Please don’t stress too much about what to bring. Up to now, I’ve not encountered a single thing here in Spain that I couldn’t buy. Velez itself is also big enough to buy everything you need.
The house has a washing machine, bed linen, and towels. The bedrooms do have air conditioning.
Velez-Malaga is a safe town. I’m comfortable walking on my own at day and night through town and people are very kind. You should be a bit more careful in bigger touristic cities (pickpocketing).
In addition to what you would normally bring:
– Sunscreen
– A hat and/or sunglasses
– Your swimming suit
– A beach towel
– Light clothing
– Mosquito repellent
In many smaller cafes and shops it’s still most usual and convenient to pay in cash.
Please wear what you think would be comfortable considering the warm climate. Most probably, it will be between 25 – 30 degrees Celsius during the day. Also, as there are shared bathrooms, you might like to bring a comfy house outfit or pajamas.
Most probably you will need a light jacket or sweaters during the evenings and mornings.
I recommend using Google Maps and ticking the “public transport” option if you want to travel by public transport, for example, if you are planning on taking public transport from Málaga airport to Vélez-Málaga.
In Vélez-Málaga you can do everything on foot. There are direct bus lines from Vélez-Málaga to e.g. Málaga City, Granada, and to the beach in Torre del Mar.
If you want to explore Spain further, there are frequent bus lines between the bigger cities and sometimes also trains (for example from Málaga city to Madrid and from Málaga city to Cordoba).
If you prefer to use a taxi when you arrive at the airport, you can find an official taxi stand directly outside the airport. There you can catch a taxi without pre-booking. The total cost to take you to Vélez-Málaga should be around 60 euros.
In addition, you can use a taxi to go to the beach for example. This should be around 10 – 15 euros in total for a one-way ride. Uber is not working in Vélez-Málaga, so it’s best to call or send a WhatsApp to a local taxi company, such as RadioTaxi Vélez-Málaga (phone number: +34 622022040)
Another way of transport in Spain is “Blablacar”. It’s an online platform where you can share your ride. This means that as a traveler you can search for specific rides where you can join the driver, for example from Vélez-Málaga to Málaga city.
It’s a common way of sharing transport in Spain and prices are low. You can find the website here: https://www.blablacar.es/
– Explore Málaga city, one of the biggest Spanish cities. Visit all its beautiful sites, such as the beach, the Picasso museum, the Alcazaba, the chiringuitos, and more.
– Go to university town Granada and make sure to visit the Alhambra
– Visit Cordoba and walk through its unbelievably big cathedral
– Walk through the historic town of Vélez-Málaga
– Go to the beach and have a cocktail or coffee in one of the beach bars in Torre del Mar, or walk on the long boulevard
– Visit Málaga city and its famous Alcazaba
– Go to one of the white mountain villages such as Frigiliana or the lovely beach town Nerja
– Relax at our lovely townhouse and read a book
– Continue working and have that necessary video call
Definitely worth checking out: www.mivelezmalaga.com
It’s by far the most complete guide of Velez-Malaga and its surroundings. They also have a blog on “Whats on …”, listing all activities in a specific month in the region!
– TAPAS: If you don’t want to walk far, try La Taperia Domi. It’s next to our venue! Great fish, great tapas, and friendly waiters. Best to book in advance, as it is a small and popular place. The cook is available from 20.00h onwards. Closed on Mondays.
– SPANISH: El Caserio de las Monjas is a typically Spanish restaurant and just around the corner! They have a small terrace outside and a lovely garden inside. Food is good. Closed on Mondays.
– TAPAS AND WINE: Cruza La Calle is a new restaurant with many tapas and good prices. Don’t forget to ask about their wine list. Also, if you are a fan of Spanish Jamon Iberico (dried ham), this is my favorite place, as they cut it when you ask for it. Across the street is the famous fish restaurant La Gamba Dorada. Both restaurants are from the same owner.
– FANCY: If you want something fancier, you can go to El Pianista del Carmen. They have a terrace with beautiful views of the hills of Velez. Also, it’s a perfect place for some cocktails or a glass of wine. Open every day of the week. The cook is available from 20.00h onwards.
– MOROCCAN: at La Bohemia you can find tapas and Moroccan food. Try e.g. their “Pastela de Pollo” or “Tajin de cordero”. Around the corner of our venue. Closed for holidays until Wednesday.
– PIZZA: You can find the best Italian pizza in town at Pizza Parilla. You can take away your pizza or sit on their terrace in a lovely old courtyard with another bar. Don’t confuse the Pizza Parilla with the other pizza place almost next to it (which is less good). It opens at 19.00h. Very good prices. Closed on Mondays.
Good to know: Restaurants in Velez usually open at 20.00h. The Spanish don’t eat before 21.00h.
– CHURROS – If you’ve never eaten churros in Spain, you should definitely give it a try. The best place to go to is this one and close to our venue. It was only recently added to Google Maps, but it is very well known in Velez.
– COFFEE/TEA (Spanish feeling): Go to the main plaza of Velez and watch the world go by. Cafe Iris is the place to soak up the Spanish feeling and order your coffee with a “pitufo con queso” (bread with cheese), “pitufo mixto” (bread with ham and cheese), “pan con tomate” (toasted bread with mashed tomatoes and olive oil) or “pitufo Catalan” (bread with serrano ham and tomatoes).
– COFFEE/TEA (modern with good cakes): Don Pedro and The Blue Bakery are two of my favorite options in Velez if you’re craving something sweet (both closed on Mondays). The best time to go to these places is around 17.00h. The Spanish have an extra “meal”, which is called “merienda”. They like to go for coffee or tea and have something sweet so that they can bridge the hours between lunch and late dinner.
– BEACH: Head to the beach in Torre del Mar by public transport or Taxi (~10 to 15 euros one way) and enjoy a fabulous afternoon/evening at the beach. If you want to relax on a beach bed and have nice food, you can go to Bahia Jazba(beach club style). Beds are 6 euros per person and you can use them all day. Serves food all day.
The boulevard in Torre del Mar is a very good place to make a nice evening stroll. There are many restaurants along the beach. Many of them are still typically Spanish, and they have “chiringuitos” (small fishermen’s boats that have turned into a BBQ). Make sure to order “Espeto de Sardinas” (sardine skewer) from the chiringuito. They are fresh from the sea!
– DRINKS: Go to Sala Casarte Azul in Velez for drinks and a nice evening, or head to Torre del Mar if you really want to go out during the night.
– CLOSEST: There’s a small supermarket “Coviran” only 200m from our venue. Closes for siesta between 15.00 and 17.00.
– BIGGEST: You can find a big supermarket Mercadona a bit further away (walking distance). Open from 09.00 to 21.30. Closed on Sunday.
– BREAD: The best bakery (modern) in Velez is Fermento Casa de Panaderos. Expensive, but worth it. The best Spanish-style bakery is right at the square and open 24/7! They have freshly baked baguettes (ask for “Malaguenos”), very good empanadas, and Spanish cakes.
– FRUTERIA: There are many “Fruteria’s” in Velez, which are small shops where you can buy fruit and vegetables. These shops often look a bit old from the outside, but they have better (and local!) fruit and vegetables than the supermarkets. Definitely something to try out. Examples of fruits that are in season right now are watermelons, cherries, fresh figs, and strawberries.
– CHARCUTERIE: Did you like the ham, cheese, almonds and olives from the first evening? Then head to the shop next to this bakery. It’s not on Google Maps, but the best Charcuterie in town!
Do you need more recommendations during your stay? Don’t hesitate to ask me!
