12+ Fun Day Trips from Torremolinos
Looking for fun day trips from Torremolinos?
If you stay in Torremolinos, you’ll be in a great location because you’re a short drive from the airport, Malaga and other fantastic coastal towns.
It’s well-connected, and you don’t always need to rent a car to explore other towns, so why not discover its surroundings?
In this blog, I will share fun day trips from Torremolinos with you and my views on each place from a local perspective.
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Best day trips from Torremolinos
My Little World of Travelling Favourite Day Trips
♥ Best day trips for sightseeing and cultural activities: Malaga and Granada.
♥ Best day trip for adventure: Caminito del Rey.
♥ Best day trips for visiting the Andalusian whitewashed towns: Mijas Pueblo, Ronda and Jerez.
♥ Best day trips for shopping: Gibraltar and Marbella
1. Malaga
🚗 Distance by car: 24 minutes (15.6 km | 9.7 mi)
Malaga is one of the easiest day trips from Torremolinos. You can drive, take the RENFE Cercanías Train or bus.
I’ve travelled between Malaga and Torremolinos often because they’re so close.
Being a Malagueña, I can assure you that one day in Malaga is perfect because there are many fantastic things to do, but it’s also possible to visit the main attractions.
What shouldn’t you miss on a day trip to Malaga?
My favourite place is the Alcazaba Palace. Visiting it feels like going back to the Moorish time in Malaga.
If you’re interested in history, take a guided tour, but if you aren’t, it’s still worth seeing its gorgeous architecture, gardens and panoramic views.
Other places worth seeing are the Picasso Museum Malaga, Malaga Cathedral (and don’t forget to visit its gardens) and Muelle Uno.
However, you can also do other fun activities such as going on a tapas and wine tour, riding a bike along the city and taking a sunset cruise.
2. Marbella
🚗 Distance by car: 40 minutes (47.1 km | 29.3 mi)
Marbella is home to me, so it makes it to this list. After all, it’s my favourite destination in Costa del Sol. Plus, it’s another easy day trip from Torremolinos by car.
You’ve probably heard of its luxury boutique shops and port, but it has much more to discover.
Start your day by heading to Casco histórico de Marbella (Marbella Old Town). No matter how much time I spend there, I never get bored of walking its charming cobblestone streets, and I’m sure you won’t either.
See the pretty tiled benches at La Alameda Park after exploring the old town and enjoying a drink at Plaza de los Naranjos.
Then, stroll along the beach promenade or take the bus to Puerto Banus to experience the lavish lifestyle.
End your day by taking a cruise or watching the sunset at Embarcadero.
Insider Tip
If you don’t drive, check out this day trip from Torremolinos to Marbella in which you’ll also stop at the picturesque village of Mijas.
3. Ronda
🚗 Distance by car: 1 hour and 20 minutes (105 km | 65.2 mi)
Ronda is the perfect day trip for history and food.
You can drive to Ronda, which is the quickest way to get there, but be aware of the windy roads, or book a guided tour (I recommend this one).
Wondering what to do in Ronda? Well, there are plenty of activities to keep you entertained.
One of the main highlights of Ronda is Puente Nuevo, Ronda’s bridge that divides the new town from the old town. It’s quite impressive to see.
I recommend spending most of your day in the old town, where you’ll find most museums, historic houses and monuments.
Palacio de Mondragón and Casa Museo Don Bosco are my favourites among all the museums. In these two museums, you can learn about the town, enjoy stunning mountainside views and see antiques or archaeological remains.
In addition to sightseeing, you can’t leave Ronda without eating tapas. It’s challenging to pick a tapa bar because there are so many! But El Lechuguita is my go-to. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a traditional and authentic tapa bar.
4. Gibraltar
🚗 Distance by car: 1 hour and 30 minutes (123 km | 76.4 mi)
Gibraltar is one of the most popular day trips from Torremolinos. The easiest ways to get to Gibraltar are by car or guided tour.
