Car Hire Málaga Airport (AGP) with Avis

Malaga is the eponymous capital city of Malaga Province in the region of Andalucia. Nicknamed the Costa del Sol due to its shimmering Mediterranean waters and year-round sunshine, this slice of southern Spain offers everything from towering mountains to pretty plazas and laid-back tapas bars.

Malaga city was founded by the Phoenicians almost 3,000 years ago, and with so much history, the city is full of wonderful architecture, beautiful churches and award-winning museums spanning the millennia right up to modern times – including the Picasso Foundation and the Centre Pompidou Malaga.

But escape the city and the region really comes into its own. There’s something to appeal to all tastes, from the glamour of Marbella to the old-world charm and sophistication of Granada and its magnificent Alhambra Palace. The landscape rises from golden, sun-baked beaches to the rocky outcrops of the Sierra de las Nieves National Park, some 1,000m above sea level. In between, there are charming pueblos blancos (white villages), beautiful boutique haciendas, bodegas making delicious ronda wines and some of Spain’s best jamón producers.

Most people, however, come for the beaches. Many stick to the resort-fringed seashores, but when you hire a car at Malaga Airport you can discover the secret coves and quiet expanses of sand favoured by in-the-know locals.

For those enticed by the great outdoors, the National Parks dotted around Andalucia offer spectacular scenery and challenging hikes. While those more interested in food can feast at charming chiringuitos (little seafront eateries) on fish and seafood plucked straight from local waters. Refined tastes will also find fulfilment at one of the 16 Michelin-starred restaurants spread across the region.

More than 3,000 fiestas occur within Andalucia every year, ranging from village fairs that celebrate the harvesting of sun-ripened olives and grapes in the autumn, to the blooming beauty of Spain’s best flower show at the beginning of May, the highly-anticipated Patios de Córdoba.

While summer is the busiest season in Malaga, spring and autumn are also wonderful times to visit, as the crowds disappear but the warmth remains. Winter can get surprisingly cold, especially when higher up in more remote, mountainous areas.

In order to get the most out of your visit, make sure you hire a car at Malaga Airport with Avis to explore everything the region has to offer.