Getaways from Málaga: day trips and destinations close by.

The sea in front and the sierra behind

Málaga has the sea in front and the sierra behind, and the getaways head for the sierra. Three roads share out almost all the plans. The A-45 climbs north over the Puerto de las Pedrizas to Antequera and continues towards Córdoba; at Antequera it joins the A-92, which leads to Granada, and is also the way to Priego and the Subbética. The A-357 leaves along the Guadalhorce valley towards Ardales and the Caminito del Rey and, with the A-367, reaches Ronda, gateway to the Serranía, to Setenil de las Bodegas and to the Sierra de Grazalema. The A-7 runs east along the coast and, via Órgiva, climbs to La Alpujarra.

Without a car there are two exits that work. The Renfe regional train reaches El Chorro in about 45 minutes and drops you beside the Caminito shuttle, so you can do the whole route without driving. Antequera can be reached by high-speed train or Alsa bus, and the centre is toured on foot; El Torcal, however, has no public transport.

The Antequera dolmens, free with an EU ID card

Under an hour is Antequera (50 minutes): the Menga and Viera dolmens, free with an EU ID card, the Alcazaba and the Collegiate Church, and in the afternoon El Torcal, once the road reopens.

A little further, between one and one and a half hours, are the Caminito del Rey (60 minutes), eight kilometres of walkways over the Gaitanes gorge, and Priego and Zuheros (90), with the Fuente del Rey and the Cueva de los Murciélagos, which can only be visited with a reservation.

Between an hour and a half and two hours is the Serranía: Ronda and the Genal valley (95 minutes), Setenil (108) and the three Poqueira villages in the Alpujarra (110). At the edge of two hours, Capileira and Trevélez, Zahara and the Majaceite river in Grazalema and the necropolis of Carmona, all three at 120.

What goes beyond two hours already calls for a night: Sierra Nevada in two nights (130 minutes), the Sierra de Cazorla and Cabo de Gata, both at 170, and Doñana and El Rocío, a little over three hours away.

The Caminito closes on Mondays, and sometimes for wind or rain

From October to May is the season for almost everything leaving Málaga: the Caminito, Antequera, Setenil and Grazalema are designed for those months, and in July and August they are not recommended. The Caminito closes on Mondays and can close for rain or wind; in the hot months, take the 9:00 slot.

In winter, from December to April, the snow is a little over two hours away: a Sunday of skiing in Sierra Nevada or a snowshoe climb to the Veleta, setting out early by motorway to Granada.

In spring, with the countryside green, you walk the Alpujarra and tour Ronda on a Sunday, from the Puente Nuevo to the Arab Baths, which close at 15:00 on Sunday.

In summer it is best to go up: the Poqueira villages on foot, setting out early, or two nights in the Alpujarra, in Capileira, at almost 1,500 metres.

In autumn, from the end of October to November, the Genal chestnut trees turn from yellow to copper. They can be seen on a Sunday in the Copper Forest with tapas in Ronda or on a two-night weekend; the valley roads are narrow, and on November Sundays, busy.

The Caminito del Rey by regional train to El Chorro

• Without a car, in a day: the Caminito del Rey on a Sunday. Regional train to El Chorro, shuttle to the start, the walkways downhill and lunch at La Garganta, next to the station. Tickets only on the official website.
• 50 minutes away: Antequera with one night. On Saturday, dolmens and Alcazaba; on Sunday, the guided Ammonites Route through El Torcal and lunch at the Torcal Alto.
• Towards the Serranía: Setenil along the Mills route. The valley in the morning, before the cave streets fill up, and lunch in the village. If you prefer to sleep there, Ronda with one night.