Is Gibraltar worth visiting? It’s a yes from me. Plus it’s possible to explore in a day.
Gibraltar’s main attractions are Top of the Rock and Upper Nature Reserve. In the latter, you’ll find caves, glass-floor paths, a suspension bridge and breathtaking views of the African coastline.
And I can’t forget to mention the famous macaques. They are friendly but can be cheeky at the same time, so don’t let your guard down or feed them.
Other activities in Gibraltar are shopping on Main Street, exploring Catalan Bay, and watching dolphins.
Regardless of how you travel to Gibraltar, take your passport with you as you’ll need to pass the passport control.
Book a guided tour
Looking for a highly-rated guided tour to Gibraltar from Torremolinos? Have a look at this tour.
5. Granada
🚗 Distance by car: 1 hour and 30 minutes (139 km | 86.4 mi)
Granada is one of the most enchanting cities in Southern Spain.
Although it deserves more than a day, you can visit its main attractions (The Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens) on a day trip from Torremolinos.
Personally, the Alhambra is the best historical building in Spain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to palaces and fortresses with meticulously decorated walls and other elements.
You’ll find anything from Moorish architectural arches to marble fountains and archaeological remains. Schedule 3 to 4 hours to visit all its buildings and gardens.
If you have time, I also suggest exploring the Albaicin neighbourhood. I love its streets lined up with shops selling rugs, Arab-style lamps and other interesting souvenirs.
Drive to Granada, take a bus from Malaga bus station, or simply book an excursion with Get Your Guide if you don’t want the hassle of planning everything ahead.
6. Cordoba
🚗 Distance by car: 1 hour and 50 minutes (170 km | 105.6 mi)
Another city that you might want to consider visiting during your time in Torremolinos is Cordoba.
You have a few options: driving, taking a 50-minute train from Malaga or booking a guided tour.
I’ve done the Malaga to Cordoba day trip by taking the train a few times.
I feel like I could’ve spent longer there, but it was enough to see the Mezquita (Cordoba Mosque-Cathedral) and explore the Jewish Quarter.
If you have time, it’s worth adding Palacio de Viana to see the traditional Andalusian courtyards (patios) decorated with flowers.
Book a guided tour
Looking for a full-day Cordoba tour from Torremolinos? Check out this one.
7. Mijas Pueblo
🚗 Distance by car: 25 minutes (18.7 km | 11.6 mi)
If you’re up for experiencing the authentic Andalusian villages, you can do so by going on a day trip to Mijas Pueblo from Torremolinos.
The easiest way to get to Mijas is by car, but you can also take the Cercanías train from Torremolinos to Fuengirola and then the bus from Fuengirola to Mijas Pueblo.
Every corner of this whitewashed village is picturesque. You’ll find streets lined up with shops selling Andalusian ceramics and tiles, flower pots hanging from the walls and windows, and bars.
I love Mijas Pueblo, but it has become popular and can get crowded, especially during the peak season.
If you go to Mijas with kids, I highly recommend visiting the Mayan Monkey Mijas chocolate factory. It’s a lot of fun! You can read about my experience here.
8. Caminito del Rey
🚗 Distance by car: 1 hour (64.8 km | 40.3 mi)
Caminito del Rey is the best day trip for nature lovers. This hiking trail is one of a kind, and if you aren’t scared of heights, you will love it.
It’s an easy hike, which I recommend doing with a guide to learn more about this place, why it’s called the Little Kings Pathway and its natural surroundings.
Tickets to Caminito del Rey quickly sell out, so it’s important you book your tickets as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can check out this guided tour to Caminito del Rey and see if there’s availability.
9. Nerja and Frigiliana
🚗 Distance by car: 55 minutes (75.1 km | 46.7 mi)
Do you want to explore two towns in a day? Visit Nerja and Frigiliana on a day trip from Torremolinos.
