I have visited Málaga several times and once stayed for 3 months. And one day I will definitely come back again. Málaga is a beautiful city that has a lot to offer not only in itself, but also in the surrounding area. It is the gateway to the resorts on the Costa del Sol and a great base for trips around Andalusia and to nearby Gibraltar. Málaga is a crossroads of cultures, gastronomy and history, combining modern life with thousands of years of tradition.
What not to miss:
- Sights: the Alcazaba Fortress and Gibralfaro Castle (with a view),
- excursions: Granada, Marbella, Ronda, Gibraltar (better pack your passport),
- La Malaguetabeach,
- Food: Mercado Central de Atarazanas (food and tapas), tapas bar Casa Lolita and espetos (sardines on a stick) on the beach.
Tip: If you don’t want to complicate things by car or bus, book a tourist trip to Gibraltar from Málaga (they will also pick you up at several coastal locations along the way). Another popular excursion where you need to book in advance is the Caminito del Rey and Alhambra in Granada.
Where to stay in Málaga
A lot of people fly to Málaga but stay in smaller towns on the coast, be it Benalmádena, Torremolinos or Fuengirola. There’s a metro that goes all the way here, so it’s not a long way. If you want to live right in Málaga, there are basically two options. Either in the centre or by the beach. From the beach to the centre will be just over a kilometre, but if you want to spend your time mainly by the sea, it makes sense to go there.
Tips for accommodation in Málaga
- Atarazanas Málaga Boutique Hotel – nice hotel next to the Mercado.
- Residencia Universitaria Málaga Centro – a cheaper option, a simple room, but there is a gym and lounge in the building, as well as private parking, ideal if you want to go on excursions from Málaga.
- Casapalma Centro Histórico – better, spacious apartment in the historic centre of Málaga.
Things to see in Málaga
Málaga is a stone city, you won’t find much greenery here, but you will find beaches, lots of beautiful squares and streets, which I was still wandering through after a month, rather randomly than knowing exactly where they would lead me.
In the summer, as in many other hot cities, Málaga’s streets are covered with white cloth tarpaulins that serve as a sun screen. This makes the streets shaded and quite bearable even in the worst heat.
Main street: calle Larios
The wide Calle Marqués de Larios is the main shopping avenue and perhaps such an entrance to the historic city centre, there is a pedestrianised area. You can walk along it from the Plaza de la Marina (the square by the port) to the Plaza de la Constitución with the Fuente de Génova fountain. Important events are held here and if there is a parade through the city during the festivities, it will certainly go this way.
During Christmas it is richly decorated with Christmas decorations, and during the Feria de Málaga it is a centre of singing and dancing. Every September, Málaga Fashion Week is also held here, when the street is carpeted and transformed into a catwalk.
Alcazaba
Andalusian fortress below on Gibralfaro hill above Málaga. The fortress was built in the 11th century and served as a military fortress and royal palace. The architecture is Islamic and you will see ornate gates and courtyards.
Alcazaba is directly from the centre, it’s an easy walk. But you can also take the elevator, which is located on the side of the harbour, across the street from the park. From the fortress there are beautiful views of the harbour and the oval arena of Plaza de Torros all the way.
Alcazaba and Castillo de Gibralfaro are connected by the Coracho fortified road, the journey between the forts takes less than half an hour.
Castillo Gibralfaro
Gibralfaro Castle is at the very top of the hill. There’s a lovely walk along the ramparts from where you can see the town and coastline. The view is just a short walk from Alcazaba, so it’s similar, just from a higher altitude.
You can also take bus 35 to the top, and in the centre you can get on at one of the two stops on the Paseo del Parque (the road running through the centre of the park). But I recommend not to skip the Coracho road, at least walk it downwards.
Parque de Málaga
A large park that is between the historic city centre and the coast with La Malagueta beach. The park is wide and almost a kilometre long. It stretches from Plaza de la Marina, where Calle Larios begins, to the roundabout with the impressive Fuente de las Tres Gracias fountain.
It’s an ordinary park with trees and benches, but there are also exotic plants, palm trees, bamboos and orchids. Occasionally there are small cultural events, such as a summer cinema.
