7 Best Things To Do In Moclinejo (A Hidden Gem In Malaga)

The Axarquia region on the eastern side of Malaga is completely underrated. It offers a different side of the coast with its beaches, marinas and international restaurants and bars.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the coast and Malaga, my city, but you indeed need to leave the city to find the most authentic side of our culture and traditions, and you’ll encounter them in places like Moclinejo.

I couldn’t believe I hadn’t visited this part of the Axarquia until recently, and it has taught me more about our wine and raisin culture.

Moclinejo is the definition of rural tourism. If you love mountains and food, you’ll definitely love this town.

In this guide, I’ll cover the best things to do in Moclinejo, where to eat and suggestions on other towns you might also want to visit.

Pinterest pin that shows a collage with four images of Moclinejo, a town in Malaga.

This post contains affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click through and purchase something, I receive a small commission on the price at no extra cost to you. This helps me keep the content up to date and make other improvements to the blog.

Table of Contents

Things to do and see in Moclinejo and El Valdés

1. Visit the Casa Museo Axarquia

A wall full of paintings inside Casa Museo Axarquia.

A close up photo of a wooden sculpture of a chamaleon.

The main highlight of Moclinejo is Casa Museo Axarquia, at least to me. This house museum, located in El Valdés, a district of Moclinejo, is impressive and a must-see when exploring the Axarquia.

This isn’t just any museum, and you’ll realise this as soon as you see it. It reminded me of an artwork of the well-renowned artist Gaudí, who built the awe-inspiring Sagrada Familia and other emblematic buildings outside Barcelona. In fact, this museum is referred to as the Gaudimuseum of the Axarquia.

A colourful tiled bell tower against the white-painted building with stunning details, including a tiled map of all the towns that form the Axarquia region. Every corner is a surprise, and I couldn’t believe it was built in only one year! In 2005.

It’s important to note that it’s a private museum, and you can’t just turn up and visit its inside. I booked my guided visit with Jose from Axartrips.

He’s a local guide who has plenty of knowledge of the town, the museum and the local produce: raisins and wine! Besides knowledge, he’s very friendly, and I could tell he loves what he does.

When you enter the house museum, you’ll be amazed by the items, the staircase, stained glass, and paintings, among others. There are many things to look at, from Seville-style tiles to wine bottles in the stairs that lead to the cellar to the wooden carved chameleon, which happily lives in the area. Every single object represents something of the region or Andalusia.

The house has a total of five floors and a rooftop with beautiful views of the mountains and the sea.

Although there’s so much to see, one of the things that I found most fascinating was learning about the hard work involved in collecting raisins, especially when it’s still all done the old-fashioned way.

At the end of the visit, I tried three different wines (one sweet, one white and one vermouth), which I couldn’t believe all came from the same grapes! They tasted so different. The wine was accompanied by local almonds and raisins, which, by the way, are the best.

These raisins are protected, and you’ll know they’re the authentic Pasa Moscatel when you see the certified stamp in the boxes.

2. Wander its streets

A whitepainted street with a mosaic mural in the town of Moclinejo, Malaga.

Triangle-shaped vintage-style label painted on a white wall, showing a woman with dark hair, gold hoop earrings, and flowers in her hair, wearing a blue shawl. The label reads 'Finest Malaga Muscatel Raisins' and 'Raisins Secs Muscats de Malaga.' A small note below says, 'Réplica de antigua etiqueta de pasas de Málaga exportada por todo el mundo #TerritorioSIPAM #visitMoclinejo.

The streets of Moclinejo are an outdoor museum. I love coming across tiled fountains, stairs, benches, labels of traditional raisin brands on the walls and street art representing those who work hard to produce the wine. They really stand out with the whole town painted in white.

It’s lovely wandering the streets, and if you love taking photos as much as I do, you won’t be able to put your camera down.

I also saw an old telephone cabin used as a free library, which I think is a fantastic idea to encourage people to read and share books that would otherwise just remain on a shelf.

3. Find the Tooth Fairy’s house

Casa Ratón Pérez de Moclinejo. — Casa Ratón Pérez de Moclinejo

The equivalent of the Tooth Fairy in Spain is the Ratón Pérez, a mouse who takes children’s teeth and brings them small presents or money.

