number of Costa del Sol locations.