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Municipality in Andalusia, Spain
Photo: Viktar Palstsiuk, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Málaga is a city of 590,000 people (2024) in the southern Spanish region of Andalucia, and the largest city on the Costa del Sol. The city offers beaches, hiking, architectural sites, art museums, and excellent shopping and cuisine. While more laid back than Madrid or Barcelona, Málaga is still the centre and transport hub for the hugely popular Costa del Sol region, which is flooded with tourists in the summer. The city has cashed in on the sun and sand, with lots of new construction as well as hotels and facilities geared to tourists. However, Málaga also offers some genuinely interesting historical and cultural attractions in its old city, and its setting on the coast is still beautiful.
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Gravel, e-bike, trekking and mountain bike rental, as well as guided cycling experiences.
A Moorish castle built in the 11th century on a hill in the middle of the city, this old fort is the best-preserved of its kind in Spain. Upon entering you'll climb up past the ramparts offering excellent views of the city and lush gardens to a small Moorish palace at the top which holds a number of artifacts from excavations on the site.
Teatro Romano
The beautiful remains of an old Roman theater. You can view them anytime from the overlook in the plaza, but if you want to get up close you can enter the attached building, where you'll be shown a short film and view some artifacts before entering the theater itself, where you can walk past the old stage and sit on the stone steps.
Another Moorish castle and the counterpart to the Alcazaba, the Castillo sits on a larger hill behind the Alcazaba and offers an incredible view of the city and neighboring suburbs from the ramparts that encircle the castillo. Within the fortress is a set of gardens and some displays, including an exhibit on the various military forces to have occupied the fort. Between the Castillo and the Alcazaba, visit the Alcazaba if you only have time for one, as the Castillo requires a hefty hike or a bus ride (bus 35) up the mountain.
Catedral de Málaga
In the heart of the city centre and well worth visiting.
The Picasso museum hosts exclusive paintings and other artworks by the Málaga-born artist. Your entry fee also provides access to regularly changing exhibitions by other artists.
Museo Casa Natal de Picasso
Loads of objects and some paintings that the most famous artist of the 20th century created during his childhood.
Opened in 2011 and has an excellent collection of 19th and 20th century Spanish paintings.
Works from the Paris Centre Pompidou's collection.
Museum focussed on expressionist art.
Museo Interactivo de la Musica Málaga
Has one of the largest collections of musical instruments in Europe.
Museo del Vidrio y Crystal de Málaga
The museum has around 700 pieces of glass, dating from Phoenician times to the 20th century. Housed in a housed in an 18th-century casa palacio which is as fascinating as the objects within. Guided tours only, available in English, but no additional charge and no appointment needed.
Contemporary art museum that will be open on two sites.
Former Centro de Arte Contemporáneo will reopen after refurbishment.
Museo del Automovil y la Moda
An interest combined museum showing vehicles & fashion through various eras. Located in a former tobacco factory.
Colección del Museo Ruso / Málaga
It was the first European subsidiary of the Russian State Museum of Saint Petersburg. However, the museum's collection returned to Russia in May 2022 after concluding the last exhibition. Since then, the Malaga City Council has kept the museum open with exhibitions deposited by private collectors.
Málaga's bullring.
Botanical Garden
Botanical and historical garden with beautiful views of the city from this garden; worth a visit.
Museo Aeronautico de Malaga
Unique museum with original 1940s terminal in Malaga, other buildings with old and new aviation equipment, uniforms, and models of the airport. Interesting for both children and adults. Free parking.
Former charity house of mercy. Now a cultural centre that hosts occasional exhibitions & small concerts.
Malaga City Adventure
Malaga City Adventure is a startup company and pioneers in Treasure Hunting Events in Málaga. They offer a Sightseeing Treasure Hunt for tourists and tailor made team building events for companies. Equipped with a treasure hunting bag, a treasure book with information and recommendations and a modern GPS-compass you explore the historical centre of Málaga, search for hidden items and solve challenging riddles to find the secret treasure. Tours last 2-3 hours, you are in your private group and do the treasure hunt at your own pace.
Small music & theatre venue a couple of km out of the centre.
Concert Hall 2 km west of city centre.
Holy Week
The Holy Week processions in Málaga are known for at least 500 years, and are one of the oldest in all of Spain. They begin Palm Sunday and end Easter Sunday. The Spanish Legion's procession is a must see on Maundy Thursday.
Typical Andalusian tavern evironment, Sweet Málaga wines and the most traditional tapas.
A hidden gem around the corner from Thyssen Museum. Offers traditional Spanish & Andalucian dishes, with a vegetarian twist. Low-key interior with art for sale on the walls. Good choice for lunch and dinner.
Good place to go for tapas, nice atmosphere, good service. Authentic and friendly. Great wines.
Great terrace and fantastic service. Fresh fish, homemade croquettes, meatballs in delicious almond sauce.
Cozy and typical Andalusian place of Malaga with a lot of history. Cozy atmosphere.
A very cozy establishment. As the name suggests, a wide variety of curry dishes. Ideal to spend some time with your close ones between spicy and sweet dishes with a Japanese essence. Good service and very good atmosphere.
Yummy tapas (especially the pork) at a good price. Not a touristy place with tons of seats so get there early.
