Vélez-Málaga

Vélez-Málaga is a town in the province of Málaga, Spain. It is the capital of the Axarquía comarca and an important market town and supply centre for the region. Perched on a hill 4 km inland from Torre del Mar — a seaside resort on the Costa del Sol — its Moorish old town is a low-profile touristic destination.

Understand
Locally it is referred to as Vélez. The municipality of Vélez-Málaga includes the proper town of Vélez, the villages of Triana, Trapiche, Almayate Alto, Cajiz, Chilches and the coastal towns of Torre del Mar, Caleta de Vélez, Lagos, Almayate Bajo and Benajarafe.

Unlike other towns in the Costa del Sol, the town's economy is less reliant on tourism and more dependent on agriculture and fishing. Vélez-Málaga is the country's largest grower of avocados and one of the largest producers of mangos, chirimoyas and other tropical fruits. Its proximity to the city of Málaga is slowly transforming Vélez into a dormitory town.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Málaga, around 40 km away. Granada is about 60 km away.

By bus
Buses to Málaga, Granada, Torrox, Nerja, Periana and other villages in the area operated by ALSA run from the (C/ Explanada de la Estación) and the  (C/ Pintor Cipriano Maldonado, 7). Both stations have a waiting hall and info panels.

By car
The city is well connected to Málaga and the rest of the region via the A-7 highway and the N-340a, which goes directly along the coast. The A-356 runs from Vélez-Málaga to the north, providing an alternative and scenic route from Granada and Antequera.

By taxi
The journey from Málaga Airport to Vélez-Málaga has a fixed price of €69.22. A taxi from Málaga city to Vélez will cost around €45.

By bus
The city has a bus network with four lines running between Vélez and Torre del Mar and Almayate and Caleta de Vélez (map). Single tickets cost and can be purchased directly from the driver. A list of schedules can be found here.

In addition to buses, the city had a tram line between Vélez and Torre del Mar which was shut down in 2012. Its reopening has been announced several times but still has no date.

By car
Car is the preferred means of transportation for locals and tourists. This leads to frequent traffic jams and parking problems, specially in the summer season. Parking in the street is always free unless indicated. There are public underground car parkings for a fee, like the or the.

By taxi
Taxis in Vélez-Málaga are fitted with meters and have fixed rates for long journeys. They can be taken in taxi stops or booked by telephone. See this link for companies and phone numbers.

By bicycle
There are segregated bike lines along the promenade and through the Avenida Rey Juan Carlos, connecting Vélez-Málaga and Torre del Mar.

See
The main sight of Vélez-Málaga is its old quarter (La Villa), a typical Andalusian neighbourhood of Moorish origin, with whitewashed houses, labyrinthine streets and viewpoints. Outside of the city walls, in what corresponds to the development from the 16th century, there are multiple examples of Mudéjar and baroque architecture, with palaces, residential buildings, churches and convents around of which the urban fabric was conformed.



Events

 * Real Feria de San Miguel. End of September and beginning of October. It is the most important event of the year, celebrated with parades and concerts.
 * Semana Santa (Holy Week). A number of processions tour the city commemorating the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

Buy
The most important commercial axis of Vélez-Málaga is consolidated around the Plaza de las Carmelitas and the Camino Viejo de Málaga, a pedestrian area where lifelong shops selling clothes, shoes, furniture, jewelry, handcrafts or pastries can be found.

Eat
Given that Vélez-Málaga is not as touristy as other towns in the Costa del Sol, prices are generally lower and restaurants are not as dedicated to foreign tourists. Nonetheless, communication should not be a problem, as most waiters can understand some English and menus are normally offered in several languages. Spaniards usually have lunch at around 15:00 and dinner at 22:00, so most restaurants will start serving meals no earlier than 13:00 and 20:00 in the evening.



Sleep
Although most hotels are next to the coast in Torre del Mar and Caleta, hotels and hostels have opened in Vélez-Málaga old town.

Go next
Vélez-Málaga can be a hub for day-trips to small villages in the Axarquía region. These journeys can be within the day but in most cases public transport is not reliable, so renting a car or an organized tour is highly advisable. Outside of the coastline, roads are very sinuous and narrow, but are always in good condition and tend not to be dangerous.
 * Comares is a small village of whitewashed houses with Moorish ruins and a castle. It is located on top of a mountain and has views of the Vélez valley and the Mediterranean Sea.
 * Frigiliana is a very touristy village 30 km away from Vélez. It has narrow whitewashed streets and has been recognised multiple times as the most beautiful village of Andalusia.