© ParadoresHotelParador de Antequera
Why we like it: Modern Parador among gardens, next to the bullring and the bus station, with a seasonal pool, a playground and free parking.
Duration1 night
From Málaga50 min by car
Budget€110–190 pp
Best timeSeptember – May
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed for arriving mid-morning on Saturday and returning on Sunday afternoon, from September to May, when the Ammonites Route runs. Before you go, book the route at torcaldeantequera.com and Saturday's table at Arte de Cozina.
Saturday
- 111:00Menga and Viera dolmens
Free with an EU ID. Start at the Site Museum.
- 212:30El Romeral tholos
3 km away, with the same ticket.
- 314:00Lunch in the centre
Leave the car at the hotel or on Plaza de Castilla.
- 416:30Alcazaba and Collegiate Church
Combined ticket, €8. The last entry is at 17:15: go up in good time for sunset over the vega.
- 521:00Dinner at Arte de Cozina
Charo Carmona's Antequera recipe book, at the table or the tapas bar.
Sunday
- 19:00Up to El Torcal
Before the top car park fills, 15 km on the A-7075.
- 210:30Ammonites Route
Three hours and 4.5 km with a guide through the Torcal Alto, €13.50. From age 6.
- 314:00Lunch at the Torcal Alto and the drive back
Porra antequerana and bienmesabe on the terrace. Then 50 minutes to Málaga.
In a day Antequera is seen in a rush; with a night you give El Torcal the morning it deserves. Saturday is for the city: the dolmens, which on Saturday are open until 18:00 in autumn and winter, the Alcazaba and a dinner of old recipes. On Sunday you go up early to the Torcal, before the road is cut off, for the guided Ammonites Route.
Where to sleep?
| Accommodation | For whom | What it has |
|---|---|---|
| Parador de Antequera | Families, those arriving by bus | Garden, seasonal pool, playground, free parking |
| Hostería Arte de Cozina | Couples who come to eat well | A 17th-century house in the centre, from €59 a double |
| Hotel Finca Eslava | Those travelling by car | An 18th-century farmhouse with a garden and pool, next to El Romeral |
If you go with children or a dog
With children aged 4 to 8, swap the Ammonites Route for El Torcal en Familia, an hour and a half, at €8.50. The Parador has a pool and a playground. With a dog, remember that animals are not allowed into the dolmens; the Alcazaba and the free trails of the Torcal, yes, on a lead.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Antequera, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Antequera
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
By car on the A-45, and on foot in the old town
Antequera is at the junction of the A-45 and the A-92: about 50 minutes from Málaga, an hour and a quarter from Granada and an hour and a half from Córdoba. You need the car for El Torcal, 15 km away, and to go from the Menga and Viera dolmens to El Romeral. The old town is seen on foot: leave the car in a car park in the centre.
60–120 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepParador de Antequera, with free…
- Getting aroundTo El Torcal along the…
- Where to eatArte de Cozina, on Calle…
- Services24-hour car park on Plaza…
Where to sleep
- Parador de Antequera, with free outdoor parking
- Hotel Finca Eslava, on the Córdoba road, with parking
- Arte de Cozina, in the centre; park at Plaza de Castilla
Getting around
- To El Torcal along the A-7075; at weekends, before 9:00 or after the afternoon reopening
- Between the two dolmen sites, five minutes by car
- Free car parks at La Moraleda, Plaza de Jesús and Calle Saeta
Where to eat
- Arte de Cozina, on Calle Calzada
- Torcal Alto restaurant, at the visitor centre
Services
- 24-hour car park on Plaza de Castilla, with an information point
- Free motorhome area on Calle Miguel de Cervantes
Car-free, by train or bus from Málaga
Antequera can be done without a car: the Málaga train reaches the Antequera AV station and the Alsa bus the bus station, next to the Parador. The old town, the Alcazaba and the Menga and Viera dolmens are covered on foot or by urban bus. What has no public transport is El Torcal: a taxi or an organised visit.
55–110 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepParador de Antequera, next to…
- Getting aroundTrain Málaga María Zambrano…
- Where to eatArte de Cozina, in the…
- ServicesTourist office on Calle Encarnación
Where to sleep
- Parador de Antequera, next to the bus station
- Arte de Cozina, in the historic centre
Getting around
- Train Málaga María Zambrano – Antequera AV, 2 km from the centre
- Alsa bus from Málaga and from the airport
- Urban bus line 1 to the dolmens and the hospital, near El Romeral
Where to eat
- Arte de Cozina, in the centre
- Parador restaurant
Services
- Tourist office on Calle Encarnación
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights1
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingwithout a car
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
© ParadoresHotel
Arte de Cozina Guesthouse
Why we like it: Rooms above Charo Carmona's restaurant, in a 17th-century house in the centre of Antequera, from €59 a double.
From €59
View details
Hotel Restaurante Finca Eslava
Why we like it: An 18th-century Andalusian cortijo turned four-star hotel on the way out of Antequera towards Córdoba, with gardens, a pool, a restaurant and a sports club.
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| Old town | Alcazaba, Collegiate Church, museums and restaurants | |
| Dolmen site | Menga and Viera, at the entrance on the Málaga road | |
| El Torcal | Natural site 15 km away, at 1,200 metres altitude |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Antequera
Arte de Cozina
What to order: an assortment of porras to share, the partridge in gazpacho broth or the suckling kid, and bienmesabe for dessert
Torcal Alto Restaurant
What to order: the porra antequerana to start, the plato torcaleño or the migas, and bienmesabe for dessert
© ParadoresParador de Antequera Restaurant
What to order: the Antequera dishes on the menu, made with produce from the vega
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
Go up to El Torcal before 9:00 on Sunday: you drive all the way to the top and don't depend on the shuttle.
We'd skip it
July and August: the Ammonites Route doesn't run and midday in the old town is very hot.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Málaga to Antequera?
About 50 minutes on the A-45, 49 km.
Where to sleep in Antequera?
At the Parador, next to the bus station; at Arte de Cozina, in the centre; or at Finca Eslava, on the outskirts.
Do I need to book the Ammonites Route?
Yes, on the visitor centre website. It runs at weekends and public holidays from September to May.
How much does the getaway cost?
Between €110 and €190 per person with the night, tickets, the guided route and meals.