We arrived in Málaga past midnight on the 9th, exhausted but relieved to have made it. Our flight had been delayed due to a storm, which in turn affected our flight from Cologne, but in the end, all that mattered was that we were safe.
At almost 1:30 a.m., we stepped out of the airport and decided to take a Cabify to our hotel, Eurostars Málaga. It was a change from our usual travel routine—we hadn’t taken a cab since 2018, always preferring the metro or buses.
But with a baby and the late hour, convenience won. To our surprise, the fare was only 11 euros, though I noticed how the price fluctuated by the minute, a small but interesting quirk of ride-hailing services.
The next morning, we let ourselves rest. The rain outside gave us the perfect excuse to take things slow, enjoying a relaxed buffet breakfast at the hotel.
It was only by lunchtime that we finally stepped out, heading to Centro Comercial Larios Centro, expecting to explore the mall. However, only the restaurants were open. We made the best of it, having lunch at Udon Málaga before deciding to walk to the city center.
To our surprise, some shops were open despite it being a Sunday, and we spent the afternoon strolling through the streets, soaking in the atmosphere with no particular destination in mind.
It was a simple yet enjoyable way to experience the city, a contrast to our past travels where we would rush to visit as many landmarks as possible.
On the 10th, we set out to explore La Rosaleda Mall, where our daughter had the time of her life. She rode buses, motorcycles, and every ride she could find in the children’s play area, giggling with delight. Seeing her so happy made our day.
Later, we visited Mercado Central de Atarazanas, a bustling market much like those we had seen in Seville and Valencia. We didn’t stay long—just enough to take in the sights and pick up some fresh fruit for our daughter.
Afterward, we returned to the hotel for her afternoon nap. Once she woke up, we made our way to Designer Outlet Málaga, which turned out to be even bigger than we had expected.
We wandered through the shops, starting at Coach, then moving to Michael Kors and several other boutiques. Though we didn’t shop much, just walking through the beautifully designed outlet was an experience in itself.
Dinner that evening was another Japanese buffet, similar to one we love in Bielefeld, though with the difference that desserts weren’t included. The portions, however, were so generous that, unlike other Japanese restaurants where we usually order 3 to 5 sets, we only needed up to 2 sets this time.
Our daughter found her own entertainment watching the water fountains and the airplanes flying overhead, making it a lovely end to the day.
The 11th was all about sightseeing. We took the hop-on, hop-off bus, letting it carry us through the best of Málaga. The sun was out, warming our faces as we sat on the open-air deck, enjoying the city from a different perspective.
Our journey started near the port, where the sparkling blue waters reflected the morning light. We passed by the Centre Pompidou, its colorful cube standing out as a modern touch against Málaga’s historic charm.
Moving forward, we saw the Plaza de la Marina, a vibrant square lined with palm trees and surrounded by elegant buildings.
As the bus drove on, we admired the grand architecture of the Ayuntamiento de Málaga, the city hall, with its impressive white façade. We then passed by the lush Paseo del Parque, a long stretch of greenery filled with exotic plants and fountains.
Not far from there, the grand Plaza de Toros de La Malagueta came into view, a historic bullring with a classic circular design. We continued toward La Malagueta Beach, where people were already out enjoying the sea breeze.
The ride then took us uphill toward Castillo de Gibralfaro. Along the way, we passed by the English Cemetery, an old but fascinating historical site. As the bus climbed higher, we reached the Mirador de Gibralfaro, one of the most scenic viewpoints in Málaga.
From there, we could see the entire city—the port, the rooftops, the lush green spaces, and the endless blue of the Mediterranean. It was breathtaking.
While we admired the view, our daughter found joy in something far simpler. She spotted a dove and started playing with it, then another joined, then another, until she was surrounded by four. She ran after them, laughing, completely immersed in her own little world.
Eventually, exhaustion took over, and she fell into a deep nap. While she slept in the stroller, we stopped by the city center for lunch at Udon Málaga. Though the food was not as satisfying as our previous meals, the friendly Filipino staff made us feel welcome.
Afterward, we returned to the hotel to let our daughter finish her nap before heading back to Designer Outlet Málaga for one last visit. We explored more of the shops, taking in the beautifully designed surroundings while our daughter enjoyed every moment. It was a peaceful and happy evening, the perfect way to wrap up our trip.
The next day, we flew back home to Germany. A part of us wished we could extend our stay, but we also needed time to rest before returning to work. Looking back, this trip felt different from the ones we used to take before having a child.
Back then, we would rush from one landmark to another, eager to check off as many places as possible. But now, our priorities had shifted. It was no longer about how much we saw—it was about how much our daughter enjoyed. Watching her find joy in the simplest things, from chasing doves to watching airplanes, made the trip even more special. And in the end, that was what truly mattered.
