You will be surprised to discover how many things there are to do in Malaga. Also known as the capital of the Costa del Sol, this city is full of history and traditions, which will make your visit an authentic cultural and natural adventure.
Located in the south of Spain, this province is known for its sun and beaches, hosting tourists at almost all times of the year. Thanks to its pleasant climate, you will be able to enjoy your trip in the best conditions and discover all the cultural heritage and natural gems that Malaga has to offer. Would you like to know more?
Post content
Things to do in Malaga
Alcazaba of Malaga
Having been compared to the Alhambra in Granada, the Alcazaba is without a doubt one of the first monuments to see in Malaga. It is an imposing fortress from the Arab period dating back to the 11th century.
Its façade is a pure marvel, but the most interesting part of this monument is inside; inside you can admire its defensive fortifications, which you can access by means of a lift that will take you to the highest part. You can take the tour from top to bottom, ending the visit at the Roman Theatre. Once outside, you can stroll through a small garden area. You will be really impressed by the architectural ensemble of the Alcazaba.
Malaga’s Soho district
Also known as the Barrio de las Artes, this neighbourhood is an authentic cultural and commercial area located right in the centre of Malaga. It originated thanks to the MAUS project (Malaga Arte Urbano Soho), which aimed to develop cultural and artistic activities.
Throughout this neighbourhood you will discover impressive murals full of art and colour. As well as numerous graffiti, inspirational phrases and various other works. Once you have finished your tour of its artistic streets, you can enter the Museum of Contemporary Art and learn more about these practices. It will undoubtedly become one of your favourite places to visit in Malaga.
Roman Theatre of Malaga
The Roman Theatre of Malaga is an impressive infrastructure of the Roman Hispania and is one of the most significant features of the city. Located at the foot of the hill of Calle Alcazaba, it is considered to have been built during the reign of Caesar Augustus.
Based on a classical Roman design, the theatre is made up of numerous tiers and an orchestra; it is in good condition and even some traces of the original painting can still be seen. You can enjoy a tour of the theatre and an exhibition of audiovisual rooms displaying original documents from the excavations. And all this with completely free entry.
Gibralfaro Castle
If you want to enjoy unbeatable views of Malaga, you can’t miss a visit to the Gibralfaro Castle. Being linked to the marvellous Alcazaba, this monument dating back to Phoenician times will become one of your favourite places to see in Malaga.
Once at the top, you can go inside the castle and tour the different rooms, walls and towers. Once you have finished with the exterior, you can go inside and visit its museum. Here you can discover and learn about its history, as well as see an impressive model of the city during the Middle Ages. And if that wasn’t enough, at the end of your visit you can enjoy panoramic views of Malaga and rest for a while before heading back down.
Organise your travel itinerary with Passporter, completely free to use, easy and practical. Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that interest you most by adding them to your route map.
Atarazanas Market
Located in the heart of the historic centre, the Atarazanas Market is one of our favourite places to see in Malaga. Also known as the Central Market of Malaga, this building is mainly characterised by its Moorish architecture.
The most famous feature of the Market is its Arab door, built in marble and with a notorious Nasrid style dating back to the 14th century. Nowadays it houses a food market, where you can stroll inside and see the different food stalls. You can also admire the impressive and colourful stained glass windows on the back façade. A real visual gem.
Malagueta Beach
Located in the Malagueta neighbourhood, this beach of the same name is close to the port. It is, without doubt, one of the most visited beaches by locals and travellers alike.
It has unbeatable accessibility due to the fact that it is an urban beach, with a wide sandy area of 1,200 metres. As well as enjoying a great morning or afternoon in the sun, once you’ve had enough of the sand you can always take a stroll along its marvellous promenade. Along the way you can enjoy an infinite number of leisure establishments and restaurants where you can try some of the best Mediterranean food.