Start your day in Frigiliana. The town has two areas, but only the historic town is worth visiting. Wander the hilly streets home to small independent shops, take photos and have food on an outdoor terrace.
Then, head to Nerja. Explore its old town and end the day watching the sunset from one of the most special viewpoints in Costa del Sol, Balcón de Europa.
10. Seville
🚗 Distance by car: 2 hours and 20 minutes (218 km | 135.4 mi)
Can you go on a day trip from Torremolinos to Seville? Yes.
Would I recommend doing it? Only if you don’t have much time to explore Southern Spain and don’t plan to come back sometime soon. Otherwise, I’d say to skip it.
Seville is the capital of Andalusia and one of the largest cities, so one day isn’t enough to explore everything the city offers.
But if you have less than 24 hours in Seville, you shouldn’t miss Plaza de España (the most beautiful square in Spain), Seville Cathedral and the Alcazar Palace.
Since you’ll be visiting for a short period, booking a private or group tour with transport is a good idea.
11. Tangier
🚗 Distance by car: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Is a day trip from Torremolinos to Tangier worth doing?
Well, it will be a long day out, but Tangier is a great introduction to Morocco, especially if this is your first time on the African continent.
It’s possible to see Tangier’s main attractions in a day. One of the main attractions you shouldn’t miss is Tangier Medina. Wander the narrow streets, take photos and experience the vibrant atmosphere.
Also, don’t forget to try the local cuisine. Order a delicious tagine and finish your meal with a Moroccan mint tea.
You can do this trip on your own, but I advise doing this excursion with a group as travelling alone can be a bit overwhelming.
You won’t need to worry about transport logistics, how to get around Tangier, where to eat, etc. Plus, if you like learning about history and culture, you can do it by listening to the local guide.
Book a guided tour
Check out this Tangier full-day tour from Torremolinos by ferry
12. Jerez
🚗 Distance by car: 2 hours and 20 minutes (215 km | 133.6 mi)
Do you love wine and flamenco? Jerez de la Frontera is your best choice.
This town in the province of Cadiz has many interesting things to see. You can definitely explore it at your own pace, but taking a free tour will give you more insights into this charming destination.
Regardless of how you choose to discover Jerez, don’t miss the Alcazar. It’s one of the most emblematic buildings.
And no visit to Jerez is complete without going to a winery like Tio Pepe, the most famous in Southern Spain. You can try the delicious fino (a dry white wine) and other local wines there.
13. Antequera
🚗 Distance by car: 50 minutes (63.4 km | 39.4 mi)
If you fancy visiting more of an off-the-beaten-track town, consider a day trip to Antequera from Torremolinos.
This town, nestled in the mountains, has emblematic sites showcasing the history and archaeology of the area.
One of the attractions you can’t miss is the Alcazaba, one of the best fortresses in the Malaga province.
Next to the Alcazaba, there is a stunning viewpoint that overlooks El Peñón de Los Enamorados mountain.
Another great activity I recommend in Antequera is visiting Los Dólmenes de Antequera (Antequera Dolmens Site), consisting of three cultural monuments.
Every time I visit Antequera, I can’t resist having a mollete, a bun typical of the town. You can have it with Serrano ham and tomato, as well as different types of cold meat or butter and jam.
Map of the best excursions from Torremolinos
Conclusion of the best day trips from Torremolinos
I hope these day trips have inspired you to visit beyond Torremolinos.
If you’re still struggling with deciding which day trip is best for you, feel free to ask questions in the comments below.
Enjoy your time in Torremolinos!
Cristina xx
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Top things to check before travelling to Torremolinos Spain
- Book flights to Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport with Skyscanner.
- Discover all the amazing things you can do in Malaga for free in this guide.
- Have a look at this Malaga food guide to discover the traditional food in Malaga and Costa del Sol.
- Unsure where to stay? This guide will tell you the best hotels in the area.
- Rent a car in Torremolinos to travel with ease and explore other towns.
- Book travel insurance for your trip. This is a must for any trip!