09 May Andalusia Travel Guide (Part 3) – Granada, Nerja, Frigiliana & Malaga
After reading my first two articles(here and here), we come to the end of my big Andalucia trip in this final part.
Granada, Nerja, Frigiliana and Malaga are the last four places I visited in Andalucia and each one has its own beauty, a beauty that makes me think about going back there again.
As I write these lines, I look back at those 15 days spent in Spain and think how lucky I was to move so much, to see so many things, to eat amazing tapas and to meet so many pleasant people.
But let’s not keep you waiting and let’s start with..
Granada
Before I start writing about the must-see places in Granada, let me tell you that I loved it and I think that while you could skip places like Jerez, Granada is a must.
So let’s get down to business and see what I think are the must-see places here.
Albaicin
I bet you expected another place to be first on my list and even though that is the most important attraction in Granada, I definitely recommend visiting Albaicin, the old Arabic quarter of Granada.
It is all white, with small, narrow, twisted alleys where you will definitely get lost—and yes, you should see it.
Sacromonte
The gypsy quarter of Granada, filled with caves where locals still live. If you pass through the area at night, you will hear music, laughter and joy from far away. 
I remember waiting at the Alhambra for the night tour, watching Sacromonte and hearing the shouts, laughter and music.
The Alhambra
A unique place, a special place that needs to be seen by anyone. You can buy your tickets right here and I strongly suggest checking the calendar carefully because entry is timed and fixed. That’s how busy this place is. 
However, once inside, you will still find moments of solitude and truly enjoy the place.
I recommend both a day visit and a night visit (like I did). The Alhambra is stunning during the day and absolutely magical at night.
For all photo lovers, please check the entrance rules (I think tripods are not allowed, unlike at the Alcazar of Cordoba, for example).
I am sure that if you look up Generalife or the Court of Lions, you will instantly recognize these places as they are world-famous—and for good reason.
Initially, I wanted to write more here, but I think a few pictures do more justice, and if you ever go there, you will enjoy discovering the beauty of the place on your own.
Catedral de Granada and the Royal Chapel of Granada
Churches in Spain are truly something special, and the Catedral de Granada is no exception.
If you remember my accommodation article in Granada, you will see that the Cathedral is centrally located, easy to reach and definitely worth visiting.
Monasterio de San Jeronimo
Another monastery? And a 4 euro ticket price?
Yes.
I loved it and I really think the interior will leave you in awe.
Maybe this place is not as famous as the Alhambra or the Granada Cathedral, but believe me, it is totally worth it.
As you may recall from my trips, I rarely visited so many religious sites in one journey, but Spain is different—and Spain during Holy Week is something that truly cannot be explained.
Two small places, each special in its own way.
Nerja & Frigiliana
Nerja has the beach and Balcon de Europa, while Frigiliana is pure white magic.
Frigiliana and Nerja can both be visited in a single day and if I were to return, this is exactly how I would do it.
First, when visiting Frigiliana, keep in mind that the village is split into two parts—the old and the new.
As expected, the old part is the highlight, so I would go early in the morning and just wander its small, cobbled, empty streets.
After 10:00, tourist buses started arriving, so I retreated towards Nerja, and I recommend you do the same.
You need no more than two hours to explore Frigiliana and, being so close to Nerja, it makes for a perfect stop.
A one-way taxi cost me around 20 euros, while the return bus was just one or two euros.
I took an early cab to arrive very early and have the streets almost entirely to myself.
However, after getting some sun in Nerja and maybe watching the sunset from Balcon de Europa, you have two options.
If you enjoy night photography, you can return to Frigiliana and see how the white buildings look at night, or you can stay in Nerja and relax after a long day.
Either way, both places deserve a visit and should be on your map.
Malaga
There’s a slim chance you have never heard of Malaga. And if you have, you probably picture palm trees and beaches—and you wouldn’t be wrong.
Yes, Malaga has both, but the city has so much more to offer.
Even though I would pick Seville any day over Malaga, I still had a great time here, and this city marked the end of my 15-day journey through Andalucia.
I already posted an article about a place where I ate several times, and I cannot recommend it enough.
Really.
It’s that good.
So what did I enjoy visiting in Malaga?
The Picasso Museum
I don’t know if I ever mentioned this, but I am a huge fan of Picasso. I have seen his works in Barcelona, Vienna, Bucharest and many other cities, so visiting the museum in his birthplace was only natural.
You can buy a ticket from here and 9 euros is not a high price when it comes to Picasso—at least in my opinion.
Malaga Cathedral
By far one of the most impressive churches I saw on this trip. The ticket is 10 euros and can be bought online from here. Of course, there are cheaper options, but this one includes access inside the Cathedral and on the roof, so I think it is worth it.
Alcazaba de Malaga
and
Castillo Gibralfaro
You can visit only the Alcazaba for 3.50 euros, but for 5.50 euros you get a combined ticket for both, which is definitely worth it. From the top of Castillo Gibralfaro, you get great views over the bullring, the harbour and part of the beach, and the road leading up offers great opportunities for night photography.
There are many other interesting sights in Malaga, such as the beach, the bullring, the Roman theatre or the port, but I have listed the places that stood out the most for me.
I won’t deny I loved spending time at the beach on a warm spring day, watching the waves and hearing small green parrots all around me—but that is a story for another, shorter article.
There you have it.
More than 5500 words detailing my impressions from this beautiful trip to Andalucia. I am sure many of you have visited these places, maybe seen even more or enjoyed different experiences—and that is perfectly fine.
This is what I loved about this trip and what I will always remember as one of the best journeys I have ever made.
The beauty of these places, the warmth of the locals, the amazing food, the photos, and the Holy Week I witnessed will always stay with me.
Now that this chapter is over, I am certain I will return to this part of Spain.
I don’t know exactly when, but I do know I will come back and try to explore even more places—places I may have missed on my first trip.
This was the final part of my Andalusia trip. If you want to follow the full route, start with Part 1 and continue with Part 2.
You can also find all my experiences across Spain in my Spain Travel Guide.
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