The world is flocking to the cultural city of Malaga

MALAGA has always been a popular arrivals hub for those visiting the Costa del Sol, but over the last few years locals have witnessed its transformation from a stop-off point to a must-visit destination where travelers want to hang around. 

These days, the capital´s delectable cuisine, grand architecture and year-round sunshine are common knowledge, thanks in part to a prestigious list published by the New York Times.  

In 2008, Malaga was ranked number 45 in the newspaper´s annual “52 places to go” list, with special mention given to its impressive la Alcazaba Moorish fort. Fast forward eight years and Malaga has appeared on this list again, but this time in a higher position at number 43. 

It is thought that the city´s rapid cultural transformation is to thank for this surge in popularity. The birthplace of Picasso has risen to meet its destiny by playing host to the ´Pop up´ Pompidou Centre on the Port, the St Petersburg Museum and the Carmen Thyssen Museum, none of which have gone unnoticed by one of the largest and most influential newspapers in the world. 

The trendy city´s recently opened Delta Airline route to New York may also have held some sway in its ascent to position 43. The New York Times credits this new route as making “the new face” of Malaga more accessible to visitors, while the AVE train links to Madrid and Barcelona are also a big draw for those wishing to add Andalucia to their travel plans.