In Moclinejo, you can find its house. It’s built into the bottom of a wall, in a regular street of the town. Believe me, you need to pay attention so you don’t miss it. You could easily walk up or down the street without realising it is there.

It’s a great activity to do with children!

The Vain Little Mouse house built in a brick block in Moclinejo, Malaga. — Who doesn’t love finding unique things like this?

Similarly, you can also see the house of “La Ratita Presumida”, which is translated to the Vain Little Mouse. I thought the mouse was difficult to find. Well, this one is even more complicated. There are a couple of rounded tiles on the floor indicating the way, but it’s built into one of the bricks in the Rambla de las Flores.

4. Try the local dishes

A wooden table with two glasses of local wine and a rounded board with raisins, almonds and breadsticks. — The local raisins and wine are packed with flavour.

As a foodie, I couldn’t visit Moclinejo without trying one of its speciality dishes.

I had lunch at Restaurante Reyes, recommended by the local guide, in the heart of the town. The restaurant has a local charm, and the staff are very attentive.

I had the sirloin with Pedro Ximenez and raisin sauce. The meat was tender and the sauce was tasty. It’s the type of sauce you want to keep dipping bread in.

Another reason to have this specific dish is under “platos benéficos”, which means that some of the money is given to charity. In this case, it goes towards children with health problems.

Other dishes I didn’t try, but are very traditional and recommended by other travellers, are the goat stew and migas (breadcrumbs with chorizo and other toppings).

And if you love animals, the restaurant has an animal shelter that has been awarded several times for its dedication, care, and passion for animals.

Whether you have food at this restaurant or not, I highly recommend getting some raisins from the area. They’re the best I’ve ever had. The sweet wine of Comares, another lovely town in the Axarquia, is delicious too!

5. Check out Sala de Exposiciones Antonio Segovia Lobillo

Stairs leading to the Antonio Segovia Lobillo art gallery. — The mosaic details around the town are so beautiful!

Unfortunately, this museum was closed when I visited Moclinejo; however, I saw its exterior, and it was a lovely discovery next to Plaza de España, the town’s main square. I love the stairs with tiles leading to the museum and other objects, like a colourful tiled treasure chest.

Inside, you can find works from local and international artists.

6. See the local church

The view of a cobblestone street and the tower church of Moclinejo. — You can get beautiful views across Moclinejo.

Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Gracia is Moclinejo’s local church, built in the 16th century, although it went through significant changes in the 18th century.

The church consists of a single nave flanked by another, which is separated by stone columns and capitals.

If you go inside the church, you’ll find pictures of St Bartholomew, the Holy Virgin and a crucified one in the middle of the main altar.

7. Visit a nearby town

Visiting Moclinejo doesn’t take much more than four hours, if you do the guided visit to the house museum and have a meal. Therefore, why not visit another town on your way to Moclinejo?

For example, I travelled from Malaga and went via Rincon de la Victoria, passing through Benagalbón, one of the towns, before going up the mountains. You can make a stop here before or after.

However, you can also visit El Borge or Almáchar, which are also part of the Raisin Route.

Map with all the main attractions in Moclinejo

FAQ about Moclinejo

What’s Moclinejo known for?

It’s known for its raisin and wine culture.

Do you need a full day in Moclinejo?

No, you don’t need a full day. You’d spend a few hours in the town, a bit longer if taking a guided tour.

What’s the best way to get to Moclinejo from Malaga?

There’s no public transportation from Malaga to Moclinejo. You’ll need to drive there, which takes about 40 minutes.

When is the best time to visit Moclinejo?

Autumn, especially during September and October. If you go in the first half of September, you might be able to attend the Fiesta de viñeros festival, which is usually on the 14th of the month.

Conclusion: Is Moclinejo worth visiting?

Yes! Moclinejo is a charming, rural small town that represents the raisin culture in Malaga, and if you’re into more authentic experiences and lesser-known locations, you’ll definitely enjoy visiting it.

It’s among the few towns in Malaga listed in Pueblos Mágicos de España (Magical Towns of Spain).

If you’d like to discover more hidden gems and fantastic locations in Malaga and beyond, join my biweekly newsletter so you’ll get them directly to your inbox.

Enjoy your time in Moclinejo!

Cristina