La Manquita Cathedral
The cathedral was built over three centuries (from the 16th century onwards), so it is a mix of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture.
The name La Manquita (the one-armed one) is because the second tower of the cathedral was never completed due to lack of money. It has beautiful interiors with ornate vaults and has one of the most beautiful organs in Spain. With a bit of luck you can even hear them playing at a concert.
From that one tower you have a beautiful view over the roof of the cathedral to the city. The way up is 200 steps.
Plaza de la Merced
One of the liveliest squares, right next to the centre. If you come in the spring, it’ll be dyed purple. The jacarandas are blooming, the trees all around the square.
The square is surrounded by restaurants and hosts markets, festivals and other events. The centrepiece of the square is an obelisk commemorating the victims of the battles against Napoleon. An even more interesting monument is the statue of Picasso sitting on a bench. Picasso was born in Málaga.
Teatro Romano
An ancient Roman amphitheatre from the 1st century stands right in the centre of Málaga, under the Gibralfaro hill. However, it was buried under the new town in the 3rd century and was only restored in the 20th century. There is a museum here, but cultural events are also held here, and the space has great acoustics.
Plaza de Toros “La Malagueta”
The arena with a capacity of about 14,000 spectators is a short walk from the harbour. A nice view from the top of the Alcazaba. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious bullring in Andalusia. It hosts corridos, mainly during the Feria de Málaga, but also other cultural events. The arena is open to the public both during these events and as a museum for tours.
Port of Málaga and Muelle Uno
The Muelle Uno promenade, full of shops, bars and restaurants, stretches around the harbour. Above the promenade is the white Pérgola, which also provides shade.
From the port, boats go to the Balearic Islands and Morocco, and cruises stop here. From the small boat harbour, there are also sightseeing cruises to Benalmadena, Marbella and dolphin watching.
Centre Pompidou
The Centre Pompidou Málaga is a branch of the famous modern art museum in Paris and is one of the main cultural centres in Málaga. It’s in the port area of Muelle Uno and you’ll recognise it safely, it’s a colourful checkered cube. There are exhibitions, cultural events, film screenings and workshops.
Picasso Museum
Museo Picasso Málaga is located in the Palacio de Buenavista. The museum is dedicated to the presentation of Pablo Picasso’s work, including his early works. There are also temporary exhibitions.
Picasso’s most important works are not here, they are housed in the world’s great museums such as the Musée Picasso in Paris, MoMA in New York or the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid.
Unless you’re a Picasso (or at least art) lover, I think it’s safe to skip this one. Or go on Sunday, it’s free admission.
Things to do in Málaga
Sights, tapas, beaches and plenty of trips outside the city limits. While one day may be enough to explore the city itself, the possibilities Málaga and the surrounding area have to offer will keep you entertained for at least a few weeks.
Hammam Al Ándalus Arab Baths
Right in the centre is a luxurious Arabian spa with several differently heated pools, a steam room and massages. The spa is in high demand and I recommend booking ahead, especially in high season. It’s a great experience and you’ll still relax.
Mercado Central de Atarazanas
The market in the centre of the town was built in the 14th century. The building has a steel structure and the gates are replicas of the original Arabic gates. It is open every day except Sunday from 8am-4pm.
You can buy fresh fruit, vegetables, cold cuts and flowers. There are also a few stalls where you can eat seafood and tapas or have a glass of wine.
La Malagueta beach
La Malagueta beach is about a kilometre from the centre. It’s big, nice, sandy, with a few islands with palm trees where you can crawl into the shade. Be warned, although you might expect warm seas in southern Spain, the water here is still quite cold, or at least colder than in Alicante or Valencia. Ironically, it is hottest in late September and early October. It’s good for swimming on hot summer days anyway, I’ve tried countless times.
There’s a promenade along the beach and you’ll also find the famous espetos de sardinas (sardines on a skewer), just like on other beaches along the Costa del Sol. There is also the famous iconic statue of the La Malagueta sign at the beginning of the beach, which you kind of have to take a picture at.
Beaches away from the centre
Apart from La Malagueta, there are two nice beaches on either side, but still within walking distance:
- Playa de la Misericordia – west of the centre,
- Playas del Palo – to the east of the centre, a nice coastal path leads here.
