Malaga or the Alhambra

We'll be arriving in the port of Malaga for one day. Should we sightsee there or spend 4 hours on a bus(to and fro) to see the Alhambra?

Thanks

This would depend on the likelihood that you might return to the area for a land based trip in the future.

The Alhambra and Granada are exceptional. To me the Alhambra is one of the 'must see' sights in the world. I have visited the Alhambra on many occasions and usually just do a one night stay, but not everyone has that possibility.

Malaga has improved greatly in recent years and is a very decent destination, but in no way compares to the Alhambra.

Hands down..Alhambra even with the travel time.

IMO Malaga has so much to offer (castle, Roman amphitheatre, Tapas bars, market, numerous museums, Cathedral and great shops).

The Alhambra is better known but, just my personal opinion, it is not worth a 4 hour return journey. Stay in Malaga and visit the Alcazaba there - similar age to the Alhambra/on a smaller scale, but without the crowds and sadly missed by so many visitors to the CDS.

I love Malaga, but if there is a chance that this will be your only trip to the south of Spain, then you must visit the Alhambra.

Make sure that the tour offers the pre booked admission tickets, with timed admission to the Nasri palace. If the tour does not offer the opportunity to visit the Nasri, then I would seriously consider staying in Malaga.

Malaga is fine if you have previously visited Granada. If you have never Ben there before, then it is a no brainier, the Alhambra every time.

Thanks! I think you helped to make up our minds. Seems that we need to go to the Alhambra. Don't think that we'll return someday soon and this building and surroundings are too magnificent to pass up.

Another vote for Alhambra. You won't be disappointed.

My husband and I have difficulty walking for any fairly long period of time. Would you recommend Alhambra to us, as well?

The Alhambra was great, the only problem for us was using a NCL excursion. It was a drawn out, very wasteful use of time, to make it all day, and overly expensive.

Terrible guide through the Alhambra, lots of waiting.

Use a non-NCL tour.

Terigo

There is a lot of walking at the Alhambra. Not sure if you can hire a mobility scooter or wheelchair, you need to look at their official website. I took my own scooter when we were there last year.

My husband and I have difficulty walking for any fairly long period of time. Would you recommend Alhambra to us, as well?

Personally I would say that you should not go. There is a lot of walking and the crowds, even with timed entry tickets make the use of scooters difficult. In addition you do not say when your planned visit will take place, but in the summer it will be HOT!

We'll be arriving in the port of Malaga for one day. Should we sightsee there or spend 4 hours on a bus(to and fro) to see the Alhambra?

Thanks

Alhambra. We used spain day tours and they were excellent.

Personally I would say that you should not go. There is a lot of walking and the crowds, even with timed entry tickets make the use of scooters difficult. In addition you do not say when your planned visit will take place, but in the summer it will be HOT!

Thanks for the response. We will be there the beginning of November, so I'm not anticipating extreme heat, but is there an ability to sit and rest periodically while visiting? That would make it a bit more feasible.

Here you can find more information. Can't remember anything about the possibilities to sit down and rest (I'm sure that there will be sofas here and there). I suppose you can write and ask about that.

http://granadainfo.com/alhambra/layout.htm

There are plenty of benches to sit on in the grounds, but not inside Nasrid Palace. I would check their website to see if they lend wheelchairs. Most attractions do these days. They certainly have discounted tickets for people with disabilities.

This would depend on the likelihood that you might return to the area for a land based trip in the future.

 

The Alhambra and Granada are exceptional. To me the Alhambra is one of the 'must see' sights in the world. I have visited the Alhambra on many occasions and usually just do a one night stay, but not everyone has that possibility.

 

Malaga has improved greatly in recent years and is a very decent destination, but in no way compares to the Alhambra.

Alhambra by far.

The Alhambra was great, the only problem for us was using a NCL excursion. It was a drawn out, very wasteful use of time, to make it all day, and overly expensive.

Terrible guide through the Alhambra, lots of waiting.

Use a non-NCL tour.

We decided to go with a private tour with Spain Day tours bc I read so much negative with NCL tours. We will be there on 12/26

My husband and I have difficulty walking for any fairly long period of time. Would you recommend Alhambra to us, as well?

I went to the Alhambra about 8 weeks after having had a total hip replacement. I was using a cane by then. I was able to do the tour of the palace itself but not the gardens. It was well worth doing. I was 66 then.

To those who have already visited Alhambra (which IS a "must"!) and walked around Malaga (or prefer not to do that) - here is an alternative from Malaga. On our last October TA cruise we organised a Costa del Sol tour from there which included Marbella, port Banus and Mijas. We did it with Spain Day Tours, after I had written them an email asking for alternatives to Granada.

It was a great tour.. didn't involve that much driving like Alahambra and of course also much less expensive! I loved Marbella and even more Mijas, which is small and lovely. Great ceramics there too!

Miriam

We just completed a B2B2B series and two of the legs included calls at Malaga, with one of the port calls being an overnight at this wonderful city.

We used Spain Day Tours for a wonderful trip to Alhambra, and found it well worth the time required for transit. We also were able to visit the Alcazaba, and while we enjoyed it, thought that our enjoyment of Alcazaba was enhanced by our excellent guide, who provided great information, at the Alhambra.

The Alhambra is absolutely exceptional but with four-hour travel time to\from Malaga, there may not be really enough time to do justice to the place. It has to be a very well organized tour with pre-booked admissions so that there is no time lost on waiting.

That's true. But SDT are really good at organizing this tour (I suppose they have lots and lots of experience). So if you don't plan to go anytime soon to Granada on land on your own.. and if a cruise is your only option to get there - then take this tour. It's worth it. Most of TA cruises from/to Barcelona stop in Malaga so this is a good opportunity. And of course the longest stay in port on that day - the better your tour will be.