The top 5 running routes in Málaga City
Málaga is, quite simply, a runner’s paradise. With 300 days of sunshine a year there is ample time to get outdoors and stretch your legs. Whether it’s a 10pm sunset run in June or a barmy 20c Christmas day outing (Malaga has the warmest winters of any major European city), there’s no real excuse not get out there and get moving. The scenery is varied too. Urban parks blend into beachfront paseos and wildlife reserves merge seamlessly with mountain trails.
The below are my top 5 running routes within the city itself (anything within the municipality of Málaga). There is plenty of fun to be had elsewhere too — not least the Senda Litoral (Coastal Path) that runs across 80% (some 200km) of the seafront in the province — not too shabby. But if you find yourself in the city on holiday, or happy to be one of the lucky ones who get to call this place home then I hope the below can be of some use.
For each route I’ve added a link out to Mapometer which provides more on the exact route and elevation. Don’t feel stuck to those routes of course — each can easily be made shorter, longer or more varied based on your preference. Go with your flow.
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Route 1 — Parque Del Guadalhorce
Distance — circa 8km
Terrain — Road, Trail
Elevation — Flat
My favourite place to run in the city, bar none. Located on the western outskirts (near the airport), the natural park runs for some 122 hectares, leaving plenty of space to get lost in your thoughts.
The park consists of 5 man made lakes, and is flanked on either side by the Guadalhorce river. In the wetlands themselves you’ll find a plethora of wildlife, from migrating birds on a stopover to mammals and reptiles who are native to the park. Look hard enough and you’ll see rabbits, foxes, otters, chameleon, flat fish and eels.
A recent addition in late 2020 (Covid delayed the launch by 6+ months) was Europe’s largest wooden pedestrian bridge. 200 tonnes of Scandinavian pine and 15 tonnes of stainless steel have combined to provide at some 270 metres of vistas across the park and the surrounding areas. Worth a visit in of itself.
As you can imagine there are endless routes you can try within the park, but my favourite starts on the seafront of the urbanisation of Guadalmar, passes through to the southwestern entrance, across both bridges that cross either side of the Guadalhorce and then back down to the seafront at observatory Espigon de Levante. And then back again.
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Route 2 — Centro (La Farola) to Baños del Carmen
Distance — 7km
Terrain — Road
Elevation — Flat
A great route that starts in the centre of town and heads out towards the East of the city. Your starting point at La Farola (lighthouse) provides a spectacular backdrop, with the city, the port, the cathedral, the Alcazaba and the Gibralfaro all in the same vista. Worth getting a quick snap in before you begin your trot.
Not that the rest of the run lacks in any wow factor — for the majority of it you’ll find yourself running with a full view of the sea, the Eastern bay of Málaga and the mountains. Much of the route also features in the city’s annual marathon (and half marathon), and with such prime running real estate you won’t find any shortage of fellow runners to help set your pace.
The midway point are los Baños del Carmen, a bastion of history for the city, which amongst other things served as the first ground of the mighty Malaga CF before they moved to La Rosaleda.
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Route 3 — Pedregalejo to El Peñón del Cuervo
Distance — 8.7km
Terrain — Road
Elevation — Mainly flat
Pedregalejo is my favourite place in Málaga. Located about 5km to the east of the centre you’ll find the former fishing village packed with locals (and tourists alike) enjoying a cana or sharing a freshly cooked espeto de sardinas. Starting here will provide that extra incentive to get back as fast as possible to join in the fun.
Heading out further east you’ll pass the 8 beach bays that are packed for most of the year with Malagueños of all ages. You’ll pass El Palo, another fishing village with it’s own charm that requires further exploring, and then towards El Peñón del Cuervo. Note — when you run out of track at the end of El Dedo beach you’ll have to run alongside the road as you pass the marina of El Candado.
Your halfway point is a rather sombre one. As you pass the Penon del Cuervo you’ll reach the entrance to a pedestrian tunnel, where there lies a memorial to the 1937 Málaga–Almería road massacre in which up to 5,000 people were murdered as they tried to flee the city (more here). The memorial serves as a haunting reminder to the horrors of the Spanish Civil War.
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Route 4 — Parque Forestal Monte San Anton
Distance — circa 4km
Terrain — Trail
Elevation — Steep inclines/declines
Now for something a little bit different, time to mix it up. As fun as city running may be, there is nothing quite like trail running get the heart racing. Flanked on every side by mountains, you are spoilt for choice for trails within the city limits of Málaga.
For me the place with the best views ultimately wins out, so my recommendation is the forest park of Monte San Anton. Monte San Anton is comprised of two twin peaks (some 500m high) overlooking the East of the city and beyond. Affectionately known by local fisherman as Las Tetas de Málaga for reasons that are pretty self explanatory, the forest park has been the welcome recipient of renewed investment from Málaga council (along with a few other forest parks).
Once in the park you’ll senses will be awakened by the aroma of wild flowers. You’ll be surrounded by (and be able to smell for miles) lavender, almond trees, olive trees, rosemary to name but a few. You’ll also be sharing the habitat with some very special fauna — most notably the Mediterranean chameleon.
Within the park there are a bunch of different trails you can try. My recommended route takes you to all miradors (viewpoints) as well as both peaks of the mountain.
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Route 5 — Huelin — Pacifico
Distance — circa 7.5km
Terrain — Road, Park
Elevation — Flat
As the last few have been Málaga East heavy, I need to balance it out for the Westside. This route takes in the very best of Málaga’s Western beach promenade, and also incorporates two of the city’s best parks — Huelin and Oeste.
Most of the route takes you along the recently renovated Antonio Banderas promenade towards the Westerly outskirts of the city. In this part of town you will see a city in the midst of changes — every other block is either newly completed, or an in progress residential complex. It’s a place that real estate developers are aiming to make new riches, and one which is a testament to the confidence that modern Málaga has found. None more so than the ambitious Picasso Towers where prices for a 1 bed flat start from a whopping 360k EUR.
The route is perfect for running. Wide pavements means you’ll find minimal need for weaving in and out of the pedestrian traffic. That is unless you visit on a Sunday…when expect to have to navigate yourself through lanes of families, dogs, scooters and the like.