Larios Street
Calle Larios is one of the most famous passages to see in Malaga, probably because it forms the axis of the city centre. From this street you will have direct access to two of the most iconic spots. First the Plaza de la Marina, and then the Plaza de la Constitución.
In this wide, mainly commercial avenue you can enjoy a nice walk while you admire some of the most exclusive shops in the city. Also, if you prefer, you can stop in one of its bars or ice-cream parlours to recharge your batteries a little. The street is also the site of the Easter processions, giving the avenue a lively atmosphere. It can be a good option to visit the city during these festivities.
Picasso Museum
Among all the museums to see in Malaga, we definitely recommend a visit to the Picasso Museum. Made up of more than twelve rooms, inside you can enjoy some of the most famous works of this Malaga-born artist.
Located in the historic centre, specifically inside the Buenavista Palace, this museum offers an extensive collection. It includes works by the artist himself as well as the famous private collection of Christine and Bernard Ruiz Picasso, relatives of the artist. Moreover, the building where this museum is housed in an authentic marvel that mixes Mudejar and Renaissance architecture. You will love it.
Malaga Cathedral
Malaga Cathedral is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. Also known officially as the Cathedral of the Incarnation and more popularly as La Manquita. This huge building offers a most unique architecture.
You can visit it freely or book a guided tour that will allow you to learn more about the history of this monument and all its elements, as well as its surroundings. Inside you will discover various works ranging from Gothic to Renaissance. You will be completely enchanted by this Renaissance jewel of Andalusia, so don’t forget your camera!
Historical Botanical Garden of La Concepción
The Botanical Garden of Malaga is located at the northern entrance of the city. Placed just a short distance from the city centre. It is considered one of the most important botanical gardens in Spain, offering stunning natural scenery.
Inside you can discover more than 3,000 species of plants and immerse yourself in a completely tropical environment. moreover, on your walk through this park you will be able to see some interesting architectural elements, such as the Casa Palacio. This is the ideal place to visit and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, especially if you are travelling with children. We recommend you book a guided tour to get to know the history of this park in detail.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to do in Malaga on a weekend?
San Andres Beach
San Andrés Beach is located near the port and is one of the best beaches to visit in Malaga. It offers unbeatable accessibility as it is close to the city, although this also means that it is quite crowded.
This beach is 650 metres long and is attached to the promenade. Here you can enjoy a wide range of services. Also, it is the perfect beach to visit with children as it offers a special play area where they will have a great time. On the other hand, if you feel like practising some water sports. Here, you can always rent a board and try windsurfing – you won’t find a better place to do it!
Nerja Caves
The Nerja Caves are one of the most important and most visited archaeological sites in Spain. As they are a collection of caves and rock formations that house some of the oldest cave paintings in the world.
These caves, considered a Historic-Artistic Monument, are located in the small village of Maro. They occupy more than 35,000 square metres. During your visit you will be able to discover the different rooms that make up the caves, divided into a tourist gallery, some upper galleries and finally some new galleries. You will be fascinated by the countless stalactites and stalagmites hidden in the caves. As well as by some cave paintings dating back more than 40,000 years, not to be missed!
Alborania Museum
If you’re looking for something different to do at the weekend, Malaga offers plenty of options. We recommend a visit to the Alborania Museum. It is dedicated to environmental education and, as its name suggests, to the Alboran Sea.
Located very close to the historic centre, this museum offers an extensive collection on the history that Malaga shares with the Mediterranean Sea. You can visit different rooms, each one specialising in a different area. Such as the Oceanographic Laboratory, the Research Room or even a room dedicated to species in recovery. Here you will see different animals for which coastal spaces have been reproduced and adapted to their needs. It could be the perfect weekend plan for young and old alike!
What to do around Malaga?
Caminito del Rey
The Caminito del Rey is an impressive path surrounded by an abundant forest. Here you can enjoy a long walk immersed in nature. It is located near the Guadalhorce River, and has as its endpoint a majestic wooden footbridge.