The entire Costa del Sol has large, sandy beaches, so you can go further afield, perhaps to Benalmádena or Fuengirola.
What to taste in Málaga
If you venture further away from the centre along the beach, you’ll find espetos de sardinas practically all along the Costa del Sol. Sardines roasted on skewers over a fire. It’s the main local speciality.
In Málaga you’ll find all the specialities of Spanish cuisine, such as paella, tapas and gazpacho, as well as more local Andalusian specialities. A typical Andalusian breakfast (toast and various spreads) can be enjoyed at La Recova. The famous tapas bar is Casa Lola.
For an authentic experience of local establishments, you can also go on a tapas tour with a local guide.
Where to go on a trip from Málaga
Málaga is the perfect starting point for trips all over Andalusia and offers a really huge range of options for those who are driving and can go further afield, as well as the surrounding area, which can be reached quite easily by land metro or buses. From Málaga you can also take a nice sightseeing roadtrip around Andalusia.
The most popular distillations and trips are:
- Gibraltar and Tarifa – just 2 hours from Málaga is the English territory of Gibraltar, famous for The Rock and the monkeys living in the wild. A little further afield is Tarifa, the southernmost point of mainland Europe. If you don’t have a car, Gibraltar can also be reached by an organised bus trip.
- Granada and the Alhambra – one of the most famous palace complexes, the Alhambra is just outside Granada and has a great view. Granada is, among other things, known as one of those Andalusian cities where they give you free tapas (and not small ones) to drink). There are also mountains nearby, the Sierra Nevada.
- Ronda – the city in the high rock and the famous Puento Nuevo bridge.
- The Caminito del Rey – the royal trail is a path above the canyon about 60 km from Málaga. It is less than 8 kilometres long and takes over 3 hours. It’s now well secured, but it’s still at altitude along the cliff face. You can get here with an organized trip to Caminito del Rei.
- Nerja and Balcón de Europa – a view of the sea in the small pretty town of Nerja. There are also caves to explore and Burriana beach to relax on.
- Córdoba – one of the most touristy cities in Andalusia, the train takes an hour to get here, so it can be done without a car as a day trip. It’s almost two hours by car, similar to nearby Seville (but there’s also a train from Córdoba). Seville and Córdoba at the same time is a bit much for one day, though.
- Frigiliana – one of the white Andalusian towns, pueblos blancos, with beautiful streets and views.
- Marbella – a beautiful town full of white houses with blue flower pots and the beach of Puerto Banús.
- Mijas – a white village in the mountains just off the coast with beautiful sea views, a great half day trip from Málaga.
- Zahara de la Sierra – one of the most picturesque Andalusian villages, set in the mountains by a turquoise dam.
- Arroyo de la Miel – part of Benalmádena, markets and cable car overlooking the coast – just a few minutes by train from Málaga.
- Antequera – a historic town full of monuments and natural beauty, including the El Torcal Rock Park.
When to go to Málaga
You can visit Málaga at any time. In the winter, it may not be swimming weather, but otherwise it’s nice all year round. I was here once in February and it’s about the same as our September. Except the oranges are ripening (and you don’t get those in the summer).
How to get to Málaga
It’s about 2,700 kilometres by car from the Czech Republic, which is a lot, but if you have more time and want to see a lot, it’s ideal. On the way you can drive along the Costa Brava and visit Barcelona or Valencia.
Direct flights from Prague and Vienna are also available in low season and can be found for under 2000 CZK. Alternatively, you can try combining a flight to Madrid and then a train to Málaga in just over 3 hours. But it only makes sense if you want to see Madrid at the same time, otherwise it’s unnecessarily cumbersome and not much cheaper than a direct flight.
From Costa del Sol Airport to Málaga
One of the easiest and quickest connections from the airport to the city centre I know is in Malaga. There is a C1 metro station at the airport that runs until midnight, every 20 to 30 minutes. In 12 minutes, at the fourth stop from the airport, you get off at Málaga Centre – Alemada station. From there, it’s just a 10-minute walk to the historic centre.
Where is Málaga
Málaga is on the south coast of Spain, in the centre of the Costa del Sol.