Port guide: Malaga, Spain
This gritty working-class city gets overlooked amid Andalusia's competition, but you'll be surprised at how lovely and lively it is.
Who goes there
More than 200 cruise ships visit Malaga over the summer season. Some are on Mediterranean cruises, some about to cross the Atlantic towards North America, others on their way around the Iberian Peninsula to northern Europe. Azamara, Celebrity, Oceania, Silversea, Viking and Virgin Voyages, plus expedition lines such as Scenic and Ponant, are among the many lines that visit.
Sail on in
This is far from cruising's most splendid port, but you can't really complain about the sparkling Mediterranean and biscuit-brown mountains of Andalusia. Closer to shore, you'll see the cathedral (known as the One-Armed Lady because its second tower was never built) and the remains of a Moorish-era hilltop fort, one of the most significant Islamic fortifications remaining in Spain.
Berth rites
Malaga has made a big effort to attract cruise ships. Larger ships dock at Terminals A or B at Eastern Dock, and at both terminals you'll find a tourist information centre, a few shops and souvenir stores, an ATM and currency exchange booth. You can hit the beach a short walk away, while the town is a 20-minute walk. The port authority runs a paid shuttle into the city centre. Smaller ships tie up at Terminal C or the Palm Grove Terminal, which has similar facilities and is almost right in town.
Going ashore
You've every reason to spend the day independently in Malaga, which is very walkable, starting with its attractive waterfront lined by palm-studded parks. The old town is lively but also has history dating back to Phoenician times and a thriving contemporary arts scene: both Centre Pompidou Malaga and Museo Carmen Thyssen Malaga are worth visiting. But really, you'd be just as happy to wander from fort to gardens, cathedral to cafe.
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