Why Malaga Is Underrated For Road Cycling

Sometimes the best experiences are found off the beaten path.

This video gives a small impression of the stunning routes we discovered in Malaga. We’re totally in love with the place.

// ROUTES //
Here is a post with all the routes we rode, including maps and GPS files you can download: https://www.wattkg.com/cycling-routes-malaga/

// HOW TO GET THERE //
Direct flights from pretty much any big city in Europe. Pre-book a taxi from the Airport for the 20 minute shuttle.

// WHERE TO STAY //
We opted for an Airbnb just on the border of the old town. Which was perfect. This provided walking distance to all the best places you’d want to visit, including grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, (night clubs) and the Service Course.

// WHERE TO EAT //
Ended up becoming a regular at Byoko. I’m not particularly big on organic food per se, but fell in love with this place. Pizzamore had the best pizza I’ve ever tasted (and that’s saying something). Not a place to sit down to eat, so make it take-away. And probably heaps of places we never got to see. I’d go back just for the pizza alone.

If you’re tired of riding  in the cold, wind and rain,   let me show you an amazing place that you probably  haven’t considered for your winter training camp.  It was the time of the year when  you’re fed up with darkness. 

Curious to see warmer and new places we crossed  our fingers and booked a flight to a destination   we had never visited before. Malaga.  Upon arrival, our first impression  of the city was a bit underwhelming.  It was kind of hard to find our way  out of the city, and the climb out of  

The city didn’t really have that much to offer. But as the days went on, and our rides ventured   further into the country side, this absolute  gem of a cycling location revealed itself.  Around Malaga, the inland is separated from the  coastline by a series of criss-crossing valleys. 

And the great thing is that pretty much  every single ridge between the valleys   has a great tarmac road running  all along the top of the ridge.  Unlike most places, where you can only  ride through the bottom of a valley,  

In Malaga, you can ride on top of them. This makes for some spectacular bike routes.  We spent 14 days in the Spanish coastal town and  got more excited for every day that passed.   Each revealing new amazing climbs,  rolling hills and spectacular views. 

We left feeling that we had so  many great routes yet to explore.  Adding to the fantastic cycling,  there were so many aspects of   Malaga that came together to make  it an all around great experience.   A gorgeous old town that gives you that authentic  feeling of living embedded in the local community.  

And to our surprise, it felt far less touristy  than most places we have visited before.  On top of that, prices were noticeably cheaper  than in Gran Canaria and Mallorca, and the food   was amazing, with an abundance of nice cafes and  restaurants with affordable and high quality food. 

The old town even had a recently opened Service  Course store, which really is a sign that Malaga   is an up and coming cycling destination. If you want to see the exact routes that   we rode when we were in Malaga, I’ll  drop the links in the description.