Reviews used to be good for this place but was more like lukewarm microwave pasta out 2 minutes after ordering. Try at your own risk.
100% vegan tapas bar. Saturday is Paella day. See website for hours & reservations.
Healthy food in an attractive open plan street corner restaurant. Gluten-free, Vegetarian & Vegan options
Typical Spanish tavern. The owner is truly attentive to the needs of customers. Good paella.
Enormously popular with locals and tourists, this place serves up excellent food and wine. Despite being frequented by such celebrities as Antonio Banderas and Placido Domingo, the prices are very moderate.
Offers a large range of tapas and excellent wines.
This Galician restaurant is very popular with the locals. This is understandable when you see the great range of quality tapas at fantastic prices, e.g. tapa of empanada €1.25, glass of cider €1.15.
Castillo de Gibralfaro. Some report being disappointed by the restaurant at the Parador. The food was sub par, but the service by contrast was exemplary, together with all the nice little free appetizers, aperitifs, etc. Wine list tended towards the expensive but with the excellent idea of a monthly wine choice 'balancing quality and value', for example a very palatable Ribera del Duero Crianza at €10. Set menu €27 pp (plus VAT). Fantastic view of the city, especially from the terrace.
High-end seafood restaurant
Good choice of Belgian beers. Busy at weekends.
Belgian & American-style beers on tap with friendly staff. Food available.
Little Delirium Tako Bar
Mainly Belgian beers with range of Tex-Mex food available.
It has a big roof-top terrace to overlook Málaga and a bar in the basement. Free Wi-Fi and breakfast. From €14, dorms and double rooms. Directions: From Bus station Paseo los Tilos it's a 2-km walk to the Oasis Hostel at Calle San Telmo 14. Walk to the right of Paseo los Tilos turning into Callejones del Perchel. At the roundabout take a right into Avenida de la Aurora crossing the river. Continue on the river bank on this side for about 800 m, (Pasilla de Santa Isabel) until you turn right into Calle de los Cisneros. Turn into the 4th street on the left, Calle Santos, next to the right, than left again, than right again into Calle San Telmo at No. 14
Run by a friendly lady, this cheap and cheerful place has rooms starting from €30. It's very central and some rooms have little balconies.
Very primitive and in the middle of the red light district, but it seems to be one of the cheapest available.
Right in the historic district, close to the beach. Bar and lounge, food and disco shows.
Economic budget between the historical centre and the port. All rooms have private bathrooms, television and air-conditioning or heating. The hotel is on the eighth floor of a building shared with other businesses and you will need to use the buzzer (well labelled) to speak to reception so they can let you in. (Reception is staffed 24 hours a day.)
Centrally located, with very clean rooms. Exceptionally clean and modern, with helpful staff. Free wi-fi, airport shuttle available.
3-star hotel with garden, swimming pool, jacuzzi, restaurant. Boardwalk with beach restaurants (chiringuitos).
The apartment is fully furnished and cleaning is done weekly.
Very stylish four-star from the Silken chain, opposite the main train station. Beautifully decorated rooms and bathrooms, with great attention to detail. Good discounted rates in winter (€56-69+VAT).
Bright, comfortable apartments in Malaga's historic centre
Nice 4-star hotel in the centre of Malaga.
Well located comfortable basic budget hotel from French Hotel chain with good wifi.
In the historic and commercial centre of Málaga, next to the 'Puente de la Esperanza' and a short stroll from the 'Museo de la Expiración'. Its excellent location makes it easy to enjoy Málaga's unique personality.
Fantastic location with spectacular views (best on 3rd floor) over the city. Sitting area and balcony.
Opened in 2005, the Hotel del Pintor is a small urban hotel that combines design and technology with personalized attention. Central location in the historic centre, near Picasso's birthplace. €74-121.
Mercado Central de Atarazanas
A lively market featuring regional produce and olive oil, fish, meat, and cheese, housed in a 19th-century wrought iron building. Don't miss the restored, enormous stained glass windows, as well as the large 14th-century Moorish gate incorporated into the building's southern façade.
By carpooling
In Southern Spain (Andalusia) you usually get a better price using Blablacar than travelling by train or intercity bus.
By train
Málaga María Zambrano, the city's sleek train station, is about 1 km west of the city centre and served by Renfe's high-speed AVE service, which zips travellers from Madrid in 2½–3 hours (some…
By bus
The main bus station is right across the street from the Málaga María Zambrano train station, a km or so west of the city centre on Paseo de los Tilos.
By car
The A-7 E-15 motorway runs along the coast to from Gibraltar to Almeria and through Murcia and on.
By boat
There is a ferry route between Málaga and Melilla in Spanish North Africa with Balearia. Book early.
By bicycle
Málaga is making big improvements when it comes to cycling. Nowadays Malagueños use their bikes more often to go to work or for recreational use in the weekends.
By public transport
There are several public transport options (bus, metro & local trains) which can save you the hassle of parking a car.
Car parking Malaga airport
If you want to park at Malaga airport, there are many private car parks around the airport which are much cheaper than the official airport car park.
By car rental
There are many car rental companies in Malaga. Most of them are located near the airport.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Málaga · International · AGP
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