The route lasts approximately 4 hours and is suitable for everyone. You will enjoy the whole excursion. But once you reach the wooden footbridge, you will feel that it was really worth it. From a height of over 100 metres, you will be able to enjoy a breathtaking view of the river flowing through the gorge. A natural spot on the outskirts of Malaga that is definitely not to be missed.
Montes de Málaga Natural Park
This Natural Park covers an area of almost 5,000 hectares and is located just 5 kilometres from Malaga. Surrounded by impressive flora and fauna, you can immerse yourself in a completely natural environment to escape from the city centre for a while.
Once there, you’ll find two large recreational areas full of tables, benches and even barbecues, all in an unbeatable natural setting. It is the ideal place for hiking or cycling while enjoying a sunny day. You can climb up to some of the highest areas of the park to enjoy breathtaking views over Malaga.
Marbella
Situated less than an hour away, Marbella is one of the cities you must visit on your trip to Malaga. It is the ideal destination to escape for a whole day and get to know a bit of Malaga’s surroundings.
You will be able to enjoy a beautiful old town full of little streets in the purest Andalusian style. As well as an infinity of bars and squares where you can stop for a rest or a drink. When you get back on the tourist route, visit the Castle Walls to learn about the history of Marbella; you can finish the day strolling along the Avenida del Mar, a beautiful avenue where you’ll find 10 sculptures by Dalí. A city full of magic!
Itineraries for your trip to Malaga
What to see in Malaga in 1 day?
- Stroll through the Soho neighbourhood
- Climb the Gibralfaro Castle
- Cross the Calle Larios
- Visit the Alcazaba of Malaga
- Photograph the Cathedral of Malaga
What to see in Malaga in 3 days?
- Stroll through the Historical Botanical Gardens of La Concepción
- Enter the Atarazanas Market
- Spend the morning at La Malagueta Beach
- Visit the Nerja Caves
- Escape to Marbella
- Take a trip to the Natural Park of Montes de Malaga
Frequently Asked Questions
Malaga can be reached by different means, depending mainly on your time and budget.
– You can opt to take the bus, the cheapest option. The bus will drop you off at the terminal station of Paseo de los Tilos, almost in the centre of Malaga.
– You can also get to Malaga by train, although the fares are a little higher, the train is also more comfortable. You will have to get off at the terminus station María Zambrano, located just 10 minutes walk from the city centre.
– Finally, you can get to Malaga by plane if you have a bigger budget. You will have to land at Malaga-Costa del Sol airport and then take a taxi to the city centre, just 15 minutes away.
Malaga is a really easy city to get around, especially in the tourist areas.
– You can choose to take the Malaga city bus, with lines operating from 6.45am to 11pm, and the cost of the journey is 1€.
– You can take the metro and access several important points in the city on its two lines. The cost of the ticket is €1.35.
– You can take a taxi around the city of Malaga to get to different key places in the city; the price is around 5€ each way.
As in every city in the world, Malaga also has its traditional dishes.
– First of all, we recommend you to go to a beach bar on the promenade and try the famous espetos de sardinas (sardine skewers).
– Another dish you can’t miss is the porra antequerana, similar to salmorejo cordobés but with its own specialities, a delight!
– You can’t leave Malaga without trying conchas finas, one of the most famous dishes on the coast.
– Finally, go to a Mediterranean restaurant to try the incredible fritura malagueña, a mixture of fried fish that will leave you wanting more.
How to plan your itinerary of the places you want to do in Malaga?
If you want to discover a faster and more organised way to prepare your trip to Malaga, don’t hesitate to download the Passporter app.
- First, get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Later, create your own itinerary from scratch.
- Then, add the cultural, leisure or food places that interest you the most.
- Also, organise your route by choosing the best method of transport.
- Finally, share your photos on your traveller profile so that other users of the app can learn about your experience and be inspired.
If you want to know in more detail how to do all this, you can read our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
No Comments