Bilbao or Malaga

I haven't been to Malaga and the beaches don't interest me, but I can definitely recommend a trip to Bilbao......I spent about 24 hours there on a trip to Spain about 18 months ago, and I wish I had allotted more time to spend there. I really liked Bilbao, both for the things to see and the general "vibe" of the city.

Malaga is the worst part of Andalucia. The Basque Provinces could keep you busy for a month.

We spent a day last spring in Malaga. I know nothing about the beaches. Malaga was nice enough, I suppose, but I can think of many places in Spain I would go to - or return to- before going back to Malaga. Good luck.

I am late chiming in on this, but the question reflects a common attitude, which I once shared, of Spain as a more or less homogeneous country. I now know the Spaniards don't think so and for good reason. The Basque region is as far from Malaga, in spirit and culture, as San Diego is from Cape Cod. The diversity of Spain is both a blessing and, in its history, a challenge. But it means that the tourist can keep going back and finding new and startling aspects of this highly provocative country. A few days in Bilbao and its localities could show you a lot about Atlantic commerce, tapas, anti-Fascism and both the Guggenheim and a fine beaux-arts museum, none of which sound like the warm allures of Malaga. Spain can satisfy many different tastes. Be happy wherever you go: I sure have been.

Tell us what you like and we can probably give better advice on which you would prefer. Does it have to be one or the other? I'm from San Diego and I much prefer the Costa de la Luz, between Tarifa and the Portuguese border, to the Costa del Sol. It's like comparing Baja California vs. LA. Basque country is more likely to be rainy and chilly in October than Andalucia.